The Wrecker

The Wrecker

Dirk Garthwaite was a exceptional thief when he accidentally came across Loki in his hotel room. Things were never the same for the crowbar wielding thief after that day. Asgardian magic endowed the Wrecker with superhuman strength and powers. Then later with his prison friends he formed the Wrecking Crew. Even though their Asgardian power is now gone a combo of power received from the Doomsday Man and an ability to recharge themselves (a talent given them by Arnim Zola) will be sure to keep the Wrecker and his Wrecking Crew in plenty of trouble.

Appearances in Chronological Order

Thor #148-150-The Wrecker breaks into Loki's apartment while he is summoning the assistance of the Queen of the Norns. Loki, along with Thor, Sif, and Balder, was stripped of his god-like power by an angry Odin. Loki was summoning the Queen to ask for power so that he might kill Thor while he was in a vulnerable state. So when Wrecker breaks in on Loki's ceremony and hurls his crowbar at Loki's head it knocks Loki out cold. Wrecker is amused by Loki's hat and puts it on. The Queen of the Norns mistakes Wrecker for Loki and grants the Wrecker god-like power. Loki awakens only to be ordered "back where ya came from, fink!" by the Wrecker. Wrecker begins destroying property when confronted by the police. Thor, Sif, and Balder decide they must try to stop him. Wrecker wills Sif and Balder back to Asgard, but decides to fight Thor. Thor obviously still possesses his Asgardian strength because he gives the Wrecker a run for his money, but in the end it is the Wrecker who wins. Wrecker then decides that since he is the strongest he should also be the richest. Thor tries to stop Wrecker again. Thor is losing the fight, however, and decides to try and climb a building. Wrecker sticks his crowbar inside the building bringing the whole thing down, KILLING Thor! Well almost. A spark of life allows Thor to avoid Hela. Sif makes a deal with the Queen of the Norns and inhabits the Destroyer to try and save Thor. The Wrecker destroys his crowbar on the Destroyer. Destroyer then defeats Wrecker. And Thor returns to life.

Thor #171- Wrecker fights the effects of the tranquilizers they have him on and breaks out of the hospital he was in. Wrecker finds his crowbar (now whole again) and leaves. Wrecker starts... well wrecking the city to bring Thor to him. The two wage battle all over the city (drawn by Jack Kirby- I highly recommend this issue) until the two land inside the subway. Wrecker is knocked into the third rail. Wrecker starts to laugh this off until Thor adds the power of his hammer to the power of the third rail, and together the two knock the Wrecker out while stripping him of his Asgardian power.

Defenders #17-19- Wrecker breaks free of prison with the help of three of his cellmates. They get ahold of Wrecker's crowbar and hold it aloft in a thunderstorm. Lightning strikes the crowbar unleashing the Asgardian power within equally to all four members of the now Wrecking Crew. The Wrecking Crew come across the Defenders while looking for something. Dr. Strange puts up a barrier that prevents the Crew from leaving. The fight goes back and forth equally until Strange realizes that the Wrecking Crew's powers are magical in nature. Strange begins to drain their powers until the Hulk, outside Strange's bubble, begins pounding his way in breaking Strange's concentration. Thunderball finds the case he was looking for only to discover it was empty. The case was supposed to contain a hand held gamma bomb that Thunderball created back when he was a scientist. While the Defenders ponder this the Crew sneak attacks the Defenders. Piledriver knocks out Strange and Nighthawk. Bulldozer knocks out Cage, and the Wrecker knocks out the Hulk! The Defenders track the Crew down and defeat them. Hulk destroys Thunderball's ball and chain. Hulk turns back into Banner. Banner defuses the gamma bomb.

Fantastic Four #168- The Fantastic Four go to stop the Wrecker from robbing a bank. Wrecker isn't sure why he is robbing the bank or why he knew the Fantastic Four would come to stop him (it is later revealed that he was the pawn of the Puppet Master- too bad PM didn't take the time to carve the other members of the Wrecking Crew this might've been a fight). The Thing is now Ben Grimm and Luke Cage has stepped up to fill in as the muscle for the team. Cage eventually gets a hold of Wrecker's crowbar and puts him down for the count with it.

