LT. COSTEAU

Real Name: (first name unrevealed) Costeau

Identity/Class: Human (Canadian)

Occupation: Canadian military forces lieutenant

Group Membership: The Canadian military forces

Affiliations: Peter Parker, Gen. Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross

Enemies: The Hulk (Bruce Banner)

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: "Man" (nickname from Gen. Ross)

Base of Operations: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

First Appearance: Amazing Spider-Man I#119 (April, 1973)

Powers/Abilities: Lt. Costeau is an experienced Canadian militia man with sufficient military training reflective of his rank of lieutenant.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 6'0")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 170 lbs.)
Eyes: Unrevealed
Hair: White (with black mustache)

History:
(Amazing Spider-Man I#119) - When the incredible Hulk was spotted ten miles from Montreal, Quebec, where his nemesis Gen. Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross had been sent, Lt. Costeau and his men were sent to assist Ross against the Hulk. Shortly after the public announcement of the Hulk's location, Lt. Costeau reported in with Ross and informed him that he and his men had been ordered to follow Ross' instructions to the letter. As the Daily Bugle's Peter Parker took a photo of the two men, Ross suggested Costeau hop to it, as the Hulk wouldn't be sitting on his thumbs. Ross then ordered Costeau and his men to move out. Parker followed but a few moments later, Costeau stopped Parker and informed him that he could follow them no further, as Parker's name wasn't on the regular or auxiliary lists of American correspondents. He then accompanied General Ross and squadron of the Canadian military in an attack on the Hulk. During the attack, Lt. Costeau was shocked to see the Hulk lifting a large of stone ground to hurl like a so-called "granite missile." Upon hearing Costeau's exclamation, Ross ordered the military to scatter out of the Hulk's way.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#120) - Lt. Costeau was present in a military base alongside Gen. Ross and several other officials when one of the officials detected a seismic disturbance in the middle of the St. Lawrence River. Costeau asked Ross what he thought the disturbance might be and an annoyed Ross sarcastically replied by asking Costeau what he thought it was before answering his own question with the Hulk's name.

Comments: Created by Gerry Conway and John Romita, Sr.

    Lt. Costeau appears with white hair and a black mustache in Amazing Spider-Man I#119 (see headshot image above) but in Amazing Spider-Man I#120, he appears clean-shaven (see above main image). So either Costeau shaved off his mustache during the time he was working with General Ross (which isn't impossible, as there was time between when they were battling Hulk and when they were in the military base) or it was simply an art error (which is also possible since John Romita, Sr. penciled #119 & Gil Kane penciled I#120).

    Costeau's eye was impossible to determine, as he was only ever seen squinting or with his face sufficiently shadowed to prevent his eyes from being seen.

Profile by Proto-Man.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Lt. Costeau should be distinguished from:

• other "Lieutenant" or "Costeau" characters, groups, items, races or events
  

Appearances:
Amazing Spider-Man I#119 (April, 1973) - Gerry Conway (writer), John Romita, Sr. (art), Roy Thomas (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man I#120 (May, 1973) - Gerry Conway (writer), Gil Kane (pencils), John Romita, Sr., Tony Mortellaro (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)

First posted: 04/30/2026
Last updated: 04/30/2026

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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