Absorbing Man

The Absorbing Man debuted in Journey into Mystery #114 (March 1965), and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.{{cite book|author=Jim Steele|title=HCA Comics and Original Comic Art Auction Catalog #829|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EKSE4_IM5xoC&pg=PA159|date=1 June 2008|publisher=Heritage Capital Corporation|isbn=978-1-59967-276-2|pages=159–}} He appeared in the 2017 Black Bolt series, by Saladin Ahmed.{{Cite web |last=Magnett |first=Chase |date=April 4, 2018 |title=8 Reasons Why We Loved 'Black Bolt' |url=https://comicbook.com/marvel/news/why-we-loved-black-bolt/ |access-date=April 24, 2023 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Carter |first=Justin |date=January 4, 2018 |title=Marvel's Black Bolt Actually Made the Absorbing Man Matter |url=https://www.cbr.com/marvel-black-bolt-absorbing-man-death/ |access-date=April 24, 2023 |website=Comic Book Resources |language=en}}

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.{{cite book |last1=Brevoort |first1=Tom |last2=DeFalco |first2=Tom |last3=Manning |first3=Matthew K. |last4=Sanderson |first4=Peter |last5=Wiacek |first5=Win |title=Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History |date=2017 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1465455505 |page=107}}{{Cite web |last=Avina |first=Anthony |date=November 28, 2019 |title=Marvel: The Hulk's 10 Most Powerful Villains, Ranked |url=https://www.cbr.com/marvel-hulk-most-powerful-villains-ranked/ |access-date=October 15, 2022 |website=Comic Book Resources |language=en-US}} 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.Journey into Mystery #114 (March 1965){{cite book |last1=Comtois |first1=Pierre |title=Marvel Comics in the 1960s: An Issue by Issue Field Guide to a Pop Culture Phenomenon |date=2015 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1-60549-016-8 |page=87}}{{cite book |last1=Wells |first1=John |title=American Comic Book Chronicles: 1965-1969 |date=2014 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1605490557 |page=46}}{{cite book |last1=DeFalco |first1=Tom |last2=Sanderson |first2=Peter |last3=Brevoort |first3=Tom |last4=Teitelbaum |first4=Michael |last5=Wallace |first5=Daniel |last6=Darling |first6=Andrew |last7=Forbeck |first7=Matt |last8=Cowsill |first8=Alan |last9=Bray |first9=Adam |title=The Marvel Encyclopedia |date=2019 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-7890-0 |page=10}}

In later appearances, Absorbing Man enters a relationship with Titania.Secret Wars #11 (March 1985) He has also been a member of the Masters of Evil and the Lethal Legion.The Avengers #270-275 (August 1986 - January 1987)Lethal Legion #1–3 (August - October 2009)

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.Fear Itself #2 (July 2011)Avengers Academy #15 (August 2011)

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.Avengers Standoff: Assault on Pleasant Hill Alpha one-shot (May 2016) When Helmut Zemo and Fixer restore the memories of the inmates, Absorbing Man joins their uprising against S.H.I.E.L.D.Illuminati #6 (June 2016)

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.The Immortal Hulk #9 (January 2019) Absorbing Man is later freed from the One Below All's influence and joins Gamma Flight.Immortal Hulk #47 (August 2021)

Carl Creel has the ability to mimic the matter or strength of anything nearby or anyone he is near.{{Cite web |last=Harth |first=David |date=February 28, 2021 |title=Thor: 10 Most Dangerous Villains He's Ever Fought |url=https://www.cbr.com/thor-most-dangerous-villains-fought/ |access-date=October 15, 2022 |website=Comic Book Resources |language=en-US}} 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).The Avengers #184 (July 1979) His body was able to reform itself after being broken or damaged,The Incredible Hulk #456-457 (September–October 1997) especially a severed arm which Wolverine cuts off during the Secret Wars.Secret Wars #7 (November 1984)

