Name: Norman Osborn

Supervillain Name: Green Goblin

Created By: Stan Lee and Steve Ditko

Played By: Willem Dafoe

Powers: Super strength, speed, stamina, durability, agility, and reflexes, as well as advanced healing. He is also an expert marksman, has a genius-level intellect and is a skilled fighter. Green Goblin also uses the Goblin Glider, which allows him to fly.

Mini Bio: Growing up, Norman Osborn was obsessed with gaining wealth and power, and after studying chemistry and electrical engineering, he set up Oscorp with one of his professors – Professor Mendel Stromm. He married his childhood sweetheart, Emily, who gave birth to their only child, Harry. Emily sadly died after an illness, which caused Norman to bury himself in his work, all but ignoring his son.

When his business was failing, Norman made a deal with Mephisto – his son’s soul in exchange for financial success. The deal worked, but it made Norman even more relentless – his soul corrupting under the reality-warping spell. When he found the formula to make someone super powerful, he planned to use it on himself, but his son Harry swapped the formulas, having grown tired of being ignored.

The swapped formula exploded in Norman’s face, and while in hospital, he thought he was thinking clearer than ever. With this new clear thinking, Norman tried to become the most powerful man in New York – and tried to prove his power by going after Spider-Man. He was defeated multiple times, and with each defeat, he grew more and more obsessed with Spider-Man, until he managed to capture him.

During this battle, Spider-Man managed to defeat Norman by electrocuting him, which left him with amnesia. But, it didn’t take long for the Green Goblin to come back, this time in the form of a separate identity inside Norman’s mind, believed to have been caused by the formula Harry swapped out exploding.

The Goblin persona grew more and more obsessed with Spider-Man, and the two have been fighting for years. Norman has also led the Thunderbolts team, and the Dark Avengers, as well as attempted to destroy Asgard.

First Comic Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man issue 14 (1964)

Most Common Team Ups: Dark Avengers, Thunderbolts, Sinister Six

Comic Recommendations: Spider-Man: Revenge Of The Green Goblin (2000) by Roger Stern, Thunderbolts (2008) by Christos N. Gage and Dark Avengers (2009) by Brian Michael Bendis