Goliath (Dr. William Barrett "Bill" Foster, formerly Black Goliath, formerly the second Giant-Man) is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. He is an African American version of Giant-Man. Bill Foster was created by Stan Lee and Don Heck in The Avengers #32 (September 1966). Black Goliath was created by Tony Isabella and George Tuska in Power Man #24 (April 1975). Foster became the second Giant-Man in Marvel Two-in-One #55 (September 1979). He became the fourth Goliath in The Thing (2nd series) #1. Although he became a superhero years later, Bill Foster is the second African American comic book character to become a superhero.
| Goliath IV | |
|---|---|
| File:BlackGoliath 1.jpg Black Goliath #1 (February 1976). Art by Ron Wilson | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | As Dr. Bill Foster: The Avengers #32 (September 1966) As Black Goliath: Power Man #24 (April 1975) |
| Created by | Stan Lee Don Heck |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Dr. William Barrett Foster |
| Team affiliations | Centers for Disease Control, Project: Pegasus, Defenders, Champions (as technical advisor) |
| Notable aliases | "Bill", Black Goliath, Giant-Man |
| Abilities | Ability to grow to a gigantic size while gaining mass and superhuman strength in proportion to his height. |
Black Goliath is also the name of the short-lived comic book starring the character, which ran for 5 issues in 1976.
Publication history
Black Goliath has appeared in the pages of The Avengers, Power Man, Black Goliath, Marvel Two-in-One, The Champions, The Defenders, Marvel Super-Heroes (vol. 3), and Marvel Comics Presents.
Character biography
Origin
Biochemist Dr. Bill Foster was the lab assistant of Dr. Hank Pym (aka Giant-Man). Pym was stuck at the height of 10 feet for a time and Dr. Foster helped him find a cure to return his size back to normal.
Black Goliath
Dr. Foster moved to the West Coast and had at some point acquired the formula to "Pym particles" which gave him the ability to grow in size like his former employer. Taking the name Black Goliath, he helped Power Man fight the Circus of Crime. As Black Goliath he fought criminals such at Atom-Smasher, Warhawk, Stilt-Man and the Hijacker. Black Goliath later assisted the Champions of Los Angeles, then joined the group part-time as their technical advisor. After the Champions disbanded, Black Goliath, along with a large group of other heroes, joined the Defenders for only one mission before quitting the group.
Giant-Man II
The Project: Pegasus Saga
Dr. Foster later joined the staff of Project: Pegasus, the U.S. government's semi-secret energy research facility. While there he revealed his identity of Black Goliath to the Thing, who at the time was working for Project: Pegasus. In the process of answering an emergency alarm, Foster decides to change his name to Giant-Man at Ben's suggestion. After working at Project: Pegasus for a short time Foster revealed that was dying from radiation poisoning he contracted in his earlier fight with Atom-Smasher. Some time later, while on his death bed, Foster's radiation poisoning was cured by a blood transfusion from Spider-Woman. At the time she was immune to radiation, but lost that immunity after giving Foster the transfusion.
The Return
After being cured, Foster gave up the Giant-Man identity for a long time. He finally returned as Giant-Man when he assisted the West Coast Avengers in their battle against the High Evolutionary in the Savage Land during The Evolutionary War. Giant-Man later defeated Ant-Man's old foe Doctor Nemesis and Goliath in their scheme.
Hero No More
Foster soon gave up the Giant-Man identity and Hank Pym subsequently took it back for himself. Not too long after that, Goliath's ionic powers were disrupted in a battle against the Avengers West Coast. This caused an energy disruption which allowed a race of extra-dimensional creatures, the Kosmosians to attack Earth. Although the creatures were ultimately repelled, the energy disruption and effects on the Pym Particles affected all that had ever been exposed to them, except Pym himself, causing them to lose control of their growth and/or shrinking powers.
Since losing his powers, Dr. Foster joined the staff of the Centers for Disease Control. In this capacity he helped the Avengers deal with a bio-weapon released near Mount Rushmore.
