GRAPPLER MACHINE
Classification: Terrestrial technology
Creator: Unrevealed
User/Possessors: Cobra (Klaus Voorhees), Mr. Hyde (Calvin Zabo)
First Appearance: Journey into Mystery I#105/1 (June, 1964)
Powers/Abilities/Functions: It was a large atomic-powered robotic mechanism mounted on a wheeled carriage; its steel exterior primarily consisted of a single hydraulic arm that terminated with a pincer claw. A human operator could use it to grab and hoist heavy objects of an unspecified maximum weight.
It also featured an enclosed compartment, where any item grabbed by the arm could be deposited and stored.
History:
(Journey into Mystery I#105/1 (fb) -
BTS) - The grappler machine was developed by an unidentified
manufacturer; it was eventually put on display at New York's Colosseum
as part of an advanced machine exhibit.
(Journey into Mystery I#105/1) - When the newly-formed partnership of the Cobra and Mr. Hyde sought revenge on Thor, they lured the thunder god to the machine show. While Thor was distracted battling Hyde, the Cobra--knowing that nothing human could lift the thunder god's enchanted hammer--operated the controls of the grappler machine and made it snatch the hammer from Thor's grasp, and subsequently deposited it within the grappler's storage compartment. With his sixty seconds time-limit closing in (see comments), Thor had to face the two villains unarmed...
(Journey into Mystery I#106/1) - With his enchanted hammer somewhere within the complex interior of the grappler machine, and the sixty seconds rapidly expiring, Thor tore up a section of floor and flung Hyde and the Cobra away; the thunder god then lost himself in the panicked crowd of onlookers, so that no one would see him change into Don Blake; as Thor transformed to Blake, his hammer--still within the grappler machine--changed into Blake's walking stick.
While heavily armed units of the police riot squad surrounded the building, the Cobra and Mr. Hyde searched for Thor among the multitudes of exhibit attendees, but could find no trace of him. Meanwhile, Blake futilely tried to reach into the grappler to retrieve his cane, but could find no weak sections or loose joints he could possibly pry apart. When all seemed hopeless, Blake came up with an idea--he stepped out of the crowd and told Hyde and the Cobra that he would help them find Thor, but only on the condition that they get his antique cane, which he claimed accidentally got caught in the grappler machine.
Wanting to prove his usefulness, the Cobra slithered into the grappler, past the complicated interior assembly of cogs, gears and wheels, and located Blake's cane...but the walking stick was just beyond his reach. The Cobra slithered back out and reported his finding to his partner in crime. With a savage snarl, Mr. Hyde lunged at the grappler and began to tear it apart, ripping the machine into pieces until he found the cane.
Hyde then gave the cane back to Blake and ordered him to reveal where Thor was; but after grasping the precious object, Blake quickly limped back into the startled spectators. The enraged Hyde rushed forward, causing the terrified crowd to bolt in panic; with the mass of onlookers ignoring him, Blake stamped his cane on the floor and was transformed back into the vengeful thunder god, once again ready to face the villains.
Comments: Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.
This story took place back when Thor would revert to his mortal identity of Dr. Don Blake if his hammer were out of his hand for longer than one minute.
No story-panels featured a clear and full view of this device, and only portions of it were available. A much smaller version of the grappler was depicted on the cover of JIM I#106.
This device was never identified by any particular name, and throughout the story it was referred to as a "grappler," "grappler machine," "grappling machine," and "atomic-powered hydraulic hoist".
An alternate grappler appeared in one panel of What If? I#10 (wherein it was referred to as an "atomic-powered hydraulic hoist"), which the Earth-788 versions of Mr. Hyde and the Cobra used to take the hammer of Thordis.
Profile by Ron Fredricks.
CLARIFICATIONS:
The grappler machine has no known
connection to:
images: (without ads)
Journey into Mystery I#105/1, p18, pan4 (grappler machine takes Thor's hammer)
Journey into Mystery I#105/1, p18, pan5 (storage compartment of grappler machine; Thor [foreground])
Journey into Mystery I#106/1, p3, pan1 (in flashback, grappler machine takes Thor's hammer; Mr. Hyde [foreground], Cobra operating machine [background])
Journey into Mystery I#106/1, p4, pan3 (Don Blake's cane inside of grappler machine)
Journey into Mystery I#106, cover (as Thor battles Mr. Hyde, Cobra uses grappler machine to grab his hammer)
Appearances:
Journey into Mystery I#105/1 (June, 1964) - Stan Lee (writer/editor),
Jack Kirby (pencils), Chic Stone (inks), Art Simek (letters)
Journey into Mystery I#106/1 (July, 1964) - Stan
Lee (writer/editor), Jack Kirby (pencils), Chic Stone (inks), Art Simek
(letters)
First Posted: 02/24/24
Last updated: 02/24/24
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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