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Johnny Anvil was an escaped convict linked through an alien chain-like device to his partner Leroy "Hammer" Jackson, both obtaining superpowers from it and working for profit and vengeance. A white racist prisoner chained to misanthropic African-American "Hammer" as a joke, they both overcame their hatred for each other to escape, in the run finding a shipwreck alien from space whose life they saved accidentally. Before leaving, the creature thanked Hammer and Anvil by linking them with a chain-like Energy Synthecon that gave them superhuman strength, which they decided to use to attack the prison. The Hulk entered the prison as his friend "Crackajack" Jackson wanted to visit his son Hammer in jail - but "Crackajack" was accidentally killed by the Synthecon. Enraged, the Hulk battered Hammer and Anvil, breaking the chain in a process that drove Hammer and Anvil crazy.

Hammer and Anvil recovered and were hired by immoral munition company Deterrence Research Corporation (DRC), that also repaired the Synthecon, claiming that it no longer linked them psychically. In such job, working in New York City, they captured to kidnap Spider-Man, but the later was promptly rescued by the Guardians of the Galaxy, who defeated Hammer and Anvil. They also kidnapped industrialist Amanda Sheridan in California, fighting Spider-Woman three times until they were defeated. Their Synthecon was damaged several times in their career, but the DRC had the resources to fix it thanks to professionals like Dr. Mellocamp, thou that dependency was worrying for Hammer and Anvil.

Finally, Hammer and Anvil were lured to the New Mexico desert where they expected to fight and kill Hulk, at that point mindless. During the fight, one member of the organization Scourge of the Underworld shot Hammer dead. As he was linked to Hammer by the Synthecon, Anvil died immediately afterward.

History

Origin[]

Leroy Jackson (Earth-616), John Anvil (Earth-616) from Incredible Hulk Vol 1 182 001

Escaping prison with "Hammer" Jackson

John "Johnny" Anvil was a white racist criminal[1][5][7] and high-school dropout[6] carrying out his sentence for an unrevealed crime[5] in a state prison probably in New York (See Notes).[1][5][7] He was assigned to a chain gang, and a person in the prison staff with a perverse sense of humor arranged for Anvil to be chained to fellow prisoner Leroy "Hammer" Jackson, a misanthropic black man.[1][5][7] It is unknown for how long they were chained together,[5] but the pair overcame their hatred for each other by focusing on their mutual hatred for prison life, leading to collaboration in[1][5][7] a successful escape from prison,[1][5][7][9] while still chained together at the wrist.[1][5][7] During the escape, Hammer stole a guard's .38 handgun.[1][5][7]

The prison sent a search party after the escapees, but Hammer and Anvil lost their chasers,[IH128][5][7] thou they did not know that the prison had cordoned the area. Arguing with each other, the criminals[1] accidentally found Chleee, an alien from the Glx species who had crash-landed his starship on Earth[5][7][10][6] and approached them imploringly, as he had been wounded[1] fatally. Panicking at the sight of the strange creature,[5][7] Hammer shot at him,[1][5][7] not knowing that the Glx species's body chemistry obtained nourishment from absorbing metal - thus Hammer's bullets not only failed to kill Chleee,[1][5] but instead saved his life accidentally.[1][5][7][10][6][9][4] Not knowing that Hammer had tried to kill him, Chleee wished to thank him and Anvil. Believing that the chain linking their wrists was some kind of lackluster ornamentation, Chleee broke it, then used a Molecular Transfuser, a high-technology device of his species,[1][5][7] to generate an Energy Synthecon that joined their wrists instead.[1][5][7][10][6][9][4][11][12][13] Hammer and Anvil criticised this new chain, but immediately Chleee explained that it was not a shackle, and suggested that they tried their new superhuman strength cutting down a nearby, stout tree, with anvil threatening to attack Chleee if they failed. They did it effortlessly, knowing[1] that the alien had given them superhuman strength[1][5][7][14][11][12] and endurance[1] through this device that absorbed kinetic energy.[5][7] While Hammer and Anvil cheered,[1] Chleee returned to his starship and took off without saying goodbye.[1][5][7] Chleee failed to mention a number of caveats of the device, including that it linked Hammer and Anvil both physically and psychically.[1]