Goliath Again
Recently, Foster donned the identity of Goliath again (along with a new costume and without the modifying "Black"). He first helped the Thing deal with a supervillain (along with hitting him up for a research grant), then helped Spider-Man track down the Hulk in order for Bruce Banner to possibly deal with Spidey's cellular degeneration. He has also appeared on the cover to an upcoming issue of Civil War.
Powers and abilities
Foster's exposure to Pym particles gives him the ability to grow to a gigantic size while gaining mass and superhuman strength in proportion to his height.
Bibliography
List of titles
- The Avengers #32-35, 41, 54, 75, 244, 246, 360, 379-382
- Avengers (vol. 3) #66
- Avengers West Coast #100
- Black Goliath #1-5
- Black Panther (vol. 2) #17
- The Champions #11-13
- The Defenders #62-65
- Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #2
- Marvel Comics Presents #113-118
- Marvel Feature #9
- Marvel Super-Heroes (vol. 3) #11
- Marvel Two-in-One #24, 54-58, 76, 81-85, 96
- Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #41
- Power Man #24-25
- Spider-Woman #4, 47
- The Thing (2nd series) #1
- West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #39
- West Coast Avengers Annual #3
Significant stories
- The Avengers #32-35 (September 1966-December 1966) - Dr. Bill Foster, a biochemist and Dr. Henry Pym's laboratory assistant, helps Pym find a cure to return his size back to normal.
- Power Man #24-25 (April 1975-June 1975) - First appearance of Bill Foster in the identity of Black Goliath.
- Black Goliath #1-3 (February 1976-June 1976) - Black Goliath fights Atom-Smasher who perishes in the battle.
- Black Goliath #4 (August 1976); "Enter Stilt-Man. Exit Black Goliath." - Black Goliath battles Stilt-Man.
- Black Goliath #5 (November 1976); "Survival" - Black Goliath travels to a distant planet.
- Marvel Two-in-One #24 (February 1977); "Does Anyone Remember... the Hijacker?" - The Thing and Black Goliath battle the Hijacker.
- The Champions #11-13 - Black Goliath joins the Champions as part-time technical advisor.
- The Defenders #62-65 - Along with a large number of other heroes, Black Goliath joins the Defenders for a single mission.
- Marvel Two-in-One #54 (August 1979); "The Pegasus Project, Part 2: Blood and Bionics" - Dr. Bill Foster brings the body of Atom-Smasher to Project: Pegasus for study.
- Marvel Two-in-One #55 (September 1979); "The Pegasus Project, Part 3: Giants in the Earth" - Foster takes the identity of Giant-Man.
- Marvel Two-in-One #58 (December 1979); "The Pegasus Project, Part 6: To the Nth Power!" - Giant-Man reveals he has deadly radiation poisoning stemming from his prior battle with Atom-Smasher.
- Marvel Two-in-One #85 (March 1982); "The Final Fate of Giant-Man" - On his deathbed, Giant-Man's radiation poisoning is cured by a transfusion from Spider-Woman.
- West Cost Avengers Annual #3 (October 1988); "The Evolutionary War, Part 9: Tails You Win!" - After a long absence, Bill Foster regains his powers and becomes Giant-Man again to help the West Coast Avengers battle the High Evolutionary in the Savage Land.
- Marvel Super-Heroes (vol. 3) #11 (October 1992); "Not to Touch the Earth" - Giant-Man battles Air Walker.
- Marvel Comics Presents #113-118 (1992-1993); "Rest and Sweet Glory, Parts 1-6" - Giant-Man defeats Doctor Nemesis and Goliath in their scheme.
- The Avengers #379-382 (October 1994-January 1995) - An energy disruption's effect on Pym particles causes Bill Foster to lose control of his growth powers.
- The Thing (2nd series) #1 (January 2006); "Fun'n'Games, Part 1: Money Changes Everything" - Foster returns to adventuring and takes up the identity of Goliath.