MOON AND PLANETARY THRUSTERS

Classification: Extraterrestrial technology

Creator: Unrevealed

Users/Possessors: Starblasters

First Appearance: Starblast#1 (January, 1994)

Powers/Abilities/Functions: A Moon Thrusters is an alien device, shaped like a missile, which, when launched at a moon, affixes itself to the moon's surface, and begins to shift the moon away from the planet it orbits using its immense reactor, causing great catastrophies on the planet below. The interior Conversion Chamber of the Moon Thruster contains tentacles to capture those who would attempt to destroy it, and Skullhuggers to take over their minds.

Planetary Thrusters behave in a fashion similiar to the Moon Thrusters, and are also equipped with tentacles and Skullhuggers. However, they bear the appearance of large black monoliths, and are powerful enough to shift entire planets out of their orbit. Two Planetary Thrusters placed on either side of a planet can tear the world apart.

History: (Starblast#1) - In order to fashion a diversion for Earth's superhumans while the Starblasters attempted to caputure Kayla Ballantine, they released a Moon Thruster to Earth's moon. Several superhumans (including Ikaris, Hyperion, Gladiator, Darkstar, Vanguard, Binary, Captain Marvel, Black Bolt, Quasar and Adam Warlock) investigated the Moon Thruster, and several were taken over by Skullhuggers, but Quasar and Adam Warlock were able to release the others, and together they toppled the Moon Thruster over. It immediately took off into space, propelled by its reactor.

(Namor the Sub-Mariner#46) - For a further diversion, the Starblaster Xlyym attached two Planetary Thrusters to the earth, deep within its oceans, intending to tear the planet apart.

(Namor the Sub-Mariner#47)- Having learned of the Planetary Thrusters' existence, and that they powered the Skullhuggers used to enslave the Banari, the Sub-Mariner and Stingray set off after one thruster, while Tiger Shark, Tamara Rahn and Triton set after the other. Upon arriving at their location, Triton, Tiger Shark and Tamara were assaulted by tentacles from the thruster.

(Fantastic Four I#385) - Triton and Tiger Shark were rescued by Ant-Man, Lyja, and the Human Torch, who helped lead a rescue mission for Tamara. Lyja, familiar with Planetary Thrusters from her time as a Skrull intelligence officer, was able to set the thruster's reactor to implode, destroying one of them.

(Namor the Sub-Mariner#48) - Tiger Shark and Tamara then caught up with the Sub-Mariner and Stingray, who had been joined by the Thing and Invisible Woman in the Challenger Deep, as they attempted to destroy the second thruster. Neither the Sub-Mariner nor the Invisible Woman could withstand enough of the pressure to plant the explosives deep enough, but the Haab Zun brought it the rest of the way, sacrificing himself to destroy the thruster.

Comments: Created by Mark Gruenwald, Glenn Herdling, Herb Trimpe and Geof Isherwood.

by Prime Eternal

CLARIFICATIONS:
The Moon Thrusters and Planetary Thrusters should not be confused with:


Appearances:
Starblast#1 (January, 1994) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Herb Trimpe (pencils), Ralph Cabrera (inks), Mike Rockwitz (editor)
Namor the Sub-Mariner#46-48 (January-March, 1994) - Glenn Herdling (writer), Geof Isherwood (artist), Mike Rockwitz (editor)
Fantastic Four I#385 (February, 1994) - Tom DeFalco & Paul Ryan (writers), Paul Ryan (pencils), Danny Bulanadi (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)


Last updated: 04/29/03

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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