COLONEL PRESTON CASE

Real Name: Preston Case

Identity/Class: Human, former wielder of mystical artifact

Occupation: Military officer

Group Membership: U.S. Navy

Affiliations: Balder, Jane Foster, Hercules (Heracles), Odin, Sif, Thor (Thor Odinson), the Warriors Three (Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg)

Enemies: Avengers (Captain America/Steve Rogers, Hawkeye/Clint Barton, Iron Man/Tony Stark, Scarlet Witch/Wanda Maximoff), Dark Gods (Perrikus, Majeston Zelia)

Known Relatives: Unidentified father

Aliases: The Destroyer (while possessing the armor)

Base of Operations: New York, USA area

First Appearance: Thor II#1 (July, 1998)

Powers/Abilities: Colonel Case is a typical military officer but has only limited combat experience.

    When his mind occupied the Destroyer's armored form, he reveled in the armor's vast power, including its near-indestructible shell, superhuman strength (allowing him to lift 100 tons), the ability to project a variety of different energy blasts and a disintegration beam. Although the Destroyer was normally subject to its own (limited) consciousness, somehow Case's mind had full guidance over the Destroyer, though the Destroyer's consciousness did increase his feelings of aggression. Case was also able to speak in his own voice through the Destroyer's armor. These anomalies suggest Case has particularly strong willpower.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 5'11")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 170 lbs.)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown

History:
(Thor II#1) - Colonel Preston Case oversaw a military operation to transport the magical Asgardian armor of the Destroyer aboard a U.S. Navy vessel docked in New York. Because Colonel Case had never been in battle, his subordinates had little respect for him. Case took an interest in the box the armor was being carried within and went to touch it against his subordinates' warnings. The box opened and Case's consciousness took command of the Destroyer. Unlike most previous humans who had accessed the Destroyer, Case took full command of the armor and could even speak through it. Exulting in the power within the Destroyer, Case began using it to tear apart the docks around him, which brought in the Avengers to stop him. Thor took a personal interest in stopping the Destroyer but the armor withstood all of his attacks. Finally, Case activated the armor's disintegration beam and used it to kill Thor.

(Thor II#2) - Case proceeded to use the Destroyer to defeat the remaining Avengers and gloated over their defeat then called out to the civilians nearby, telling them to worship him. Spotting Thor's hammer Mjolnir, Case attempted to lift it but couldn't overcome the hammer's worthiness enchantment. Thor, who had returned to life, regained his hammer then formed a vortex that teleported the Destroyer deep into outer space.

(Thor II#11) - In need of raw power to defeat the Dark Gods who had conquered Asgard, Thor located the Destroyer where he had been deposited, offering him a chance to return to Earth. Case, still animating the Destroyer, refused the offer.

(Thor II#12) - The Destroyer started another fight with Thor, angry at having been exiled to a barren planet by him. Thor continued to remind him that he needed help to return to his own body, that the Destroyer's enchantments were increasing his rage to make him behave irrationally and that his father Odin could restore him if he helped rescue him. Case finally conceded and agreed to assist Thor if he could prove it was possible. Thor brought the Destroyer to Memorial Hospital in Manhattan, where Case's mortal body was under the care of Dr. Jane Foster. Thor and his ally Hercules showed Case's unconscious body to the Destroyer, convincing him to join their fight. Thor brought the three of them to Asgard and began to fight their way through the Dark Gods' ranks. When Hercules complimented Case, saying he'd be honored to die fighting alongside him, Case answered that nothing would stop him from living again. The Asgardians were released from their prisons to assist them but the Dark Gods merged into a single entity that assaulted the Destroyer, firing a blast of energy so powerful that it nearly destroyed its armor. The Dark Gods were finally defeated by Thor and the Asgardians celebrated his victory alongside Hercules and the Destroyer.

(Thor II#13) - The Asgardians continued to celebrate their victory as the Destroyer watched. Case mentioned to Hercules that it was hard for him to believe Asgard really existed. Case was still anxious to return to his own body but Hercules encouraged him to "loosen up and party." As Thor was preparing to leave Asgard, the Destroyer reminded him of his promise to him. Thor explained Case's situation to Odin and Odin used his scepter to draw Case's life force from the Destroyer armor. Warning Thor the scepter could only contain Case's life force for a short period, Odin directed Thor to bring it back to Case's mortal body quickly. Thor teleported himself back to Memorial Hospital and used the scepter to restore Case's life force. Case awoke in his own body but with apparently no memory of having been the Destroyer, which Thor attributed to Odin's magic.

(Thor II#14) - Back on his feet, Colonel Case thanked Dr. Foster for saving his life. When Jane gave the credit to Thor, Case said his superiors had told him his mind had been trapped in the Destroyer but he didn't remember any of it.

Comments: Created by Dan Jurgens, John Romita Jr. and Klaus Janson.

    This profile was completed on 11/20/2025 but its publication was delayed, as it was intended for the Appendix's 25th anniversary celebratory event.

Profile by Prime Eternal.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Preston Case should not be confused with:

images: (without ads)
Thor II#1, page 8, panel 4 (main)
Thor II#14, page 1, panel 4 (face)

Appearances:
Thor II#1-2 (July-August, 1998) - Dan Jurgens (writer), John Romita Jr. (penciler), Klaus Janson (inker), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Thor II#11-13 (May-July, 1999) - Dan Jurgens (writer), John Romita Jr. (penciler), Klaus Janson (inker), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Thor II#14 (August, 1999) - Dan Jurgens (writer), Mike McKone (penciler), Mark McKenna (inker), Tom Brevoort (editor)

First posted: 09/04/2026
Last updated: 11/20/2025

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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