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."{{Cite web |last=Atchison |first=Drew |date=May 1, 2021 |title=Hulk's Main Comic Book Villains, Ranked Lamest To Coolest |url=https://screenrant.com/hulk-main-comic-book-villains-ranked-lamest-to-coolest/ |access-date=October 15, 2022 |website=Screen Rant |language=en-US}} Comic Book Resources ranked Absorbing Man 3rd in their "10 Strongest Marvel Henchmen" list,{{Cite web |last=Harth |first=David |date=October 2, 2021 |title=10 Strongest Marvel Henchmen, Ranked |url=https://www.cbr.com/strongest-marvel-henchmen/ |access-date=October 15, 2022 |website=Comic Book Resources |language=en-US}} 4th in their "10 Villains Fans Hope To See In Marvel’s She-Hulk Series" list,{{Cite web |last=Avina |first=Anthony |date=September 9, 2019 |title=10 Villains Fans Hope To See In Marvel's She-Hulk Series |url=https://www.cbr.com/she-hulk-marvel-comic-villains-disney-plus-series/ |access-date=October 15, 2022 |website=Comic Book Resources |language=en-US}} 4th in their "10 Best B-List Avengers Villains" list,{{Cite web |last=Harth |first=David |date=August 4, 2022 |title=The 10 Best B-List Avengers Villains, Ranked |url=https://www.cbr.com/marvel-avengers-best-b-list-villains-ranked/ |access-date=October 15, 2022 |website=Comic Book Resources |language=en-US}} 5th in their "Top 10 She-Hulk Villains" list,{{Cite web |last=Gaudreau |first=Jared |date=February 23, 2022 |title=The Top 10 She-Hulk Villains, Ranked |url=https://www.cbr.com/top-she-hulk-villains-ranked/ |access-date=October 15, 2022 |website=Comic Book Resources |language=en-US}} 5th in their "10 Strongest Marvel Human Villains" list,{{Cite web |last=Harth |first=David |date=July 4, 2021 |title=10 Strongest Marvel Human Villains, Ranked |url=https://www.cbr.com/strongest-marvel-human-villains/ |access-date=October 15, 2022 |website=Comic Book Resources |language=en-US}} 6th in their "Age Of Apocalypse: The 30 Strongest Characters In Marvel's Coolest Alternate World" list,{{Cite web |last=Lealos |first=Shawn S. |date=September 16, 2018 |title=Age Of Apocalypse: The 30 Strongest Characters In Marvel's Coolest Alternate World |url=https://www.cbr.com/age-of-apocalypse-characters-ranked/ |access-date=October 11, 2022 |website=Comic Book Resources |language=en-US}} 7th in their "Hulk’s 10 Most Powerful Villains" list, 8th in their "Marvel: 10 Villains Who Keep Getting Stronger" list,{{Cite web |last=Harth |first=David |date=April 3, 2022 |title=Marvel: 10 Villains Who Keep Getting Stronger |url=https://www.cbr.com/marvel-villains-getting-stronger/ |access-date=October 15, 2022 |website=Comic Book Resources |language=en-US}} 9th in their "Thor: 10 Most Dangerous Villains He's Ever Fought" list, and 12th in their "Hulk's 20 Most Powerful Enemies" list.{{Cite web |last=Morelli |first=Trevor |date=January 17, 2019 |title=The Definitive Ranking Of The Hulk's 20 Most Powerful Enemies |url=https://www.cbr.com/hulk-powerful-villains-ranked/ |access-date=October 15, 2022 |website=Comic Book Resources |language=en-US}}

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.Tales from the Age of Apocalypse #1 (December 1996)

An alternate universe variant of Carl Creel from Earth-9997 appears in Earth X.Universe X #3 (October 2000)

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.House of M: Masters of Evil #1 (December 2009)

Absorbing Man appears in JLA/Avengers as a brainwashed minion of Krona.JLA/Avengers #4 (February 2004)

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.Marvel Apes: Amazing Spider-Monkey Special (June 2009)

A zombified alternate universe variant of Carl Creel from Earth-2149 appears in Marvel Zombies.Marvel Zombies 3 #3 (February 2009)

An alternate universe variant of Carl Creel from Earth-807128 appears in Old Man Logan.Wolverine (vol. 3) #67 (September 2008)Wolverine (vol. 3) #70 (February 2009)

