After being taken on as pharmacist Bob Benton's assistant, young Tim Roland accidentally adds formic acid to an experiment Benton is working on. The resulting "formis ethers" gave Benton super strength and invulnerability. Bob sent Tim to a costume shop and then became the Black Terror. Tim picked up a smaller matching costume, unknown to Benton. When Tim learned of a plot to crash a subway train, the Black Terror went to prevent the crash. Tim, thinking the Terror may need help, reproduced the experiment and developed the same powers as the Black Terror.