Smasher (Marvel Comics)

Smasher
Smasher
	Smasher I byDave Cockrum
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	X-Men#107 (October 1977) (I); War of Kings#1 (March 2009)(II); War of Kings#3 (May 2009)(III)
Created by	Chris ClaremontandDave Cockrum
In-story information
Alter ego	Vril Rokk (I); Salac Tuur (II); Unrevealed (III); Isabel "Izzy" Kane (IV)
Species	Alien (I-III); Human (IV)
Team affiliations	Imperial Guard(I, II, III, and IV); Avengers(IV)
Abilities	Superhuman strength via cosmic radiation absorption; Ability to download additional powers via exospex; Flight via anti-gravity "flight patches"

Smasheris the name of multiple different fictional characters appearing inAmerican comic bookspublished byMarvel Comics.

Publication history

Smasher first appeared inX-Men#107 (October 1977-February 1978), and was created byChris ClaremontandDave Cockrum.

A new Smasher, named Isabel Kane, appears as a member of theAvengersin theMarvel NOW!relaunch.^{[citation needed]}Her name was originally given as "Isabel Dare", but the collected edition of her first appearance said her surname was "Kane". According to editorTom Brevoort,this change was deliberate; he even stated that "Dare was a mistake in the first place," as the character was intended to be Captain Terror's granddaughter from her first appearance.^[1]

Yet more Smashers, operating directly under Imperial control, appear in the 'Infinity' crossover.^[2]

Fictional character biography

The title of Smasher has been used by three different humanoid aliens who served in theShi'ar Imperial Guard.

Vril Rokk

The first Smasher was Vril Rokk, who had a long, distinguished service with the Guard. He was also romantically linked with fellow Guardsman Plutonia.^{[volume & issue needed]}

InUntold Tales of Captain Marvel— which takes place before his first encounter with the X-Men — Smasher, the Guard, Marvel and the Kree all meet. A small division of the Guard, Deathbolt, Smasher, Fang and Oracle had been selected to guard the personage of Deathbird, the current ruler of the Shi'ar empire. They allied, then fought with the Kree after the latter came to their assistance against a murderous attack from the Skrulls. They later are involved with a confrontation against the Brood.^[3]

WhenCassandra Novawas devastating the Shi'ar empire, Smasher was one of the few entities that managed to personally protect the empressLilandra.^{[volume & issue needed]}Under protest, Smasher is ordered to travel to Earth to warn the X-Men about the threat Nova posed.^{[volume & issue needed]}He crash lands in a field full of cows. He does not make it to the mansion until well after the Imperial Guard, brainwashed by Nova, were attempting to kill the X-Men. His presence manages to convince the Guard to fight against Nova, although he and the others were swiftly defeated by her.^{[volume & issue needed]}

Smasher is later killed byVulcan,a powerful mutant who attempts to conquer the Shi'ar empire.^[4]

Salac Tuur

Vril Rokk is soon replaced with another Smasher, Salac Tuur. The new Smasher was among the Imperial Guardsmen who attacked the Kree homeworld during the wedding ofCrystalandRonan the Accuser.During the battle, Smasher was killed by the InhumanKarnak.^[5]

Third Smasher

The uniform and title of Smasher was passed onto an unidentified member of the original's race; however, this version of Smasher was soon killed byGladiatorduring a raid by theStarjammersandGuardians of the Galaxy.The Strontianpraetorkilled Smasher as a sign of defecting toLilandra.^[6]

Izzy Kane

A new Smasher appears in theMarvel Now!relaunch as part ofCaptain America's newAvengersline-up.^[7]^[8]She joins the Avengers to help fightEx Nihiloon Mars.^[9]She is revealed to be Isabel "Izzy" Kane, a college student and astronomer fromIowa.After finding a pair of high-tech goggles that had been left behind in a cornfield by Vril Rokk when he crashed to the Earth to warn the X-Men aboutCassandra Nova,Izzy becomes the new Smasher and Earth's first member of the Imperial Guard. Izzy is introduced toCaptain Americaby her grandfather Dan Kane, an acquaintance from World War II.^[10]

As part of the Avengers, Izzy meets theGuardians of the Galaxywhen their ship is ambushed and crashes into a mall's parking lot.^[11]

When the source of mysterious seismic events was revealed to be A.I.M. Island, Smasher went to investigate along withCannonballandSunspot.When they arrived to the location, they were captured by A.I.M. Troopers.^[12]Smasher was chosen by Andrew Forson and Jude the Entropic Man to become his Messenger for the secret of the universe, that "Everything dies." Smasher is made to do so by Andrew Forson.^[13]

She is later seen eight months in the future as seen in theTime Runs Outstoryline having started a family with teammateSam Guthrie.^[14]She later rejoins with an Avengers team headed by Roberto DaCosta and Thor. Their goal is to find the threat causing the slow death of the multiverse and to kill it. This brings Smasher in direct opposition with Captain America's group.^[15]

