Smasher

Smasher is an early Erik Larsen creation who debuted in the self-published anthology Graphic Fantasy #1 in 1982, sharing pages with characters like Tiger, Sgt. Marvel, and Rock in the scrappy independent comics that preceded Larsen's later work at Image.

Few characters can claim they were there at the very beginning of Erik Larsen's creative journey, but Smasher can — debuting in Graphic Fantasy #1 in 1982, a Bronze Age original whose roots stretch back to the scrappy, self-published comics that would eventually give rise to an independent comics empire. Over nearly four decades of appearances, this Ajax Comics figure has kept some intriguing company, sharing pages with the likes of Tiger, Sgt. Marvel, and Rock across Graphic Fantasy and Savage Dragon. With only 8 catalog appearances, Smasher is a genuinely rare find, and the fact that two of those land as key collector issues makes hunting them down all the more rewarding. For fans who love tracing the origins of indie comics history, Smasher is a fascinating piece of that puzzle.