SMASHER
Real Name: Vril Rokk
Identity/Class: Extraterrestrial (race of origin unknown)
Occupation: Member of the Shi'ar Imperial Gaurd
Group Membership: Imperial Guard (Arc, Astra, Black Light, Blackthorn, Blimp, Cosmo, Delphos, Earthquake, Electron, Fang, Flashfire/Tempest, Gladiator, Hardball, Hobgoblin/Shapeshifter, Hussar, Immundra, Impulse, Magique/Magic, Mammoth, Manta, Mentor, Moondancer, Neosaurus, Neutron/Quasar, Nightside, N'rill'iree, Oracle, Plutonia, Schism, Scintilla/Midget, Solar Wind, Squorm, Starbolt, Stuff, Titan, Voyager, Warstar, Webwing, White Noise, others)
Affiliations: Araki, Captain Marvel (Mar-Vell), Deathbird, Diascar, D'ken, K'tor, Lilandra, Davan Shakari, Una, Yon-Rogg
Enemies: Binary, Black Bolt, Captain Marvel (Monica Rambeau), Chlorites, Darkstar, Deadpool ("Wade Wilson"), Eson, Excalibur (Captain Britain/Brian Braddock/, Lockheed, Meggan, Nightcrawler, Shadowcat, Phoenix/Rachel Summers, Widget), Ikaris, Jason of Spartax, Lobo (DC), Lockjaw, Cassandra Nova, Perun, Quasar (Wendell Vaughn), Skornn, Skrulls, Starforce (Korath the Pursuer, Ronan the Accuser, Shatterax, Supremor, Ultimus), Starjammers (Ch'od, Corsair, Cr+eee, Hepzibah, Raza), T'cahr, Vanguard, Vulcan, Warskrulls, X-Men (Angel/Warren Worthington III, Banshee, Beast/Henry McCoy, Colossus, Cyclops, Forge, Gambit, Jubilee, Lockheed, Nightcrawler, Phoenix, Professor X/Charles Xavier, Phoenix/Jean Grey, Psylocke, Rogue, Shadowcat/Kitty Pryde, Storm, Wolverine)
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Mobile throughout Shi'ar Empire
First Appearance: (Unidentified) X-Men I#107 (October, 1977); (Named) X-Men I#137 (September, 1980)
Powers/Abilities: Smasher possesses the ability to absorb ambient cosmic energies to augment his strength and resistance to physical injury (see comments). He possesses specially designed exo-spex glasses that allow him to “download” various powers and abilities, including penta-vision (which allowed him to see around corners, through walls, and into minds) and super-resistance qualities that allow him to survive while plummeting through 4-space (even surviving a planetary crash to Earth). He can fly by using his own abilities or by utilizing Shi'ar anti-gravity technology. It is unknown if his abilities are possessed by his entire race or solely him. The full extent of his abilities are likely unknown.
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 290 lbs.
History:
(Untold Tales of Captain Marvel#2 (fb) - BTS) - Deathbird led a small group of the Guard into Kree space to track down a Brood ship. Guard members in this mission included: Fang, Oracle, Smasher, and Starbolt.
(Untold Tales of Captain Marvel#1) - The Guard's ship was attacked by dozens of Skrulls, and they fought them off, protecting Deathbird. Some Kree, including Captain Marvel (Mar-Vell) aided them.
(Untold Tales of Captain Marvel#2) - The Guard, contained by the Kree, sought to fight their way free in order to be at Deathbird's side, Smasher trying to punch Marvel and getting knocked aside, but Deathbird ordered them to stand down. They revealed the nature of their mission to the Kree.
(Untold Tales of Captain Marvel#3) - Weeks later, they saved a few surviving Kree (Mar-Vell, Una, and Yon-Rogg) after the Kree had fought the Brood.
(Tarot#4) - Members of the Imperial Guard (Gladiator, Manta, and Smasher/Vril-Rokk) were briefly pulled by the Nameless One into another dimension for a chaotic battle.
(X-Men I#107) - Members of the Imperial Guard fought the X-Men (Banshee, Colossus, Cyclops, Nightcrawler, Phoenix (Jean Grey), Storm, Wolverine) and Starjammers (Ch'od, Corsair, Cr+eee, Hepzibah, Raza) at the M'kraan Crystal, in order to stop them from rescuing Lilandra from D'ken and Davan Shakari. During the battle, Smasher traded blows with Colossus, was knocked aside by Wolverine, and was defeated by Ch'od. D'ken was rendered comatose and Lilandra took over as the new Majestrix. Members of the Guard in this mission: Astra, Electron, Fang, Gladiator, Hobgoblin, Impulse, Magic, Mentor, Midget, Nightside, Oracle, Quasar, Smasher, Starbolt, Tempest, and Titan.