Sometime later, Smasher is seen with Cannonball and their son on another planet discussing their future together, which leads to Cannonball deciding to quit theU.S.Avengersso that he could be with his family full time.^[16]

In the aftermath of theSecret Empirestoryline, Smasher arrives on Earth and tells Sunspot that Cannonball, who was believed to be dead, is alive on another planet.^[17]

Monster

A new Smasher not affiliated with the Imperial Guard was introduced inMonsters Unleashed.This version is a creation ofKid Kaijuthat is composed of him and his five monsters Slizzik, Hi-Vo, Aegis, Scragg and Mekara. They come together to battle the Leviathon Mother when the Leviathon Tide invaded Earth.^[18]

Powers and abilities

Like his predecessors, Smasher could naturally absorb cosmic radiation from his environment to increase his strength to superhuman levels.

Smasher wore special goggles called "exospex" that enabled him to "download" additional superhuman powers.^{[volume & issue needed]}Via the exospex, he could obtain "penta-vision" (a form ofX-rayvision), superhuman durability, even greater physical strength, and the ability to travel intohyperspace( "4-space" ). Smasher was only capable of downloading one superpower at a time.

Smasher wore small anti-gravity "flight patches" that enabled him to fly. Flight patches are standard issue for Imperial Guardsmen who lack the power of flight.

Inspiration

Several of the members of the Imperial Guard are at least partly based on members of theDC Comics' teamLegion of Super-Heroes.Dave Cockrum (co-creator of the Guard) also had a long run as artist on theLegion.Smasher is based on LSH memberUltra Boy.^{[citation needed]}

Other versions

X-Men: The End

In the alternate future ofX-Men: The End,Smasher is a veteran Guardian who is on duty whenCassandra Nova's plans are revealed. He attacks with a small group of other Guardians, all of whom are killed in the resulting battle.^[19]

Star Trek/X-Men

Smasher and the Imperial Guard assistDeathbirdin a mission.^[20]

In other media

The first Smasher makes non-speaking cameo appearances inX-Men: The Animated Series.^[21]

References

^New Brevoort Formspring
^Wolverine and the X-MenAnnual #1 (November 2013)
^Untold Tales of Captain Marvel#1-3 (1997)
^The Uncanny X-Men#480 (January 2007).
^War of Kings#1 (March 2009)
^War of Kings#3 (July 2009).
^Avengers(vol. 5) #1 (December 2012)
^DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt; Cowsill, Alan; Bray, Adam (2019).The Marvel Encyclopedia.DK Publishing. p. 337.ISBN 978-1-4654-7890-0.
^Avengers(vol. 5) #2
^Avengers(vol. 5) #5
^Guardians Team Up#1-2 (May 2015)
^Avengers World#1
^Avengers World#2
^Avengers(vol. 5) #35 (September 2014)
^Avengers(vol. 5) #39-40
^U.S. Avengers#5 (June 2017).
^U.S. Avengers#10 (November 2017).
^Monsters Unleashed(vol. 2) #5
^X-Men: The End: Book 3: Men & X-Men#1-2 (March–April 2006)
^Star Trek/X-Men#1 (December 1996)
^"X-Men: The Animated Series #317 - The Fate of the Phoenix (Episode)".Comic Vine.RetrievedApril 20,2024.

External links

Smasher Iat The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
Smasher IIat The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
Smasher IIIat The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe

[1] New Brevoort Formspring

[2] Wolverine and the X-MenAnnual #1 (November 2013)

[3] Untold Tales of Captain Marvel#1-3 (1997)

[4] The Uncanny X-Men#480 (January 2007).

[5] War of Kings#1 (March 2009)

[6] War of Kings#3 (July 2009).

[7] Avengers(vol. 5) #1 (December 2012)

[8] DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt; Cowsill, Alan; Bray, Adam (2019).The Marvel Encyclopedia.DK Publishing. p. 337.ISBN 978-1-4654-7890-0.

[9] Avengers(vol. 5) #2

[10] Avengers(vol. 5) #5

[11] Guardians Team Up#1-2 (May 2015)

[12] Avengers World#1

[13] Avengers World#2

[14] Avengers(vol. 5) #35 (September 2014)

[15] Avengers(vol. 5) #39-40

[16] U.S. Avengers#5 (June 2017).

[17] U.S. Avengers#10 (November 2017).

[18] Monsters Unleashed(vol. 2) #5

[19] X-Men: The End: Book 3: Men & X-Men#1-2 (March–April 2006)

[20] Star Trek/X-Men#1 (December 1996)

[21] "X-Men: The Animated Series #317 - The Fate of the Phoenix (Episode)".Comic Vine.RetrievedApril 20,2024.

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