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Absorbing Man
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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.
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Carl "Crusher" Creel becomes the Absorbing Man when he drinks a liquid which the Asgardian god Loki has laced with rare Asgardian ingredients. Discovering that he can absorb the properties of anything he touches, Creel promptly escapes prison and with some subtle guidance from Loki, goes on to battle Thor. Although he is only mortal, Creel's fantastic abilities make him a match for Thor, who after warning Creel to desist eventually transforms him into helium, which drifts harmlessly into the atmosphere.[1]
A short time later, Loki retrieves Creel from space, and then reveals to Creel 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 offensives 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 found 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; Avengers; Dazzler and Daredevil. Creel is one of the villains selected to participate in the Secret Wars, and also develops a relationship with the villainess Titania, whom he later marries.
The Absorbing Man is later melted and apparently killed by the hero Sentry during the events of Civil War. [3] Creel, however, later appears at the funeral of Stilt-Man. [4]
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,[5] silk,[6] bronze,[7] rock, wood, soil,[8] glass,[9] spikes,[10] Odin's cosmic bolt and later cyclonic storm,[11] Asgard itself,[12] water,[13] light,[14] Uru,[15] diamond,[16] and cocaine. [17]
A notable weakness in this power was discovered in Civil War: The Return, where The Sentry battled with Creel. Sentry held Creel, forcing him to absorb the Sentry's powers of "one million exploding suns." Creel's body was unable to hold this much power, and he disintegrated into the air. (issue needed.)
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, and with the use of his radar sense attacks the flaws in Creel's diamond form, thereby defeating him.
In Earth X, Creel actually absorbs a new property - knowledge. After absorbing the knowledge of the current Ultron, he is able to remember everything previously absorbed and to turn into them at will. [18]
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. [19]
- 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.
- ^ Journey Into Mystery vol. 1, #114 - 155
- ^ Journey Into Mystery vol. 1, #121 - 123
- ^ Civil War #6 (2007)
- ^ Punisher War Journal vol.2, #4
- ^ Journey Into Mystery vol. 1, #114
- ^ Journey Into Mystery vol. 1, #115
- ^ Journey Into Mystery vol. 1, #115
- ^ Journey Into Mystery Vol. 1, #115
- ^ Journey Into Mystery vol. 1, #121
- ^ Journey Into Mystery vol. 1, #122
- ^ Journey Into Mystery vol. 1, #123
- ^ Journey Into Mystery vol. 1, #123
- ^ Avengers vol. 1, #184
- ^ Dazzler vol. 1, #18
- ^ Thor vol. 1, #376
- ^ Daredevil vol. 1 #360
- ^ Marvel Knights Spider-Man #16
- ^ Earth X #0 - 12 (1999 - 2000)
- ^ The Age of Apocalypse ran for 37 issues through the X-titles in 1995 - 1996