Hammer and Anvil decided to return to the prison and use their new superpowers to destroy it, in revenge for their time there.[1][5][7][10][6] They started their several-hour attack in the morning, which led to the person deciding to pair Hammer and Anvil in the chain gang changing their mind about that decision being funny. The prison's armed security staff proved unable to stop Hammer and Anvil[1] - but then suddenly the monstrous superhuman Hulk jumped into the prison yard, carrying his friend "Crackajack" Jackson in his arms. "Crackajack" had walked over a thousand miles to see his convict son Leroy again, wanting to make amends with him.Hammer rejected "Crackajack"'s affection, and then "Crackajack" extended his hand, accidentally touching the energy synthecon.[1][5] The power of the alien device immediately killed "Crackajack" on contact.[1][5][15] The Hulk was enraged at the death of his friend,[1][5] screaming at Hammer, who reacted with more hostility even though Anvil was not eager to cover Hammer against the monster.[1] The Hulk attacked Hammer and Anvil,[1][5][10][6][9] becoming the first being to hurt them since they had the powers. Hearing from a guard that the being was Hulk, Hammer remembered that the Hulk had a reputation of great strength, but Anvil convinced Hammer that nobody could be stronger than the Hammer and Anvil duo.[1] The two convicts fought back,[1][5] with Hammer wrestling Hulk while Anvil charged; then the both of them ensnaring him with the synthecon to throw him away. As the Hulk could keep them at bay, Hammer wondered about their own possibilities, and Anvil insisted that the synthecon gave them the advantage. Hearing this, the Hulk grabbed the device, but it shocked him as it had shocked "Crackajack". Recovering the initiative, Hammer and Anvil tried to strangle Hulk with the Synthecon, but,[1] through the extraordinary pain it caused to him, the Hulk grabbed it and used his strength to break it in two. The psychic link between Hammer and Anvil broke, and they both suffered a mental shock that drove them insane immediately.[1][5] The guards arrested the now-helpless Hammer and Anvil, while Hulk took "Crackajack"'s body away to bury it.[1] Hammer and Anvil shared cell after this.[4]

Deterrence Research Corporation[]

While in jail, Hammer and Anvil recovered their sanity.[5][7] Finding that Hammer and Anvil were extraordinary assets,[4] Ivor Carlson, CEO of the immoral munition-making concern Deterrence Research Corporation (DRC), got them released and hired them[4][5][7] as field operatives,[10][6][16] working at the company's main headquarters, the D.R.C. Tower, in the Fifth Avenue.[4] Carlson also obtained the parts of the Synthecon, and had the DRC scientists repair it; they told him that they managed to alter it so that it would still give Hammer and Anvil their physical powers, but no longer linking them psychically, so that they would be able to remove it at will.[4][5][7]

John Anvil (Earth-616), Lawrence Reynolds III (Earth-616) from Marvel Team-Up Vol 1 86 001

As a security guard for the DRC

When journalism student "Rap" Reynolds sneaked into the D.R.C. Tower and filmed items related to a secret D.R.C. operation, Carlson sent Anvil to obtain Reynolds' tapes and apprehend Reynolds. Anvil grappled Reynolds just outside the Tower, but Anvil's brutality led to Spider-Man interfering, cocooning Anvil in his web even though Anvil claimed to be doing his job against a thief. The tapes were then stolen by Nikki, a time-travelling alien from the team Guardians of the Galaxy who also had a interest on that information; Spider-Man left to try and recover Reynolds' tapes, and Reynolds took photos of Nikki before leaving. Eventually, the web dissolved and Anvil went to report his failure to Carlson at the D.R.C. Tower executive floor, with Hammer also attending. Carlson then revealed he had the restored Synthecon and offered it to Hammer and Anvil, so they'd be superhuman D.R.C. agents for illegal activities.[4] He then sent Hammer and Anvil to apprehend Spider-Man, who had also interfered with D.R.C. business in the past.[4][5][7] Hammer and Anvil ambushed Spider-Man in the city night, and knocked him with a double punch. They failed to notice that their attack had been seen by the Guardians of the Galaxy, who were trying to stop the D.R.C. from reaching their secret base. Hammer and Anvil took Spider-Man to a cell in the D.R.C. Building, where the hero was bound with electro-shackles that prevented him from releasing himself even using his superhuman strength. Hammer and Anvil remained with him on the cell, while Carlson watched from behind a protective glass. Carlson had decided to use his resources to attempt to replicate Spider-Man's powers for commercial use. Carlson ordered Anvil to unmask Spider-Man, but Anvil noticed an unusual noise and delayed his movement - then, the cell wall was levelled by the Guardians of the Galaxy, who had already sabotaged the D.R.C. process to find their headquarters, and were now trying to rescue Spider-Man[4] by confronting his captors.[4][5][7][10][6][14][17][18][9] Carlson immediately escaped.[4]

