Goliath

Goliath

Erik Josten, mercenary, attempted murderer, smuggler, scourge of the Avengers, hero? That's right. Goliath's entry on this page is merely wishful thinking on my part. The man who once beat Hercules into a coma is now a hero, a Thunderbolt. The only reason my hope for Erik Josten's return to a life of crime might not be a pipe dream is because Erik views himself as a traitor, as a betrayer. Erik feels he betrayed his sister, causing her death. He betrayed the army by becoming a smuggler and going A.W.O.L. He betrayed, the man who saved his life, Baron Zemo by joining up with the other renegade Thunderbolts. He also feels he betrayed his teammateds helping Zemo escape justice because he felt guilty for turning on Zemo, a man he swore his life to. Josten true to form is keeping secrets from his teammates right now. Will his constant betrayal lead to the Thunderbolts' undoing. If you're a fan of villainy in comics you had better hope so.

"But when I was pounding on Gravitron , I felt it again-the same kind of thrill, the rush I used to get from fighting when I was crazy. I gotta face facts, kid. For all my power, I'm weak- -weak-willed, weak-minded- -an' the rest of you guys-you probably shouldn't trust me."- Erik Josten, Thunderbolts #18

Appearances in Chronological Order

Thunderbolts #10-(flashback)-Erik Josten recalls how he ditched his sister Lindy at their house saying that she wasn't tough enough to hang with him and his crowd. To prove Erik wrong Lindy tried to ride her bike to follow him. Lindy was hit by a car and died as Erik reached the hospital.

Thunderbolts #18-(flashback)-Erik seen sitting near his sister's grave. Leaves to go into the army, but when his smuggling operation is uncovered Josten goes A.W.O.L.

Thunderbolts #-1-Erik Josten interrupts Heinrich and Helmut Zemo's rejuvenation in Compound X to inform Heinrich of an uprising. Heinrich orders Josten to protect his son with his life. Josten tells Helmut Zemo of his admiration for his father. Josten reveals his past as a mercenary and smuggler until Heinrich gave Josten's life order and structure.

Avengers #6-7-These issues are unconfirmed by Marvel, however some believe Erik Josten is present as a soldier for Baron Zemo.

Avengers #9-(Confirmed by Marvel)-As a soldier for Baron Zemo, Erik Josten witnesses Simon Williams being turned into Wonder Man.

Avengers #15-behind the scenes

Avengers #16-With other former soldiers of Baron Zemo attempts to stop Captain America only to be driven back.

Avengers #21

Avengers #22

Avengers #29-30-Power Man joins forces with Swordsman, and a mind controlled Black Widow. The three team up and defeat Hawkeye when he refuses to follow Black Widow into the group. Swordsman and Power Man then defeat Captain America when Power Man catches him in a bearhug, and squeezes until Cap loses consciousness. The trio later capture Quicksilver when he sees Cap in his cell. Finally Swordsman defeats Scarlet Witch when he neutralizes her hex power. Unknown to the however is that Goliath (Hank Pym) was visiting the Avengers with Wasp at the time. Goliath fought the three until Wasp could manage to release the others. Realizing they are outnumbered the trio teleports away to avoid capture. Hawkeye tracks them down concerned for the Black Widow. Hawkeye sends Power Man through the floor and goes on to defeat the Swordsman. However, Power Man sneaks up behind him and puts him in another bearhug. Just then Black Widow broke the mind control she was under and stuns Power Man with a blast. Hawkeye then uses an arrow to bring down a large portion of concrete onto Josten's head rendering him unconscious.

Avengers #38-Seen briefly in the fight that takes place in Tales of Suspense #88.

Tales of Suspense #88-Power Man and Swordsman are trapped within a bubble that brings them to a fake mountain that opens up to reveal a hideout. A voice tells them they are both hired to defeat Captain America. Cap is lured there by a video that shows Bucky alive and trapped asking for help. Cap defeats Power Man by ducking his lunge and letting him stop himself by smashing his head and going out. Cap similarly defeats Swordsman by ducking his sword which hits an electrical source and fries the Swordsman. Just then Cap's captor confronts Cap (though we don't get to see).

Alpha Flight Special #1-Power Man and the Swordsman are mercenaries in Egghead's Emmisaries of Evil. Power Man steps up and fights Wolverine when the Rhino is stunned because Wolverine managed to cut him. Alpha Flight stops Egghead's plan. It's unclear what happens to Erik.

Avengers Special #1-Power Man joins the Mandarin in his plan to take over the world. For his part in the Mandarin's plan Power Man is teamed up with the Swordsman. Together they are to take over a South American nation that is rich in diamonds. The two use a gigantic gleaming sword that hovers over the city. The sword will explode if lowered, but as the president is about to sign over the nation the Avengers Wasp and Goliath show up. Power Man is knocked out when Goliath grows from a miniature height straight up into giant proportions right into the jaw of Erik Josten. Iron Man stops the descending sword using his repulsor rays.

