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Attributes

Height: 5'5" as Foswell, 6' plus as Big Man

Weight: Unknown

Eyes: Brown

Hair: Brown

Features: As the Big Man, Foswell wore a full-headed white mask, white gloves, and brown hat to completely cover him. He used special built-up shoes, an oversized padded jacket and a small amplifier to give the impression that he was a large, imposing figure. After his return from prison, Foswell's most distinguishing features were a pencil-thin mustache and a bow tie.

Summary

Created By: Stan Lee, Steve Ditko

Real Name: Frederick Foswell

Current Aliases: None

Former Aliases: Patch

Dual Identity: Publically known

Current Occupation: Deceased

Former Occupation: Daily Bugle Reporter

Citizenship: USA

Legal Status: Deceased

Place of Birth: New York, USA

Marital Status: Presumably married at one time (had daughter) but wife never mentioned.

Known Relatives: Janice (Daughter, deceased)

Known Confidants: J. Jonah Jameson, Betty Brant, Peter Parker, Mendel Stromm

Known Allies: The Enforcers

Major Enemies: Spider-Man, Kingpin

Usual Bases: None

Former Bases: New York City

Current Groups: None

Former Groups: Leader of the Enforcers

Education: College Educated

Powers & Paraphenalia

Strength Level: Normal Human

Powers: None

Abilities: The skill to organize and lead the mobs of New York

Equipment: Built-up Shoes, Padded Jacket, and Amplifier to disguise his identity.

Weapons: A Handgun and the Enforcers

Limitations: The Big Man's greatest strength was the illusion that he was an imposing crime figure. Once that was stripped away, his limitations seemed overwhelming, way too many to list here.

Background

Foswell never became the Big Man again. Upon his return from prison, he was rehired by J. Jonah Jameson. Initially suspected by Spider-Man of being either the Green Goblin or the Crime Master, Foswell was actually frequenting underworld hang-outs disguised as the stoolie known as Patch. (He wore a full-head mask of a man with a patch over his left eye.) In his capacity as reporter and stoolie, Foswell figured out the Crime Master's identity and tipped the police, ultimately resulting in the Crime Master's fatal shootout. He also worked with police against a cat burglar and tried to help Spider-Man discover the identity of the Master Planner. He became the Daily Bugle's best reporter. Spidey even began tipping Foswell off to his fights.

Later, Foswell achieved prominence when it was revealed that he was the cellmate of Mendel Stromm in prison and when, as Patch, he was the first one to discover that Peter Parker is Spider-Man. (Unfortunately for him, he also became the first person to fall for the fake conversation between Peter and Spidey, with a web dummy web-slinging away, thereby becoming the first person to believe that Parker and Spider-Man had a working relationship with the news photos.)

In his final appearances, when it seemed that Spider-Man had quit and the Kingpin of crime was reorganizing the underworld, Foswell reverted to his old ways. He first tried to take the Kingpin's place but failed. He settled for being his first lieutenant instead. But, at the end, when the Kingpin's men were trying to kill J. Jonah Jameson, Foswell could not let any harm come to the man who had trusted him after his time in prison and given him a job. Protecting Jameson, Foswell was gunned down by the Kingpin's men... dying a hero.

The Big Man made one other appearance when Janice Foswell, Frederick's daughter took over the role. She was killed by her fiance, the new Crime Master. No one has worn the garb of the Big Man since.

Thanks To:

The assistance of the Marvel Chronology Project is gratefully acknowledged.

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