Smasher (Marvel Comics)

Smasher
Smasher
	Smasher I by Dave 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 Claremont and Dave 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"

Smasher is the name of multiple different fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, primarily in association with the Imperial Guard and the X-Men.

Publication history

Smasher first appeared in X-Men #107 (October 1977-February 1978), and was created by Chris Claremont and Dave Cockrum. He and the Imperial Guard are based on the Legion of Super-Heroes from DC Comics, with Smasher being based on Ultra Boy.

A new Smasher, named Isabel Kane, appears as a member of the Avengers in the Marvel 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 editor Tom 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 the Shi'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.^[3] Smasher is later killed by Vulcan, 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 is among the Imperial Guardsmen who attack the Kree homeworld during the wedding of Crystal and Ronan the Accuser. During the battle, Smasher is killed by the Inhuman Karnak.^[5]

Third Smasher

The uniform and title of Smasher is passed onto an unidentified member of the original's race who is later killed by Gladiator during a raid by the Starjammers and Guardians of the Galaxy.^[6]

Izzy Kane

A new Smasher appears in the Marvel Now! relaunch as part of Captain America's new Avengers line-up.^[7]^[8] She joins the Avengers to help fight Ex Nihilo on Mars.^[9] She is revealed to be Isabel "Izzy" Kane, a college student and astronomer from Iowa. 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 about Cassandra Nova, Izzy becomes the new Smasher and Earth's first member of the Imperial Guard. Izzy is introduced to Captain America by her grandfather Dan Kane, an acquaintance from World War II.^[10]

As part of the Avengers, Izzy meets the Guardians of the Galaxy when 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 with Cannonball and Sunspot. 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 the Time Runs Out storyline having started a family with teammate Sam 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 the U.S.Avengers so that he could be with his family full time.^[16]

In the aftermath of the Secret Empire storyline, 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 in Monsters Unleashed. This version is a creation of Kid Kaiju that 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

Smasher possesses the innate ability to increase physical strength by absorbing cosmic radiation. The flight patches and exospex goggles give Smasher flight, superhuman strength and durability, X-ray vision, and the ability to travel into hyperspace, which can only be used one at a time.

Other versions

X-Men: The End

In the alternate future of X-Men: The End, Smasher is a veteran Guardian who is on duty when Cassandra 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 assist Deathbird in a mission.^[20]

In other media

The first Smasher makes non-speaking cameo appearances in X-Men: The Animated Series.^{[citation needed]}

References

^ New Brevoort Formspring
^ Wolverine and the X-Men Annual #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)

External links

Smasher I at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
Smasher II at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
Smasher III at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe

[1] New Brevoort Formspring

[2] Wolverine and the X-Men Annual #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)

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