I’m sad to see that one of theMCU’s most interesting superheroes may never demonstrate his powers despite it being 7 years since his introduction. After all, it is pretty rare to introduce a character of relatively high caliber in Marvel Comics to live-action only to sidestep what are arguably their most distinctive features.
While it is relatively normal forthe MCU to take creative libertieswith the specifics of a character’s powers, such as Kamala Khan’s inMs. Marveland beyond, which switches out the ability to enlarge her limbs with the power to generate hardened light structures, it’s rarer to debut characters who never show their powers at all.
This appears to be to ensure that other characters, the main ones, receive the lion’s share of the spotlight. Nevertheless, in the case ofone supporting MCU characterin particular, I’m miffed by the fact that audiences weren’t even afforded a glimpse of what he was once capable of, and I doubt there will be another chance ina future MCU installment.
The MCU’s Goliath Story Has Avoided Showing His Powers
His Appearance In Ant-Man And The Wasp Doesn’t See Him Grow
Goliath is a Marvel Comics superhero associated with Hank Pym’s Ant-Man and thePym Particles used to either shrink or growto giant sizes.Several characters, including Pym himself, have held the mantle of Goliathwhen using the Pym Particles to enlarge, but one of the most prominent is Bill Foster.
Bill Foster died in Marvel Comics during the events of “Civil War,” leaving the Goliath mantle to his nephew, Thomas Foster.
Bill Foster debuted in the MCU inAnt-Man and the Waspas an erstwhile partner of Hank Pym, although their relationship sours after a heated disagreement while working on “Project G.O.L.I.A.T.H.” Foster goes on to help the movie’s sympathetic main villain, Ava Starr, AKA Ghost, using his genius to hunt for a cure to her quantum phasing condition.
Nevertheless, despite featuring a flashback that details Ava Starr’s origins, the same narrative tool isn’t afforded to Foster, with the movie instead leaving his transformation up to our imagination.
Bill reveals that he was able to grow to a record of 21 feet while working on Project G.O.L.I.A.T.H., which means he did, at one point, replicate the abilities of his comic book counterpart. However, this super-powered foray is never depicted on screen inAnt-Man and the Wasp, only mentioned.
This makes some sense, given that the rift between Foster and Pym precluded the latter from accessing the Pym Particles that would have made his growth possible. Nevertheless,despite featuring a flashback that details Ava Starr’s origins, the same narrative tool isn’t afforded to Foster, with the movie instead leaving his transformation up to our imagination.
The Chances Of Bill Foster Returning To The Franchise Aren’t Looking Great
He Probably Won’t Appear In Avengers: Doomsday
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumaniawas Bill Foster’s first and last appearance in the main MCU. This is even though his protégé, Ava Starr, played a starring role in one ofthe MCU’s most recent movies,Thunderbolts*. GivenAnt-Man and the Waspestablished that the two went on the run together, this is somewhat surprising.
In fact, Bill Foster isn’t so much as mentioned byAva Starr inThunderbolts*. Instead, we are all left to wonder where he wound up, while Ava Starr apparently began working for Valentina Allegra de Fontaine as a gun for hire. Furthermore,his absence inThunderbolts*suggests that he won’t make another appearancein a future MCU installment.
It is hard to see where Bill Foster could even slot in. Now that Ghost is a full-fledgedmember of the New Avengers, her newfound status negates the need for his help. While it is obviously possible that the two remain friends,Bill Foster’s brilliant mind and affinity for Starr can now be easily sidelined by another character.
Furthermore,Bill Foster’s main MO outside his intelligence is a power already covered by one of the MCU’s main stars, Scott Lang. Giant-Man has made several appearances throughout the MCU, with his most recent inAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,being in tandem with his daughter, Cassie, who could be looking to take the reins down the line.
Unfortunately,Bill Foster may have fallen into complete obscurity in the MCU, givenThunderbolts*didn’t revisit his arc. Instead, the best we might have seen of Bill Foster has already occurred in a spinoff rather than within the mainline, live-action MCU.
Marvel’s MCU Spinoffs May Be The Closest Thing We’ll Get To Seeing Goliath’s Powers In The Main Universe
Goliath Appears In What If…? Seasons 2 And 3
Bill Foster has technically appeared elsewhere in the MCU, although it was in the animated spinoff show,What If…?.Foster appears as Goliath in two episodes based around the time that he was still operating as a superhero, namely inWhat If…?season 2, episode 2, and season 3, episode 3.
Bill Foster is seen using his powers in both appearances. InWhat If…Peter Quill Attacked Earth’s Mightiest Heroes?he is seen attempting to subdue a young Peter Quill empowered by his Celestial genetics, alongside the likes of T’Chaka’s Black Panther and Mar-Vell, as the more well-known team of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes hasn’t formed yet.
InWhat If…the Red Guardian Stopped the Winter Soldier?, Bill Foster is deployed by SHIELD to try and capture the titular renegade antiheroes after Red Guardian successfully prevents the Winter Soldier from assassinating Tony Stark’s parents. As Goliath, Foster nearly succeeds after chasing them down as they speed away in a car.
Sadly,it seems as though these two occasions will be the only times that Bill Foster’s Goliath is depicted whatsoever. That is, unless theMCU’snow-confirmed reboot afterAvengers: Secret Warsbrings him back into the fold, though any such development remains to be seen.