Avengers #78-79- Power Man revealed as part of the Lethal Legion. The Legion awards praise by defeats of their enemies. Power Man tries to floor Goliath (at the time Hawkeye was Goliath-irony). Goliath knocks him down. Power Man then goes to the Avengers' Mansion to ransack the mansion (more irony). He seemingly returns with a defeated Vision, however it is actually Vision (in disguise) carrying the defeated Power Man. Avengers defeat the Legion, and Power Man is tied among the other members.

Power Man #21-In one of those stories that can only happen in 70's Marvel. Power Man holds a movie theater hostage until Power Man, Luke Cage comes to fight over the rights to the Power Man name. Josten is doing it to restore his sullied with defeat name. Cage is already pretty ticked because his girlfriend dumped him, but after Josten says that the little girl's life he endangered was unimportant Cage goes off and beats Josten unconscious.

Avengers #164-166-Erik Josten after being beaten by Cage gets a job working on the docks as a warehouse worker. He is approached by Count Nefaria to come and work for him. Josten breaks Whirlwind and Living Laser out of jail. The three then steal a bunch of money to fund Nefaria's plan. Nefaria has promised to amplify their powers. The three now amplified go to take on the Avengers. Power Man, once again, staggers Wonder Man with a punch, and then launches Beast with a major punch. Power Man digs up a big chunk of ground to crush Yellowjacket, but as he lifts it the piece falls back on him as he has lost to much power to Count Nefaria who is stealing the power for himself.

Spectacular Spiderman #49-50-Through following Tommy Li Spider-Man learns of the Smuggler's crime organization. Spidey and Smuggler mixes it up. When Spider-Man equates Smuggler's toughness to Luke Cage's Smuggler freaks out. Spider-Man wraps Smuggler up in webbing.

Spectacular Spiderman #54-After Spider-Man turned Josten over to the cops Josten is convinced to turn states evidence in order to get some leniency. However Smuggler is kidnapped by the Maggia. The Maggia get away in an ambulance because Spider-Man didn't realize it was the police chasing the ambulance and stopped their car. Spider-Man goes to aid Josten's escape. While Spider-Man is fighting the Maggia Smuggler breaks the chains that hold him and joins the fight. While escaping Josten is shot in the back.

Iron Man annual #7- Dejected Erik Josten walks along the street in a seedy neighborhood. He doesn’t see the car headed straight for him. Erik is thrown twenty feet when the car hits him. The driver gets out not believing that Erik is getting up. He offers Erik a ride to the hospital, and asks if he should call the police. Erik grabs the man and holds him up with one hand. He says that he doesn’t want any police, and tells the guy to forget the accident ever happened. Erik puts the guy in a trashcan and keeps walking. Erik thinks to himself, as he limps along, that the hit wouldn’t have bothered him at all a year ago. He says that he sure hopes this works. Erik walks into an abandoned warehouse. After a security check Erik sees Dr. Karl Malus. Malus offers Josten some tea, but Erik says that he only came because he wants to be restored to what he was. Malus asks him to tell him exactly what he was. Josten gives Malus a summary of how he got and lost his powers. Erik says that he is sick of being a nobody. Malus agrees to help him if he will work for him for six months. Josten agrees. Malus studies Josten’s body. Malus also gives Josten the Pym growth serum that he has. Josten says that he feels different now. Malus says that Josten has been turned into a new form of life. Malus has Josten concentrate and manages to get him to grow. Malus is pleased and tells Goliath that they should begin their first project. Goliath says that he isn’t working for anybody. Goliath grows out of the warehouse. He is soaking up the others’ fears. He starts destroying buildings. Goliath throws a gasoline truck when Iron Man shows up. Goliath says that he is happy to see Iron Man so he can build his rep after killing an Avenger. Goliath throws a bus at Iron Man. Iron Man smashes it. Iron Man tries a repulsor, but Goliath doesn’t even feel it. Goliath swats Iron Man out of the air. Goliath throws a chunk of concrete at Iron Man, but he smashes it. Goliath smashes a building and it collapses on Iron Man, but Iron Man gets back up. Iron Man starts flying around, but Goliath snatches him out of the air. Goliath says that they laughed at Power Man, but they can’t laugh at Goliath. Goliath says that Iron Man’s power was nothing to him, and he throws him as far as he can into the Mojave Desert. Goliath shrinks down and walks away. The next day Iron Man, Hawkeye, and Wonder Man come looking for Goliath. Wonder Man walks into Goliath’s hotel room. Seconds later he comes hurtling out. Goliath grows right out of the building. He knocks Hawkeye over by lifting the ground he is standing on. Wonder Man tries to fly right at Goliath, but Goliath swats him down like a bug. Goliath is about to smash Hawkeye and Wonder Man with a truck, but Iron Man grabs them and speeds away. Goliath gloats some more. Goliath is pulling down the letters on the Hollywood sign. He shouts if Enchantress and Nefaria are watching now. Suddenly the West Coast Avengers attack again. They all keep hitting him while Iron Man uses sonics to disorient him. Goliath gets bigger and Iron Man increases the sonics. Eventually Goliath grows up to 200 feet. The strain is too great and Goliath passes out.

