Bill Foster (comics)

Bill Foster
Bill Foster as Goliath. Art by Staz Johnson
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	As Bill Foster: Avengers # 32 (September 1966) As Black Goliath: Power Man # 24 (April 1975) As Giant-Man: Marvel Two-in-One # 55
Created by	Stan Lee (writer) Don Heck (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	William "Bill" Foster
Team affiliations	Centers for Disease Control Project: Pegasus Defenders Champions
Notable aliases	Black Goliath, Giant-Man, Goliath, Rockwell Dodsworth
Abilities	Brilliant biochemist Gifted intellect Superhuman strength Size and mass manipulation

Dr. Bill Foster, also known as Black Goliath, the second Giant-Man and the fourth Goliath, is a fictional character, a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Dr. Foster is an African American with powers similar to Hank Pym's of increasing size and mass to gigantic proportions.

Dr. Foster was created by Stan Lee and Don Heck in The Avengers #32 (September 1966). His "Black Goliath" persona 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 yet the fourth Goliath in The Thing (vol. 2) #1 (January 2006).

Black Goliath is also the name of the short-lived comic book starring the character, which ran for 5 issues in 1976.

Bill Foster has appeared in the pages of various comic books, including The Avengers, Power Man, Marvel Two-in-One, The Champions, The Defenders, Marvel Super-Heroes (vol. 3), Marvel Comics Presents, and Civil War.

The character was killed in the fourth issue of the series Civil War by Ragnarok.

Bill Foster was born in Watts, Los Angeles, California. Biochemist Dr. Bill Foster works in the Plans and Research Division for Tony Stark's Baltimore factory. He is hired to be the biochemical laboratory assistant of Dr. Henry "Hank" Pym (a.k.a. Giant-Man). Pym is stuck at the height of 10 feet (3.0 m) for a time and at the behest of Stark, Dr. Foster helps Pym find a cure to change his size back to normal. Foster continues to work as Pym's lab assistant. Foster later investigates the seeming deaths of Pym and Janet van Dyne.