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{{Short description|Marvel Comics fictional character}}
{{Superherobox| <!--Misplaced Pages:WikiProject Comics-->
{{Infobox comics character
image=]
|image= Thor-376.jpg
|caption='''The Absorbing Man'''
|converted=y
|comic_color=background:#ff8080
|character_name=The Absorbing Man |character_name=Absorbing Man
|caption=The Absorbing Man (background) on the cover of '']'' #376 (February 1987).<br>Art by ].
|real_name=Carl "Crusher" Creel
|alter_ego=Carl "Crusher" Creel
|species=Human mutate{{efn|In Marvel comics, the term "mutate" is used as a noun to designate characters that received superpowers from an external source, as opposed to Marvel's ].}}
|publisher=] |publisher=]
|debut='']'' #114<br>(March 1965)<ref>{{cite book |last1=Misiroglu |first1=Gina Renée |last2=Eury |first2=Michael |title=The Supervillain Book: The Evil Side of Comics and Hollywood |date=2006 |publisher=Visible Ink Press |isbn=9780780809772 |url=https://archive.org/details/supervillainbook0000gina/page/2/mode/2up |language=en}}</ref>
|debut='']'' #114 (March, 1965)
|creators=]<br>] |creators=]<br>]
|alliances=They Who Wield Power<br/>]<br/>Legion Accursed<br/>]<br/>]<br>]<ref>Immortal Hulk #8</ref><ref name="Gamma Flight #1–5">Gamma Flight #1–5</ref>
|alliance_color=background:#c0c0ff
|partners=]
|status=Active
|aliases=Lightningbolt<br>Greithoth<br>Rocky Davis<br>Red Dog<br>Harold
|alliances=
|powers=*Omni-morph duplication
|previous_alliances=]
*] proficiency
|aliases=Lightning Bolt, Rocky Davis
| cat = super
|relatives=Mary "Skeeter" McPherran aka ]; wife
| subcat = Marvel Comics
|powers= Magical ability to mimic the characteristics of any form of matter and some forms of energy with which he is in physical contact.
| hero =
|}}
| villain = y
'''The Absorbing Man''' is the alias of ] '''Carl "Crusher" Creel''', a ] in the ]. He was created by ] and ]. He is mainly an antagonist of ] and first appeared in the comic book '']'' #114.
| sortkey = Absorbing Man
}}
The '''Absorbing Man''' ('''Carl''' "'''Crusher'''" '''Creel''') is a character appearing in ]s published by ]. Created by writer ] and writer-artist ], the character first appeared in '']'' #114 (cover dated March 1965), in the ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dodge |first=John |date=June 28, 2022 |title=Thor Finds a New Way to Defeat a One of His Oldest Marvel Villains |url=https://www.cbr.com/thor-defeat-oldest-marvel-villains-carl-creel-absorbing-man/ |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Corley |first=Shaun |date=2021-07-25 |title=A Small-Time MCU Villain Just Got a Major Upgrade in The Comics |url=https://screenrant.com/absorbing-man-gamma-flight-mcu-upgrade-marvel-comics/ |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=] |language=en}}</ref> Carl Creel has the power to absorb and become any material he touched.<ref>{{cite book |last=Rovin |first=Jeff |title=] |date=1987 |publisher=Facts on File |isbn=0-8160-1356-X |location=New York |pages=1–2 |authorlink=Jeff Rovin}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Leah Marilla |date=September 30, 2014 |title=Who Is "Absorbing Man" Carl Creel? 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s New Villain Has a Comic History with Thor |url=https://www.bustle.com/articles/41880-who-is-absorbing-man-carl-creel-agents-of-shields-new-villain-has-a-comic-history-with |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mullicane |first=Evan |date=August 17, 2020 |title=Hulk's Greatest Threat is a Leveled-Up MCU Villain |url=https://screenrant.com/hulk-greatest-threat-absorbing-man-mcu/ |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=] |language=en}}</ref> Originally a ], in later years, he has reformed into more of an ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Donohoo |first=Timothy |date=2021-12-08 |title=How Marvel's Worst Movie Villain (and Forgotten TV Thug) Became a Hulk-Level Hero |url=https://www.cbr.com/hulk-movie-villain-absorbing-man-marvel-redemption/ |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=] |language=en}}</ref>


Since his original introduction in comics, the character has been featured in various other Marvel-licensed products, including ], ] ], and merchandise such as ]. He appears in the ] TV series '']'', portrayed by ].
==Character biography==
Carl "Crusher" Creel was serving time in prison for aggravated assault he committed while a member of an extortion racket when he was selected by ], the ] god of mischief, as his unwitting agent in a scheme against his half-brother and Asgardian hero ]. By adding an enchanted potion composed of rare Asgardian herbs to Creel's drinking water in the prison commissary, Loki granted the brutal convict a bizarre power Loki hoped would enable him to defeat Thor. Creel gained the power to absorb the physical properties of anything with which he came into contact. Creel used his newfound power to break free from prison and soon became engaged in battle with Thor. Due to his ability to absorb not only the properties of ] but even the physical strength of Thor himself, Creel (now called the Absorbing Man) became one of the strongest mortal foes Thor had ever combated. Nevertheless, Creel was soundly bested and defeated by the Asgardian hero.


==Publication history==
]
The Absorbing Man debuted in '']'' #114 (March 1965), created by ] and ].<ref name="Steele2008">{{cite book|author=Jim Steele|title=HCA Comics and Original Comic Art Auction Catalog #829|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EKSE4_IM5xoC&pg=PA159|date=1 June 2008|publisher=Heritage Capital Corporation|isbn=978-1-59967-276-2|pages=159–}}</ref> He appeared in the 2017 ''Black Bolt'' series, by Saladin Ahmed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Magnett |first=Chase |date=April 4, 2018 |title=8 Reasons Why We Loved 'Black Bolt' |url=https://comicbook.com/marvel/news/why-we-loved-black-bolt/ |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Carter |first=Justin |date=January 4, 2018 |title=Marvel's Black Bolt Actually Made the Absorbing Man Matter |url=https://www.cbr.com/marvel-black-bolt-absorbing-man-death/ |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=] |language=en}}</ref>
After his first defeat, the Absorbing Man returned to plague Thor again. Loki transported him to ] where the criminal could be used in his scheme to take over the Enchanted Realm. But when the Absorbing Man dared to challenge ], lord of the Asgardians, Odin summarily dispatched him into space. Creel eventually managed to return to Earth and soon encountered the ]. They battled, and Creel was defeated while in the process of absorbing the Hulk's power during his transformation to the human Bruce Banner.


