ANVIL
Real Name: John "Johnny" Anvil
Identity/Class: Human extraterrestrial technology-user;
true identity is publicly known;
citizen of United States of America with a criminal record
Occupation: Security agent for Deterrence Research Corporation (DRC);
formerly a professional criminal;
Group Membership: Hammer and Anvil;
the Deterrence Research Corporation
Affiliations: Leroy "Hammer" Jackson, Ivor Carlson, Chleee, DRC Mandroids;
formerly Dr. Melloncamp
Enemies: Freaks (Gorilla Girl/Fahnbulla Eddy, Muck Monster, Six),
Guardians of the Galaxy (Martinex T'Naga, Nikki/Nicholette Gold,
Starhawk/Stakar/Aleta), Hulk (Bruce Banner), Dr. Melloncamp, Lawrence
"Rap" Reynolds, Scourge of the Underworld (II), Amanda Sheridan, Samantha Sheridan, Spider-Man (Peter Parker), Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew); unidentified prison guards;
while he resented his father, "Crackajack" Jackson, he didn't consider him an enemy, and his death was unintentional
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: "Blondie." "Bright-Boy" (both from Hammer);
"Flathead" (from Hulk);
"planet-dweller" (from Chlee)
Base of Operations: Unrevealed;
died in unspecified location in New Mexico desert, USA;
formerly the Deterrence Research Corporation base, outside Los Angeles, California; possibly other DRC bases;
formerly the Deterrence Research Corporation base, Manhattan, New York;
formerly an unidentified prison, presumably in upstate New York (see comments);
place of birth unrevealed
First Appearance: Incredible Hulk II#182 (December, 1974)
Powers/Abilities: Without the energy synthecon, Anvil was a relatively large and muscular man, intensely exercising regularly to maintain his physique, and he was an experienced brawler (using basic street fighting techniques). He also had athletic speed, stamina, agility, and reflexes. Additionally, he was belligerent, responding violently to most challenges.
The energy synthecon was a golden cable that linked Hammer's left wrist to Anvil's right wrist and seemed to vary or stretch in length from 8' to perhaps 15-20'. It drew power from all forms of kinetic energy around it (within an undefined radius), greatly increasing Hammer (and Anvil)'s strength and durability.
The degree to which the energy synthecon empowered Hammer
and Anvil was directly proportional to the amount of kinetic energy it
absorbed. The original synthecon, when sufficiently charged, allowed
them to fight the vastly superhumanly strong (Class 100) Hulk. At other
times, following reconstruction of the synthecon by terrestrial
scientists, they struggled against the likes of Spider-Man,
Spider-Woman, and even Muck-Monster and Gorilla-Girl (presumably due to the brief confrontation in a remote location with lower-powered opponents).
The Master Edition entry on Hammer listed his strength at Superhuman Class 90, which means lifting somewhere between 75-90 tons)
While its energies granted great
superhuman strength to its wearers, it was painful and potentially
fatal on contact by normal humans (fatal at least to the older
Crackajack Jackson, who may or may not have been in good health),
independent of the will or the desire of its wearers (or perhaps
subconsciously influenced by its wearer's or wearers' desires).
Superhuman beings like Spider-Woman or even the Hulk were severely
pained to touch the synthecon, although they could overcome with pain
via willpower.
Hammer and Anvil frequently used
the synthecon in combat, tripping or clotheslining (catching them
across the neck) a foe; "cracking the whip," with one of them swinging
the other to strike a great speed and force, like a whip; or to
restrain or choke another being.