West Coast Avengers vol. 2 #1- Hank Pym has come to visit Erik Josten/Goliath to find out where he gets his growth powers from. Goliath says that he doesn’t have to talk to Pym, but if Pym wants grow big and then go fight he is up for that. Pym says that he doesn’t do that anymore. Pym says that he wants a blood sample and asks if Goliath is going to cooperate. Goliath says that he will cooperate but that he doesn’t have any blood anymore. Suddenly Wonder Man, Iron Man, and Tigra return. When Simon tells the others that they were fighting robots Goliath laughs. Pym discovers that Josten has Pym Particles in him, but that the serum has evolved. Ultron attacks the compound and Tigra is left to guard Goliath. Goliath asks Tigra if she wants to come sit on his lap. M’Baku and Ultron knock out Tigra and they free Goliath. Goliath smashes through the roof of the compound. Wonder Man flies up to stop him while Hawkeye fires a sonic arrow. Goliath catches the arrow and swats Wonder Man to the ground. Simon gets back up and flies right into Goliath’s face. Goliath tries to step on Hawkeye, but when Wonder Man swoops I to help him M’Baku trips him up. Goliath knocks out Wonder Man smashing him into the ground. Goliath picks up Wonder Man and M’Baku. Ultron then carries Goliath and Hank Pym as he flies away.

Vision and Scarlet Witch Vol 2 #1-(behind the scenes)-Iron Man returns to Hawkeye and Tigra after Goliath and the others make good their escape.

West Coast Avengers vol. 2 #2- Goliath stands next to a machine as Reaper tells Wonder Man that he isn’t his brother, but a genetic freak. Reaper says that he is going to get Vision and scan both of their brain patterns. One of Ultron’s machines will then eliminate any portion that isn’t common between the two. Reaper will then send that mind into a body that looks like Simon Wiliams and then he will have his brother back. Ultron leaves to get Vision.

Vision and Scarlet Witch vol. 2 #2- Ultron has returned and now all the West Coast Avengers, save Mockingbird, are in energi-cages. Goliath sits next to the cages as Reaper bids them welcome. Reaper goes over his plan again. When Ultron takes Simon out of his cage to scan his brain Simon decides to fight. Mockingbird frees the other West Coasters and the fight begins. Black Talon and Man-Ape desert Reaper for his racism. Goliath is left fighting Vision and Scarlet Witch. Nekra and Reaper make a run for it. When Wonder Man and Vision return Goliath is seen being tied up with a rope. Don't try to figure out why he was defeated... it makes no sense.

West Coast Avengers Vol 2 #3-Goliath is put back in the holding cell.

Iron Man #206-Goliath's lawyer gets him released from the prison in the West Coast Avengers' complex. His lawyer claims that the WCAs gained custody of Goliath while he was unconscious therefore it was illegal to imprison him on their compound (though this is totally bogus since Goliath wasn't unconscious at any point in West Coast Avengers #3 or Vision and Scarlet Witch #2). Goliath holds still until he gets outside and then blasts up to sixty feet. He chases Hawkeye and Mockingbird until Iron Man comes to the rescue. Goliath and Iron Man fight until Iron Man is called away to help James Rhodes. Hawkeye and Mockingbird are put into Goliath's cell to protect them. When Iron Man returns he finds Hawkeye and Mockingbird sinking in the ocean inside the cell. He rescues them and then continues the fight with Goliath. While he is occupying Goliath he isn't really hurting him. Iron MAn then finds a way to shoot repulsor blasts into Goliath's mouth knocking him out.

Web of Spiderman #60-Goliath loses to the cosmically powered Spider-Man. Doom augments Goliath's powers to allow him to get even bigger and stronger. After Spider-Man shoots eye beams at Goliath he grows bigger. Spider-Man realizes that everytime he hits Goliath, Goliath grows. Over 200 feet tall Goliath picks up an entire ferry. Spider-Man shoots cosmic power out to save the people. Goliath crashes down and causes a tidal wave.

