Thunderball (comics)
| Thunderball | |
|---|---|
Thunderball.
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The Defenders #17 (Nov. 1974) |
| Created by |
Len Wein Sal Buscema |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Eliot Franklin |
| Team affiliations |
Wrecking Crew Frightful Four Masters of Evil Secret Empire Illuminati |
| Abilities | Gifted physicist Experienced planner and tactician Superhuman strength, durability and endurance High-level intellect Wields a virtually indestructible wrecking ball |
Thunderball (Eliot Franklin) is a fictional character, a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is a frequent enemy of Thor and a somewhat reluctant ally of the Wrecker and the Wrecking Crew.
Thunderball was created by Len Wein and Sal Buscema and first appeared in The Defenders #17 (November 1974).
Dr. Eliot Franklin was born in Buffalo, New York. He became a brilliant physicist and engineer whose greatest claim to fame was inventing a miniature gamma-ray bomb, something that Dr. Robert Bruce Banner (better known as The Hulk) was unable to do at that time. Dr. Franklin was often called "The Black Bruce Banner" because of his genius-level intellect and his scientific knowledge in the field of gamma radiation. Franklin used his scientific genius in private employ, and built a miniaturized Gamma Bomb for Richmond Enterprises. However, Richmond executive J.C. Pennysworth informed Franklin that under the terms of their contract, all intellectual concepts developed by Franklin (including the Gamma Bomb) were the property of Richmond, and not his. Upset that he couldn't profit from his own genius, Franklin threw a fit and was fired by Pennysworth, and escorted from the building. He later attempted to steal back his plans for the Gamma Bomb, but was caught and sent to prison. It was there that he first encountered Dirk Garthwaite (also known as the Wrecker, who was depowered at that time), Henry Camp, and Brian Philip Calusky.
One night during a thunderstorm, Garthwaite broke out of prison, along with his cellmates Henry Camp, Brian Philip Calusky, and Dr. Eliot Franklin. He recovered his magical crowbar and held it aloft, all four men placing their hands upon it. Lightning struck the crowbar, not only reactivating the enchantment but empowering the other three men as well. The four felons dubbed themselves the Wrecking Crew; Camp became Bulldozer, Calusky became Piledriver, and Franklin became Thunderball. Soon after, Thunderball took an ordinary wrecking ball for an offensive weapon which was energized by the Wrecker's crowbar, making it almost indestructible.
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