(X-Men I#108) - The Guard lay unconscious as the battle resolved.
(X-Men I#109 (fb) - BTS) - The Guard was stopped by Lilandra from killing the X-Men. Later the Guard watched the X-Men return to Earth.
(X-Men I#137) - Lilandra sent the Imperial Guard against the X-Men (Angel (Warren Worthington), Beast (Henry McCoy), Colossus, Cyclops, Phoenix, Storm, Wolverine) on the moon to give the Shi'ar rights to slay the Phoenix. If the X-Men won, the Shi'ar would leave the Phoenix to them. A massive battle broke out and the Imperial Guard soon won. Guard members in this mission: Earthquake, Gladiator, Hussar, Manta, Smasher, Starbolt, and Warstar. During the battle, Smasher was hit by Angel, then threw Angel aside after Oracle had stunned the mutant. Smasher later joined Starbolt and Oracle in trying to defeat Phoenix and Cyclops.
(Deadpool: Badder Blood#3) - The Imperial Guard (Astra, Titan, Starbolt, Smasher, Fang, Electron, Impulse, Tempest, Oracle, Hobgoblin, Gladiator) were shocked to see Deadpool pass through their space.
(X-Men: Spotlight on Starjammers#2) - At Deathbird's orders, a large group of the Guard attacked the Starjammers and Excalibur (Captain Britain (Brian Braddock), Lockheed, Meggan, Nightcrawler, Shadowcat, Phoenix (Rachel Summers), Widget) on Earth at Deathbird's orders, but they were ordered to retreat when Deathbird was put at risk. During the battle, Guard members who participated in this assault: Astra, Black Light, Blackthorn, Earthquake, Electron, Gladiator, Hobgoblin, Impulse, Magic, Mentor, Midget, Nightside, Oracle, Smasher, Starbolt, Tempest, Titan, and White Noise.
(Uncanny X-Men I#275) - The Imperial Guard was attacked by a group of Warskrulls posing as the Starjammers. The Guard seemed to be winning until the X-Men (Forge, Gambit, Jubilee, Psylocke, Storm) joined the fight against them, and the Guard was quickly overwhelmed. Guard members in this mission: Earthquake, Gladiator, Mentor, Oracle, Smasher, Starbolt, Tempest, Titan, and Warstar.
(Thor I#446) - Members of the Imperial Guard tended to Lilandra on Chandilar, standing guard as she met a delegation of Avengers (Captain Marvel (Monica Rambeau), Living Lightning, Scarlet Witch, Starfox, Thor (Eric Masterson), Wonder Man). Smasher wanted Thor to be held accountable for his earlier defeat of Gladiator. The Kree Starforce (Korath the Pursuer, Ronan the Accuser, Shatterax, Supremor, Ultimus) attacked and the Guard teamed with the Avengers to defeat them. During the battle, Smasher was hit by Ronan's Universal Weapon, then attacked Ronan back, taunting Thor the whole time. Soon, Smasher and Thor teamed up to defeat Ronan, and they congratulated each other.
(Avengers West Coast#82) - When the Avengers resisted Lilandra's edicts, the Guard attacked them. During the battle, Smasher avoided a blast from Living Lightning and attacked Starfox. He soon defeated Living Lightning by holding a large conductor in water that shorted the hero out, though Smasher suffered agony to do so. He immediately attacked Thor anew. The battle ended when Araki was exposed as a Skrull imposter. Lilandra rescinded her orders and called the Nega-Bomb back. Members of the Guard in this (and the prior) mission: Astra, Earthquake, Hardball, Hussar, Smasher, and Titan.
(Starblast#2) - Gladiator ordered the humans aboard the battle-cruiser (Binary, Black Bolt, Captain Marvel (Monica Rambeau), Darkstar, Ikaris, Lockjaw, Perun, Quasar (Wendell Vaughn), Vanguard) to leave, but they refused. After some brief explanations by Gladiator, more of the Imperial Guard teleported aboard to investigate. After a deadly battle, during which Neutron traded blows with Perun, the humans agreed to surrender the ship if the Shi'ar would help the humans pursue the Black Fleet. Guard members in this mission included: Gladiator, Manta, Moondanacer, Neutron, Nightside, Smasher, Solar Wind, Starbolt, and Voyager.
(Quasar#55) - The Guard helped Earth's heroes to get to the Stranger's Lab World where the Starblasters resided.
