Sometimes, even a villain has identity problems. Erik Josten was a rogue AWOL marine who was employed by Captain America's old adversary, Baron Heinrich Zemo as a henchman. When Zemo was killed during his final battle with Captain America, Josten stumbled across the lab where Wonder Man was created, and was talked into undergoing it by Thor's nemesis, the Enchantress. The ionic radiation turned Josten in a superhuman criminal named Power Man, who easily defeated the Avengers in their first battle, but was defeated by Captain America in their second battle.