==Fictional character biography==
The Absorbing Man then challenged Thor again and was defeated when he was tricked into turning into water. A short time later, Thor defeated him again by tricking him into absorbing the properties of a cardboard replica of Thor's hammer. Serving a prison sentence briefly, Creel managed to escape and was contacted by They Who Wield Power, a cabal of power seekers from El Dorado, who hired him to destroy the Hulk. He failed when he inadvertently absorbed the properties of glass while falling.
Carl "Crusher" Creel was a boxer and jailed criminal who becomes the Absorbing Man when he drinks a liquid which the Asgardian god ] laced with a mystical potion.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Brevoort |first1=Tom |last2=DeFalco |first2=Tom |last3=Manning |first3=Matthew K. |last4=Sanderson |first4=Peter |last5=Wiacek |first5=Win |title=Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History |date=2017 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1465455505 |page=107}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Avina |first=Anthony |date=2019-11-28 |title=Marvel: The Hulk's 10 Most Powerful Villains, Ranked |url=https://www.cbr.com/marvel-hulk-most-powerful-villains-ranked/ |access-date=2022-10-15 |website=] |language=en-US}}</ref> Discovering that he could absorb the properties of anything he touched, Creel escapes prison by absorbing metal from the guards' bullets and goes on to battle ].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Comtois |first1=Pierre |title=Marvel Comics in the 1960s: An Issue by Issue Field Guide to a Pop Culture Phenomenon |date=2015 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1-60549-016-8 |page=87}}</ref> When he escapes, he takes with him the ball and chain to which he was shackled, and uses the ball and chain as a weapon. Although he is only mortal, Creel's fantastic abilities make him a worthy opponent for Thor, who is later forced to end the battle due to Loki's kidnapping of ].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Wells |first1=John |title=American Comic Book Chronicles: 1965-1969 |date=2014 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1605490557 |page=46}}</ref> Creel then breaks into a house and attacks the occupants. Thor comes to the rescue and tricks Creel into changing his atomic structure into pure helium. Thor accomplishes this by using his hammer's powers to transform the ground's molecular makeup. As Creel is acquiring additional mass from direct contact with the Earth when this happens, he ends up drifting harmlessly into the atmosphere.<ref>''Journey into Mystery'' #114–115 (March–April 1965). Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=DeFalco |first1=Tom |last2=Sanderson |first2=Peter |last3=Brevoort |first3=Tom |last4=Teitelbaum |first4=Michael |last5=Wallace |first5=Daniel |last6=Darling |first6=Andrew |last7=Forbeck |first7=Matt |last8=Cowsill |first8=Alan |last9=Bray |first9=Adam |title=The Marvel Encyclopedia |date=2019 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-7890-0 |page=10}}</ref>


A short time later, Loki retrieves Creel from space using Asgardian technology after he has knocked out an Asgardian warlock and sends Creel back to battle Thor. After Creel is nearly beaten due to Thor's fighting skill, Loki transports him to Asgard and reveals the true source of his "absorbing" powers. After being humbled by Loki, Creel agrees to act as his agent, and he is directed to take over the city. The Absorbing Man defeats the Asgardian legions without too much trouble and eventually confronts Odin himself. Creel absorbs Odin's attacks and then the properties of Asgard itself, hoping to rule the universe, and he towers over Odin as Loki arrives to gloat. Thor is ordered by Odin not to keep attacking. Loki and Creel are then beaten by trickery; once given Odin's Rod of Rulership the two quarrel over it, with the Absorbing Man trying to absorb the rod, and the two find that 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 into outer space.<ref>''Journey into Mystery'' #121–123 (Oct.–Dec. 1965). Marvel Comics.</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Morelli |first=Trevor |date=2019-01-17 |title=The Definitive Ranking Of The Hulk's 20 Most Powerful Enemies |url=https://www.cbr.com/hulk-powerful-villains-ranked/ |access-date=2022-10-15 |website=] |language=en-US}}</ref>
Eventually reassembling the shards of his body, the Absorbing Man decided that he was tired of fighting against and losing to superhuman champions. Seeking to flee the US, Creel foolishly took a hostage, thereby causing the ] to chase after him. To escape them, he jumped into the ocean and transformed himself into water. When he finally regained his natural form, his mind was addled from his prolonged intermingling with the ocean, and he was paranoically frightened of anyone with superhuman power. A chance battle with the Hulk cured him of his paranoia, however. Returning to America, he stalked the mutant ] to acquire her light-powers to use against the Avengers. He was defeated, however, by the Dazzler and the ] ]. He was abducted from prison by the ] to fight in the ]. Following the wars, he was restored to Earth. In later years, he became romantically involved with fellow supervillain ] (Mary "Skeeter" McPherran), and the two eventually married.


The Absorbing Man eventually returns on a comet and battles the ]. Bruce Banner had been sent to divert the comet, as it was feared it was radioactive, but the Absorbing Man leaped aboard and began absorbing the Hulk's strength. He tries to bury the Hulk under a mountain, but when the Hulk turns back to human form, the Absorbing Man is unable to support the great weight and was buried.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' vol. 2 #125. Marvel Comics.</ref>
The Absorbing Man is highly addicted to ], especially pain killers and ] and will work for whatever criminal can supply him with narcotics. Creel's addiction has impacted his behavior. While Creel was always a bonafide thug and villain, he was not wholly heartless and usually tried to avoid killing innocent bystanders (although he has never had qualms about threatening or even forcibly incapacitating them). However, when he is in need of a high, he has demonstrated no concern for the safety of others. Recently, he was tricked into transforming into cocaine. Minions operating powerful industrial fans then scattered his body in the room he was occupying. His body mass was then collected off of the surfaces and placed into several bags. This all under the direction of ] who sold this "Creel cocaine" as a drug all over ]. Users of "Creel cocaine transformed into anything they came in contact with, just like Creel. Eventually, however, Creel managed to reassemble himself and was later defeated by ].


However, Creel goes on to battle many other heroes, such as the ],<ref>''The Avengers'' #183–184 (May–June 1979). Marvel Comics.</ref> ],<ref>''Daredevil'' #360 (Jan. 1997). Marvel Comics.</ref> the ],<ref name="Dazzler #18 August 1982">''Dazzler'' #18 (Aug. 1982). Marvel Comics.</ref> the Hulk,<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' vol. 2 #208–209 (Feb.–March 1977), #347–348 (Sept.–Oct. 1988) and #457 (October 1997), and ''The Incredible Hulk'' vol. 2 Annual #18 (1992). Marvel Comics.</ref> and ].<ref>''Marvel Knights: Spider-Man'' #13–18 (June–Nov. 2005). Marvel Comics.</ref> He is one of the villains who participates in the Secret Wars, and also develops a romantic relationship with the super-strong villainess ].<ref>''Marvel Super-Heroes Secret Wars'' #1–12 (May 1984–April 1985). Marvel Comics.</ref> The pair also join the reformed fourth version of the ].<ref>''The Avengers'' #270, 273, 275 (Aug., Nov. 1986, Jan. 1987). Marvel Comics.</ref> Creel has several more battles with Thor<ref>''The Mighty Thor'' #375–376 (Jan.–Feb. 1987); ''The Mighty Thor'' vol. 2 #14 (Aug. 1999). Marvel Comics.</ref> (and the ])<ref>''The Mighty Thor'' #446 (April 1992). Marvel Comics.</ref> and a skirmish with the cosmic hero ].<ref>''Quasar'' #5 (December 1989). Marvel Comics.</ref> Although he assisted ] in a plan to attack ], when Absorbing Man learned that Crossbones intended to detonate a bomb in New York, he absorbed the properties of ] to contain the blast, declaring that he was ''not'' a murderer.<ref>''Captain America'' vol. 3 #24. Marvel Comics.</ref>
At some point, his wife's obsession with destroying ] led to the end of their relationship. Whether they have been formally and legally divorced has not been stated.