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 215 lbs.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Blond
History:
(Incredible Hulk II#182 (fb) - BTS) - Anvil was imprisoned in a (presumably New York) "state prison" (see comments). (Incredible Hulk II#182 (fb) - BTS) - An unidentified person in the prison's administration with a perverse sense of humor thought it would be funny to chain Johnny Anvil, a white man who hated black people to "Hammer" Jackson, whom they perceived as a black man who hated everything. However, their combined hatred helped them escape; in the process. A search party was sent out after Hammer and Anvil. (Incredible Hulk II#182) - Two hours later, Hammer urged Anvil to move his feet and prove his belief that he was better, but Anvil argued that they had lost the search party two hours earlier. When Anvil angrily continued that while neither of them liked being chained together, they were in this together, Hammer began to threaten what he would do if Anvil spoke that way to him again. However, they were then distracted by the form of Chlee (although he did not identify himself at the time), of the extraterrestrial Glx race, who was injured and beseeched/besought their aid. Not trusting the alien, Hammer shot him four times with the gun he had stolen from a guard. However, as Glx's race absorbed metal to survive, this intended assault ironically saved Chlee's life. Thanking the two "planet-dwellers" for preventing his termination (and apparently not appreciating Hammer's intent), Chlee sought to repay their generosity by using his molecular transfuser to transform their drab chain (which Chlee assumed to be adornments) into an "energy-synthicon" (see comment). |
|
Hammer and Anvil were
originally furious that they were still chained together in some
manner, but Chlee informed them that it was no longer a shackle, and he
demonstrated its power by convincing them to run the energy-synthicon
through a large tree. When their reluctant rush led to their bodies
charging with energy and the synthecon slicing through at least a
couple feet of solid wood, both men were convinced, after which they
saw Chlee's ship take off, as he had departed during their jubilation. With both men wishing revenge on their former prison's staff, Hammer and Anvil rushed back there. (Incredible Hulk II#182 - BTS) - Hammer and Anvil began assaulting the prison. (Incredible Hulk II#182 - BTS) - The Hulk helped his new friend Crackajack Jackson (Hammer's father) enter the otherwise blocked off prison. (Incredible Hulk II#182) - As the guards futilely struggled against Hammer and Anvil, the Hulk arrived with Crackajack. When Crackajack desperately rushed forward and accidentally grasped the synthecon, he was instantly killed. Seeing the death of his friend, the Hulk angrily shouted at Hammer; and despite Anvil's advising getting drawn into a fight with the Hulk, Hammer furiously challenged the Hulk for talking to him thusly. The Hulk then rushed forward and punched both Hammer and Anvil, but when they took the blow and remained standing, they resolved to prove they were tougher. As Hammer held the Hulk's neck, Anvil slammed into the Hulk, but the green goliath insisted that they were strong, but that he was stronger. In response, Hammer and Anvil wrapped the synthecon around the Hulk and hurled him into and through a stone wall. |
Comments: Created by Len Wein and Herb Trimpe.
Hammer and Anvil encountered the
Hulk shortly after his first encounter with Wolverine, which took place
in Quebec, Canada. After being briefly gassed, captured and flown
through the air, the Hulk had broken free and escaped, aimlessly wandering for a
day, and "the province of Quebec <was> soon lost in the distance.
That's when he encountered Crackajack, who was in a wooded area en
route to see his son in prison. They then made their way to the "state
prison," where they encountered Hammer and Anvil, who were returning to
use their new powers to punish their former guards. As far as I know,
it was never spelled out where this prison was. If the Hulk is leaping,
he can cover a mile in a single jump and cover a lot of ground quickly,
but if he's just walking, which is what "wandering aimlessly" implies
to me, I wouldn't think he'd go more than perhaps a dozen or perhaps as much as a few dozen miles.
Perhaps it was Clinton Correctional Facility, above, in Dannemora, N.Y. The maximum-security prison is about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) south of the Canada-U.S. border between Quebec and New York state.
Per New York/Philadelphia/Physics/Aunt May expert Spider-Mike: The Upstate Correctional Facility in Malone, NY is
closer to the border, and was considered the first NY Supermax prison.
However, it is further west than Clinton.
Chlee called the device
he created an "energy-synthicon." Ivor Carlson of the DRC called the
version they repaired or recreated an "energy synthecon. The
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#17 entry on
Hammer and Anvil calls it an energy synthecon, as does Hammer's Master
Edition#4 entry and Anvil's Master Edition#26 entry, although the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe
Deluxe Edition#15: Appendix to Alien Races: Glx entry calls it an
"energy synthicon" (without the hyphen).
