Absorbing Man

Real Name
Carl "Crusher" Creel 

Occupation

Professional criminal; former boxer 

Citizenship

U.S.A. with a criminal record 

Place of Birth

New York City, New York 

Known Relatives

Mary MacPherran (Titania, wife); Davis Rockwell (cousin) 

Group Affiliation

Lethal Legion; formerly Masters of Evil, unnamed team on Battleworld 

Education

High school dropout 

Height

6'4" (variable) 

Weight

365 lbs. (variable) 

Eyes

Blue 

Hair

Bald 

Powers

The Absorbing Man can alter the molecular structure of his body, his clothes, and his wrecking ball to mimic the properties of any material he touches. This process also gives him enhanced strength, endurance, and in most cases, resistance to injury. If the object touched holds some form of energy, such as a battery or a blast furnace, Creel absorbs these properties as well. He also has limited shape-changing abilities when absorbing certain objects, such as forming hammer-like fists when touching a hammer or growing to enormous size when copying items of massive power or strength. More recently, Creel has developed the ability to control the mind of another, even over vast distances. He was been shown to be able to "re-grow" his arm when it fell off (in his rocky form) by re-attaching it, then changing back to human form.

Abilities
Creel is a prized street-fighter and experienced burglar. 

Other Info
Crusher Creel's life was little more than that of any common criminal. Although he did spend some time as a boxer (In fact, he even fought "Battlin' Jack" Murdock--Daredevil's father), he usually resorted to petty crime. It was on one such extortion racket that he was convicted of aggravated assault and remanded to prison. (To learn about Daredevil, click on his name above.)

Loki knew Creel would be the perfect unwitting agent to battle Thor, so he slipped an enchanted potion into Creel's drinking water in prison. Filled with power, Creel broke out of prison and soon found himself in conflict with Thor. He found he could absorb the properties of Thor's hammer as well as Thor himself, and Creel decided to call himself, "Absorbing Man." (Creel's ball and chain, which he was wearing at the time of his transformation, magically also possessed the same properties of transformation as his body as long as he is in contact with it.) Thor ended up leaving the battle to make sure that his love, Jane Foster, was safe. However, Absorbing Man thought he had won the battle and began to flaunt his "success" because he thought Thor was "fleeing." But, Thor returned and a violent battle ensued. During the battle, Thor managed to use his hammer's magic to alter the elements Creel had transformed into. Suddenly forced into the qualities of helium, the Absorbing Man drifted apart. (To learn about the above characters, just click on their highlighted names. Note: Beware of the low-cut outfit worn by the female version of Loki on the bottom of the Loki's bio page.) 

However, Loki wasn't finished with his Creel, yet. He helped Creel re-form his body and transported him to Asgard, in hopes that the Absorbing Man would help him take it over. But, Absorbing Man began to think his power was better than Odin's. So, he challenged Odin. However, Odin tricked him and Loki and banished both to space. (Click on the highlighted names above to learn more about Odin and/or his kingdom of Asgard.)

Creel eventually managed to return to Earth by hitching a ride on a comet and immediately encountered the Hulk. Absorbing Man nearly defeated the Hulk by about crushing him with a huge boulder. But, in absorbing the Hulk's power during his transformation back into his human form of Bruce Banner, Creel was also transformed back to normal human form and was buried by his own boulder. However, Loki freed Creel once again. (To learn about the above highlighted words, just click on their names.)

Eventually, Creel was fed up with fighting and losing to super-humans and he wanted to flee the country. But, when he tried to leave, he took a hostage too which alerted the Avengers. Even though he managed to keep the Avengers at bay, Creel escaped by diving into the ocean, transforming himself into water. He was finally able to reintegrate himself on Easter Island; however, due to his body being so long intermingled with the ocean, he kind of went insane. We began to be frightened of any one with a superpower--he was convinced that the normal Bruce Banner was a superhuman (Bruce also ended up on the island when fleeing Japan as the Hulk). It was only a matter of time before the Absorbing Man and the Hulk clashed again. This time, Creel tried to absorb the entire island to defeat him. But, Hulk swatted him away, and Creel's mental state made him think he was actually an island, floating mindlessly at sea. (To learn about the Avengers, click on their name above. Note: Beware of the form-fitting outfits worn by some on the Avengers' bio page.)

After coming to his senses, Creel returned to America. Then later, Creel was abducted by the alien known as the Beyonder to fight in the so-called Secret Wars. During this time, Creel met Titania (Mary MacPherran), and the two developed a relationship. Upon their return, Creel and Titania were contacted by the second Baron Zemo, who was forming a new Masters of Evil. After several independent assignments, they were defeated by the Ant-Man (Scott Lang) and the Wasp. (Click on the highlighted names above to learn more about the characters, teams, and/or event. Note: Beware of the revealing outfit on the Beyonder, the Masters of Evil, and especially Titania's bio pages.)

After some time, Absorbing Man and Titania got married. Both villains had turned away from there more malicious action days, and preferred to quietly keep each other company (although they never gave up bank robberies and other activities completely).

At one time, Creel was tricked by the villain Crossbones to keep Captain America busy while Crossbones ignited a bomb. Creel, however, claiming not to be a murderer, absorbed the properties of Captain America's shield to save the city from the explosion. Absorbing Man escaped to seek revenge on Crossbones, but the details of the outcome have yet to be revealed. (The fifth picture posted is of Absorbing Man with the absorbed properties of Captain America's shield.)

At some point, Creel was imprisoned in a maximum-security penitentiary. He had also somehow developed a new aspect of his powers--taking over the mind of another. Creel used this ability to take control of the Hulk and make an escape from the prison. In the battle that followed, the Absorbing Man defeated the Hulk, but was tricked into trying to take over the mind of a corpse (his real body withered and died).

Absorbing Man was imprisoned again. This time, he was serving time at Pym Experimental Penitentiary Number One (a prison that kept super-powered inmates miniaturized). Absorbing Man did participate in an attempted breakout led by the Mad Thinker; however, the plan was thwarted by She-Hulk. (Click on the highlighted names above to learn more about those characters. Note: Beware of the very skin-tight and revealing outfit on the She-Hulk's bio page.)

During the events of the Civil War, Absorbing Man battled and was apparently killed by the hero Sentry. However, it was shown later that he was still alive when he attended the villain Stilt-Man's funeral. (To learn about the above characters and/or event, click on their highlighted names above.)

During the events of Dark Reign, Absorbing Man joined a new version of the Lethal Legion led by the Grim Reaper. (Click on the highlighted names to learn more about the team and team leader highlighted above.)

To learn more about Absorbing Man, click on the following link, http://marvel.com/universe/Absorbing_Man.

Absorbing Man appears in the TV show "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." (The second picture posted above is of him in his human form, and when he absorbs the asphalt from the road.)