(X-Men Legends I#2) - The Imperial Guard was summoned to the Blue Area of the Moon by Corsair and the Starjammers, and they helped return X-Treme (Adam-X) to Chandilar for judgment.
(Starjammers I#4) - Members of the Guard were summoned to aid Lilandra against the Uncreated, but the Starjammers saw the threat defeated first. They stood by when Lilandra ordered T'cahr arrested. Members of the Guard in this mission included: Electron, Fang, Flashfire, Gladiator, Nightside, Oracle, Scintilla, Smasher, Starbolt, and Titan.
(Inhumans IV#4) - Lilandra represented the Shi'ar Empire on the planet Kritnah in the marriage ceremony with Emperor Eson of the Spartoi while the Imperial Guard stood by. Black Bolt moved to attack Lilandra, who set up a shield and activated the Guard against the Inhumans. Black Bolt screamed, seemingly slaying Lilandra. The Guard moved in at full force. The Inhumans teleported away, escaping. Lilandra's form was revealed to be Hobgoblin, who appeared to be dead. Lilandra, as a hologram, revealed herself and told the Spartoi that the union was off due to their atrocities. Jason of Sparta was blamed for being behind it. Members of the Guard in this mission: Astra, Delphos, Earthquake, Fang, Flashfire, Gladiator, Hobgoblin, Hussar, Mentor, Neutron, Nightside, Oracle, Smasher, Starbolt, Titan, Warstar, and others.
(New X-Men I#117) - A few Guard members (Gladiator, Immundra, Mammoth, Smasher) accompanied Lilandra to Earth to pick up Professor X.
(New X-Men I#122) - Smasher and other Guard members tended to Lilandra as her consort, Professor X (who was possessed by Cassandra Nova) laid waste to their fleet. Guard members Immundra, Forunn, and Mammoth were killed, a fact confirmed by Smasher, who had downloaded penta-vision from his specs. Lilandra ordered Smasher to download super-resistance traits so that he could fall to Earth through 4-space, survive, and warn the X-Men. He landed, very weak, in a field of cows.
(New X-Men I#124) - Smasher made it to the X-Mansion and found Plutonia (his lover) and others of the Guard (Arc, Blimp, Gladiator, Manta, Neosaurus, Oracle, Plutonia, Schism, Squorm, Stuff) there fighting the X-Men. He told them about Nova.
(New X-Men I#125) - Gladiator gathered Manta, Smasher, and Plutonia around him and they prepared for final battle, Smasher trying hard to find strength. They went outside and were all quickly defeated by Nova.
(New X-Men I#126 - BTS) - The X-Men managed to defeat Nova.
(JLA/Avengers#1) - The Imperial Guard fought Lobo. Members of the Guard in this mission: Astra, Fang, Electron, Flashfire, Hobgoblin, Hussar, Impulse, Magique, Manta, Mentor, Neutron, Nightside, Oracle, Scintilla, Smasher, Starbolt, Titan, Warstar.
(X-Force II#5) - Gladiator, Oracle, Smasher, and Fang stopped a band of Skrull insurgents who'd tried smuggling proton bombs into Shi'ar territory. They soon received word that an ancient Shi'ar enemy, the Skornn, had manifested on Earth. Gladiator and Admiral Ya'lont discussed the legality of intervening on Earth yet again. They departed for Earth, planning on getting Lilandra's permission on their way.
(X-Force II#6 - BTS) - Gladiator, Starbolt, and Ya'lont received word that the terrans had managed to defeat the Skornn.
(X-Men: Watchers on the Walls: Chapter 4: Exodus) - The Imperial Guard allied with the Diascar race, and pursued Chlorite refugees to Earth, with the intent of killing them. The X-Men (Professor X, Wolverine, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Nightcrawler, Rogue, Kitty Pryde, Lockheed) stood against the Guard (Smasher (Vrill Rokk), Manta, Blackthorn, N'rill'iree, Flashfire, Magique, Nightside). During the fight, Manta engulfed Wolverine in burning light, and later hit Jean Grey. Blackthorn animated corn to fight for him until Lockheed set him on fire, and Astra, who had been holding Shadowcat phased, had to rescue him. Magique used illusions to defeat Cyclops. Nightside engulfed some of the mutants in Darkforce until Wolverine slashed at her, pulling his blows. Smasher defeated Kitty before Nightcrawler stole his specs and Lockheed hit him with fire, but he managed to punch Rogue down. Before the fight could escalate further, Dr. Valerie Cooper arrived to break up the fight, having talked about the threat of the Chlorites with the Diascar, and the Imperial Guard and X-Men stood down.
