The true genius behind the Goblin Formula is Mendel Stromm, a business partner to Osborn and co-founder of their chemical company within Osborn Industries.  In fact, when Norman is recounting his past in Spider-Man:  The Osborn Journal, he credits Stromm with creating the Goblin Formula, citing him as a brilliant chemist and roboticist.  Norman also reveals in that story that Stromm actually tested a version of the formula on himself before he died in Amazing Spider-Man #37.  This inevitably leads to Norman being able to revive Stromm from the "suspended animation" that the formula had induced.  Furthermore, in Amazing Spider-Man #40, Norman tells Peter how he eventually came into possession of the Green Goblin Formula.  When Stromm borrowed money from their mutual account, Norman had him arrested for embezzlement.  Stromm claims to have only borrowed the money and that he had no intention of stealing it.  Osborn turns Stromm over to the police anyway, leaving Norman the sole owner of their company, while Stromm swears revenge upon Osborn. 

An addition to the Goblin mythos was added in a retconned story in Peter Parker Spider-Man -1.  In that story, Stromm is already out of the picture, and Norman begins experimenting on his own employees with some strength enhancing formulae.  He is not successful though because he struggles to decipher Stromm's notes.  There is only one known employee that Norman subjects to his experimental formula, although it is possible that there are others.  That employee, Nels Van Adder, goes on a killing spree as the red, demon-like monster called the "Proto-Goblin". When Van Adder tries to kill Norman at Stromm's private laboratory, Norman is saved by Arthur and George Stacy.  The laboratory gets pummeled in the process.  However, after the dust settles, Norman finds more of Stromm's notes hidden within the structure of his old desk. He is convinced that this is the remaining information he needs to re-create Stromm's work.

This brings us back to Amazing Spider-Man #40 as Norman is recounting his tale of the Formula's creation to a restrained Peter Parker.  It seems that Norman's original intent is not to make a strength enhancing formula to use on himself, rather a formula that he could sell for profit to become wealthy. However, when Osborn attempts to duplicate Stromm's formula, it turns green and explodes in his face, leaving him in the hospital. He quickly recovers and soon realizes that the explosion has greatly increased his intelligence and strength.  Norman's newfound powers are now a means to an end, and will allow him to achieve his goal of restoring the family name by attaining wealth and thus power.  Norman also realizes that his new "capabilities" may help him more efficiently in illegitimate operations and he sets his sights on the criminal element, seeking to unite the underworld under his control.  

While Osborn is focusing his efforts to unite the criminal underworld, he is distracted by one of his own employees.  Van Adder wasn't the only Osborn employee to come in contact with a variant of the Goblin Formula.  In fact, another incident took place just before the events of Amazing Spider-Man #21 and was featured in both the Untold Tales of Spider-Man '97 Annual and the Amazing Spider-Man '97 Annual.  A research scientist at Osborn Chemical Company named David Patrick Lowell was working a photogenesis project when his life changed forever.  His research involved the synthesis of a chemical compound to be used as a type of 'super fertilizer' that enhanced solar absorption of plants increasing their growth capabilities.  But when another Osborn employee, Dr. Winkler, receives a promotion in front of Lowell, Lowell becomes irate.  Lowell then confronts Osborn, showing him the progress he's made on the photogenesis project and demands that Osborn promote him as well.  But Norman recognizes the chemical structure of Lowell's photogenesis compound and instantly realizes the similarities to the Goblin Formula that he had previously been exposed to.  Norman then immediately shuts down Lowell's research and demands that he not pursue this any further in an attempt to block anyone from following (or uncovering) Norman's transition to the Green Goblin.  Osborn then orders Donald Menken to dispose of all Lowell's chemicals and shred all of his notes.  Lowell walks in on his work being destroyed and he grabs some of his photogenesis solutions from one of Osborn's lackeys.  A struggle follows, and Lowell accidentally swallows some of the formula and falls back on to a group of solar lamps.  Lowell's collision with the lamps leads to a large explosion and ultimately Lowell becoming the villain Sundown.  Lowell, with his new found powers, goes on a destructive spree but is eventually thwarted by a veritable 'who's who' list of Marvel super heros.  Lowell is then placed in jail at the conclusion of Untold Tales of Spider-Man '97 Annual.

 

Lowell eventually returns to the Spiderverse in the Amazing Spider-Man '97 Annual.  When Lowell is released from prison, he is approached by Donald Menken who offers him aid in getting back on his feet.  Lowell refuses Menken's aid and is later blackmailed by Lucky Lobo as an attempt to get Lowell to work for him as well.  With the aid of Spider-Man, Lowell is able to expose Lobo to the authorities.  Spider-Man asks Lowell to consider using his powers for good as a super hero, but Lowell declines as he disappears off into oblivion.  Neither Lowell nor Sundown have been seen since.

 

For a synopsis of the attempts to duplicate the Goblin Formula click HERE 

 

Chapter 1                Next Section

 

  

 Osborn watches Stromm taken away by the authorities, as seen in Amazing Spider-Man #40