Normie Osborn
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Normie Osborn is the grandson of Norman Osborn and the son of Harry Osborn, first and second Green Goblins. As Harry Osborn and Peter Parker were best friends, he is also Spider-Man's godchild.
History
In the current continuity (Earth-616), Normie is around six years old. Normie was raised by his parents up until the time when Harry died when he was six years old, and (according to the MC2 timeline) his mother was re-married to Foggy Nelson. As a child, he was unaware that his grandfather had faked his death and was living in Europe. As Normie grew older, he showed a strong hatred of Spider-Man, which he demonstrated by his abusing his Spider-Man action figure and muttering, "Kill the Spider...break his back...Kill the Spider...break his back." This hatred was probably caused by the fact that the second Hobgoblin attacked his home, also looking for the secrets of Norman Osborn (Web #47). Spider-Man fought off the attack, but all that the frightened child understood was that the man in the red and blue costume was part of a scary situation.
The experience also unhinged Harry, who began to remember that he had been the second Green Goblin, shortly after Norman's "death." His father railing against Spider-Man, no doubt deepening Normie's own fear and hatred of the hero. Harry again became the Green Goblin, tried to kill Spider-Man but failed, and then died from the toxicity of the goblin formula. Normie was at Harry's side and in Spider-Man's company when his father died, giving him one more reason to hate Spider-man.
Unfortunately, Harry traumatized Normie even more when one of his posthumous plans kicked into action-- Normie is kidnapped again, this time by a trio of robotic Goblin women that attempted to expose him to the toxic, strength-enhancing Goblin formula. Again, Spider-Man came to the rescue, with the help of the reformed Molten Man (Spider-Man: Legacy of Evil). While Normie could have been killed (unintentionally) by a Green Goblin in his previous adventure, he was saved by one in his next. Liz Osborn became the CEO of Osborn Industries after Harry's death, which made her and Normie the target of a kidnapping and ransom plot by the criminal called Angel Face and her sidekicks Salt and Pepper. Liz had set up a meeting with the heroic fourth Green Goblin (Phil Urich) and when she didn't arrive at the agreed time, the Goblin flew to her apartment and quickly disabled Salt and Pepper. Angel Face took the opportunity to flee with Normie to the parking garage, where he bit her, forcing her to let him go. She was ready to shoot the kid when the Goblin showed up and sparkle blasted the gun out of her hand. The Goblin's reward was a punch in the face from the angry brat, who screamed, "You're not my daddy! You're not!" (Green Goblin #8)
Peter Parker tried his best to steer Normie away from the Goblin Legacy by being a positive role model (Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #14) but Normie was too aware of his father being the Green Goblin and eagerly awaited the Goblin's return. After Norman Osborn's self-imposed exile in Europe ended, he had a bionic construct dress up as the Goblin and kidnap Normie. The boy willingly went along with the imposter Goblin, believing it to be his father and Norman offered a ten million dollar reward for the boy's safe return, all part of a scheme to prove that Norman wasn't the original Green Goblin. While Spider-Man battled the fake Goblin, a civilian named Clarence Fielding rescued Norman Jr. from the junk yard when he was being held, despite the boy's protests (Spectacular Spider-Man #255). In a way, Normie's next kidnapping was a lucky turn for the boy--after Norman Osborn had been defeated after the Gathering of Five ceremony, the cult of the Scriers faced a sort of civil war over the role of their deposed leader. A rebel Scrier kidnapped Normie in an attempt to draw Norman out into the open and be killed, using a hologram of Harry Osborn to gain Normie's trust. After Spidey saved Normie yet again, the Harry hologram spoke to Normie in private, telling him that Spider-Man was his friend, that his grandfather couldn't be trusted and that Spider-Man had nothing to do with Harry's death. For the first time, Normie Osborn trusted Spider-Man and Spidey took the boy home to Liz.
