Crusher Hogan

Background

Crusher Hogan is the best wrestler for his organization but business isn't looking so good. Both Bobby, his boss, and Marie, his wife, tell him he should take a job with Global Wrestling but Crusher is too loyal to change.

So, Crusher comes up with a way to bring back the audiences and save the failing organization. He turns himself into a bad guy and offers a reward to anyone who can last three minutes in the ring with him. According to Crusher, the prize is ten thousand dollars and the amount is borrowed from Hammerhead and his mob. But in reality, the prize is $100 and the mob doesn't seem to have anything to do with it.

"SPIDERMAN!"

Whatever the circumstances, Crusher is doing fine until confronted by a young man he sarcastically refers to as "a little Masked Marvel". The young man is Peter Parker in his first formal use of his spider-powers. Peter picks Crusher up and carries him up a pole until Crusher cries out, "you win"! (Amazing Fantasy #15)

"Whatever Happened to Crusher Hogan?"

Ruined by the encounter (and with Bobby's wrestling organization apparently going bust as well), Crusher takes a job as a janitor at a local gym where he regales people like up-and-coming boxer Bobby Chance with tall tales about training Spider-Man, creating the web-shooters and providing his costume. The gym is run by Madame Fang and Manslaughter Marsdale, two sinister types who don't take kindly to the news that Bobby plans to sign a contract with someone else. Crusher overhears Manslaughter and Fang planning to put Bobby out of commission and he joins the fight on Bobby's side. Fortunately, Spider-Man happens to be passing by and, hearing gunshots, gets into the fight as well. After defeating Manslaughter, Spidey goes along with Crusher's stories, making the washed-up wrestler a hero in all of the gymrats eyes. (Amazing Spider-Man #271)

"Venom War"

At Grand Garden Arena, Hogan was a commentator at a superhuman wrestling match featuring "Symbiote Smith," the Lumberjack, Ken "Caveman" Corrigan and "Big Chomp." They were interrupted by Eddie Brock and three symbiotes, Wilde, Tyro and Bedlam. Eddie wasn't amused by "Symbiote Smith" and smacked him into the ring, making Hogan say that no human or alien limb is meant to bend that way. The audience at the Garden evacuated while Crusher and the other commentator, Doc Sawbones, stayed and watched the proceedings. Dylan Brock arrived to confront his father, and Doc Sawbones wondered what a kid was doing in the ring. Crusher nonchalantly drank some coffee and said Spider-Man had been a kid when he kicked Crusher's butt. (Venom War #1)

Dylan wore a suit of armor called Flexo, which unknown to him, was under the control of Victor von Doom. Doom planned to use Eddie's own son as revenge. Against Dylan's will, Flexo opened fire on Eddie, cutting him in half. Crusher and Sawbones continued their commentary, saying there was no way that Eddie was getting up from that. Toxin and Red Goblin Normie Osborn came to Eddie's aid but a post-hypnotic suggestion from Kang turned Normie against Toxin. Meanwhile, Bedlam took on Spider-Man, making him call out to Crusher and Sawbones for help. He had them blast some entrance music from the loudspeaker, which disoriented Bedlam. (They played "Pomp and Circumstance.") (Venom War #3)

Image Gallery

Appearances

Cover Date	Appearance Information
Jul 2002	App: Spider-Man Tangled Web #14
	His life before Spider-Man.
Aug 1962	App: Amazing Fantasy #15
	First appearance.
Dec 1985	App: Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #271
	His life after Spider-Man.