| “ | So, why don't you call it quits, little man, before I really start throwing my weight around? | „ |
| ~ Bill to Luke Cage. |
| “ | Los Angeles is my home -- you dig? An' so long as super-powered hot shots like Atom-Smasher an' Vulcan are runnin around my town... Black Goliath is gonna be around to stop 'em. An' if you don't like them apples, chum -- You can Lump 'em. | „ |
| ~ Bill Foster. |
| “ | Get ready for the shortest comeback in history, Thor! | „ |
| ~ Bill's last words before his death by Thor's clone, Ragnarok. |
Doctor William Barrett "Bill" Foster, also known as Black Goliath and Goliath, is a fictional character, and a comic book superhero in the Marvel comics and universe.
He is a brilliant scientist who became a colleague of Dr. Hank Pym, who is best known as the superhero Ant-Man. Bill would gain powers similar to Pym, but would increase in size to about twenty-five feet. Foster would later become the second Giant-Man, and the fourth Goliath, and become a member of the Secret Avengers. Following his death during the Superhuman Civil War, Bill's mantle was succeeded by his nephew Tom.
He was created by the late Stan Lee, and the late Don Heck, and first appeared in Avengers #32 in September of 1966.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
William Foster spent his childhood in the Watts ghetto. His natural intelligence and the influence of several good people helped him leave the ghetto and attend California Technical Institute, but not before enlisting in the military. He saw combat in southeast Asia, where he made an enemy of CIA operative Geoffrey Ballard, later the rogue super-agent known as the Centurion.
As a student, Foster worked toward a degree in biochemistry and met and married Claire Temple, a medical student. Upon graduation, he worked his way up the corporate ladder at Stark Industries, but his drive for success strained their marriage to the point of divorce.
When the scientific adventurer Henry Pym was trapped at a minimum of ten feet in height, Tony Stark recommended that Foster assist Pym in finding a cure. For several months they worked together in Pym's laboratories in New Jersey and the Avengers Mansion, although Foster often became embroiled in the Avengers' cases, such as surviving attacks by the Sons of the Serpent and helping to thwart Whirlwind’s attempt to kill Pym and the Wasp in order to claim their estate. The two scientists eventually found a cure, allowing Hank return to normal size.
Becoming a Superhero[]
Foster returned to Stark Industries, where he was promoted to head of the biochemistry division at Stark Industries' Los Angeles plant. Fascinated by Pym's research, Foster synthesized the growth compound, hoping to eliminate any side effects. Eventually Foster tested the formula on himself and found he had successfully duplicated Pym's growth powers. Taking a vacation from his duties at Stark Industries, Foster devised a plan by which he might win back the affection of his ex-wife, Claire Temple.
He wrote her about how he had worked with Pym and duplicated his powers but deceived her into believing that, like Pym, he was also trapped at giant stature. She agreed to meet him to see what help she could provide. They met at a traveling circus where he said he had to work in order to earn money to continue his research. Foster had outfitted himself in a costume and billed himself as "Black Goliath."
Claire's current boyfriend, Luke Cage (then known as the hero Power Man), had followed her, and the two men fought over her. They settled their differences long enough to join forces against the Ringmaster and his Circus of Crime, which Foster had unwittingly joined. Ultimately, however, Claire chose to remain with Cage rather than her ex-husband. Ashamed, Foster returned to Los Angeles.
Although he had fashioned a costumed identity for himself, Foster was uncertain whether he should use it to fight crime, considering the circumstances in which he fashioned it. With the encouragement of Henry Pym, he decided to try. On his first outing, Foster encountered the criminal Atom-Smasher (Ronald English), who bombarded him with deadly radiation. This bombardment immediately produced painful side effects, making his size transformations difficult and causing him to occasionally black out.
Before Foster was able to defeat the Atom-Smasher, his foe was killed by a mysterious assassin that later turned out to be Atom-Smasher's brother, the second Atom-Smasher. Ignoring the symptoms of radiation poisoning, he continued his career, battling such menaces as Vulcan, the Stilt-Man, and the Hijacker, and aiding the Champions and the Thing. After some time, Foster changed his code-name to Giant-Man. During the Civil War, Foster was killed by Thor's clone, Ragnarok, which became a huge shift during the war.
Reanimation[]
While Clea attempted to bring back Doctor Strange, she cast a spell that brought back dead heroes, including Bill before it was undone.
Powers and Abilities[]
Powers[]
- Pym Particles: With the Pym Particles, Foster is capable of changing his size, which alters his physiology to gave him superhuman abilities.
- Size Alteration: Foster is capable of changing his size, usually turning gigantic and allowing him to reach the height of twenty-five feet.
- Superhuman Strength: Due to being mutated by the particles, Foster has superhuman strength, which is based on his size during the occasion.
Abilities[]
- Genius-level Intellect: Foster holds a genius-level intelligence, and is a brilliant scientist.
Portrayals[]
Films[]
- In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he was portrayed by Laurence Fishburne, who also played Morpheus in the Matrix Trilogy and the Bowery King in the John Wick films.
Video Games[]
- In Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2, he was voiced by Emerson Brooks.
- In Lego Marvel's Avengers, he was voiced by James C. Mathis III.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Deadpool foreshadowed his death.
