Erik Josten

Erik Josten
Atlas, from the cover of New Thunderbolts #12 Art by Tom Grummett.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	As Power Man: Avengers vol. 1 #21 (Oct. 1965) As Smuggler: Spectacular Spider-Man #49 (Dec. 1980) As Goliath: Iron Man Annual #7 (Oct. 1984) As Atlas: The Incredible Hulk #449 (Jan. 1997)
Created by	Stan Lee (writer) Don Heck (artist) Jack Kirby (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Erik Stephan Josten
Team affiliations	Thunderbolts Lethal Legion Masters of Evil Emissaries of Evil Defenders Revengers
Partnerships	Swordsman
Notable aliases	Power Man, Smuggler, Goliath, Atlas
Abilities	Superhuman strength and durability Size and mass manipulation

Erik Josten, otherwise known as Power Man, Smuggler, Goliath and Atlas, is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character has been a prominent member of both the Masters of Evil and the Thunderbolts.

Created by writer Stan Lee, and artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Avengers vol. 1 #21 (October 1965) as Power Man, in Spectacular Spider-Man #49 (December 1980) as Smuggler, in Iron Man Annual #7 (October 1984) as Goliath, and in The Incredible Hulk #449 (January 1997) as Atlas.

Erik Josten was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A former AWOL Marine turned mercenary, he is employed by Baron Heinrich Zemo as head of his South American security/mercenary force. After Zemo's death, Josten is convinced by the Enchantress to undergo the same 'ionic-ray' treatment (from a machine invented by Zemo) as Simon Williams (Wonder Man), making Josten super-strong (though not as strong as Wonder Man since the treatment was specifically calibrated to Williams and the Enchantress wasn't aware it had to be tailored to the subject). Taking the name "Power Man", he becomes the Enchantress' partner and battles the Avengers at her request. She used illusions to turn the city against the Avengers, though finally Captain America used a tape recording to prove the Avengers were innocent. He becomes a professional supervillain and partners with the Swordsman, and the two fight the Avengers again under the leadership of the brainwashed Black Widow. Alongside the Swordsman, he becomes an unwitting pawn of the Red Skull's, and fights Captain America. He briefly serves as an agent of the Mandarin. He later fights the Avengers again as a member of the first Lethal Legion.