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Revision as of 10:06, 23 September 2006 by Asgardian (talk | contribs) (→Powers and abilities)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) Comics character| The Absorbing Man | |
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Journey into Mystery #114 (March, 1965) |
| Created by | Stan Lee Jack Kirby |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Carl "Crusher" Creel |
| Team affiliations | Masters of Evil |
| Notable aliases | Lightning Bolt, Rocky Davis |
| Abilities | Magical ability to mimic the characteristics of any form of matter and some forms of energy with which he is in physical contact. |
Character Biography
Creel became the Absorbing Man when he drank a liquid Loki had laced with rare Asgardian ingredients. Discovering that he could absorb the properties of anything he touched, Creel promptly escaped and with some subtle guidance from Loki went on to battle Thor. Although only mortal, Creel's fantastic abilities made him a match for Thor, who after warning Creel to desist eventually transformed him into helium, which drifted harmlessly into the atmosphere.
A short time later Loki retrieved Creel from space, and then revealed to Creel how he had obtained his "absorbing" powers. After being humbled by Loki, Creel agreed to act as his agent and attacked Thor on Earth once more. The battle was again deadlocked until Loki transported Creel back to Asgard, and directed him to take the city. Despite the efforts of the Asgardian legions, the Absorbing Man ploughed through them as if they were nothing, and eventually confronted Odin (comics) himself. Odin was amazed at this mortal's presumption but also horrified as he discovered that Creel was absorbing each of his offensives and becoming even stronger. Thor attempted to intervene, but Odin advised his son that he must win the day alone - having been challenged in his very throne room. Creel then absorbed the properties of Asgard itself and towered over Odin as Loki arrived to gloat. Loki and Creel were then beaten by trickery: once given Odin's Rod of Rulership the two quarrelled over it and found they could not let go. Odin then advised them that his power lay not in a mere object, but deep within himself. The pair were then banished to space, and would not return for some time.
The Absorbing Man eventually returned, and went on to battle many of the other heroes in the Marvel Universe such as the Hulk (comics); Avengers (comics); Dazzler and Daredevil (comics). Creel was one of the villains selected to participate in the Secret Wars and also developed a relationship with the villianess Titania, whom he later married.
Powers and Abilities
Crusher Creel has the power to absorb the physical properties of anything he touches. This also extends to the ball and chain that Creel 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 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, and as such 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 the following:
Steel - Journey Into Mystery #114, Volume 1.
Silk - Journey Into Mystery #115, Volume 1.
Bronze - Journey Into Mystery #115, Volume 1.
Rock, wood and soil - Journey Into Mystery #115, Volume 1.
Glass - Journey Into Mystery #121, Volume 1.
Spikes - Journey Into Mystery #122, Volume 1.
Cosmic bolt (from Odin) - Journey Into Mystery #123, Volume 1.
Cyclonic Storm (from Odin) - Journey Into Mystery #123, Volume 1.
Asgard itself - Journey Into Mystery #123, Volume 1.
Water - Avengers #184, Volume 1.
Light - Dazzler #18, Volume 1.
Uru (Creel's most powerful form to date) - Thor #376, Volume 1.
Diamond - Daredevil #360 , Volume 1.
Creel's one great weakness, however, is that like the Wrecker (comics), he is something of a thug and not a thinker. As such, several of the heroes have outsmarted Creel. Daredevil once employed a brilliant tactic by allowing Creel to absorb the properties of a diamond, and with the use of his radar sense attacked the flaws in Creel's diamond form, thereby defeating him.
Alternate versions
Earth X
In the non-canon Earth X, the Absorbing Man is one of the most powerful beings in the universe. He attempts to absorb something he never had before: knowledge. After absorbing the knowledge of the current Ultron, 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 Goliath (comics) with the Washington Monument; turning into rubber to reflect the arrows of Hawkeye (comics) back at him and smothering Quicksilver (comics) in tar. Creel is finally defeated when the Vision (comics) infects him with a computer virus and Creel turns to stone in attempt to isolate it. The Vision then shatters Creel, and his pieces are scattered across the world.
The pieces of the Absorbing Man were eventually collected and reassembled, and Creel would later die saving the planet.
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 (comics). Creel fought against Magneto (comics) and managed to injure him, but was killed Crusher by Rogue when she absorbed his powers.