Iron Fist #11-12- The police who arrested Wrecker in Fantastic Four #168 thought that the Wrecker was powerless without his crowbar. Wrecker easily escaped them. Wrecker did some research and then broke his Wrecking Crew out of jail to go kill Thor. The Wrecking Crew figures to kidnap Dr. Don Blake believing it will bring Thor. The Crew runs into Iron Fist instead. For some reason they seem to fight him one on one. Iron Fist manages to delay them, but not really hurt any of them. Then Thunderball gets hold of Misty Knight. Iron Fist offers to go Avengers' Mansion and rig the alarms so that the Wrecking Crew can get in. Wrecker also tells Fist to kill any Avengers he finds inside. Fist goes to Avengers' Mansion and makes a deal with Captain America to trick the Wrecking Crew. Fist lures them in the "danger room" and opens the setting for Thor. Between Cap, Iron Fist, and the simulations the Wrecking Crew lose and are taken back to jail.

Thor #304- For some reason Wrecker seems to be normal except for the fact that he can use his crowbar to control minds in order to get the crowbar back to him. When he touches the crowbar he becomes the Wrecker again. He then breaks the rest of the Wrecking Crew out of jail. They rob a bank, and steal some food, but eventually figure on fighting Thor again. The Crew gives Thor a good fight but in the end Thor calls upon the power of his hammer to overload and knock out the Wrecker.

Marvel Super-heroes Secret Wars #1-3, Thor #383, and Marvel Super-heroes Secret Wars #4-12-The Wrecker and his Crew, along with several other villain such as Dr. Doom, Absorbing Man, Doctor Octopus, and Ultron, are abducted by the Beyonder to fight a group of super-heroes for the ultimate prize of everything they desire. In issue three Absorbing Man meets Titania for the first time. She figures him to be the toughest guy there and wants to beat him up. Creel won't fight saving it for the heroes, but Wrecker offers to "lip wrestle" with her. In issue six Wrecker is in the vehicle that shoots and "kills" Wasp. In issue seven Wrecker throws her body onto the ground in front of the heroes. Then later with Titania, Absorbing Man, Doc Ock, and the entire Wrecking Crew, Wrecker helps beat She-Hulk unconscious and to near death. Wrecker later attempts to get the drop on Iron Man but is flattened by a repulsor ray. He is taken into custody. He is later freed and hangs with the other villains on the Beyonder's world. He is later, I suppose, transported back to Earth.

She-Hulk #10

Secret Wars II #7- Wrecker is part of a collective of villains who attack the Beyonder for Mephisto.

Spectacular Spider-man #125-126- The Wrecking Crew break into a safe and steal a disc. Spider-Woman attempts to stop them, but is beaten unconscious for her trouble. Thunderball talks Wrecker out of killing her so that her hero friends don't come for revenge. Wrecker talks to his mother. Thunderball has ideas of stealing all the Wrecking Crew power for himself. The rest of the story takes place after the Avengers story when Wrecker has all the power of the Wrecking Crew back. Spider-Woman tracks down the Wrecker and steals his disc. Wrecker chases her to get it back. The chase eventually includes Spider-Man. Wrecker gets his disc back, but when he finds it destroyed he comes for revenge against Spider-Man and Spider-Woman. Spider-Man and Spider-Woman manage to run away. Wrecker breaks out the Crew. Spider-Woman goes and sees Wrecker's mom right before she dies. The Crew goes back to one of Zemo's hideouts. Thunderball tries to use Zemo's technology to steal Wrecker's power. He only manages to steal half before being interrupted by Spider-Man. Thunderball and Wrecker agree to kill Spider-Man before settling their dispute. The two ditch Spider-Man and Thunderball beats Wrecker. Spider-Woman and Spider-Man stop Thunderball from killing him. Wrecker uses the opportunity to get back up and by force of will regain all his power. Wrecker defeats Spider-Man for a third time that day, but before he can finish him off Spider-Woman gives Dirk the letter she got from his mother. Wrecker finds out that his mother died, and leaves without another word.