Web of Spiderman #64-65-Chameleon brings together Gravitron, the Brothers Grimm, Trapster, Titania, and Goliath to pound on the now un-cosmic Spider-Man. Trapster, Brothers Grimm, and Titania knock Spider-Man to the ground. Graviton holds him there, and Goliath stomps him through the concrete. Spider-Man survives and comes up behind the group. Spider-Man webs and trips Goliath. He then runs from the group until Graviton makes him weightless and Spider-Man floats up into the air. Spider-Man catches a plane with webbing that takes him back to Earth. When the group goes back to get their money Chameleon ditches and makes it seem like Kingpin is also stiffing the group. Since they know where to find Kingpin they go to get him. Spider-Man has to save Kingpin. Titania falls off the building and is hit by a car. Goliath has his hand webbed to a building. Why it takes so long for him to break a wall I don't know, but when he finally gets loose Spider-Man has his feet webbed together and the fall knocks Goliath out.

Avengers Death Trap:The Vault- Following Venom's plan to break out of the Vault. Goliath knocks down the walls seperating the cell blocks with Ironclad, of the U-Foes, and Titania. Goliath later admires Klaw's work at defeating Vision. When the Avengers and Freedom Force arrive Goliath explains how he and Mentallo defeated Hank Pym and Iron Man. Later when Klaw is distracted Vision escapes from the sound cage and defeats Goliath. The heroes win.

Wonder Man #1-Josten engages in a plot to usurp Simon Williams life. First he starts a fight with Wonder Man, but his agent tells him to leave despite the fact that he is winning. Josten starts a fight inside a restaurant. During the fight later Josten throws Ginger, so Wonder Man has to catch her. Erik tries to step on him, but Simon dodges. Eventually while Goliath is screaming Wonder Man flies into his mouth, down his throat, and chokes Goliath unconscious.

Marvel Comics Presents #114-118-Goliath, working for Dr. Nemesis, attacks Giant-Man. Goliath starts kicking Giant-Man's rear. Giant-Man tries to hit Goliath with a rock. Goliath beats Giant-Man. Giant-Man tracks them down and the fight begins again. Giant-Man throws rocks in Goliath's eyes and sucker punches him. Still blinded Giant-Man knocks out Goliath. Goliath is taken into custody.

Wonder Man #24- Lotus recruits Black Talon to stand with Mephisto's side against Blackheart's demon- Wonder Man. Goliath is being restrained in a jail cell. Talon calls out the name Wonder Man to Goliath. Goliath wakes up in a rage. He rips right through his restraints and through his jail cell. Later the Black Talon brings Goliath and M'Baku to "Zemo, Enchantress, and Executioner". He suggests they reform the Masters of Evil.

Wonder Man #25- Goliath, M'Baku, Black Talon, Enchantress, Executioner, and Baron Zemo storm in on Wonder Man, Beast, and Gloria. Wonder Man smashes the fake Zemo's face. Goliath says there is nothing fake about him. Wonder Man dodges his punch, and then hits Goliath. Goliath backhands him as he grows larger. Wonder Man decides that he wants to get bigger too. They grow and crash right through the ceiling. Goliath freaks because Wonder Man isn't supposed to be able to do that. Wonder Man says that he is the new Wonder Man. Goliath says that he is the biggest one of all, and grows larger and larger. Wonder Man has no experience at this and stops growing. Goliath says that he is sick of being a joke while Wonder Man gets fame for his powers. Goliath grows larger than he has ever been. He says that he can see over the curve of the Earth from up there. Finally Goliath gets so big that his body's ions just separate and disperse. Goliath screams as his body tears apart.

Avengers West Coast #92-In jail Goliath is doped up until he hears somebody mention Wonder Man's name at which point he flips out, grows so big he bursts through the roof, and takes off to find Wonder Man. He finds Hawkeye who is now calling himself Goliath. Goliath flips out because he doesn't want to lose his name again. Goliath dominates the fight. At one point Clint tries to grow as tall as Erik, only to fall over with cramps from the growth. Mockingbird comes in and bails out Hawkeye by nailing Goliath with an ion absorbing arrow to sap Goliath's strength. Clint takes the opportunity to level Goliath.

Avengers #379-381-(behind the scenes)-Hank Pym investigates a series of odd growth occurances. Anyone previously involved with Pym particles loses control of their growth. It turns out the creature from Kosmos is controlling the changes.

Avengers #382-It turns out that Erik Josten , now hundreds or even thousands of feet tall, is the power source for the portal that the creature from Kosmos came through. He is trapped by the criminal Kosmosians who plan to use him as a way to take over the world. Pym finds a way to control his strength with his growth and defeats the creature. Josten is rescued, but he is in a coma.

Thunderbolts Annual 1997

Thunderbolts #2-(flashback)-Zemo seen proposing the idea of becoming the Thunderbolts to Goliath and the others

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