Hammer and Anvil used their Synthecon to trip Nikki, but she used her laser gun to release Spider-Man. Anvil punched Guardian Starhawk and pushed him against Guardian Martinex, but during that time, Hammer was slightly stunned by Spider-Man. Anvil then pulled the Synthecon and used Hammer as a blunt weapon against Nikki and Spider-Man. Starhawk, slighting hurting Anvil with a coherent light beam, noticed that the Synthecon gave their enemies an advantage and ordered to focus their attack on destroying it. Anvil wanted to retaliate on Starhawk by strangling him, but[4] Martinex used his freezing powers to cover the Synthecon in extremely cold ice, lowering its temperature and making it brittle. Spider-Man's webbed the Synthecon and tugged with his superstrength, breaking it and leaving Hammer and Anvil powerless - thus easily defeated by their enemies.[4][5][7] Martinex then used his Psi-Comp device to delete Hammer and Anvil's memories about that encounter, and the heroes escaped, leaving Hammer and Anvil behind in case the authorities had been summoned.[4]

Once again, the D.R.C. restored the Synthecon, thanks to the expertise of Dr. Melloncamp, who said her work probably also saved Hammer and Anvil's lives. Hammer and Anvil decided that Melloncamp should be kept at hand in case her services were needed again,[19] especially as she had developed a new procedure to keep their symbiotic link operational.[20] Scared of Hammer and Anvil, Melloncamp escaped by car, only for them to go after her. She was driving down a moonlit road in Connecticut when she came across a peculiar sight: a man with six arms, a large, slimy humanoid, and a talking gorilla, crossing the road. Melloncamp swerved to avoid the strange trio, causing her to crash into a tree. But the doctor was promptly rescued by the three Freaks, former carnival performers who had just escaped enslavement at the hands of a supervillain. Hammer and Anvil then caught up, bowled over the Freaks, and seized Melloncamp, explaining their intentions to hold her prisoner. Initially the Freaks intended to not interfere, but one of them, Six, saw parallels between Mellocamp's trouble and the plight the Freaks themselves had suffered, leading him to leap at Anvil to distract him; Anvil dispatched Six easily by throwing him into the trees[19] - but the other Freaks joined in.[19][6][21][20]

While Anvil was boasting about his fight with the Hulk, Hammer heard a female voice call coyly for his attention. Hammer turned and was stunned to find himself staring at a shapely black woman, very attractive and very naked. While his attention was diverted, Muck Monster struck Anvil down with an uprooted tree. Hammer turned back to his downed partner, only for the buxom beauty he'd been gawking at to change back into a gorilla and punch him out. Melloncamp and the Freaks then walked away, leaving Hammer and Anvil unconscious on the road. Gorilla Girl joked that Hammer's attraction to her was in vain, as he was "already attached to someone else."[19]

Leroy Jackson (Earth-616), John Anvil (Earth-616), Deterrence Research Corporation (Earth-616), Jessica Drew (Earth-616) from Spider-Woman Vol 1 34 001

