Nearly two weeks left before the launch of the much-anticipated Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 game. The video game is set to introduce some really exciting and epic gameplay features and some new characters, including Harry Osborn, the son of Norman Osborn.
We already know that the character is set to play a crucial role in the upcoming game, but we aren’t exactly sure what that might be. So, before you dive into the game, here’s everything you should know about Harry Osborn in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. It's important to note that the following text contains some spoilers!
Who’s Harry Osborn?
You might already be aware of Harry’s character from the popular Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man movies. Harry Osborn is the son of Norman Osborn, famously known as the Green Goblin, one of the greatest nemesis of Spider-Man. However, as it turns out, Spider-Man’s alter-ego, i.e., Peter Parker, is actually Harry Osborn’s best friend.
One should read the classic Spider-Man comics to really get to know Harry’s character, but the main gist is that he first came to life as Flash Thompson’s crony and Gwen Stacy’s friend. He only befriended Peter after the webslinger had revealed that industrialist Norman Osborn and the Green Goblin were the same people. Despite having Peter as a friend in the comics, Harry also has the worst father ever to exist.
Harry eventually ended up becoming a drug addict while his father was off terrorizing the village and also relapsed right before Norman killed Gwen Stacy and then was killed by his own glider. Harry then dealt with a drug overdose, the death of his closest friend, a schizophrenia diagnosis, and the death of his father all in the same day. These difficulties made him take over Norman’s mask, becoming the second Green Goblin, set to take revenge on Peter Parker.
However, when it comes to Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, the same story might not be followed. For starters, Norman hasn’t yet accepted his Green Goblin side, and Gwen Stacy doesn’t really exist. So, the game might feature a completely different story or take some parts of his old one!
What to expect from Harry Osborn in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2?
Owing to the Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 trailer and the post-credits scenes from Marvel’s Spider-Man and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, we know some details regarding what might happen to Harry Osborn in the game. It seems like he has been swimming around in a tank receiving treatment for his terminal illness (which he doesn’t have in the comic books), but there’s something else in the tank with him, which is the Venom symbiote.
You guessed it right; as it turns out, Harry is the monster’s most recent host. Harry came across the symbiote through Norman as a way to save his life (Marvel’s Spider-Man showed us a rare Norman who deeply cares about his son), but now there are going to be some serious consequences.
Harry turning into the alien symbiote is going to result in some massive emotional turmoil. Not only this, but Peter Parker might also have to deal with the entire situation of his best friend turning into the monster, maybe against his will, into one of the worst enemies of Spider-Man.
Will Harry Osborn be featured in any of the future Insomniac Spider-Man games?
Unfortunately, it looks like Harry won’t really make it to the end of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (but this news is nowhere near confirmed). To know the answer to this popular assumption, we’re going to have to go back to the comic books.
The story arc in which Harry goes down the tunnel of darkness because of his father and then dies after saving Peter’s life is considered as one of the most epic Spider-Man stories ever to exist. Also, keep in mind that Harry passes away in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy as well, so it looks like the character is bound to die in most of the universes.
Harry Osborn's Appearances In The Comic Books
In order to dive deeper into the world of Harry Osborn and how he became friends with Peter Parker, you might want to read Amazing Spider-Man #31 till #40. In #121-122, you’ll get to know the heartbreaking story behind Gwen Stacy’s murder and the effect it had on Spider-Man’s world. Finally, Harry’s first-ever exploration as the Green Goblin after the death of his father takes place in #135-137.
Once that’s done and dusted, you should head over to Spectacular Spider-Man. The story arc known as The Child Within issues #177- 184 shows Harry’s unfortunate downfall, as well as his tragic death taking place in #200. That’s about it when it comes to Harry Osborn and his multiple stories in the comic books.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is set to launch on Friday, October 20, 2023, exclusively for PlayStation 5.