Creel is later incarcerated in New York's experimental "Ant-Hill" prison called the Big House, where all prisoners are reduced in size via ]'s "Pym Particles". An escape attempt is thwarted by ].<ref>''She-Hulk'' #10 (Feb. 2005). Marvel Comics.</ref>
==Powers and abilities==
{{unreferenced}}
Creel has the power to absorb the physical properties of anything he touches. For example, if Creel were to touch and hold a piece of ], the tissues of his body 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. The more dense or durable the material he absorbs, the stronger Creel becomes; were Creel to touch a high grade steel structure, his strength would be roughly equal to that of the ]. The longer he remains in contact with the structure can also have a dramatic effect on his own size and strength (while holding onto a large construction like a skyscraper, he can become as large as one, while his physical strength will also increase. He can also mimic certain physical characteristics about the form he is touching, like the spikes of a ] or needles of a ]. Creel's body can also absorb the properties of great amounts of energy in the same fashion it absorbs the properties of solid materials.


The Absorbing Man escapes prison and allies with the ] as an enforcer,<ref>''Marvel Knights: Spider-Man'' #13. Marvel Comics.</ref> but finds himself opposed by Spider-Man and new hero ] (later revealed to be a disguised Skrull). He is briefly trapped and converted into a new form of cocaine by one of the Owl's operatives when they become frustrated with his unprofessional approach,<ref>''Marvel Knights: Spider-Man'' #16. Marvel Comics.</ref> with the new drug briefly giving those who snort him a degree of his powers, but he eventually manages to reassemble himself in a sewer and goes after the Owl for revenge.<ref>''Marvel Knights: Spider-Man'' #17. Marvel Comics.</ref> Spider-Man manages to defeat Creel by tricking him into running a gauntlet where he absorbs multiple objects thrown at him, culminating in Creel absorbing two different chemicals that cause him to explode.<ref>''Marvel Knights: Spider-Man'' #18. Marvel Comics.</ref>
]


The Absorbing Man later battles and is apparently killed by the hero Sentry during the events of '']''.<ref name="Civil War 2007">''Civil War: The Return'' #1 (Jan. 2007). Marvel Comics.</ref> However, he later appears at the funeral of the villain ].<ref>''Punisher War Journal'' vol. 2 #4 (April 2007). Marvel Comics.</ref>
Creel also has the ability to mimic the physical strengths or powers of someone with whom he comes into physical contact. This requires Creel's deliberate concentration. Creel has proven able to absorb the mystical energies of Thor's enchanted Uru hammer on multiple occasions. In Uru metal form, his strength exceeds Thor's. The Absorbing Man is also one of the few beings other than Thor who has been able to lift the hammer itself, although he is unable to prevent it from returning to Thor's hand.


Creel and Titania later come into conflict with the heroine She-Hulk and her Skrull partner ] after they attempt to arrest Creel's cousin ].<ref>''She-Hulk'' vol. 2 #22–23 (Nov.–Dec. 2007). Marvel Comics.</ref>
There seems to be no limit to the length of time that Creel can retain the properties of a material he has absorbed. However, this rule varies. For example, during his first confrontation with the Hulk, he managed to absorb the monster's incredible strength. However, when the Hulk reverted to Bruce Banner, Creel's newfound strength began to decline and eventually left him. There are also undefined limits to the amount of power that Creel can absorb. He met one of his first defeats when he exploded while attempting to absorb the power of the entire planet Earth. If the Absorbing Man's body is shattered or dispersed, he has the ability to completely reconstitute his bodily mass without injury to himself, though it may take a great deal of time to do so. However, Creel must remain in whatever form he had assumed until after he has gathered all the pieces of himself. Otherwise, it could potentially kill him. He often has a tendency to accidentally or unintentionally absorb the properties of materials.


During the '']'' storyline, Creel joins a new version of the ] led by the ].<ref>''Lethal Legion'' #1–3 (Aug.–Oct. 2009). Marvel Comics.</ref> After a defeat, Creel escapes prison and absorbs a shard of the ].<ref>''The Mighty Avengers'' #32 (Dec. 2009). Marvel Comics.</ref>
Perhaps the greatest limitation of the Absorbing Man's powers is his intellect; he is noticeably slow-witted and can often be fooled into transforming himself into substances that can easily lead to his defeat. For instance, when once fighting the Hulk, he shattered some glass. A shard fell on his body and he inadvertently turned into glass. The Hulk took advantage of this development and punched Creel, shattering him.


The Absorbing Man suffers a setback when villain ] uses an enchanted sword—provided by Loki—to remove his absorbing powers completely.<ref>''The Mighty Avengers'' #33 (Jan. 2010). Marvel Comics.</ref>
The ] that the Absorbing Man carries is also mystically enchanted and linked to his absorbing power. It too can assimilate the properties and characteristics of whatever he is touching, so long as he is also holding onto the ball and chain while he is doing so (when he absorbed Thor's strength level, his weapon simultaneously imitated the hardness of Thor's hammer). The ball and chain essentially function more as an extension of his body rather than a weapon during combat. Creel also has the ability to throw his ball and propel himself through the air, thus simulating flight.


Creel is also revealed to be the father of the hero ].<ref>''Secret Warriors'' #12 (Jan. 2010). Marvel Comics.</ref>
It was shown in a Hulk story that Creel developed the power of absorbing the minds of other people, and possessing their bodies. In that particular story, he was shown unusually intelligent and cunning. This story has since been ]ned as a continuity "glitch" from the time when the insane cosmic super hero ] remade the universe under his own power.


Creel regains his powers and storms ] to recover his ball and chain. He is defeated by Avengers' coordinators ], ], and ] after absorbing the latter's cold.<ref>''Age of Heroes'' #3. Marvel Comics.</ref>
==Appearances in other media==
Absorbing Man made an appearance (voiced by ]) in an episode of the ] ] and faced the Grey Hulk ("Joe Fixit").


During the "]" storyline, Creel and Titania encounter two of the divine hammers that contain the essences of the Worthy, generals to Odin's brother and adversary, ]. Coming into contact with the hammers, Titania and Creel were transformed into Skirn: Breaker of Men<ref name="FearItself#2">{{Cite comic|writer=Matt Fraction|penciller=Stuart Immonen|inker=Wade von Grawbadger|story=The Worthy|title=Fear Itself|volume=|issue=#2|date=July 2011|publisher=Marvel Comics|page=|panel=}}</ref> and Greithoth: Breaker of Wills,<ref>{{Cite comic|writer=Christos Gage|penciller=]|inker=Scott Hanna and Andrew Hennessy|story=No Unwounded Soldiers|title=]|volume=|issue=#15|date=Aug. 2011|publisher=Marvel Comics|page=|panel=}}</ref> respectively. They later went on a rampage depicted in a number of ''Fear Itself'' tie-in issues, most prominently ''Avengers Academy'' #15–19 and '']'' #5–6, as well as that storyline's core miniseries.
Absorbing Man also appears as a member of the ] in the sixth episode of the short-lived animated series '']''.


During the "]" storyline, Absorbing Man appears as a member of Magneto's unnamed supervillain group during the fight against ]'s ] form.<ref>''Avengers & X-Men: AXIS'' #2. Marvel Comics.</ref> He is briefly converted to heroism when everyone on the island experiences a moral inversion as ] and ] attempt to bring out the ] in Red Skull, joining the new Astonishing Avengers assembled by Steve Rogers and Spider-Man to oppose the inverted heroes.<ref>''Avengers & X-Men: AXIS'' #6. Marvel Comics.</ref> Absorbing Man later reverts to villainy when the inversion is undone.<ref>''Avengers & X-Men: AXIS'' #9. Marvel Comics.</ref>
Although the Creel character did not appear in the ] ], the character David Banner (played by ]) acquired powers almost identical to the Absorbing Man. He then attempted to absorb the Hulk's power for his own, but was defeated when the Hulk's unlimited power proved too much to absorb and David lost control. He was then destroyed by General ], who used a gamma missile.