Fighting Spider-Woman in California

Still working as DRC operatives,[16] Hammer and Anvil were moved to Los Angeles,[8][5][7] California,[8][16] where the DRC had its only west-coast campus near Santa Ana. At that point, the DRC had corporate interests that required[8] the kidnapping of elderly Amanda Sheridan, head to Sheridan Industries, and they sent Hammer and Anvil to perform the deed.[5][7][10][6] The DRC failed to keep this operation a complete secret, rumor reaching the streets about it, which led to flying superheroine Spider-Woman patrol the area, ready for the kidnapping. During the open night and in Santa Ana, Hammer and Anvil ambushed and wrecked Sheridan's Rolls-Royce, occupied by Sheridan and her adult great-granddaughter Sam, whom they intended to kidnap too; they had a DRC-provided hovercraft ready to escape.[8] Spider-Woman however interfered, attacking Anvil,[8][5][7][16][10][6][9] finding that Anvil was even tougher than he had seemed, but successfully decking him. Hammer grabbed a part of the car to throw it at her, while Anvil recovered. Then Anvil grabbed hold of the Synthecon and threw Hammer as a weapon against Spider-Woman, which she dodged. Spider-Woman attacked Hammer with a venom-blast with all of her power (which was reduced at the time), and Anvil was also affected due to their link. Anvil then prioritised the mission, tying Amanda Sheridan with the Synthecon and ordering Hammer to leave with them, and forget about Spider-Woman and Sam Sheridan for the moment. The villains escaped, but clumsily Anvil had dropped his DRC ID card during the fight, and Sam Sheridan found it.[8]

Knowing that Amanda Sheridan was in the hands of the DRC, but without proof, Spider-Woman and Sam Sheridan did detective and infiltration work with the help of Spider-Woman's criminologist friend Scotty McDowell, who duplicated Anvil's ID card with the false name "Ariadne Hyde" so that Spider-Woman could infiltrate in the DRC campus. But the DRC foresaw a rescue attempt, and had Sheridan's cell evacuated,[8] instead having Hammer and Anvil wait for the would-be rescuer on the ceiling. Hammer dropped his weight on Spider-Woman, then he and Anvil whipped her with the Synthecon, trying to prevent her from escaping.[8][5][7] At Anvil's command, Hammer used his partner as a weapon like Anvil had done in the past - but Spider-Woman had suffered that maneuver and was ready to counter it, ducking the impact and using judo to propel Anvil through a nearby wall, which broke under Anvil's armored body. The wall led to an elevator shaft, causing Anvil to fall, and in the process pulling Hammer behind him. After some other conflicts, Spider-Woman then took Sheridan from the DRC campus, but the DRC sent Hammer, Anvil and several Mandroid-armored agents after them. The Mandroids destroyed their getaway car and caused a forest fire,[8] then Hammer and Anvil used their synthecon to throw them builders, forcing Spider-Woman to land and fight them.[8][5][7] Spider-Woman tried to keep them away with her venom-blasts, then deduced that the chain-like device was the source of their powers and decided to attack it[8] by grabbing it in her hands and using venom-blasts to try and overpower it. Spider-Woman received the painful shock, but resisted it while sending more bio-electric attacks, until the device stopped operating,[8][5][7] and the venom blasts reached the now-human Hammer and Anvil. Spider-Woman then knocked down Hammer and Anvil by making them collide with each other, and slamming them against the ground. She then took Sheridan to Santa Ana to foil the DRC's plans.[8]

Death[]

John Anvil (Earth-616) from Marvel Fanfare Vol 1 29 001

Moments before his death

The Synthecon was made operational again,[5][7] and Hammer and Anvil continued working for the DRC.[10][6] After some substantial time, Hammer and Anvil were notified by unknown sources that the Hulk would be at a certain point of a desert[3][5][7][9] in New Mexico[5][7] and then went there in an attempt to kill him. They approached a drugged Hulk stealthily from his back, then tried to strangle him with the Synthecon. Hulk struggled and released himself,[3][5][10][6] much to Anvil's surprise. Then, one of the male members of the criminal organization Scourge of the Underworld, disguised as an elderly Native American, shot Hammer[9] in the face with an explosive bullet,[3][5][7][10][6] destroying his face[3] and killing him.[3][5][7][10][6][22] At that point apparently the Synthecon once again linked Hammer and Anvil's life forces, as Anvil immediately feared for his own life,[3][5][7][10][6][22] and died himself a few moments later[3][5][7][10][6][22] while holding his partner's body.[3] These two murder were close in time with several other serial killings made by the Scourges, at the time believed to be a lone murderer,[23][24][22][25] and which caused several supervillains to fear for their lives and try to take measures to protect themselves.[22]