(X-Men: Watchers on the Walls: Chapter 5: Extinction Agenda) - Smasher and Flashfire aided the X-Men in getting to the Diascar decontamination center. The X-Men met Poratine and Taforne, representatives of the Diascar, who discussed the threat of the Chlorites for the human population. Xavier demanded to speak to Lilandra, and Smasher put him in contact, and she assured him that the Guard were acting on her orders and the Chlorites were dangerous for Earth.
(X-Men: Watchers on the Walls: Chapter 8: Exclosure) - The Diascar placed a forcefield over a mutant community in Brazil. When the X-Men investigated, the Imperial Guard attacked, making sure to keep the X-Men out of the enclosure. Smasher burst into the ship, throwing devices to contain some of the team. When Kitty Pryde tried phasing into a team member to hide, Astra unphased her and Blackthorn poisoned her with a thorn. Smasher realized that all those under the dome would be dead within days.
(X-Men: Watchers on the Walls: Chapter 16: Excelsior!) - In New York, Smasher ignored the protestations of the X-Men and released Sentinels into a crowd of mutant protestors to contain them during his search for Chlorites.
(X-Men: Watchers on the Walls: Chapter 17: Extraterritorial) - The Imperial Guard helped the Sentinels secure Madripoor.
(X-Men: Watchers on the Walls: Chapter 21: Extermination) - The Imperial Guard (Smasher, Manta, N'rill'iree, Flashfire) worked with the Diascar and Sentinels to take down the X-Men when they learned they were harboring a Chlorite refugee. When the Sentinels began using lethal force against mutants, the Imperial Guard was furious and joined the mutants in protecting their students until all of the Sentinels were defeated.
(X-Men: Watchers on the Walls: Chapter 23: Exeunt Omnes - BTS) - The X-Men found a way to send all Chlorites into a different dimension where they could survive. The Imperial Guard and the Diascar left peacefully.
(Uncanny X-Men I#477) - The Imperial Guard was dispatched to defeat Vulcan, who'd been destroying ships in Shi'ar space. Gladiator, Impulse, Smasher, and Starbolt flew ahead of the attack ship.
(Uncanny X-Men I#480) - The Guard finally defeated Vulcan (keeping him alive at the orders of K'tor) after a deadly battle which left some Guard members, including Cosmo, Impulse, Smasher, and Titan, seemingly slain. Guard members in this mission: Astra, Cosmo, Electron, Gladiator, Hobgoblin, Impulse, Manta, Mentor, Neutron, Nightside, Oracle, Plutonia, Scintilla, Smasher, Starbolt, and Titan.
(War of Kings#1 (fb) - BTS) - A new Smasher (Salac Tuur) was recruited to take the place of the deceased Vril Rokk.
Comments: Created by Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum, and Dan Green.
Smasher was pictured in OHotMU I#5 and had a partial entry in OHotMU Deluxe Edition#6.
The Imperial Guard was a takeoff of DC's Legion of Super-Heroes. Smasher is
based on the DC character Ultra Boy.
--Eric J. Moreels
Smasher's real name of Vril Rokk is apparently also based on the Legion, with Brainiac 5 ("Vril" Dox) and Cosmic Boy ("Rokk" Krinn).
--Wolfram Bane
Smasher, of the Imperial Guard, does not have strength which is enhanced by cosmic energy. That is a mistake which has been passed around the 'net for some time, dating back to one of UncannyXMen.net's team entries. Some reoccurring glitch in our Imperial Guard entry would cause it to revert to an older version of the page, which contained a mistake where Neutron's energy-enhanced strength description was accidentally in Smasher's entry.
There is no reference from
in-continuity Marvel Comics to Smasher absorbing energy to fuel his powers.
--Monolith
The Marvel Encyclopedia to the X-Men references this as so,
and more recently, the novel X-Men: Watchers on the Wall, revealed that Smasher
downloads powers via his exo-spex (his visor). While novels aren't automatically
in-continuity, we have several times had real names and other facts about
characters first revealed in a non-continuity source, like Blade's name being
revealed as Eric Brooks. It would be more accurate to describe him as
downloading superhuman powers from some external source, and having the power be
cosmic energy fits into that nicely.
--Snood.
Vril Rokk's successors:
Profile by Chadman. CLARIFICATIONS: images: (without ads) Appearances:
First Posted: 07/25/2007 Any Additions/Corrections? please let me
know. Non-Marvel Copyright info Special Thanks to www.g-mart.com for hosting the Appendix, Master List, etc.!