When Absorbing Man and Titania were robbing an armored car, the ] appeared to thwart their plans. Upon meeting the female Thor, Creel mocked her for being a woman and for having taken Thor's name for herself, which she answered by breaking his jaw. Titania then appeared to confront her but, in respect for what she was doing, she knocked out her husband with his own weapon and surrendered.<ref>''The Mighty Thor'' vol. 4 #5. Marvel Comics.</ref>
==Alternate versions==
===Earth X===
In the non-] story ], Creel is one of the most powerful beings in this alternate universe. He attempts to absorb something he never had before: knowledge. After absorbing the knowledge of the current ], he is able to remember all of the things he absorbed and to turn into them at will. With this new power, he kills most of the Avengers in Washington D.C. (stabbing ] with the ], turning into rubber to bounce ]'s arrows back at him, smothering ] in tar, etc.). He is finally defeated when the ] infects him with a computer virus, causing Creel to turn into stone to isolate it. The Vision shatters him, and his pieces are scattered around the world and guarded by the most trusted and powerful beings in this alternate universe.


During the "]" storyline of 2015, Absorbing Man is among the villains attending ]'s viewing party of the incursion between ] and ].<ref>''Secret Wars'' #1 (2015). Marvel Comics.</ref>
The pieces of Creel are collected and reassembled by the Tong of Creel, a group of radicals led by Dr. Strange's servant Wong, and an epic battle is fought in ], during which he begins to absorb the entire city into himself. In one last heroic act, Creel turns himself into ], saving the planet. (The vibranium of this earth had been extracted when ] as ] consumed the ] inside the ], causing problems worldwide).


During the "]" storyline, Absorbing Man was an inmate of Pleasant Hill, a gated community established by S.H.I.E.L.D. Using Kobik, S.H.I.E.L.D. transformed Absorbing Man into a man named Harold.<ref>''Avengers Standoff: Assault on Pleasant Hill Alpha'' #1. Marvel Comics.</ref> During his time as Harold, Absorbing Man ran an ice cream parlor and was in love with Sheriff Eva. When ] and ] restored the memories of the inmates, Absorbing Man joined in on their uprising with ]. ] members ] and ] arrived at Pleasant Hill to retrieve Absorbing Man. Although he was shaken from having a S.H.I.E.L.D.-induced normal life, Absorbing Man sides with the Illuminati as they work to assemble the other inmates to get revenge on S.H.I.E.L.D.<ref>''Illuminati'' #6. Marvel Comics.</ref>

During the "Opening Salvo" part of the "]" storyline, Absorbing Man is recruited by Baron Helmut Zemo to join the Army of Evil.<ref>''Captain America: Steve Rogers'' #16. Marvel Comics.</ref>

At some point, Absorbing Man was imprisoned in a deep space torture prison. He was defeated by ] in combat.<ref>''Black Bolt'' #1. Marvel Comics.</ref> Absorbing Man later made an acquaintance with Black Bolt and fellow inmates Blinky, ], and Raava.<ref>''Black Bolt'' #2. Marvel Comics.</ref> Upon taking in Black Bolt's sonic scream, Absorbing Man seemingly sacrifices himself to help destroy the torture prison's Jailer, enabling Black Bolt and the other inmates to escape.<ref>''Black Bolt'' #6. Marvel Comics.</ref> At the time when Jailer has possessed Blinky's mind to kill Black Bolt, Lockjaw took Titania to Parkwood Cemetery where Absorbing Man suddenly emerged from his grave.<ref>''Black Bolt'' #11. Marvel Comics.</ref> Absorbing Man and Titania helped Black Bolt fight a Jailer-possessed Blinky until they managed to drive Jailer out of him.<ref name=":0">''Black Bolt'' #12. Marvel Comics.</ref>

After Absorbing Man was imprisoned for another crime, his lawyer convinced him to join the U.S. Hulk Operations as an alternative to getting incarcerated for life. He gets injected with a Bannerman Gene-Enhancement Package that turned him into a gamma mutate able to absorb gamma radiation, at the cost of turning his skin a bright red color. When Absorbing Man - under the alias of '''Red Dog''' - fought Hulk at Los Diablos Missile Base, an entity, the ] entered his body after he absorbed most of the Hulk's gamma energy. The One Below All taunted Red Dog's astral body before ripping his physical one in half.<ref name=":1">''The Immortal Hulk'' #9. Marvel Comics.</ref> Absorbing Man, still controlled by The One Below All, continues fighting Hulk. Absorbing Man ran off when Jackie McGee, ], and ] showed up. When the One Below All successfully opened the door to the Below Place, the lowest point of Hell, the entirety of New Mexico gets transported there as Absorbing Man weeps.<ref>''The Immortal Hulk'' #10. Marvel Comics.</ref> With the help of Puck, Creel was able to transfer the gamma energy he had absorbed back into Hulk, who used his thunder clap to disperse the One Below All's cloud form and transport New Mexico back to Earth. Creel has since been free of the One Below All's influence, having transferred the gamma radiation back to the Hulk, joining ] in the process.<ref name="Gamma Flight #1–5">Gamma Flight #1–5</ref>

==Powers, abilities, and equipment==
Carl Creel has the ability to mimic the matter or strength of anything nearby or anyone he is near.<ref name="Mystery' 1965">''Journey into Mystery'' #114 (March 1965). Marvel Comics.</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Harth |first=David |date=2021-02-28 |title=Thor: 10 Most Dangerous Villains He's Ever Fought |url=https://www.cbr.com/thor-most-dangerous-villains-fought/ |access-date=2022-10-15 |website=] |language=en-US}}</ref> Most commonly, the Absorbing Man uses his powers to duplicate the qualities of anything that he touches—solids, liquids, gases, or even energy sources. This transformation also extends to the items that Creel was wearing and carrying when Loki's ] took effect (for example, if Creel touches the metal ], his body, clothes, and wrecking ball takes on its appearance and properties). He can absorb sufficient mass from a large object (e.g., a building) to attain the same height. While in different alternate forms, he still maintains his intellect, capacity for speech, and full physical movement (although his first attempt at absorbing water temporarily cost Creel's sanity when he tried to keep himself from drifting apart in the ocean).<ref name="Avengers #184 July 1979" /> His body was able to reform itself after being broken or damaged,<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' Vol 2 #456-457 (September–October 1997)</ref> especially a severed arm which ] cuts off during the '']''.<ref>''Marvel Super-Heroes Secret Wars'' #7 (Nov. 1984). Marvel Comics.</ref>

Creel's overall power increases in direct proportion to the material he duplicates. There seems to be almost no limit to what Creel absorbs, as he have mimicked the properties of bronze;<ref>''Journey into Mystery'' #114 (April 1965). Marvel Comics.</ref> ]'s Cosmic Bolt and later cyclonic storm;<ref name="Journey Into Mystery' 1965">''Journey into Mystery'' #123 (Dec. 1965). Marvel Comics.</ref> ];<ref name="Daredevil #360 July 1997">''Daredevil'' #360 (July 1997). Marvel Comics.</ref> ];<ref>''Journey into Mystery'' #121 (Oct. 1965). Marvel Comics.</ref> ];<ref name="Dazzler #18 August 1982" /> ], ], ];<ref>''Journey into Mystery'' #115 (April 1965). Marvel Comics.</ref> spikes;<ref>''Journey into Mystery'' #122 (Nov. 1965). Marvel Comics.</ref> ];<ref name="Mystery' 1965"/> Thor's uru hammer ];<ref>''Thor'' #376 (Feb. 1987). Marvel Comics.</ref> ];<ref name="Avengers #184 July 1979">''The Avengers'' #184 (July 1979). Marvel Comics.</ref> and even the whole realm of ] itself,<ref name="Journey Into Mystery' 1965" /> although draining the ]'s energies proved too much for Creel, causing him to become overloaded with it and nearly killing him.<ref name="Civil War 2007"/> Creel is also now capable of combining previously absorbed abilities.<ref>''She-Hulk'' vol. 2 #23 (Dec. 2007). Marvel Comics.</ref>