This new-found trust could easily be all that saves Norman Jr. from his increasingly psychotic grandfather. During the Death in the Family arc, Norman taunted Peter, saying "Fact is, the boy is too much like his father. Dirty genes cant be scrubbed out when the stain is that stubborn. Just imagine: The same pitiful traits as Harry, the same worthless soul, the same weakness...No. I can’t have him weaseling his way in on all of the loot when I'm gone. I'll dispose of the little ape, as I should have done the day he was born." Filled with rage, Peter growled, "I'll kill you" (PP: Spider-Man #46). That's where the boy’s life stands, between two determined, powerful men, both of which are willing to kill for him. [[1]]
MC2
In the MC2 alternate future, little Normie Osborn is all grown up. A sensitive boy, he took his mother's remarrying hard, never getting along with his step-father, Foggy Nelson (until after her death when the two finally bonded), and he held Peter Parker responsible for the death of his father and grandfather. When his mother became ill and died, Normie brokedown, accepting his father's and grandfather's mantle as the Green Goblin as his destiny. His appearance as the Green Goblin forced May Parker to adopt the mantle of Spider-Girl. His first few appearances met with failure as he was continually defeated by Spider-girl, Phil Urich (as the "Golden Goblin"), and even in one instance by Mary Jane Parker. Then one day when May had temporarily lost her powers Normie kidnapped her. Tied up and teasing her with a knife, May realized that Normie was hoping she would break free and kill him. At this time, May was able to convince him to go get help and to forsake the Goblin legacy.
Normie reformed, and even helped May continue on as Spider-girl during her temporary powerloss by lending her his goblin equipment. (Normie also confided in her that he was actually acrophobic). He later also helped Phil Urich return to costume as the good Green Goblin. For a time, Normie converted one of his grandfather's old Goblin hideouts into a kind of "batcave" from which May and Phil could use as a base of operations, which he christened "the Website." However, the Website was later located and destroyed by Canis's people.
While in group therapy (for former supervillains) he began dating Brenda Drago (Raptor, the daughter of Blackie Drago, the second Vulture), much to the chagrin of May who had developed a crush on him. During the events of the Season of the Serpent, May confessed her feelings to Normie, but Normie did not think it would be appropriate (or legal-Normie is 19, May is 15- and there is no way that Mr. Parker would give him permission to date her, considering he is none too thrilled that they are even friends). However after he is shot in the chest by Mr. Nobody (who shot him to mess with May's head) Normie's true feelings are revealed in a coma vision where his grandfather taunts him "All you had to do was kill the girl. But no you had to fall in love with her, and how's that working out for you Normie?" The vision of Norman also taunts him that "you will never truly be rid of me."
His relationship with Brenda became rocky for a time when Élan DeJunae appeared to inform him of their betrothal which had been arranged by her father and Norman Osborn when Normie and Élan had just been children. Normie was not thrilled with the news, and Élan decided it was up to her to make sure that Normie was true to the family legacy. First she attempted to expose him to the Goblin chemicals but she was foiled by Spider-girl. Normie was submerged in the chemicals for a long time, but he said the doctors gave him a clean bill of health.
Next Élan objected to his wedding to Brenda literally crashing it. She forcably bonded the Venom-symbiote to him as a "wedding gift." The new Venom went on a rampage until Normie with the help of Spider-girl was able to gain control of the symbiote. May told him to cast it into the fire but Normie could not bring himself to kill it. "I overcame the Goblin legacy, I should be able to control a simple alien symbiote." It looks as if Normie wishes to use the symbiote to be a hero. However he is apparently afraid of a repeat of what happened on what was supposed to be his wedding day. He told his secretary Kristy Watson (Normie's nanny growing up, cousin of MJ), that if the alien ever takes control of him again, to have Spider-girl destroy him.
His superhero persona doesn't have a name yet. They object to being referred to as Venom (because Venom was the symbiote with Eddie Brock) or as Normie (he would like to keep his identity secret) while out patrolling but "all the good ones (names) are already taken."
When the Avengers came to arrest him for harboring the Venom-symbiote the cyborgized-Jim Rhodes short-circuited (claiming that Tony Stark murdered him) and went on a rampage in New York City. In the end Normie with the Venom-symbiote saved the day because he was the only one who did not hold back-he snared Rhodes with the symbiote and then grabbed onto a live wire from inside a streetlight, electrocuting both himself and Rhodes, with the short-circuiting Rhodes falling first. Afterwards he informed them that Raptor is a government agent and so "surrendered" to her custody.
He voluntarily joined Kaine's team of reformed supervillains on the condition that Raptor (who does not get along with Whedon, its director) may be allowed to quit.
Trivia
- During his Goblin phase, Normie got several tattoos, one of which reads "Honor Thy Father/Kill the Spider."
- Normie is afraid of heights.
- According to the Venom-symbiote, Normie is a closet fan of Disney movies.
- When in control of the symbiote, Normie resembles Symbiote Spider-man.
Links
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