Fantastic Four #355- Wrecker comes to kill the now powerless Thunderball. Just as Wrecker is about to deliver the killing blow Thing steps in and fights Wrecker. Wrecker pounds on Thing until Thing has enough. Thing knocks out Wrecker with his sunday punch.

Damage Control Vol 2 #1- Wrecker regains his power with the rest of the Wrecking Crew and escape jail. While Captain America is fighting Piledriver and Wrecker , Thunderball levels Cap with his ball and chain

Iron Man #251- Wrecker accepts an Act of Vengeance against Iron Man. Wrecker starts destroying Stark property and sure enough Iron Ma shows. Wrecker really overpowers Iron Man. Wrecker throws some wreckage at innocent bystanders. Iron Man stops the wreckage, but gets buried by it. Wrecker starts pounding Iron Man. Then as Wrecker attempts to pry Iron Man's helmet off with his crowbar Iron Man magnetizes Wrecker's bar and is repelled by the charge. The crowbar then attracts a bunch of cars that crush the Wrecker.

Avengers Spotlight #27- Wrecker seen battling Iron Man from Iron Man #251

Avengers Death Trap:The Vault- The Wrecker and the Crew are part of Venom's plan to escape from the Vault. Thunderball leads a small group to escape themselves. Piledriver, Titania, and Moonstone fight (and apparently lose to) Wonder Man, Hawkeye, and Wasp. Wrecker, X-Ray, and Gray Gargoyal attempt to force Freedom Force to turn on the Avengers, but as the other Avengers show Frredom Force double cross them. Thunderball helps discover that there really is a bomb set to explode. Thunderball and Hank Pym disarm the bomb. Everyone is hypnotized in a mass hypnotizing when Iron Man takes over Mentallo's powers.

Avengers Annual #19- Construction workers bury the Wrecker in bricks to stop him from wrecking their job.

Avengers Unplugged #4- Wrecker serves as the best man for the Absorbing Man / Titania wedding.

Thor #418-Wrecker waits for the Wrecking Crew to break him out of a transport. Thunderball tries to usurp leadership of the group at which point Wrecker breaks out of his restraints and then breaks Thunderball's hand. Wrecker informs the group that Ulik is a new member of the group. Wrecker reveals that Ulik has been sharing secrets regarding Wrecker's asgardian powers. The Wrecking Crew defeats Hercules who is still haunted by the beating he received during the Masters of Evil invasion. Thor allows the Crew to pound on him in an attempt to get Herc to snap out of his fear- which he does. Wrecker wants to keep fighting, but since Piledriver and Bulldozer are already out he teleports away using his crowbar.

Captain America #412-In attendance as Captain America disguised as Crossbones fights the General in a wrestling ring.

Thor #426-431- Wrecker has a little fun lording his power over the police. When he is unable to mystically locate Ulik, however, he becomes frustrated and teleports the Crew away. Wrecker teleports into store and takes what he wants. While at a construction site the Crew starts having a difficult run in with Excalibur. Wrecker uses his crowbar to cast a magic spell which causes Excalibur to see Thor as the Juggernaut. Thor's hammer levels Bulldozer, but the Crew teleports away. Wrecker uses his bar to find where Bulldozer is, but while they are breaking him out they run into the Ghost Rider. Ghost Rider scares off the Crew. After spotting Thor the Wrecker decides to show his toughness and take him on. Ghost Rider shows up. While the fight rages on Loki one by one sucks the power from the Wrecking Crew. First Thunderball, then Piledriver, and finally Bulldozer. Wrecker attacks Ulik only to fall to Loki. Loki gets even with Wrecker for his initial assault on Loki all those years ago. Loki tortures the power out of Wrecker and into him. After the torture Loki sends Wrecker to an alternate dimension, but Wrecker rejoices because he never caved to Loki.