==Reception==
===Critical response===
Drew Atchison of '']'' included Absorbing Man their "Hulk's Main Comic Book Villains, Ranked Lamest To Coolest" list, writing, "Teaming up with the Inhuman king, Black Bolt, to siding with Gamma Flight to take on the Immortal Hulk, Carl's been through a lot and deserves to return to the MCU."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Atchison |first=Drew |date=2021-05-01 |title=Hulk's Main Comic Book Villains, Ranked Lamest To Coolest |url=https://screenrant.com/hulk-main-comic-book-villains-ranked-lamest-to-coolest/ |access-date=2022-10-15 |website=] |language=en-US}}</ref> '']'' ranked Absorbing Man 3rd in their "10 Strongest Marvel Henchmen" list,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harth |first=David |date=2021-10-02 |title=10 Strongest Marvel Henchmen, Ranked |url=https://www.cbr.com/strongest-marvel-henchmen/ |access-date=2022-10-15 |website=] |language=en-US}}</ref> 4th in their "10 Villains Fans Hope To See In Marvel’s She-Hulk Series" list,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Avina |first=Anthony |date=2019-09-09 |title=10 Villains Fans Hope To See In Marvel's She-Hulk Series |url=https://www.cbr.com/she-hulk-marvel-comic-villains-disney-plus-series/ |access-date=2022-10-15 |website=] |language=en-US}}</ref> 4th in their "10 Best B-List Avengers Villains" list,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harth |first=David |date=2022-08-04 |title=The 10 Best B-List Avengers Villains, Ranked |url=https://www.cbr.com/marvel-avengers-best-b-list-villains-ranked/ |access-date=2022-10-15 |website=] |language=en-US}}</ref> 5th in their "Top 10 She-Hulk Villains" list,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gaudreau |first=Jared |date=2022-02-23 |title=The Top 10 She-Hulk Villains, Ranked |url=https://www.cbr.com/top-she-hulk-villains-ranked/ |access-date=2022-10-15 |website=] |language=en-US}}</ref> 5th in their "10 Strongest Marvel Human Villains" list,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harth |first=David |date=2021-07-04 |title=10 Strongest Marvel Human Villains, Ranked |url=https://www.cbr.com/strongest-marvel-human-villains/ |access-date=2022-10-15 |website=] |language=en-US}}</ref> 6th in their "Age Of Apocalypse: The 30 Strongest Characters In Marvel's Coolest Alternate World" list,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lealos |first=Shawn S. |date=2018-09-16 |title=Age Of Apocalypse: The 30 Strongest Characters In Marvel's Coolest Alternate World |url=https://www.cbr.com/age-of-apocalypse-characters-ranked/ |access-date=2022-10-11 |website=] |language=en-US}}</ref> 7th in their "Hulk’s 10 Most Powerful Villains" list,<ref name=":2" /> 8th in their "Marvel: 10 Villains Who Keep Getting Stronger" list,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harth |first=David |date=2022-04-03 |title=Marvel: 10 Villains Who Keep Getting Stronger |url=https://www.cbr.com/marvel-villains-getting-stronger/ |access-date=2022-10-15 |website=] |language=en-US}}</ref> 9th in their "Thor: 10 Most Dangerous Villains He's Ever Fought" list,<ref name=":4" /> and 12th in their "Hulk's 20 Most Powerful Enemies" list.<ref name=":3" />

==Other versions==
===Age of Apocalypse=== ===Age of Apocalypse===
An alternate version of Carl Creel from Earth-295 appears in '']''. This version works as a prison camp warden in Mexico.<ref>''Tales from the Age of Apocalypse'' #1 (Dec. 1996)</ref>
In the ], 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 ]. Creel fought against ] and managed to injure him, yet Rogue killed Crusher by absorbing his powers.

===Earth X===
An alternate version of Carl Creel from Earth-9997 appears in '']''.<ref>''Earth X'' #0-12 (March 1999-April 2000). Marvel Comics.</ref>

===House of M===
An alternate version of Carl Creel from Earth-58163 appears in '']''. This version is a member of the ]'s ].<ref>''House of M: Masters of Evil'' #1. Marvel Comics.</ref>

===JLA/Avengers===
Absorbing Man appears in '']'' as a brainwashed minion of ].<ref>''JLA/Avengers'' #4. DC Comics/Marvel Comics.</ref>

===Marvel Apes===
An alternate version of Absorbing Man from Earth-95019 appears in '']''. This version is a ] called '''Absorbing Mandrill''' and a member of the Master Brotherhood of Evil Apes.<ref>''Marvel Apes: Amazing Spider-Monkey Special'' #1. Marvel Comics.</ref>

===Marvel Zombies===
A zombified alternate version of Carl Creel from Earth-2149 appears in '']''.<ref>'']'' #3 (2009). Marvel Comics.</ref>

===Old Man Logan===
An alternate version of Carl Creel from Earth-807128 appears in '']''.<ref>''Wolverine'' vol. 3 #67. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>''Wolverine'' Vol. 3 #70. Marvel Comics.</ref> Additionally, a gang inspired by him called the '''Creel Gang''' also appears.<ref>''Wolverine'' vol. 3 #66. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>''Dead Man Logan'' #7. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>''Avengers of the Wastelands'' #3-4. Marvel Comics.</ref>