Hammer and Anvil were remembered among the several superpowered villains that the Hulk have fought, being included in a S.H.I.E.L.D. report on the Hulk that Nick Fury presented to John Byrne and Ron Garney.[26] The Hulk himself remembered them, as proven by a spell of illusion that magician Dr. Strange cast on the Hulk so he'd unleash his hostilities battling several supervillains, including Hammer and Anvil, without collateral damage.[27]

John Anvil (Earth-616) from Savage Hulk Vol 1 1 001

A possible impersonator of Anvil during the Hulk's trial

A person looking like Anvil, with a uniform in different colors, was seen among the plethora of supervillains attacking the courtroom where Judge Leiber was trying the Hulk, and interrupting the procedure. Hammer was not seen with him.[27] It is unclear whether this Anvil was an impersonator (There were shapeshifting Skrulls among the attackers) or, if not, what was the explanation for his return.

Personality

Johnny Anvil was a black-hating bigot[1][7] but he overcame his racism to collaborate with black "Hammer" Jackson as a way to escape prison. They initially argued and disagreed, and Anvil insisted that he was better than Hammer.[1] Eventually, however, he came to respect and appreciate Hammer,[8][6] focusing his hatred instead on enemies like the Hulk and Spider-Woman.[6] In a fight, Anvil frequently made most of the thinking[3] and the tactical decisions, and Hammer was a heavier bruiser.[4][8]

Anvil failed to obtain a relevant reputation as a supercriminal.[8]

Anvil's catchphrase of choice was "Hell's bells!"[1]

Attributes

Powers

Hammer and Anvil obtained the same superhuman powers while they were both wearing the Energy Synthecon, as long as it was operational:[5]

Leroy Jackson (Earth-616), John Anvil (Earth-616), Deterrence Research Corporation (Earth-616), Peter Parker (Earth-616), Guardians of the Galaxy (Earth-691) from Marvel Team-Up Vol 1 89 001

Hammer and Anvil called this movement "cracking the whip"

  • Superhuman Strength: With the Synthecon, Anvil had superhuman strength,[5][6] its specific level depending on the amount of kinetic energy that the Synthecon absorbed from its proximity, the specific range being unknown.[5] It was enough strength to battle the Hulk at his best, which initially suggested Class 100 strength, enabling him to lift (press) over 100 tons,[5] but later it was confirmed to be only Class 90.[6] Anvil could break a chunk of the machinery from a car and throw it by himself,[8] and in combination with Hammer, he could knock down Spider-Man with a double punch.[4] Without the Synthecon, Anvil had the strength of a normal human of his age, height and built, who engaged in intensive regular exercise.[5]
  • Superhuman Stamina: The Synthecon increased Anvil's endurance to superhuman levels.[5] The fact that the Synthecon absorbed kinetic energy gave him a variable resistance to attacks, depending on the kinetic energy in the area[7][9] and the amounts that the Synthecon could process at a given time without overloading[8] - for example, the Synthecon proved able to absorb the energy from prison guards' attacks quick enough for Anvil to not even notice it, but a single punch of the Hulk carried too much energy to transform into protection in time, meaning that Anvil noticed it.[1] Certain forms of energy could not be processed so easily, like Starhawk's coherent light beams[4] or Spider-Woman's venom blasts, both of which affected Anvil, but less than they would affect a normal person.[8] With the Synthecon operational, Anvil could sustain peak exertion without fatigue impairing performance non-stop for weeks; without the Synthecon, Anvil, being an athletic man, could sustain such for only a few minutes.[6]
  • Healing: The Synthecon provided Anvil with accelerated self-healing.[7]
  • Mind Link: The Synthecon provided a symbiotic bond between Hammer and Anvil,[1] including automatic rapport between their minds.[7] In its initial form, it linked them psychically in a way that caused them to lose sanity when the Synthecon was broken;[1] the DRC repaired it and claimed that this was no longer the case, and it would only provided them with physical advantages.[4] Still, when Spider-Woman used a full-strength venom-blast only against Hammer, Anvil also felt the ill effects of the blast.[8] The DRC may have been lying to Hammer and Anvil, as their life forces seemed to be joined by the Synthecon.[3][5]