Thunderstrike / Code Blue #13-14- Wrecker returns from the dimension Loki banished him to in order to kill his father for the abuse both he and his mother endured. Thor is fighting him, but is called away for aid by the High Evolutionary. Once Code Blue assures Thor they'll handle it Thor leaves. The source of Wrecker's new power is unknown, but Code Blue does figure out what Wrecker is doing. They go ahead to Burt Garthwaite's nursing home and set a trap for Wrecker. Wrecker shows up to kill his father, but then they lower some unbreakable glass. It's doubtful it would have held Wrecker back for long, but it did delay him long enough for Burt Garthwaite to die of natural causes. Wrecker missing his chance is sucked back into the dimension Loki banished him to.

Alpha Flight #118-119-Apparently Thunderball figured out a way to take back the power Loki took from them. Thunderball even theorized that Loki was dead, and that was why it was so easy to regain their power. But for some reason T-ball went on a rampage. When Alpha Flight takes him down the other Crew show up to help. Dirk wants to show the others he should control the group and not Thunderball. He fights the majority of Alpha Flight, but eventually realizes there is no point to continuing and they teleport away.

Journey Into Mystery #505-Wrecker notices that their powers are starting to fade. While the Crew is busy getting beat up for a crime the Wrecker decides to track down the drainer of their power. Wrecker finds Set who kicks the crap out of him and leaves to pursue his plan of global destruction.

Journey Into Mystery #506- Wrecker is seen laid out on a hospital bed after the beating Seth gave him.

Avengers #16- flashback- Thunderball reveals that Arnim Zola gave them new rechargable power

Thunderbolts #1-The Wrecking Crew is hired to defeat the Thunderbolts. Atlas knocks Wrecker down only to be hit into the water by Thunderball. Wrecker, Thunderball, and Piledriver are defeated when M.A.C.H.-1 launches gas grenades at them and Songbird holds the gas on their heads with solidified sound bubbles. Atlas returns from the water so angry he punches Bulldozer from the Statue of Liberty to south Bronx.

Marvel Team Up #6, 10-11- The Wrecking Crew is being held down in titanium restraints while being tried for attempting to destroy the Statue of Liberty. Wrecker lives up to his name. He tips his restraints over destroying the courthouse. He breaks a gas pipe which causes an explosion freeing him and the Crew. Wrecker decides to imitate Die Hard 3 and loot the gold under Wall Street. Namor, who is having a bit of memory trouble, joins in with the Crew destroying Wall St. Spider-Man shows up to stop them. Thunderball manages to tangle Spidey up in his ball and chain and then throws it in water. Namor chooses this moment to snap out of it, and goes to save Spider-Man. When Namor frees Spidey the ball and chain return to Thunderball who with the Wrecking Crew are escaping. The Wrecking Crew offer their services to Roland R. Tilton, who wants Namor killed. The Crew shows up in the middle of a Thing/Namor fight. Wrecking Crew's presence convinces Thing that Namor was right in destroying a factory. Namor throws gas onto the warehouse and blows it up. The gas also paralyzes the Wrecking Crew who are taken into custody. Wrecker escape and frees the Crew. They then kidnap Roland Tilton. The Wrecking Crew then go to Atlantis to wreck it. With Iron Man's help Namor returns to Atlantis and defeats the Wrecking Crew.