Smasher
has no known connections to
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#5, p17, pan4 (main)
Untold Tales of Captain Marvel#2, p6, pan3 (2nd)
Avengers West Coast#82, p13, p2 (vs. Thor)
Uncanny X-Men I#480, p1, pan4 (blasted)
Uncanny X-Men I#480, p2/3, pan1 (dead)
X-Men I#107 (October, 1977) - Chris Claremont (writer), Dave Cockrum (penciler), Dan Green (inker), Archie Goodwin (editor)
X-Men I#108 (December, 1977) - Chris Claremont (writer), John Byrne (penciler), Terry Austin (inker), Archie Goodwin (editor)
X-Men I#109 (February, 1977) - Chris Claremont (writer), John Byrne (penciler), Terry Austin (inker), Archie Goodwin (editor)
X-Men I#137 (September, 1980) - Chris Claremont (writer), John Byrne (penciler), Terry Austin (inker), Jim Salicrup (editor)
X-Men: Spotlight on Starjammers#2 (1990) - Terry Kavanagh (writer), Dave Cockrum (penciler), Jeff Albrecht (inker), Kelly Corvese (editor)
Uncanny X-Men I#275 (April, 1991) - Chris Claremont (writer), Jim Lee (penciler), Scott Williams, Karl Alstaetter (inkers), Bob Harras (editor)
Thor I#446 (April, 1992) - Tom DeFalco (writer), Patrick Olliffe (penciler), Al Milgrom (inker), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Avengers West Coast#82 (May, 1992) - Roy & Dann Thomas (writers), Dave Ross (penciler), Tom Dzon (inker), Nelson Yomtov (editor)
Starblast#2 (February, 1994) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Herb Trimpe (penciler), Ralph Cabrera (inker), Mike Rockwitz (editor)
Quasar#55 (February, 1994) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), John Heebink (penciler), Aaron McClellan (inker), Mike Rockwitz (editor)
Starjammers I#4 (January, 1996) - Warren Ellis (writer), Carlos Pacheco (penciler), Cam Smith, Bob Wiacek (inkers), Suzanne Gaffney (editor)
Untold Legend of Captain Marvel#1-3 (April-June, 1997) - Tom Brevoort, Mike Kanterovich (writers), Scott Kolins (penciler), John Lowe (inker), Mark Bernardo (editor)
Inhumans IV#4 (September, 2000) - Carlos Pacheco, Rafael Marin (writers), Jorge Lucas (penciler/inker), Mark Powers (editor)
New X-Men I#117 (October, 2001) - Grant Morrison (writer), Ethan van Sciver (penciler), Prentiss Rollins (inker), Mark Powers (editor)
New X-Men I#122 (April, 2002) - Grant Morrison (writer), Ethan Van Sciver, Tom Derenick (pencilers), Tim Townsend, Danny Miki, Scott Hanna, Sandu Florea (inkers), Mark Powers (editor)
New X-Men I#124-125 (May-June, 2002) - Grant Morrison (writer), Igor Kordey (penciler/inker), Mark Powers (editor)
New X-Men I#126 (July, 2002) - Grant Morrison (writer), Frank Quitely (penciler), Tim Townsend (inker), Mark Powers (editor)
JLA/Avengers#1 (September, 2003) - Kurt Busiek (writer), George Perez (artist), Tom Brevoort & Dan Raspler (editors)
X-Force II#5-6 (February-March, 2005) - Fabian Nicieza (writer), Rob Liefeld (penciler/inker), Mike Marts (editor)
X-Men: Watchers on the Walls (May, 2006) - Christopher L. Bennett (writer)
Uncanny X-Men I#477 (October, 2006) - Ed Brubaker (writer), Clayton Henry (penciler), Mark Morales (inker), Mike Marts (editor)
Uncanny X-Men I#480 (January, 2007) - Ed Brubaker (writer), Clayton Henry (penciler), Mark Morales (inker), Mike Marts, Nick Lowe (editors)
War of Kings#1 (May, 2009) - Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning (writers), Paul Pelletier (penciler), Rick Magyar (inker), Bill Rosemann (editor)
Tarot#4 (March-May, 2020) - Alan Davis (writer), Paul Renaud (artist), Tom Brevoort (editor)
X-Men Legends I#2 (May, 2021) - Fabian Nicieza (writer), Brett Booth (penciler), Adelso Corona (inker), Mark Basso (editor)
Deadpool: Badder Blood#3 (October, 2023) - Rob Liefeld (writer/artist), Chad Bowers (writer), Mark Basso (editor)
Last updated: 12/20/2023
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