Real Name: Frank Smith
Identity/Class: Human technology user
Occupation: Extortionist, former hardware store proprietor
Group Membership: Leader of his own gang
Affiliations: His gang
Enemies: Giant-Man (Henry Pym), Wasp (Janet Van Dyne)
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: His hideout; formerly Smith's Hardware Store, Brownsville section of Brooklyn, New York City
First Appearance: Tales to Astonish#63/1 (January, 1965)
Powers/Abilities: Having no paranormal abilities, the Wrecker was a capable criminal organizer and arsonist--on at least one occasion, he used a miniature proton bomb to destroy a building (see comments). To combat Giant-Man and the Wasp, he used more conventional weapons, including a tear gas bomb, DDT spray, and a bear trap.
From his hideout in an undisclosed location, he utilized an advanced communications system to direct the criminal activities of his henchmen.
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 163 lbs.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Black
History:
(Tales to Astonish I#63/1 (fb) - BTS) - Hardware store
owner Frank Smith was secretly the hooded extortionist known as the
Wrecker; as leader of a "protection" racket, he and his gang would
injure local shopkeepers and wreck their businesses unless they made
weekly payments to the criminals. Despite the best efforts of the forces
of the law, the police were unable to apprehend the Wrecker.
At some point, Smith decided to sell his store, under the false pretense that he was also being harassed by the Wrecker.
(Tales to Astonish I#63/1) - After contacting Giant-Man and the Wasp, the chief of police asked them to investigate and help bring the Wrecker to justice. In their civilian identities, the two heroes visited Brownsville and noticed that Smith's Hardware--one of the few undamaged shops--was for sale. Smith claimed he was selling because he was tired of being threatened by the Wrecker's gang, but the couple still bought his store.
A few days later, the Wrecker sent two of his henchmen to rough up the new owners of the hardware store, and to force them into signing a "protection" contract; but Pym and Van Dyne weren't intimidated--they turned the tables and sent the Wrecker's thugs running off instead.
When his defeated henchmen returned to his hideout, the Wrecker was furious to learn that the "ordinary weak couple" had thrown them out of the store. Using his communication system, the Wrecker contacted his entire network of criminals and enacted "Plan W," ordering his men to cause civil disturbances around town, which would keep the police occupied.
Meanwhile, the Wrecker and four of his henchmen drove to the hardware store, so they could personally teach the couple a lesson while the police were busy; but when they entered the establishment, they found Giant-Man and the Wasp waiting for them! The Wrecker threw a tear gas bomb and temporarily blinded Giant-Man, and nearly killed the Wasp with a can of DDT.
But Giant-Man quickly recovered, easily defeated the Wrecker's men, then charged toward the masked extortionist; although the Wrecker had set a bear trap to catch the oncoming hero, Giant-Man escaped by reducing himself to ant-size at lightening-speed before the trap's metal jaws could close, then quickly returned to giant-size.
After grabbing hold of the Wrecker, Giant-Man threw him out of the hardware store and onto the sidewalk, where the extortionist was caught by the police; unmasked and revealed to be Frank Smith, the Wrecker was arrested and taken to jail with the rest of his gang.
Comments: Created by Stan Lee and Carl Burgos.
Compare this story to that of the Protector.
I'm afraid the logic of the Wrecker's plan escapes me. He sells his store...then starts roughing it up?
Although damaging his own store would have thrown off any suspicion that he was the Wrecker, my guess is that Smith's own greed kept him from doing that, so he could continue normal business operations; but when word got around about how the Wrecker was threatening other shops in the area, customers were frightened away, and his business went down--consequently, Smith probably figured it was just time to cut his losses and close down. And he didn't seem particularly bright--he conceals his face, yet didn't bother changing his suit, or even wearing gloves to prevent his leaving any incriminating fingerprints behind!
Miniature proton bombs aren't known to be readily
available in the Marvel Universe, so where did Smith get his? My guess
is that he purchased it from the Tinkerer (Phineas Mason), who would
later be known for supplying exotic weaponry to other criminals (e.g.
Big
Wheel, Binary
Bug, Bruno
Caper, Hypno-Hustler
Stinger).
--Ron
Fredricks
Wrecker has an entry in Marvel Legacy: The 1960s Handbook. He received a first name in his later entry in OHotMU A-Z HC#13.
Profile by Prime Eternal. Expansion by Ron Fredricks.
CLARIFICATIONS:
The Wrecker (Frank Smith) should not be confused with:
The miniature proton bomb should not be confused with:
|
A powerful incendiary device, it was an unconventional weapon used by the extortionist Wrecker (see comments). To frighten local business owners, the Wrecker used it to set an old warehouse ablaze, to demonstrate what could happen if the shopkeepers refused to pay for his "protection". (Note: The bomb itself was never actually depicted--its presence was only "seen" in this one panel, by the Wrecker's thought-balloon (underlined in red), and with the fire it caused.) --Tales to Astonish I#63/1 (fb) |
images: (without ads)
Marvel Legacy: The 1960s Handbook, p59 (main image - Wrecker; refurbed version of Tales to Astonish I#63/1, p6, pan3)
Tales to Astonish I#63/1, p7, pan4 (headshot - Frank Smith)
Tales to Astonish I#63/1, p8, pan7 (Wrecker uses communication system to contact his gang)
Tales to Astonish I#63/1, p10, pan1 (Wrecker throws tear gas bomb)
Tales to Astonish I#63/1, p12, pan7 (police unmask Wrecker)
Tales to Astonish I#63/1, p6, pan6 (in flashback, Wrecker destroys condemned warehouse with miniature proton bomb)
Appearances:
Tales to Astonish I#63/1 (January, 1965) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), Carl Burgos (pencils), Chic Stone (inks), Sam Rosen (letters)
First posted: 04/23/2002
Last updated: 08/21/2024
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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