==In other media==
===Television===
* The Absorbing Man appears in '']'', voiced by Tom Harvey.<ref name="btva12">{{cite web |title=Absorbing Man Voices (Marvel Universe) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Marvel-Universe/Absorbing-Man/ |access-date=January 28, 2024 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.</ref>
* Carl Creel / Absorbing Man appears in '']'' (1996) episode "They Call Me Mr. Fixit",<ref>{{cite web |date=January 26, 2009 |title=Make Mine Marvel: The 1990s Hulk Cartoon |url=http://marvel.com/news/tv/6660/make_mine_marvel_the_1990s_hulk_cartoon |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151026020134/http://marvel.com/news/tv/6660/make_mine_marvel_the_1990s_hulk_cartoon |archive-date=October 26, 2015 |access-date=November 3, 2016 |publisher=]}}</ref> voiced by ].{{citation needed|date=September 2018}} This version is an enforcer for crime boss Miss Allure.
* The Absorbing Man appears in '']'' episode "Command Decision",<ref>"," Marvel Toonzone. Retrieved November 3, 2016</ref> voiced by Oliver Becker.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}} This version is a member of Baron ]'s ].
* The Absorbing Man appears in '']'',<ref>"," The Robot's Voice. Retrieved November 3, 2016</ref> voiced by ].<ref name="btva12" /> This version's powers are derived from ].
* The Absorbing Man appears in the '']'' four-part episode "Contest of Champions", voiced by ].<ref name="btva12" />
* The Absorbing Man appears in '']'',<ref>"," Biff Bam Pop. Retrieved November 3, 2016</ref> initially voiced again by Jonathan Adams and subsequently by ].<ref name="btva12" />
* The Absorbing Man appears in '']'',<ref>{{cite web |title=Listings - MARVEL'S HULK AND THE AGENTS OF S.M.A.S.H. on DISNEY XD - TheFutonCritic.com |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings/20131031disneyxd28/ |access-date=13 October 2014}}</ref> voiced again by Jonathan Adams.<ref name="btva12" /> In his most notable appearance in the episode "Monsters No More", he joins the Leader's "Agents of C.R.A.S.H." to discredit the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}
* Carl Creel appears in television series set in the ] (MCU).
** Creel primarily appears in '']'', portrayed by ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldberg |first=Lesley |date=August 21, 2014 |title='Agents of SHIELD' Casts Villain Absorbing Man |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/agents-shield-casts-villain-absorbing-726832/ |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ching |first=Albert |date=August 21, 2014 |title="Agents of SHIELD" Season Premiere to Introduce the Absorbing Man |url=https://www.cbr.com/agents-of-shield-season-premiere-to-introduce-the-absorbing-man/ |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=] |language=en}}</ref> He first appears in the ] episodes "]" and "]" as a ] operative.<ref>{{cite episode |title=] |series=Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. |credits=Misiano, Vincent (director); Maurissa Tancharoen and Jed Whedon (writer) |network=] |airdate=September 23, 2014 |season=2 |number=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode |title=] |series=Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. |credits=Bochco, Jesse (director); Paul Zbyszewski (writer) |network=] |airdate=September 30, 2014 |season=2 |number=2}}</ref> As of the ] episode "]", Creel defected to the U.S. government and became ]'s bodyguard.<ref>{{cite episode |title=] |series=Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. |credits=Terlesky, John (director); Craig Titley (writer) |network=] |airdate=March 15, 2016 |season=3 |number=12}}</ref> In the ], Creel reluctantly rejoins HYDRA in their plot to save the world from ], only to be absorbed by Talbot via gravitonium.<ref>{{cite episode |title=All the Comforts of Home |series=Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. |credits=Woods, Kate (director); Drew Z. Greenberg (writer) |network=] |airdate=March 2, 2018 |season=5 |number=11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Raymond |first=Charles Nicholas |date=February 14, 2018 |title=Absorbing Man Returns In New Agents of SHIELD Episode |url=https://screenrant.com/agents-shield-absorbing-man-returns/ |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode |title=The Devil Complex |series=Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. |credits=Lopez-Corrado, Nina (director); Matt Owens (writer) |network=] |airdate=March 23, 2018 |season=5 |number=14}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode |title=Inside Voices |series=Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. |credits=Richardson-Whitfield, Salli (director); Mark Leitner (writer) |network=] |airdate=April 6, 2018 |season=5 |number=16}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode |title=All Roads Lead... |series=Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. |credits=Lynch, Jennifer (director); George Kitson (writer) |network=] |airdate=April 20, 2018 |season=5 |number=18}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode |title=The Force of Gravity |series=Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. |credits=Tancharoen, Kevin (director); Drew Z. Greenberg & Craig Titley (writer) |network=] |airdate=May 11, 2018 |season=5 |number=21}}</ref>
** Creel is mentioned in a flashback in the '']'' episode "Cut Man", which is set in the 1990s while he was at the height of his boxing career. He is set to have a match with ], with the latter being expected to drop in the fifth round at ]'s "suggestion". Instead, Jack chooses to set a better example for his son ], and wins the fight off-screen via knockout.<ref>{{cite episode |title=Cut Man |series=Marvel's Daredevil |credits=Abraham, Phil (director); Drew Goddard (writer) |network=] |airdate=April 10, 2015 |season=1 |number=2}}</ref> Series producer ] confirmed that this is the same Creel that appears in ''Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'' before gaining his abilities.<ref name="IGN8Apr2015">{{cite web |last=Nicholson |first=Max |date=April 8, 2015 |title=Jeph Loeb Confirms Daredevil's Connection to an Agents of SHIELD Villain |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/04/08/jeph-loeb-confirms-daredevils-connection-to-an-agents-of-shield-villain |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412021914/http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/04/08/jeph-loeb-confirms-daredevils-connection-to-an-agents-of-shield-villain |archive-date=April 12, 2015 |access-date=April 10, 2015 |website=] |publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Steinbeiser |first=Andrew |date=April 8, 2015 |title=Marvel Confirms Daredevil and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Connection |url=https://comicbook.com/news/marvel-confirms-daredevil-and-agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-connection/ |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=] |language=en}}</ref>
* The Absorbing Man appears in '']'', voiced by ].{{citation needed|date=September 2018}}
* The Absorbing Man appears in the '']'' episode "Screwball Live",<ref>{{cite episode |title=Screwball Live |series=Spider-Man |network=Disney XD |season=1 |number=14 |airdate=October 28, 2017}}</ref> voiced again by Gregg Berger.<ref name="btva12" />
* The Absorbing Man appears in '']'', voiced by ].<ref name="btva12" />

===Film===
The Absorbing Man was featured in several scrapped scripts for '']'', with one seeing him being reimagined as computer engineer '''Robert Creel'''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/vdocuments.mx_hulk-screenplay-by-john-turmans-hulk-screenplay-by-john-turman-based-on-the-marvel | title=Hulk screenplay by John Turman }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://screenwriting.ugo.com/film/incrediblehulkbyhayter.php | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015052834/http://screenwriting.ugo.com/film/incrediblehulkbyhayter.php | archive-date=2008-10-15 | title=UGO }}</ref>

===Video games===
* The Absorbing Man appears in '']'' (1994).{{citation needed|date=September 2018}}
* The Absorbing Man appears as a boss in '']'', voiced by ].{{citation needed|date=September 2018}}
* The Absorbing Man appears in '']'',<ref>{{cite web |title=NYCC 2013: Marvel Adds More Characters To LEGO MARVEL SUPER HEROES Game |url=http://www.newsarama.com/19216-nycc-2013-marvel-adds-more-characters-to-lego-marvel-super-heroes-game.html |access-date=13 October 2014 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Crecente |first=Brian |date=October 12, 2013 |title=Lego Marvel Super Heroes demo coming next week |url=https://www.polygon.com/2013/10/12/4832048/lego-marvel-super-heroes-demo-coming-next-week |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=] |language=en-US}}</ref> voiced again by John DiMaggio.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}}
* The Absorbing Man appears in '']''.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}}
* The Absorbing Man appears in '']''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hashimoto |first=Marika |date=January 9, 2023 |title=Marvel Contest of Champions v37.2 Release Notes Introduce the Masters of Evil |url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/games/marvel-contest-of-champions-v37-2-release-notes-introduce-the-masters-of-evil |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gose |first=Lance |date=January 10, 2023 |title=Marvel Contest of Champions Announces Baron Zemo and Absorbing Man, Roadmap for 2023 |url=https://www.cbr.com/marvel-contest-of-champions-baron-zemo-absorbing-man-2023-roadmap/ |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=] |language=en}}</ref>
* The Absorbing Man appears as a playable character in '']''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Musgrave |first=Shaun |date=August 14, 2017 |title=Best iPhone Game Updates: 'Hearthstone', 'Marvel Future Fight', 'Dungeons of Chaos', 'Panmorphia', and More |url=http://toucharcade.com/2017/08/14/best-iphone-game-updates-hearthstone-marvel-future-fight-dungeons-of-chaos-panmorphia-and-more/ |website=]}}</ref>
* The Absorbing Man appears as a playable character in '']''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Characters|url=http://www.ign.com/wikis/lego-marvel-avengers/Characters|website=IGN Database|date=6 January 2016 |access-date=February 1, 2018}}</ref>
* The Absorbing Man appears as a playable character in '']''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 19, 2023 |title=Weekly Blog: The Masters of Evil |url=https://marvelstrikeforce.com/en/updates/blog-update-1-20-23 |website=Marvel Strike Force}}</ref>
* The Absorbing Man appears in '']''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sandoval |first=Andrea |date=2023-02-27 |title=10 Best Marvel Snap Cards In Pool 3 |url=https://www.cbr.com/marvel-snap-great-pool-3-cards/ |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kaptan |first=Doruk |date=2022-12-08 |title=Marvel Snap: Every Pool 4 Card, Ranked |url=https://www.thegamer.com/marvel-snap-best-pool-4-cards-ranked/ |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=TheGamer |language=en}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links== ==External links==
* at Marvel.com
*
{{Captain Marvel (Marvel Comics)}}
*
{{Hulk}}
{{She-Hulk}}
{{Thor}}
{{Stan Lee}}
{{Jack Kirby}}


