7 Worst Things Norman Osborn has Ever Done

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Norman Osborn, better known as the Green Goblin, has been Spider-Man’s greatest enemy since his debut in 1963. But things shifted in 2020 when a powerful force called the Sin-Eater removed all of his guilt and wrongdoing. Since then, Norman has been working to make amends and has even become an ally to Spider-Man, temporarily taking on the Spider-Man role while Peter Parker is away in space. Despite his efforts to do good, Norman is still haunted by his past actions as the CEO of Oscorp, the Iron Patriot, and the Green Goblin, and can’t fully escape the consequences of his crimes.

Throughout most of Marvel’s comic book history, Norman Osborn has focused on ruining the life of Spider-Man (Peter Parker) and harming everyone Peter cares about, simply out of hatred. Even when not acting as the Green Goblin, Osborn has been responsible for terrible acts that have caused countless deaths. Here’s a look at some of the worst things Norman Osborn has ever done in Marvel Comics.

7) Faking Aunt May’s Death

Peter was heartbroken when his beloved Aunt May seemingly died from a stroke, but it was all part of a cruel plan by Norman Osborn. Norman had actually kidnapped the real Aunt May and replaced her with an actress, whom he then killed to inflict pain on Peter. To make things even worse, Peter later discovered Norman had implanted a device in Aunt May that was slowly killing her. Removing the device would have triggered a global catastrophe, turning millions into monstrous creatures. Thankfully, Peter managed to rescue Aunt May and disable the device. Despite saving her, the entire ordeal was a deeply traumatic experience for him.

6) Killing Ben Reilly

Norman Osborn created the complicated “Clone Saga,” a storyline where a clone named Ben Reilly thought he was the original Spider-Man, Peter Parker. This caused Peter to question his own identity, even believing he was the clone. Eventually, Peter and Ben teamed up to fight enemies sent by Norman. In a shocking climax, Norman attacked Peter with his glider, but Ben sacrificed himself, taking the hit and turning to dust as he died in Peter’s arms. While Ben’s death confirmed he was the clone, Peter was still deeply affected by losing someone he’d come to consider a friend.

5) Killing Flash Thompson

I’ve always admired Flash Thompson’s journey. He went from being such a tough guy and teasing Peter in high school to becoming one of Peter’s most loyal friends. It was incredible to see him become Agent Anti-Venom, a real hero after bonding with the Anti-Venom Symbiote! But Norman Osborn… that man always seemed determined to cause pain. He bonded with the Carnage Symbiote, becoming the terrifying Red Goblin, and his actions were just awful. When Flash saved MJ and Aunt May from Norman’s schemes, Norman retaliated by… well, he murdered Flash. It was devastating to see Peter bury another friend. Even though Flash eventually came back, Norman’s cruelty felt especially personal and unforgivable. It just showed how much spite Norman harbored.

4) Selling His Son’s Soul to Mephisto

Norman Osborn was never a great father to Harry, but his actions went to a horrifying extreme: he traded Harry’s soul to the devil, Mephisto, just to save his failing business. When Oscorp was on the verge of collapse, Norman made a deal with Mephisto that ensured the company’s success, but at a terrible cost. This deal not only doomed Harry’s soul, but it also seems to be the root cause of all the tragedy in his life – from drug addiction and the death of Gwen Stacy, to his descent into madness as the Green Goblin and ultimately, his death. Norman’s selfishness and greed led to the loss of his son’s life and soul.

3) Kidnapping May Parker

One of the most heartbreaking moments for Spider-Man fans occurred when Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson prepared for the birth of their daughter, May. Tragically, complications during labor led to May’s death. However, their grief soon deepened when it was revealed that a nurse, secretly working for Norman Osborn, had actually taken May while she was still alive. What happened to May after that remains a mystery, and it’s possible Norman himself was responsible for her death. Ultimately, the question of her fate became irrelevant when a later storyline, “One More Day,” completely altered Peter and MJ’s history, effectively erasing May’s existence.

2) Killing Gwen Stacy

In a truly shocking moment in comic book history, Norman Osborn kidnapped Peter Parker’s girlfriend, Gwen Stacy, and held her hostage on the Brooklyn Bridge. When Peter rushed to save her, Norman dropped Gwen, sending her falling to her death. Peter tried to catch her with his webs, but the sudden stop caused a fatal whiplash injury. Holding Gwen in his arms, Peter vowed revenge on Norman for taking the person he loved most. Gwen Stacy’s death remains Norman’s most notorious act, and its impact continues to resonate with both Peter and comic book fans even today.

1) Invading Asgard

After Norman Osborn killed the Skrull Queen during the Secret Invasion event, he took control of S.H.I.E.L.D. and rebranded it as H.A.M.M.E.R. He then became Iron Patriot, created a team of villains disguised as heroes called the Dark Avengers, and formed a powerful criminal group known as the Cabal. Things escalated when Asgard arrived on Earth, which Norman saw as a hostile act. To provoke a war, he secretly caused a massive slaughter and blamed the Asgardian Volstagg. Using this as an excuse, Norman launched an invasion of Asgard with H.A.M.M.E.R. and the Dark Avengers. When the Avengers intervened, Norman ordered the unstable hero, the Sentry, to destroy Asgard. This resulted in immense loss of life and, unintentionally, unleashed the Sentry’s dangerous, destructive alter ego, the Void, which put all of humanity at risk.

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2026-01-05 18:13