Brilliant biochemist Dr. Bill Foster began his comic journey as a scientist who helped Hank Pym before he eventually became a superhero himself. Stan Lee and Don Heck introduced Bill Foster 60 years ago in The Avengers #32 (September 1966). He worked with Pym, aka Giant Man, who was trapped in a state of being over ten feet tall. This was his first exposure to the Pym Particles that enabled Pym’s growth and shrinking abilities as Ant-Man, Giant-Man, Goliath, and so on. It wasn’t until nine years later in Power Man #24 (April 1975) that Foster donned a superhero costume himself as Black Goliath.

Foster is a Los Angeles native who earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the California Institute of Technology. He got a job working for Tony Stark’s Plans and Research Division at his factory in Baltimore. Foster became a biochemical laboratory assistant, and Stark sought his help to cure Pym of his size issue.

Bill Foster Becomes a Superhero

Once he moved back to the West Coast, Bill started using the Pym Particles to grow like Pym. He took the name Black Goliath and helped Power Man defeat the Circus of Crime. Foster fought the Atom-Smasher and Vulcan, then worked with the Champions of Los Angeles to fight Stilt-Man. He spent some time as the Champions’ technical advisor and was part of the Defenders, though the team didn’t last long.

His next move was to join Project Pegasus as a biochemical researcher. Foster bonded with the Thing, who was working security at the energy research facility, and revealed that he was once Black Goliath. The pair prevented an emergency, and Foster changed his superhero moniker to Giant-Man in Marvel Two-in-One #55 (September 1979). When Nuklo, Klaw, the Nth Man, the Grapplers, and Solarr attacked Project Pegasus, Giant-Man and the Thing defended the facility with Quasar and the Aquarian.

Foster revealed that he was suffering from radiation poisoning due to a fight with Atom-Smasher. Spider-Woman cured him of the poisoning, but the process also took away his powers. His next appearance was in “The Evolutionary War” storyline when he worked for the High Evolutionary. He learned that the High Evolutionary was working on a genetic bomb, so Foster contacted the West Coast Avengers.

Fighting Cancer & His Return as Goliath

Once Mockingbird, Moon Knight, and Tigra leveled the base, Foster shared that he was battling cancer. Foster developed a new growth serum that added cancer free cells to his body. Staying at the giant size made him healthy enough to continue working on a cure for his cancer.

Later, Foster regained his powers – though it wasn’t revealed how he did it – and he joined a team with Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Falcon, and Brother Voodoo. In The Thing #1 (January 2006), Foster started going by Goliath and got a new costume. Goliath helped the Thing and worked on a research grant, then helped Spider-Man find the Hulk. When superheroes battled each other in Civil War, Goliath joined Captain America’s Secret Avengers. Foster was killed by the Thor clone, Ragnorak, and his death impacted the war. Several heroes switched sides in the battle, including Spider-Man, who joined Cap’s side.