“Here is the goal I was programmed to seek! Nothing… And no one… Shall stop me now!” — Growing Man.
The Growing Man was built by the alien inhabitants of the planet Kosmos when it was subjugated by Kang the Conqueror. Growing Man first appeared on Earth as a doll-size figure when it was found by a museum expedition who later brought it to the police. The android activates and battles Thor but is deactivated and recovered by Kang.
Months later Kang uses Growing Man to abduct Tony Stark at a hospital and engages the Avengers. This was the start of the game Kang and the Grandmaster played.
Growing Man was later recovered by HYDRA and the terrorist Baron Strucker orders the stimuloid to destroy the Thunderbolts. The Thunderbolts were able to defeat the android. Kang later dispatched a new variation of the Growing Man against the Young Avengers. This version of Growing Man would split into multiple smaller units when struck.
The current whereabouts of Growing Man are unknown and have not resurfaced on Earth for some time.
Current
The Growing Man has recently resurfaced to fight the New Avengers in the Avengers vs.Atlas mini-series.
Powers & Abilities:
The Growing Man is a stimuloid — a form of android that absorbs most forms of kinetic energy directed against it, causing it to grow significantly in size every time it is struck. Growing Man also has superhuman strength and durability which increases with its growing height. A new iteration of the Growing Man shows the ability to create smaller clones of itself whenever struck.
Other Media
Television
Avengers Assemble (2016)
Growing Man appears in the show Avengers Assemble as a minor villain who seems to have no connection to Kang the Conqueror. The Avengers are fighting him, not being able to get the edge on him when the Thunderbolts (Masters of Evil) fly over and help fight. Growing Man is ultimately defeated when the Hulk goes inside his head and smashes the tech in his head.