Big Man (comics)
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Big Man is the name of different fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The known characters who have gone by the name of Big Man are Frederick Foswell, his daughter Janice Foswell, and his son Frederick Foswell Jr. The MC2 version of Big Man is the son of Hank Pym and Wasp.
Fictional character biography
Frederick Foswell
Frederick Foswell was the first person to assume the Big Man mantle.[1] He used to be a reporter for the Daily Bugle, but in reality he lived a secret life as a criminal boss named Big Man. He was eventually defeated by Spider-Man after which he apparently turned new leaf. He died saving J. Jonah Jameson by taking a bullet for him.
Janice Foswell
Janice Foswell | |
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Publication information | |
Publisher | Marvel Comics |
First appearance | Marvel Team-Up #39 (November 1975) |
Created by | Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema |
In-story information | |
Species | Human |
Team affiliations | Enforcers |
Abilities |
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Janice Foswell is the daughter of the original Big Man (Frederick Foswell) and sought to follow in her father's footsteps to gain control of the New York underworld. She was soon joined by a new Crime Master and Sandman.[2]
She and her Enforcers were defeated by Spider-Man, the Human Torch and the Sons of the Tiger. Over a dispute about eliminating Spider-Man and the Sons, Janice was killed by the Crime Master who turned out to be her fiancé and son of the original Crime-Master (Nick Lewis Jr.) as both had separately pursued vengeance against Spider-Man without knowledge of each other's identity.[3]
Frederick Foswell Jr.
Frederick Foswell Jr. | |
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Publication information | |
Publisher | Marvel Comics |
First appearance | Amazing Spider-Man #13 (January 2019) |
Created by | Nick Spencer and Ryan Ottley |
In-story information | |
Species | Human |
Frederick Foswell Jr. is the son of Frederick Foswell and the brother of Janice Foswell. He took over the Big Man role to gain revenge for the death of his father and sister, which, owing to J. Jonah Jameson's then-hostile attitude towards Spider-Man, he blamed on the webslinger. Using one of Arcade's Murderworlds, Foswell Jr. attacked them with the Scorpion, Life Model Decoys of Human Fly, and replicas of the Spider-Slayers. Piloting a giant robot version of Big Man, he attacked Spider-Man and Jameson, assuming Jameson would help kill Spider-Man. Spider-Man and the remorseful Jameson quickly defeated Foswell Jr. as Spider-Man hurls the Big Man robot outside before it can self-destruct. Foswell Jr. is then arrested by the police.[4]
Other versions
MC2
Hank Pym Jr. is the son of Hank Pym and Janet van Dyne in the MC2 universe. He inherits his father's size-shifting powers and takes the Big Man name. Big Man is briefly a member of the Revengers before going straight and joining a government-sponsored team.[5]
Ultimate Marvel
The Ultimate Marvel equivalent is named Mr. Big, a mobster and the Enforcers' leader.[6] Mr. Big was scheming to overthrow Wilson Fisk, using Spider-Man as a secret weapon. The plan backfired, and when Fisk learned that he was the one responsible for Spidey's assault on Fisk's office, Fisk crushed the mobster's head bare-handed.[7]
In other media
- The "Big Man" appears in The Spectacular Spider-Man as the alias of a mysterious crime lord. It is initially used by Tombstone (voiced by Keith David in the first appearance, Kevin Michael Richardson in later appearances) before the Green Goblin (voiced by Steve Blum) takes over. Additionally, Frederick Foswell (voiced by James Arnold Taylor) appears as a separate character who uses his Patch identity as a private investigator.
- Henry Pym Jr. appears in Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow, voiced by Aidan Drummond.
References
- ^ 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. 49. ISBN 978-1-4654-7890-0.
- ^ Marvel Team-Up #39. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Marvel Team-Up #40. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 5 #11-13 (2019). Marvel Comics.
- ^ A-Next #12. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Ultimate Spider-Man #9. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Ultimate Spider-Man #10. Marvel Comics.