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| Smasher | |
|---|---|
 The Vril Rokk incarnation of Smasher as depicted inX-Men Spotlight on... Starjammers #2 (June 1990). Art byDave Cockrum. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Rokk:X-Men #107 (October 1977) Tuur:War of Kings #1 (March 2009) Third Smasher:War of Kings #3 (May 2009) Kane:Avengers (vol. 5) #1 (December 2012) |
| Created by | Chris Claremont andDave Cockrum |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Vril Rokk Salac Tuur Unrevealed Isabel "Izzy" Kane |
| Species | Alien Human (Kane) |
| Team affiliations | All:Imperial Guard Kane:Avengers |
| 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 several fictional characters appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics, primarily in association with theImperial Guard and theX-Men.
Smasher first appeared inX-Men #107 (October 1977-February 1978), and was created byChris Claremont andDave Cockrum. He and the Imperial Guard are based on theLegion of Super-Heroes fromDC Comics, with Smasher being based onUltra Boy. The name of the first Smasher, Vril Rokk, is derived from DC Comics charactersVril Dox andCosmic Boy (Rokk Krinn).
A new Smasher, named Isabel Kane, appears as a member of theAvengers in 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]
The title of Smasher has been used by three different humanoid aliens who served in theShi'arImperial Guard.
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The first Smasher is Vril Rokk, who had a long, distinguished service with the Guard. He was also romantically linked with fellow Guardsman Plutonia.[volume & issue needed]
In flashbacks depicted inUntold Tales of Captain Marvel, a small division of the Guard - Smasher, Deathbolt,Fang, andOracle - are selected to guard the personage ofDeathbird, the ruler of the Shi'ar. They ally, then battle with theKree after the latter comes to their assistance against aSkrull attack. The Imperial Guard are later involved in a confrontation against theBrood.[3]
WhenCassandra Nova is devastating the Shi'ar empire, Smasher personally protects empressLilandra Neramani.[volume & issue needed] Under protest, Smasher is ordered to travel to Earth to warn theX-Men about the threat posed by Nova.[volume & issue needed] However, he does not make it to the X-Men until well after they are attacked by the Imperial Guard, who have been brainwashed by Nova.[volume & issue needed]
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 ofCrystal andRonan the Accuser. During the battle, Smasher is killed by the InhumanKarnak.[4]
The uniform and title of Smasher is passed onto an unidentified member of the original's race who is later killed byGladiator during a raid by theStarjammers andGuardians of the Galaxy.[5]
A new Smasher appears in theMarvel Now! relaunch as part ofCaptain America's newAvengers line-up.[6][7] She joins the Avengers to help fightEx Nihilo on Mars.[8] 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 America by her grandfather Dan Kane, an acquaintance from World War II.[9]
Following a series of seismic events onA.I.M. Island, Smasher goes to investigate along withCannonball andSunspot. When they arrive, they are captured by A.I.M. troopers.[10] Smasher is chosen by Andrew Forson and Jude the Entropic Man to become their messenger.[11]
Following an eight-month timeskip in theTime Runs Out storyline, Smasher has started a family with teammateCannonball.[12] She later rejoins with an Avengers team headed by Sunspot andThor. Their goal is to find the threat causing the slow death of themultiverse and to kill it. This brings Smasher in direct opposition withCaptain America's group.[13]
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.Avengers so that he can be with his family full time.[14]
In the aftermath of theSecret Empire storyline, Smasher arrives on Earth and tells Sunspot that Cannonball, who was believed to be dead, is alive on another planet.[15]
A new Smasher not affiliated with the Imperial Guard was introduced inMonsters Unleashed. This version is the composite form ofKid Kaiju and his monster creations Slizzik, Hi-Vo, Aegis, Scragg, and Mekara. They come together to battle the Leviathon Mother when the Leviathon Tide invades Earth.[16]
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 intohyperspace, which can only be used one at a time.
An unidentified future version of Smasher appears inX-Men: The End, where he is killed in battle along with a small group of other Guardians.[17]
An unidentified version of Smasher appears inStar Trek/X-Men.[18]
The first Smasher makes non-speaking cameo appearances inX-Men: The Animated Series.[citation needed]
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