Abilities

Anvil knows some street fighting techniques[6] and has shown skill in wrestling movements[1] and using his synthecon as a garotte to try and strangle the Hulk, with Hammer's help.[1] He has developed some fighting movements in synchronicity with Hammer.[4][8] Individually, Anvil engaged in intensive regular exercise[5] and is in athletic shape even without the Synthecon,[6] but would never be a match for a trained superhuman.[4]

Hammer also has some minimal criminal skills in other fields.[7]

Hammer and Anvil developed fighting techniques making the most of the Synthecon, including a way to ensnare flying enemies and to use the Synthecon as a two-user whip-like device.[8] Either of the partners could perform a movement they called "cracking the whip"[8] in which one of them stayed on the floor and used the synthecon as a whip, with the other partner being a blunt weapon in the extreme of it, powerful enough to damage a wall on impact.[4][8] They apparently found a way to switch off the "death touch" of the Synthecon at will, as they used the synthecon to tie Dr. Melloncamp[19] and Amanda Sheridan, but the device still caused that damage when Spider-Woman touched it.[8]

Weaknesses

Hammer and Anvil were linked by their alien synthecon in more ways than one - originally, destroying the synthecon damaged them mentally, causing insanity if it was broken.[1] The Synthecon linked Hammer and Anvil's life forces, meaning that if one of them died, the other would die of the shock itself soon after.[3][5][7] Apparently, it could only be removed if both Hammer and Anvil were conscious and actively doing it at the same time, and after the DRC restored it.[7] If the Synthecon was damaged, both Hammer and Anvil's lives were in danger unless joined together again.[19]

As the Synthecon gave them no mental powers,[6] they were vulnerable to attacks on their minds, including the Guardians of the Galaxy's Psi-Comp.[4]

Paraphernalia

Equipment

Energy Synthecon: This device resembling a golden cable that connected Hammer's left wrist with Anvil's right one[1] was alien in origin, created by Glx technicians.[6] It absorbed kinetic energy in its immediate surroundings, the exact range being not known, and somehow transformed it to bestow superhuman powers to its wearers, the level of these powers being proportional to the amount of energy absorbed.[5][7][6][4] The Synthecon however had limits on the amount of energy it could process at a given time, and if overloaded, it would stop operating.[8] While sturdy, the Synthecon could be broken[7] through physical strength[1][4] or more creative means. Should that happen, Hammer and Anvil lost their powers immediately.[4]

John Anvil (Earth-616), Leroy Jackson (Earth-616) from Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Vol 2 17, Gamer's Handbook of the Marvel Universe Vol 1 2

Hammer and Anvil in their latest uniform

The device could apparently be removed from their wrists only if Hammer and Anvil did it at once,[7] and it linked Hammer and Anvil's life forces as long as they were wearing it.[3]

If someone other than Hammer or Anvil touched the Synthecon will in use (meaning while it was converting amounts of kinetic energy), that person would immediately receive a shock of energy hurting them, and possibly killing them.[1][8][5][7][9] However, Hammer and Anvil apparently learned to switch off this "death touch" feature[7] because they used the Synthecon as a chain to tie Dr. Melloncamp[19] and Amanda Sheridan, but reactivated it when Spider-Woman touched the Synthecon.[8]

Electronic ID card: As a DRC employee in the west coast, Anvil was provided an electronic ID card, with a nine-digit employee number, that gave him access to several buildings; but it failed to open doors he was not authorized to.