"Energy synthecon" is the most popular usage, even though "energy-synthicon" was the precedent.
Starhawk said that the psi-comp would remove Hammer and Anvil's memory of Spider-Man, but they noted that he had destroyed their synthecon in Marvel Tales I#256/2. Perhaps Carlson and or others witnessed his involvement and told them later...or there were recordings the Guardians didn't get...or perhaps waking up with their hands and feet webbed up gave it away...
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#17: Hammer and Anvil entry noted that the DRC repaired the synthecon after Spider-Man had shattered it, while the subsequent Marvel Tales I#256/2 story stated the Dr. Melloncamp had restored the the synthecon. Since Hammer and Anvil were working for the DRC in both the stories before and after Marvel Tales I#256, it makes logical since that Dr. Melloncamp worked for the DRC.
Apparently the last time the synthecon was rebuilt, it linked their life forces...
Hammer is certainly more
powerfully built than Anvil, and he's reported as an inch taller. I
think the 5 lbs. difference between the two is underestimated, but
there may be other reasons why their weights are closer. The Official
Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#17: Hammer and Anvil
entry shows Anvil to be at least 2-3 inches taller than Hammer, despite
the opposite being the case.
Location of Hammer and Anvil's deaths:
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Anvil should be distinguished from:
Incredible Hulk II#182, pg. 5, panel 1 (pre-powering Hammer and Anvil; chained);
pg. 6, panel 7 (chain transforming into energy-synthicon);
pg. 14, panel 1 (Anvil slamming into Hulk);
panel 4 (slinging Hulk)
Marvel Team-Up I#86, pg. 6, panel 7 (Anvil in security uniform);
pg. 14, panel 4 (tripping Nikki);
pg. 15, panel 2 & 3 (Anvil cracking the whip; Hammer hitting Spider-Man and Nikki);
Marvel Tales (II) Featuring Spider-Man#256/2, pg. 3, panel 1 (ambushing Freaks)
Spider-Woman I#34, pg. 2 (crack the whip, swinging Hammer into Spider-Woman)
pg. 3, panel 1 (Anvil punching out Spider-Woman);
Marvel Fanfare I#29, pg. 17 (thrown on back by Hulk);
pg. 20 (falling dead on top of Hammer);
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Master Edition#26: Anvil entry
Appearances:
Incredible Hulk II#182 (December, 1974) - Len Wein (writer), Herb Trimpe (artist), Roy Thomas (editor)
Marvel Team-Up I#86 (October, 1979) - Chris Claremont (writer), Bob McLeod (artist), Allen Milgrom (editor)
Spider-Woman I#34 (January, 1981) - Chris Claremont
(writer/co-plotter), Steve Leialoha (penciler/co-plotter), Patterson
& Al Milgrom (inkers), Denny O'Neil (editor)
Marvel Fanfare I#29 (November, 1986) - John Byrne (writer/artist), Al Milgrom (editor)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#17: Hammer and Anvil
entry (August, 1987) - Peter Sanderson (writer/researcher), Kevin McGuire
(penciler), Josef Rubinstein (inker), Gregory Wright (assistant
editor), Marcy Siry & David Wohl (editorial assistant), Mark
Gruenwald (editor/designer)
Marvel Tales (II) Featuring Spider-Man#256/2 (December, 1991) - Scott
Lobdell (plot), Dan Slott (script), Mark Pacella (penciler), Dan
Panosian (inker), Kelly Corvese (editor)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Master Edition#26
(December, 1992) - Glenn Herdling, Peter Sanderson, & Murray Ward (writers), Keith Pollard (penciler), Josef
Rubinstein (inker), Mindy Newell (assistant editor), Tom Brevoort (editor), Mark
Gruenwald (senior executive editor)
First posted: 09/26/2021
Last updated: 09/25/2021
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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