Absorbing Man
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The Absorbing Man (Carl "Crusher" Creel) is a fictional character that appears in the Marvel Universe. The Absorbing Man was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and first appeared in the comic book Journey into Mystery vol. 1, #114.
Fictional character biography
Carl "Crusher" Creel is a jailed criminal who becomes the Absorbing Man when he drinks a liquid which the Asgardian god Loki laced with rare Asgardian ingredients. Discovering that he could absorb the properties of anything he touched, Creel promptly escaped prison and went on to battle Thor. Although he is only mortal, Creel's fantastic abilities make him a match for Thor, who eventually tricks Creel into transforming into helium, which drifts harmlessly into the atmosphere.[1]
A short time later, Loki retrieves Creel from space and reveals to he how he had obtained his "absorbing" powers. After being humbled by Loki, Creel agrees to act as his agent and attacks Thor on Earth once more. The battle is deadlocked until Loki transports Creel back to Asgard and directs him to take the city. The Absorbing Man defeats the Asgardian legions and eventually confronts Odin himself. Odin is amazed at this mortal's presumption but also horrified when he discovers that Creel is absorbing each of his attacks and becoming even stronger. Thor attempts to intervene, but Odin advises his son that he must win the day alone — having been challenged in his very throne room. Creel then absorbs the properties of Asgard itself and towers over Odin as Loki arrives to gloat. Loki and Creel are then beaten by trickery: once given Odin's Rod of Rulership the two quarrel over it and find they cannot let go. Odin then advises them that his power lies not in a mere object, but deep within himself. The pair are then banished to space and do not return for some time.[2]
The Absorbing Man eventually returns and goes on to battle many other heroes, such as the Hulk,[3][4] the Avengers,[5] Dazzler,[6], Daredevil.[7] and Spider-Man [8]. Creel is one of the villains who participates in the Secret Wars, and also develops a relationship with the villainess Titania, whom he later marries, although they subsequently split up.
The Absorbing Man later battles and is apparently killed by the hero Sentry during the events of Civil War.[9] Creel, however, later appears at the funeral of Stilt-Man.[10]
Powers and abilities
Crusher Creel has the power to absorb the properties of anything he touches, be it a solid, gas, liquid, or even energy. This also extends to the clothing and ball and chain that he was wearing when the liquid he drank took effect. For example, if Creel were to touch and hold a piece of titanium, the tissues of his body, clothing and his ball and chain would take on the appearance and properties of titanium. Creel also retains his intellect and capacity for speech and full physical movement regardless of the material he absorbs. Creel's overall power increases in direct proportion to the strength of the material absorbed. Hence, Thor is careful not to bring his hammer Mjolnir into direct contact with him. There appears to be no limit to what Creel can absorb, as he has absorbed the properties of steel,[11] silk,[12] bronze,[12] rock, wood, soil,[12] glass,[13] spikes,[14] Odin's cosmic bolt and later cyclonic storm,[15] Asgard itself,[15] water,[16] light,[6] Uru,[17] diamond,[7] and cocaine.[18]
Creel is also a formidable hand to hand brawler, but his one great weakness is that, like the Wrecker, he is something of a thug and not a thinker. Several of the heroes have outsmarted him; on one occasion the hero Daredevil allows Creel to absorb the properties of a diamond, subsequently using his radar sense to precisely target the flaws in Creel's diamond form.
Other versions
Earth X
In Earth X, Creel absorbs knowledge. After absorbing the knowledge of the current Ultron, he is able to remember everything previously absorbed and to turn into them at will. [19]
Age of Apocalypse
In the Age of Apocalypse, the Absorbing Man aligned himself with Apocalypse, who was not above recruiting altered humans such as Creel. Creel served as a warden in Apocalypse's prison camps in the Aztec ruins of Mexico alongside Diablo.[20]
Amalgam Comics
In Amalgam Comics, the Abosring Man is combined with Ambush Bug, creating Absorbing Bug.
In other media
Television
- The Absorbing Man made an appearance in an episode of the 1996 Incredible Hulk animated TV series voiced by Jim Cummings.
- The Absorbing Man also appears as a member of the Masters of Evil in the short-lived animated series The Avengers: United They Stand.
Footnotes
- ^ Journey Into Mystery v1 #114-115 (Mar and Apr, 1965) Marvel Comics
- ^ Journey Into Mystery v1 #121-123 (Oct through Dec, 1965) Marvel Comics
- ^ The Incredible Hulk #208-209 (Feb and Mar, 1977), #347-348 (Sept and Oct, 1988), #457 (Oct 1997) Marvel Comics
- ^ The Incredible Hulk Annual #18 (1992) Marvel Comics
- ^ The Avengers v1 #183-184 (May and Jun 1979) Marvel Comics
- ^ a b Dazzler #18 (Aug., 1982) Marvel Comics
- ^ a b Daredevil v1 #360 (Jan., 1997) Marvel Comics
- ^ Marvel Knights: Spider-Man #13-18
- ^ Civil War #6 (Dec., 2006) Marvel Comics
- ^ Punisher War Journal v2 #4 (Apr., 2007) Marvel Comics
- ^ Journey Into Mystery v1 #114 (Mar., 1965) Marvel Comics
- ^ a b c Journey Into Mystery v1 #115 (Apr., 1965) Marvel Comics
- ^ Journey Into Mystery v1 #121 (Oct., 1965) Marvel Comics
- ^ Journey Into Mystery v1 #122 (Nov., 1965) Marvel Comics
- ^ a b Journey Into Mystery v1 #123 (Dec., 1965) Marvel Comics
- ^ The Avengers v1 #184 (July, 1979) Marvel Comics
- ^ Thor v1 #376 (Feb., 1987) Marvel Comics
- ^ Marvel Knights Spider-Man v1 #16 (Sept., 2005) Marvel Comics
- ^ Earth X #0-#12 (Mar., 1999 - Apr., 2000) Marvel Comics
- ^ "The Age of Apocalypse" story arc which ran from March to June, 1995, across 37 issues and 12 titles.
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