John Anvil (Earth-616), Jessica Drew (Earth-616) from Spider-Woman Vol 1 34 001

Anvil's DRC ID card, and a false card

Transportation

The DRC provided Hammer and Anvil with an open flying platform described as a hovercraft, that could carry at least three, and possibly four, passengers.[8]

Notes

  • Anvil's DRC employee number was 171001711.[8]
  • In Marvel Tales (Vol. 2) #256, Dr. Melloncamp describes Hammer and Anvil as two escaped convicts. However, the story takes place after Marvel Team-Up #86 (explicitly referencing that Melloncamp repaired the device when it was broken in Marvel Team-Up #86) and, per Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Master Edition #27 (Anvil's profile), before Spider-Woman #34. At that point, Hammer and Anvil had been released from prison through legal means by the DRC, and they were not escaped convicts.
  • While his profile in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (Vol. 2) #17 and Gamer's Handbook of the Marvel Universe #2 say that Anvil was killed in the New Mexico desert, his profile in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Master Edition #27 says he was killed in the Nevada desert. The desert seen in the comic featuring his death, Marvel Fanfare #29, is unnamed, but it's the desert where the Hulk returns intuitively which, per the Hulk's profile in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (Vol. 2) #5, "Known superhuman powers" section, is in New Mexico, where the Hulk first appeared.
  • Anvil has a profile in the following Handbooks:
    • In Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Vol 1 #1 (January, 1983), Anvil is listed in the Appendix. The text in Hammer's profile in #5 (May 1983) redirects to Anvil's profile and to the Glx sub-profile in alien races in #4 (April, 1983).
    • In Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (Vol. 2), all of the victims of the Scourge have listed as a team of sorts in #19 (December, 1987), which also mentions they all have profiles in the "Book of dead" subsection. Hammer and Anvil have a shared profile in #17 (August, 1987).
      • Hammer and Anvil's shared profile in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (Vol. 2) #17 has a reference saying "(see Appendix: Deterrence Research Corporation)". However, the Appendix of the Handbook does not include any entry for the DRC.
      • The History section in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (Vol. 2) #17 is repeated in its majority in Anvil's shared profile with Hammer in Gamer's Handbook of the Marvel Universe #2 (1988), which provides the role-playing stats for Anvil for TSR, Inc.'s Marvel Super Heroes Role-Playing Game.
        • In one of the repeated paragraphs, a sentence is "Glx then departed in his starship". Glx is the name of the species, the sentence should be "The Glx then departed..." or "Chleee then departed..."
        • Official Handbook Vol. 2 #17 and Gamer's Handbook both say that Hammer and Anvil fought Spider-Woman in Los Angeles when they kidnapped Amanda Sheridan; but the kidnapping seen in Spider-Woman #34 places the scene in Santa Ana (mentioning the Santa Ana wind), not in Los Angeles.
        • TSR Inc.'s role-playing game magazine Dragon #129 (January, 1988) and #130 (February, 1988) included short profiles with the RPG statistics for each and every of the Scourge's victims to that point, in a two-part article by Jeff Grubb answering a reader's request. These have a very short description (One-line paragraph for the character's life and another one for his death). Hammer and Anvil's statistics in #129 are different than in Gamer's Handbook: In the magazine, they have higher physical stats, more fitting to what was known about them (Athletic complexion and criminal life), but lower resources (which is unusual as they had the support of the Deterrence Research Corporation, listed among their contacts in both Dragon and Gamer's). Their powers operate in different ways depending on the source, and are more detailed in Gamer.
    • Anvil has his only complete, individual profile in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Master Edition #27 (February, 1993), the text in it almost replicating in Hammer's profile in #4 (March, 1991).
    • Anvil has a one-paragraph entry, shared with Hammer, in Marvel Encyclopedia: Spider-Man (October, 2003).
    • Anvil is also mentioned in the Handbook articles of:
  • Sholly Fisch noticed a pattern of thematically-joined superhero pairs based on coordinated idioms, explicitly including Hammer and Anvil along with Cloak and Dagger, and used this as inspiration for a pin-up gag, drawn by Rurik Tyler, introducing superhero pair Milk and Cookies in What The--?! #7. To his surprise, Milk and Cookies were successful and appeared in as many comics as Hammer and Anvil![28]

Trivia

  • The prison Anvil escaped from was not named, but it is confirmed to be in the United States,[5][6] and close to Quebec because the Hulk had been to Quebec just before meeting "Crackajack" who was just a few days walking from the prison (with a limp),[1] meaning that they were likely in a U.S. state bordering Quebec - either Maine, New Hampshire, New York, or Vermont. "Crackajack", in his own words, was known from Baton Rouge to New Orleans, both being cities in Louisiana, and "Crackajack" claimed to have already walked 1,200 miles.[1] The walking distance between the limit of Louisiana and the limit of New York is 1,279 miles, with the other states being farther. This suggests, but not confirms that Anvil had escaped from one of the state prisons in New York.