Avengers #15-18- The Wrecking Crew were broken out of jail and re-energized by the Doomsday Man. They decide that they'd rather pillage than work for him though. Doomsday Man brings them back. Because he can take the power back the Wrecking Crew decides to help Doomsday Man capture the female Captain Marvel. The crew heads to New Orleans last known location of Photon, formerly Ms. Marvel. When the crew starts tearing up Canal Street Monica Rambeau transforms to Photon to stop them. A defeated Photon falters into Avengers' mansion to get help against the Crew. She tells the visiting Black Knight that her blasts seem to make the Crew more powerful. The Avengers begin taking down the Wrecker until Thor knocks Wrecker into a light pole re-energizing him. The fighting continues until Photon hits Bulldozer with a blast revitalizing him. Piledriver knocks out Photon from behind. He then grabs her and Thunderball signals to be teleported away. Turns out the Crew grabbed the wrong former Ms. Marvel. Doomdsay Man grabs up Carol Danver, known now as Warbird. Doomsday Man tries to disintergrate the Crew, but Scarlet Witch, who was expecting a teleport, uses her Chaos powers and the Crew and Photon vanish. The Avengers follow the Crew to Akron's world. They run into Thundra who tells them that the Crew defeated Akron and took over as rulers. With Photon captured the Crew have an unlimited storage for their power. Disguised as a guard Cap infiltrates Wrecker's headquarters. The Avengers wind up helping Thundra free Akron. Thor frees Photon with his hammer, but it doesn't return to him (for mystical reasons revealed later in Thor's book). Photon can't control her power though and continues to power the Crew. Photon managed to increase her output and overloads the Crew. Thor then siphons off their power with his hammer.

Thor vol. 2 #28- Dirk is in an ice cream parlor not believing his luck as Thor, Fandral, Hogun, and Volstagg are also in the ice cream shop. Wrecker slips out before he is recognized. Later on the streets of New York Thor and the others pass by Wrecker again. Still later Dirk returns to his place on 49 Street Arms where they let rooms. Dirk comes in and tells the Wrecking Crew to guess who he ran into. Thunderball says he doesn't suppose it was Brittney Spears. Wrecker asks if she is in the Circus of Crime. Wrecker tells them to think back on how powerful they were before when they were powered by Asgardian power. Now they have to just absorb electricity or whatever is around. Wrecker says they need to regain that Asgardian edge. Bulldozer says they only need four tickets to Asgard, but Wrecker finally tells them who he ran into. He says they should go absorb their power. They run into the Asgardians. Wrecker hits Fandral with his crowbar twice. When Thor knocks away Thunderball Wrecker pounces on Thor from behind. He puts his crowbar across Thor's neck and starts to suck his power out. Wrecker says the day he got his Asgardian powers was the best day of his life and the day he lost them was the worst. After a bit Thor breaks free of Wrecker's grip. He says he has "always held back" against Wrecker, but isn't this time. The Wrecking Crew runs away, and Thor realizes that while Thunderball was absorbing Hogun's power that he may have killed him.

Thor vol. 2 #29- Hogun does not die because of Thor’s medical knowledge as Jake Olsen. Thor calls down the lightning and restarts Hogun’s heart. As Hogun is rushed to the emergency room where Jane Foster works Thor tracks down the Wrecking Crew lounging at a pool of a mansion they just broke into. Wrecker says that this is the way man was meant to live, and that they owe it to Thunderball for killing Hogun. Thunderball says he forgot how powerful it feels to have Asgardian powers. As they talk Thor takes the butler and maid away from the scene. Bulldozer asks where the maid and butler got off to, and Wrecker says that they’ll just crash another mansion. Suddenly Thor steps forward. He calls down lightning to strike the water of the pool. They try to get to Thor, but he calls up a giant wind. Thor bashes through the Crew. Wrecker finally gets his crowbar, and swings it at Thor. Thor catches Wrecker’s bar. Thor lays out Wrecker and tells him that he has fought many battles, but that the Wrecking Crew is nothing more than an annoyance.

Wolverine #164- Inside The Cage, Absorbing Man is pinned to the ground by Wolverine. Wolverine tells Creel to pick how he wants him to kill him. Wrecker grabs a human Hank McCoy by the throat and tells Wolverine to let Creel go or he is gonna off McCoy. Wrecker holds up a shiv he has designed into a crowbar. Suddenly Warden Montgomery Battle arrives. Wrecker quickly minds his own business and Creel is sent to The Hole for two weeks. Wrecker is seen later hanging with Thunderball, but Wolverine says that they wouldn’t mess with Bartoc or the Kangaroo since their only powers are fighting skill.

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