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Latest revision as of 03:06, 20 October 2024

Marvel Comics fictional character Comics character
Absorbing Man
The Absorbing Man (background) on the cover of Thor #376 (February 1987).
Art by Walt Simonson.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceJourney into Mystery #114
(March 1965)
Created byStan Lee
Jack Kirby
In-story information
Alter egoCarl "Crusher" Creel
SpeciesHuman mutate
Team affiliationsThey Who Wield Power
Astonishing Avengers
Legion Accursed
Lethal Legion
Worthy
Gamma Flight
PartnershipsTitania
Notable aliasesLightningbolt
Greithoth
Rocky Davis
Red Dog
Harold
Abilities

The Absorbing Man (Carl "Crusher" Creel) is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and writer-artist Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Journey into Mystery #114 (cover dated March 1965), in the Silver Age of Comic Books. Carl Creel has the power to absorb and become any material he touched. Originally a supervillain, in later years, he has reformed into more of an antihero.

Since his original introduction in comics, the character has been featured in various other Marvel-licensed products, including video games, animated television series, and merchandise such as trading cards. He appears in the Marvel Cinematic Universe TV series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., portrayed by Brian Patrick Wade.

Publication history

The Absorbing Man debuted in Journey into Mystery #114 (March 1965), created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. He appeared in the 2017 Black Bolt series, by Saladin Ahmed.

Fictional character biography

Carl "Crusher" Creel was a boxer and jailed criminal who becomes the Absorbing Man when he drinks a liquid which the Asgardian god Loki laced with a mystical potion. Discovering that he could absorb the properties of anything he touched, Creel escapes prison by absorbing metal from the guards' bullets and goes on to battle Thor. When he escapes, he takes with him the ball and chain to which he was shackled, and uses the ball and chain as a weapon. Although he is only mortal, Creel's fantastic abilities make him a worthy opponent for Thor, who is later forced to end the battle due to Loki's kidnapping of Jane Foster. Creel then breaks into a house and attacks the occupants. Thor comes to the rescue and tricks Creel into changing his atomic structure into pure helium. Thor accomplishes this by using his hammer's powers to transform the ground's molecular makeup. As Creel is acquiring additional mass from direct contact with the Earth when this happens, he ends up drifting harmlessly into the atmosphere.

A short time later, Loki retrieves Creel from space using Asgardian technology after he has knocked out an Asgardian warlock and sends Creel back to battle Thor. After Creel is nearly beaten due to Thor's fighting skill, Loki transports him to Asgard and reveals the true source of his "absorbing" powers. After being humbled by Loki, Creel agrees to act as his agent, and he is directed to take over the city. The Absorbing Man defeats the Asgardian legions without too much trouble and eventually confronts Odin himself. Creel absorbs Odin's attacks and then the properties of Asgard itself, hoping to rule the universe, and he towers over Odin as Loki arrives to gloat. Thor is ordered by Odin not to keep attacking. Loki and Creel are then beaten by trickery; once given Odin's Rod of Rulership the two quarrel over it, with the Absorbing Man trying to absorb the rod, and the two find that 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 into outer space.

The Absorbing Man eventually returns on a comet and battles the Hulk. Bruce Banner had been sent to divert the comet, as it was feared it was radioactive, but the Absorbing Man leaped aboard and began absorbing the Hulk's strength. He tries to bury the Hulk under a mountain, but when the Hulk turns back to human form, the Absorbing Man is unable to support the great weight and was buried.

However, Creel goes on to battle many other heroes, such as the Avengers, Daredevil, the Dazzler, the Hulk, and Spider-Man. He is one of the villains who participates in the Secret Wars, and also develops a romantic relationship with the super-strong villainess Titania. The pair also join the reformed fourth version of the Masters of Evil. Creel has several more battles with Thor (and the Eric Masterson Thor) and a skirmish with the cosmic hero Quasar. Although he assisted Crossbones in a plan to attack Captain America, when Absorbing Man learned that Crossbones intended to detonate a bomb in New York, he absorbed the properties of Captain America's shield to contain the blast, declaring that he was not a murderer.

Creel is later incarcerated in New York's experimental "Ant-Hill" prison called the Big House, where all prisoners are reduced in size via Hank Pym's "Pym Particles". An escape attempt is thwarted by She-Hulk.

The Absorbing Man escapes prison and allies with the Owl as an enforcer, but finds himself opposed by Spider-Man and new hero Ethan Edwards (later revealed to be a disguised Skrull). He is briefly trapped and converted into a new form of cocaine by one of the Owl's operatives when they become frustrated with his unprofessional approach, with the new drug briefly giving those who snort him a degree of his powers, but he eventually manages to reassemble himself in a sewer and goes after the Owl for revenge. Spider-Man manages to defeat Creel by tricking him into running a gauntlet where he absorbs multiple objects thrown at him, culminating in Creel absorbing two different chemicals that cause him to explode.

The Absorbing Man later battles and is apparently killed by the hero Sentry during the events of Civil War. However, he later appears at the funeral of the villain Stilt-Man.

Creel and Titania later come into conflict with the heroine She-Hulk and her Skrull partner Jazinda after they attempt to arrest Creel's cousin Rockwell "Hi-Lite" Davis.

During the Dark Reign storyline, Creel joins a new version of the Lethal Legion led by the Grim Reaper. After a defeat, Creel escapes prison and absorbs a shard of the Cosmic Cube.

The Absorbing Man suffers a setback when villain Norman Osborn uses an enchanted sword—provided by Loki—to remove his absorbing powers completely.

Creel is also revealed to be the father of the hero Stonewall.

Creel regains his powers and storms Avengers Tower to recover his ball and chain. He is defeated by Avengers' coordinators Maria Hill, Sharon Carter, and Victoria Hand after absorbing the latter's cold.

During the "Fear Itself" storyline, Creel and Titania encounter two of the divine hammers that contain the essences of the Worthy, generals to Odin's brother and adversary, Cul Borson. Coming into contact with the hammers, Titania and Creel were transformed into Skirn: Breaker of Men and Greithoth: Breaker of Wills, respectively. They later went on a rampage depicted in a number of Fear Itself tie-in issues, most prominently Avengers Academy #15–19 and Iron Man 2.0 #5–6, as well as that storyline's core miniseries.

