The original Foolkiller was introduced in "Man-Thing" #3 and killed in the next issue. He was created by Steve Gerber and Val Mayerik. In his brief "Man-Thing" appearance, the Foolkiller attempted to kill two major characters in the series: F.A. Schist, a real estate developer whose projects threatened the ecology of the Florida Everglades, and Richard Rory, a disc jockey who had denounced the Foolkiller's activities. His real name was not given until a later flashback in "The Amazing Spider-Man" #225, which stated that it was Ross G. Everbest (a variant of Gerber's Reg Everbest pseudonym with his middle name attached to it).