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Goliath (Marvel Comics)

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Goliath
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceThe Avengers #28 (May 1966)
Created byStan Lee
Don Heck
In-story information
Alter egoHank Pym
Clint Barton
Bill Foster
Erik Josten
Tom Foster
Team affiliationsAvengers
AbilitiesSize-shifting from nearly microscopic to ~100 feet gigantic (both at extremes)
Superhuman strength

Goliath is a superhero comic book identity in Marvel Comics.

Character history

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The Goliath identity has been used by various superheroes:

Henry Pym

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Main article: Hank Pym

Henry "Hank" Pym was the first to utilize the Goliath name.[1]

Clint Barton

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Main article: Hawkeye (Clint Barton)

Clinton "Clint" Barton, better known as the superhero Hawkeye, used the Pym size-changing gas to adopt the Goliath powers and identity shortly after Hank Pym was Yellowjacket. He remained Goliath through the Kree-Skrull War, and briefly resumed using the Goliath identity during "Operation: Galactic Storm".[2]

Bill Foster

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Main article: Bill Foster (character)

Dr. William "Bill" Foster was Pym's lab assistant who had an equally brief career as the Black Goliath and Giant-Man before retiring from superheroics.[3] He later came out of retirement, donning a new costume as Goliath. In the Civil War storyline, he sided with Captain America's faction of outlaw Anti-Registration heroes, and was killed by a cyborg clone of Thor.[4]

Erik Josten

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Main article: Erik Josten

Erik Josten was originally known as the supervillain Power Man. After being soundly defeated by Luke Cage – who was also known as Power Man at the time – he changed his codename to the Smuggler and later to Goliath.[5] He adopted the superhero identity Atlas upon joining the Thunderbolts.

Criti Noll

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Main article: Criti Noll

The Skrull Criti Noll utilized the abilities of Goliath while impersonating Hank Pym for the Secret Invasion storyline.[6]

Tom Foster

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Tom Foster is Bill Foster's nephew. Created by Reginald Hudlin, Greg Pak and Koi Turnbull, he first appears in Black Panther vol. 4 #23 (Feb. 2007),[7] and in World War Hulk: Aftersmash #1 (March 2008) as Goliath. According to Pak, Tom's character was created when Pak and Hudlin had wanted to use Bill's character but were unable to due to the man's demise in the Civil War story arc.[8]

After learning of Bill's death from Black Panther, Tom swore to continue his uncle's legacy by replicating the Pym Particles that gave him his powers. To this end, T'Challa swore to assist him in any way possible, once Tom finished his M.I.T. studies.[9]

Tom next appears during the Hulk's invasion of Manhattan, one of a group of the Hulk's supporters who stay in New York despite the government evacuation. He delivers a speech in which he criticizes Reed Richards and Tony Stark for creating Thor's clone that killed his uncle, declaring himself 'ready for the Hulk's justice'.[volume & issue needed]

After the Hulk and Warbound are defeated and removed from Manhattan, Tom sneaks into the Avengers Mansion's abandoned labs, locating a vial of Pym Particles, which he uses to gain superpowers as Goliath. Upon doing so, he finds and assaults Iron Man in retaliation for his uncle's death, but is interrupted by an internal struggle between the captured Warbound and does not continue the attack. He then assists Damage Control in repairing the city.[10]

Goliath later joins a team of anti-heroes assembled by Wonder Man (whose judgement was impaired at the time) to defeat the Avengers.[11] He and the group are defeated by the Avengers and remanded to the Raft. During his interrogation, he states that he still blames Iron Man for his uncle's death.[12]

During the Civil War II storyline, Goliath is shown to be an inmate at the Cellar. The Mad Thinker tries to recruit him during a massive prison break, but he declines. He later defeats the villains and saves several guards' lives. For his heroic actions, Goliath is released from the Cellar on parole.[13]

Goliaths

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The Ultimate Marvel universe features the Goliaths, a group of African-American men who have size-shifting powers and special jumpsuits that can grow with them. They are part of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Reserves alongside the Giant-Men and Giant-Women.[14][15][16]

In other media

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Television

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Video games

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References

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  1. ^ The Avengers #28 (May 1966). Marvel Comics.
  2. ^ The Avengers #63 (April 1969). Marvel Comics.
  3. ^ Power Man #24 (April 1975). Marvel Comics.
  4. ^ Civil War #4. Marvel Comics.
  5. ^ Iron Man Annual #7 (Oct. 1984). Marvel Comics.
  6. ^ The Mighty Avengers vol. 1 #15. Marvel Comics.
  7. ^ DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt; Cowsill, Alan; Bray, Adam (2019). The Marvel Encyclopedia. DK Publishing. p. 149. ISBN 978-1-4654-7890-0.
  8. ^ "CBR News: THE COMMENTARY TRACK: "Aftersmash" #1 with Greg Pak". Comic Book Resources. 2007-12-07. Retrieved 2011-01-06.
  9. ^ Black Panther #23. Marvel Comics.
  10. ^ World War Hulk: Aftersmash #1. Marvel Comics.
  11. ^ The New Avengers vol. 2 Annual #1
  12. ^ The New Avengers vol. 2 Annual #2. Marvel Comics.
  13. ^ Civil War II: Choosing Sides #2. Marvel Comics.
  14. ^ Ultimates Annual #1. Marvel Comics.
  15. ^ Ultimates 2 #7. Marvel Comics.
  16. ^ Ultimates 2 #9. Marvel Comics.
  17. ^ "One Little Thing". Avengers Assemble. Season 1. Episode 23. April 13, 2014. Disney XD.
  18. ^ "Adapting to Change". Avengers Assemble. Season 3. Episode 1. March 13, 2016. Disney XD.
  19. ^ a b c "Goliath Voices (Marvel Universe)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved November 3, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  20. ^ Flook, Ray (March 24, 2023). "What If…?: Laurence Fishburne Voicing Bill Foster for Season 2". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  21. ^ Amin, Arezou (December 24, 2024). "'What If...?' Season 3 Episode 3 Recap: Bucky and Alexei's Excellent Adventure". Collider. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
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