Destroyer is a Marvel Comics

Marvel Comics

Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...

 supervillain.

Publication history

Created by Stan Lee

Stan Lee

Stan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, actor, producer, publisher, television personality, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....

 and Jack Kirby

Jack Kirby

Jack Kirby , born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor regarded by historians and fans as one of the major innovators and most influential creators in the comic book medium....

, the Destroyer first appeared in Strange Tales

Strange Tales

Strange Tales is the name of several comic book anthology series published by Marvel Comics. It introduced the features "Doctor Strange" and "Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.", and was a showcase for the science fiction/suspense stories of artists Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, and for the...

#101 (October 1962).

Fictional character biography

Charles Stanton was the publisher of two newspapers: The Glenville (Long Island) Gazette and the Daily Chronicle. He was also a Communist spy for the Soviet Union. He passed information to submarines from his private Long Island beach. However, a nearby amusement park had tall rides which might expose his secret. He sabotaged several. The Human Torch

Human Torch

The Human Torch is a fictional character and superhero appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, he is a member of the superhero team the Fantastic Four, debuting in The Fantastic Four #1...

 having interfered with his plans, Stanton published a challenge from the Destroyer in his paper to lure the Torch into a trap. The Torch investigated and captured the Destroyer and the crew of the submarine.

The Wizard

Wizard (Marvel Comics)

The Wizard , also known as the Wingless Wizard, is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe...

(Bentley Wittman) watches newsreel footage of the Destroyer's defeat of the Human Torch in Strange Tales #102.

Powers and abilities

The Destroyer was a normal human being with no superhuman powers. His weaponry included a gun and flame-retardant foam, which was released by an electric eye beam.