The Destroyer [Comic Book Monsters]

Just in time for Halloween, we’re back to feature all those creepy, kooky, and scary characters of comic book lore! This time, we’re going to take a look at monsters from the vaunted House of Ideas. So, enter, if you dare, for Comic Book Monsters 2012: The Mighty Merry Marvel Edition!

Comic Book Monsters – October 11th: The Destroyer

The Destroyer is one of the more unique monsters of this year’s batch. His creation wasn’t to wreak havoc or spark fear in others as much as it was for protection. He was built by Odin, the father of the mighty thunder god, Thor, and in the Destroyer’s first appearance in 1965, it was hinted at being a weapon to stop a force from space. Much later, that would prove to be true as Odin and Zeus used the Destroyer to fight the Celestials.

More often than not, though, the Destroyer is used by Thor’s brother/arch enemy, Loki. For the most part, the Destroyer is a simply inert cuit of armor. While it has been able to move about on its own, it generally needs to be powered by another’s life force. When someone’s “soul” is trapped within the Destroyer, the machine is usually able to overpower the inhabitant and act as a blunt instrument to destroy just about everything in its way.

Usually, the Destroyer has been seen being inhabited by an Asgardian. Sif, Loki, and Lorelei have all been trapped within the armor. Even Thor has taken a ride in the armor after Loki trapped him inside after the thunder god’s body was broken and bruised in a showdown with the Midgard Serpent. However, Thor was able to wrestle control of the body from the Destroyer – dressing it in his own usual adornments seen on his costume, Thor is able to still wield Mjolnir. During this story, it would be the first time we’d see the Destroyer actually have conscious thought and speech in its publication history. He’d use the armor to defeat Hela and win lift curse that attributed to his weak state to begin with.

The Destroyer would return a few more times in more recent history. It was once used by trolls to encase the spirit of Maestro, who was an alternate future version of the Hulk that was evil. It was then sent to take on the present form of the Hulk. While the green goliath was unable to defeat the Destroyer, he was able to enter the armor (thanks to him and Maestro being the same spirit) and take control enough to destroy it from the inside. Destroyer would also come back to threaten Thor a couple more times. Even more recently, Dr. Doom was able to create a copy of the Destroyer armor and use it to attack the Asgardians when they sought refuge in Latveria.

While the Destroyer hasn’t been used terribly often in the comics, when it shows up, it’s a pretty big deal. Almost every time Thor has taken the beast on, he’s almost been killed. He’s been beaten to near death. He’s been blasted to kingdom come. He’s even had his jaws broken by the Destroyer. It’s enough of a powerful threat for a god to deal with that the Destroyer got to have a pretty nice part in the 2011 Thor movie. It’s an indestructable beast that can repair itself and is equipped with a energy force that it can use to blast its enemies, a disintegration beam, and control electro-magnetism and molecules. It’s just something that no one would like to run into in a dark… anywhere.

Put another one in the books. For tomorrow, I’ve got a real treat for those of you out there that have a fetish for giantic heads with tiny little hands and feet growing out of it. It’s a double treat if you dig things that were designed only for killing as well. So come back tomorrow to as we take a look at one of the more noticeable A.I.M. agents!

For more visit the FULL list of Comic Book Monsters right HERE!

Tags: Comic Book Monsters Destroyer Thor