• Absorbing Man appears in The Marvel Super Heroes, voiced by Tom Harvey.{{Cite web |title=Absorbing Man Voices (Marvel Universe) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Marvel-Universe/Absorbing-Man/ |access-date=January 28, 2024 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
• Carl Creel / Absorbing Man appears in The Incredible Hulk (1996) episode "They Call Me Mr. Fixit", voiced by Jim Cummings.{{Cite web |date=January 26, 2009 |title=Make Mine Marvel: The 1990s Hulk Cartoon |url=http://marvel.com/news/tv/6660/make_mine_marvel_the_1990s_hulk_cartoon |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151026020134/http://marvel.com/news/tv/6660/make_mine_marvel_the_1990s_hulk_cartoon |archive-date=October 26, 2015 |access-date=November 3, 2016 |publisher=Marvel.com}} This version is an enforcer for crime boss Miss Allure.
• Absorbing Man appears in The Avengers: United They Stand episode "Command Decision", voiced by Oliver Becker."[http://marvel.toonzone.net/avengersunited/episode/command/ Marvel Animation Age Presents: The Avengers: United They Stand]," Marvel Toonzone. Retrieved November 3, 2016 This version is a member of Baron Helmut Zemo's Masters of Evil.
• Absorbing Man appears in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, voiced by Rick D. Wasserman. This version's powers are derived from gamma radiation.
• Absorbing Man appears in the Ultimate Spider-Man episode "Contest of Champions", voiced by Jonathan Adams.
• Absorbing Man appears in Avengers Assemble, initially voiced again by Jonathan Adams and subsequently by Gregg Berger.
• Absorbing Man appears in Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H., voiced again by Jonathan Adams.
• Carl Creel appears in television series set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
• Creel primarily appears in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., portrayed by Brian Patrick Wade.{{Cite web |last=Goldberg |first=Lesley |date=August 21, 2014 |title='Agents of SHIELD' Casts Villain Absorbing Man |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/agents-shield-casts-villain-absorbing-726832/ |access-date=April 24, 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Ching |first=Albert |date=August 21, 2014 |title="Agents of SHIELD" Season Premiere to Introduce the Absorbing Man |url=https://www.cbr.com/agents-of-shield-season-premiere-to-introduce-the-absorbing-man/ |access-date=April 24, 2023 |website=Comic Book Resources |language=en}} He first appears in the second season episodes "Shadows" and "Heavy is the Head" as a Hydra operative. As of the third season episode "The Inside Man", Creel defected to the U.S. government and became Glenn Talbot's bodyguard. In the fifth season, Creel reluctantly rejoins Hydra in their plot to save the world from Thanos, only to be absorbed by Talbot via gravitonium.{{Cite web |last=Raymond |first=Charles Nicholas |date=February 14, 2018 |title=Absorbing Man Returns In New Agents of SHIELD Episode |url=https://screenrant.com/agents-shield-absorbing-man-returns/ |access-date=April 24, 2023 |website=Screen Rant |language=en}}
• Creel is mentioned in a flashback in the Daredevil episode "Cut Man", which is set in the 1990s while he was at the height of his boxing career. He is set to have a match with Jack Murdock, with the latter being expected to drop in the fifth round at Roscoe Sweeney's "suggestion". Instead, Jack chooses to set a better example for his son Matt and wins the fight off-screen via knockout. Series producer Jeph Loeb confirmed that this is the same Creel that appears in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. before gaining his abilities.{{Cite web |last=Nicholson |first=Max |date=April 8, 2015 |title=Jeph Loeb Confirms Daredevil's Connection to an Agents of SHIELD Villain |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/04/08/jeph-loeb-confirms-daredevils-connection-to-an-agents-of-shield-villain |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412021914/http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/04/08/jeph-loeb-confirms-daredevils-connection-to-an-agents-of-shield-villain |archive-date=April 12, 2015 |access-date=April 10, 2015 |website=IGN}}{{Cite web |last=Steinbeiser |first=Andrew |date=April 8, 2015 |title=Marvel Confirms Daredevil and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Connection |url=https://comicbook.com/news/marvel-confirms-daredevil-and-agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-connection/ |access-date=April 24, 2023 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en}}
• Absorbing Man appears in Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers, voiced by Yasuhiko Kawazu in the Japanese version and by John Eric Bentley in the English dub.
• Absorbing Man appears in the Spider-Man episode "Screwball Live", voiced again by Gregg Berger.
• Absorbing Man appears in Marvel Super Hero Adventures, voiced by Michael Dobson.
• Absorbing Man will appear in Iron Man and His Awesome Friends, voiced by Talon Warburton.{{Cite web |last=Milligan |first=Mercedes |date=May 6, 2025 |title='Marvel's Iron Man and His Awesome Friends' Assembles Villainous Voice Stars |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2025/05/marvels-iron-man-and-his-awesome-friends-assembles-villainous-voice-stars/ |access-date=May 8, 2025 |website=Animation Magazine |language=en-US}}