See Also

Links and References

References

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.27 1.28 1.29 1.30 1.31 1.32 1.33 1.34 1.35 1.36 1.37 1.38 1.39 1.40 1.41 1.42 1.43 1.44 1.45 1.46 1.47 1.48 1.49 1.50 Incredible Hulk #182
  2. Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Master Edition #27
  3. 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 Marvel Fanfare #29
  4. 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 4.26 Marvel Team-Up #86
  5. 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 5.19 5.20 5.21 5.22 5.23 5.24 5.25 5.26 5.27 5.28 5.29 5.30 5.31 5.32 5.33 5.34 5.35 5.36 5.37 5.38 5.39 5.40 5.41 5.42 5.43 5.44 5.45 5.46 5.47 5.48 5.49 5.50 5.51 5.52 5.53 5.54 5.55 5.56 5.57 5.58 5.59 5.60 5.61 5.62 5.63 5.64 5.65 5.66 5.67 5.68 5.69 Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (Vol. 2) #17 ; Hammer and Anvil's profile
  6. 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 6.17 6.18 6.19 6.20 6.21 6.22 6.23 6.24 6.25 6.26 6.27 6.28 6.29 6.30 6.31 6.32 6.33 6.34 6.35 6.36 6.37 Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Master Edition #27 ; Anvil's profile
  7. 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15 7.16 7.17 7.18 7.19 7.20 7.21 7.22 7.23 7.24 7.25 7.26 7.27 7.28 7.29 7.30 7.31 7.32 7.33 7.34 7.35 7.36 7.37 7.38 7.39 7.40 7.41 7.42 7.43 7.44 7.45 7.46 7.47 7.48 7.49 7.50 7.51 7.52 7.53 Gamer's Handbook of the Marvel Universe #2 ; Hammer and Anvil's profile
  8. 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 8.12 8.13 8.14 8.15 8.16 8.17 8.18 8.19 8.20 8.21 8.22 8.23 8.24 8.25 8.26 8.27 8.28 8.29 Spider-Woman #34
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 9.8 9.9 Dragon (magazine) ; #129
  10. 10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 10.10 10.11 10.12 10.13 10.14 Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Master Edition #4 ; Hammer's profile
  11. 11.0 11.1 Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #4 ; Glx's profile under Alien Races
  12. 12.0 12.1 Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (Vol. 2) #15 ; Glx's profile under Alien Races
  13. Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #1 ; Anvil's profile (in the Appendix)
  14. 14.0 14.1 Marvel Encyclopedia #Spider-Man ; Hammer & Anvil's section
  15. Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Hulk 2004 #1 ; Hulk's profile
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #10 ; Spider-Woman (Drew)'s profile
  17. Marvel Encyclopedia #Spider-Man ; Deterrence Research Corporation's section
  18. Marvel Encyclopedia #Spider-Man ; Guardians of the Galaxy's section
  19. 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 19.5 19.6 Marvel Tales (Vol. 2) #256
  20. 20.0 20.1 Avengers Assemble #1 ; Gorilla Girl's profile
  21. Marvel Encyclopedia #Spider-Man ; Freaks' section
  22. 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #10 ; Scourge of the Underworld's profile
  23. Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (Vol. 2) #11 ; Scourge's profile
  24. Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (Vol. 2) #19 ; Scourge's Victim's profile
  25. Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Master Edition #33 ; Scourge's profile
  26. Hulk #1
  27. 27.0 27.1 Savage Hulk #1
  28. Milk and Cookies profile in the Marvel Appendix
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