During the "AXIS" storyline, Absorbing Man appears as a member of Magneto's unnamed supervillain group during the fight against Red Skull's Red Onslaught form. He is briefly converted to heroism when everyone on the island experiences a moral inversion as Doctor Doom and Scarlet Witch attempt to bring out the Charles Xavier in Red Skull, joining the new Astonishing Avengers assembled by Steve Rogers and Spider-Man to oppose the inverted heroes. Absorbing Man later reverts to villainy when the inversion is undone.

When Absorbing Man and Titania were robbing an armored car, the female Thor appeared to thwart their plans. Upon meeting the female Thor, Creel mocked her for being a woman and for having taken Thor's name for herself, which she answered by breaking his jaw. Titania then appeared to confront her but, in respect for what she was doing, she knocked out her husband with his own weapon and surrendered.

During the "Secret Wars" storyline of 2015, Absorbing Man is among the villains attending Kingpin's viewing party of the incursion between Earth-616 and Earth-1610.

During the "Avengers: Standoff!" storyline, Absorbing Man was an inmate of Pleasant Hill, a gated community established by S.H.I.E.L.D. Using Kobik, S.H.I.E.L.D. transformed Absorbing Man into a man named Harold. During his time as Harold, Absorbing Man ran an ice cream parlor and was in love with Sheriff Eva. When Helmut Zemo and Fixer restored the memories of the inmates, Absorbing Man joined in on their uprising with Whirlwind. Illuminati members Hood and Titania arrived at Pleasant Hill to retrieve Absorbing Man. Although he was shaken from having a S.H.I.E.L.D.-induced normal life, Absorbing Man sides with the Illuminati as they work to assemble the other inmates to get revenge on S.H.I.E.L.D.

During the "Opening Salvo" part of the "Secret Empire" storyline, Absorbing Man is recruited by Baron Helmut Zemo to join the Army of Evil.

At some point, Absorbing Man was imprisoned in a deep space torture prison. He was defeated by Black Bolt in combat. Absorbing Man later made an acquaintance with Black Bolt and fellow inmates Blinky, Metal Master, and Raava. Upon taking in Black Bolt's sonic scream, Absorbing Man seemingly sacrifices himself to help destroy the torture prison's Jailer, enabling Black Bolt and the other inmates to escape. At the time when Jailer has possessed Blinky's mind to kill Black Bolt, Lockjaw took Titania to Parkwood Cemetery where Absorbing Man suddenly emerged from his grave. Absorbing Man and Titania helped Black Bolt fight a Jailer-possessed Blinky until they managed to drive Jailer out of him.

After Absorbing Man was imprisoned for another crime, his lawyer convinced him to join the U.S. Hulk Operations as an alternative to getting incarcerated for life. He gets injected with a Bannerman Gene-Enhancement Package that turned him into a gamma mutate able to absorb gamma radiation, at the cost of turning his skin a bright red color. When Absorbing Man - under the alias of Red Dog - fought Hulk at Los Diablos Missile Base, an entity, the One Below All entered his body after he absorbed most of the Hulk's gamma energy. The One Below All taunted Red Dog's astral body before ripping his physical one in half. Absorbing Man, still controlled by The One Below All, continues fighting Hulk. Absorbing Man ran off when Jackie McGee, Walter Langkowski, and Puck showed up. When the One Below All successfully opened the door to the Below Place, the lowest point of Hell, the entirety of New Mexico gets transported there as Absorbing Man weeps. With the help of Puck, Creel was able to transfer the gamma energy he had absorbed back into Hulk, who used his thunder clap to disperse the One Below All's cloud form and transport New Mexico back to Earth. Creel has since been free of the One Below All's influence, having transferred the gamma radiation back to the Hulk, joining Gamma Flight in the process.

Powers, abilities, and equipment

Carl Creel has the ability to mimic the matter or strength of anything nearby or anyone he is near. Most commonly, the Absorbing Man uses his powers to duplicate the qualities of anything that he touches—solids, liquids, gases, or even energy sources. This transformation also extends to the items that Creel was wearing and carrying when Loki's magic potion took effect (for example, if Creel touches the metal titanium, his body, clothes, and wrecking ball takes on its appearance and properties). He can absorb sufficient mass from a large object (e.g., a building) to attain the same height. While in different alternate forms, he still maintains his intellect, capacity for speech, and full physical movement (although his first attempt at absorbing water temporarily cost Creel's sanity when he tried to keep himself from drifting apart in the ocean). His body was able to reform itself after being broken or damaged, especially a severed arm which Wolverine cuts off during the Secret Wars.

Creel's overall power increases in direct proportion to the material he duplicates. There seems to be almost no limit to what Creel absorbs, as he have mimicked the properties of bronze; Odin's Cosmic Bolt and later cyclonic storm; diamond; glass; light; rock, silk, soil; spikes; steel; Thor's uru hammer Mjolnir; water; and even the whole realm of Asgard itself, although draining the Sentry's energies proved too much for Creel, causing him to become overloaded with it and nearly killing him. Creel is also now capable of combining previously absorbed abilities.

Reception

Critical response

Drew Atchison of Screen Rant included Absorbing Man their "Hulk's Main Comic Book Villains, Ranked Lamest To Coolest" list, writing, "Teaming up with the Inhuman king, Black Bolt, to siding with Gamma Flight to take on the Immortal Hulk, Carl's been through a lot and deserves to return to the MCU." Comic Book Resources ranked Absorbing Man 3rd in their "10 Strongest Marvel Henchmen" list, 4th in their "10 Villains Fans Hope To See In Marvel’s She-Hulk Series" list, 4th in their "10 Best B-List Avengers Villains" list, 5th in their "Top 10 She-Hulk Villains" list, 5th in their "10 Strongest Marvel Human Villains" list, 6th in their "Age Of Apocalypse: The 30 Strongest Characters In Marvel's Coolest Alternate World" list, 7th in their "Hulk’s 10 Most Powerful Villains" list, 8th in their "Marvel: 10 Villains Who Keep Getting Stronger" list, 9th in their "Thor: 10 Most Dangerous Villains He's Ever Fought" list, and 12th in their "Hulk's 20 Most Powerful Enemies" list.

Other versions

Age of Apocalypse

An alternate version of Carl Creel from Earth-295 appears in Age of Apocalypse. This version works as a prison camp warden in Mexico.

Earth X

An alternate version of Carl Creel from Earth-9997 appears in Earth X.

House of M

An alternate version of Carl Creel from Earth-58163 appears in House of M. This version is a member of the Hood's Masters of Evil.

JLA/Avengers

Absorbing Man appears in JLA/Avengers as a brainwashed minion of Krona.

Marvel Apes

An alternate version of Absorbing Man from Earth-95019 appears in Marvel Apes. This version is a mandrill called Absorbing Mandrill and a member of the Master Brotherhood of Evil Apes.

Marvel Zombies

A zombified alternate version of Carl Creel from Earth-2149 appears in Marvel Zombies.

Old Man Logan

An alternate version of Carl Creel from Earth-807128 appears in Old Man Logan. Additionally, a gang inspired by him called the Creel Gang also appears.

In other media

Television

Film

The Absorbing Man was featured in several scrapped scripts for Hulk, with one seeing him being reimagined as computer engineer Robert Creel.

Video games

Notes

  1. In Marvel comics, the term "mutate" is used as a noun to designate characters that received superpowers from an external source, as opposed to Marvel's mutants.

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