The Absorbing Man was featured in several scrapped scripts for Hulk, with one seeing him being reimagined as computer engineer Robert Creel.{{Cite web |title=Hulk screenplay by John Turman |url=https://archive.org/details/vdocuments.mx_hulk-screenplay-by-john-turmans-hulk-screenplay-by-john-turman-based-on-the-marvel}}{{Cite web |title=UGO |url=http://screenwriting.ugo.com/film/incrediblehulkbyhayter.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015052834/http://screenwriting.ugo.com/film/incrediblehulkbyhayter.php |archive-date=2008-10-15}}

• Absorbing Man appears in The Incredible Hulk (1994).{{citation needed|date=September 2018}}
• Absorbing Man appears as a boss in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2, voiced by John DiMaggio.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}}
• Absorbing Man appears in Lego Marvel Super Heroes,{{Cite web |title=NYCC 2013: Marvel Adds More Characters To LEGO MARVEL SUPER HEROES Game |url=http://www.newsarama.com/19216-nycc-2013-marvel-adds-more-characters-to-lego-marvel-super-heroes-game.html |access-date=13 October 2014 |website=Newsarama}}{{Cite web |last=Crecente |first=Brian |date=October 12, 2013 |title=Lego Marvel Super Heroes demo coming next week |url=https://www.polygon.com/2013/10/12/4832048/lego-marvel-super-heroes-demo-coming-next-week |access-date=April 24, 2023 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}} voiced again by John DiMaggio.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}}
• Absorbing Man appears in Marvel Avengers Alliance.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}}
• Absorbing Man appears in Marvel Contest of Champions.{{Cite web |last=Hashimoto |first=Marika |date=January 9, 2023 |title=Marvel Contest of Champions v37.2 Release Notes Introduce the Masters of Evil |url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/games/marvel-contest-of-champions-v37-2-release-notes-introduce-the-masters-of-evil |access-date=April 24, 2023 |website=Marvel.com}}{{Cite web |last=Gose |first=Lance |date=January 10, 2023 |title=Marvel Contest of Champions Announces Baron Zemo and Absorbing Man, Roadmap for 2023 |url=https://www.cbr.com/marvel-contest-of-champions-baron-zemo-absorbing-man-2023-roadmap/ |access-date=April 24, 2023 |website=Comic Book Resources |language=en}}
• Absorbing Man appears as a playable character in Marvel: Future Fight.{{Cite web |last=Musgrave |first=Shaun |date=August 14, 2017 |title=Best iPhone Game Updates: 'Hearthstone', 'Marvel Future Fight', 'Dungeons of Chaos', 'Panmorphia', and More |url=http://toucharcade.com/2017/08/14/best-iphone-game-updates-hearthstone-marvel-future-fight-dungeons-of-chaos-panmorphia-and-more/ |website=TouchArcade}}
• Absorbing Man appears as a playable character in Lego Marvel's Avengers.{{Cite web |date=6 January 2016 |title=Characters |url=http://www.ign.com/wikis/lego-marvel-avengers/Characters |access-date=February 1, 2018 |website=IGN Database}}
• Absorbing Man appears as a playable character in Marvel Strike Force.{{Cite web |date=January 19, 2023 |title=Weekly Blog: The Masters of Evil |url=https://marvelstrikeforce.com/en/updates/blog-update-1-20-23 |website=Marvel Strike Force}}
• Absorbing Man appears in Marvel Snap.{{Cite web |last=Sandoval |first=Andrea |date=February 27, 2023 |title=10 Best Marvel Snap Cards In Pool 3 |url=https://www.cbr.com/marvel-snap-great-pool-3-cards/ |access-date=March 17, 2023 |website=Comic Book Resources |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Kaptan |first=Doruk |date=December 8, 2022 |title=Marvel Snap: Every Pool 4 Card, Ranked |url=https://www.thegamer.com/marvel-snap-best-pool-4-cards-ranked/ |access-date=March 17, 2023 |website=TheGamer |language=en}}

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