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Absorbing Man

Marvel Comics fictional character From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Absorbing Man
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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.[4][5] Carl Creel has the power to absorb and become any material he touched.[6][7][8] Originally a supervillain, in later years, he has reformed into more of an antihero.[9]

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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.

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Publication history

The Absorbing Man debuted in Journey into Mystery #114 (March 1965), and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.[10] He appeared in the 2017 Black Bolt series, by Saladin Ahmed.[11][12]

Fictional character biography

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Carl "Crusher" Creel is a boxer and criminal who becomes the Absorbing Man when he drinks a liquid which the Asgardian god Loki laced with a mystical potion.[13][14] Discovering that he can absorb the properties of anything he touched, Creel escapes prison by absorbing metal from the guards' bullets and becomes a recurring enemy of Thor.[15][16][17][18]

In later appearances, Absorbing Man enters a relationship with Titania.[19] He has also been a member of the Masters of Evil and the Lethal Legion.[20][21]

During the "Fear Itself" storyline, Creel and Titania encounter two divine hammers that contain the essences of the Worthy, generals of the Serpent. Coming into contact with the hammers, Titania and Creel are transformed into Skirn: Breaker of Men and Greithoth: Breaker of Wills, respectively.[22][23]

During the "Avengers: Standoff!" storyline, Absorbing Man appears as 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 civilian named Harold.[24] When Helmut Zemo and Fixer restore the memories of the inmates, Absorbing Man joins their uprising against S.H.I.E.L.D.[25]

In The Immortal Hulk, Absorbing Man joins the U.S. Hulk Operations as an alternative to being incarcerated for life. He is injected with a gene-enhancement package that gives him the ability to absorb gamma radiation and turns his skin red. When Absorbing Man - under the alias of Red Dog - battles Hulk at Los Diablos Missile Base, the One Below All enters his body.[26] Absorbing Man is later freed from the One Below All's influence and joins Gamma Flight.[27]

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Powers, abilities, and equipment

Carl Creel has the ability to mimic the matter or strength of anything nearby or anyone he is near.[15][28] 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).[29] His body was able to reform itself after being broken or damaged,[30] especially a severed arm which Wolverine cuts off during the Secret Wars.[31]

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."[32] Comic Book Resources ranked Absorbing Man 3rd in their "10 Strongest Marvel Henchmen" list,[33] 4th in their "10 Villains Fans Hope To See In Marvel’s She-Hulk Series" list,[34] 4th in their "10 Best B-List Avengers Villains" list,[35] 5th in their "Top 10 She-Hulk Villains" list,[36] 5th in their "10 Strongest Marvel Human Villains" list,[37] 6th in their "Age Of Apocalypse: The 30 Strongest Characters In Marvel's Coolest Alternate World" list,[38] 7th in their "Hulk’s 10 Most Powerful Villains" list,[14] 8th in their "Marvel: 10 Villains Who Keep Getting Stronger" list,[39] 9th in their "Thor: 10 Most Dangerous Villains He's Ever Fought" list,[28] and 12th in their "Hulk's 20 Most Powerful Enemies" list.[40]

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Other versions

Age of Apocalypse

An alternate universe variant of Carl Creel from Earth-295 appears in Age of Apocalypse. This version works as a prison camp warden in Mexico.[41]

Earth X

An alternate universe variant of Carl Creel from Earth-9997 appears in Earth X.[42]

House of M

An alternate universe variant of Carl Creel from Earth-58163 appears in House of M. This version is a member of the Hood's Masters of Evil.[43]

JLA/Avengers

Absorbing Man appears in JLA/Avengers as a brainwashed minion of Krona.[44]

Marvel Apes

An alternate universe variant 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.[45]

Marvel Zombies

A zombified alternate universe variant of Carl Creel from Earth-2149 appears in Marvel Zombies.[46]

Old Man Logan

An alternate universe variant of Carl Creel from Earth-807128 appears in Old Man Logan.[47][48]

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In other media

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Television

Film

The Absorbing Man was featured in several scrapped scripts for Hulk, with one seeing him being reimagined as computer engineer Robert Creel.[58][59]

Video games

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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.

References

External links

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