Iron Cross is the name of two fictional characters appearing in

American comic book An American comic book is a thin periodical literature originating in the United States, commonly between 24 and 64 pages, containing comics. While the form originated in 1933, American comic books first gained popularity after the 1938 publ ...

s published by

Marvel Comics Marvel Comics is a New York City–based comic book publishing, publisher, a property of the Walt Disney Company since December 31, 2009, and a subsidiary of Disney Publishing Worldwide since March 2023. Marvel was founded in 1939 by Martin G ...

Publication history

The Helmut Gruler version of Iron Cross first appears in '' The Invaders'' #35 (Dec. 1978) and was created by

Roy Thomas Roy William Thomas Jr."Roy Thomas Checklist" ''Alter Ego'' vol. 3, #50 (July 2005) p. 16 (born November 22, 1940) is an American comic book writer and editor. He was Stan Lee's first successor as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics and possibly bes ...

and

Don Heck Donald L. HeckDonald L. Heck
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. The Clare Gruler version of Iron Cross first appeared in ''All-New Invaders'' #9 (Aug. 2014) and was created by James Robinson and

Steve Pugh Steve Pugh ( ; born 24 March 1966) is a British comic book artist who has worked for American and British comic producers including DC Comics, DC, Marvel Comics, Marvel, Dark Horse Comics, Dark Horse and ''2000 AD (comic), 2000 AD''. He broke ...

Fictional character biography

Helmut Gruler

Helmut Gruler is a

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

German soldier that first appears in the title '' Invaders''. Gruler volunteers to wear armor created by Professor Franz Schneider for use against the Allied forces. Using the alias "Iron Cross", the character creates havoc until he is apparently killed during a battle with

superhero A superhero or superheroine is a fictional character who typically possesses ''superpowers'' or abilities beyond those of ordinary people, is frequently costumed concealing their identity, and fits the role of the hero, typically using their ...

team the ''Invaders''. Iron Cross reappears in the modern Marvel universe in the title ''

Midnight Sons Unlimited Midnight is the transition time from one day to the next – the moment when the date changes, on the local official clock time for any particular jurisdiction. By clock time, midnight is the opposite of noon, differing from it by 12 hours. ...

'', having apparently been saved and sustained by his armor. Iron Cross is revealed in the

limited series In the field of comic books, and particularly in the United States, a limited series is a comics series with a predetermined number of issues. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is finite and determined ...

to be a founding member of the modern version of the ''

V-Battalion The comic book stories published by Marvel Comics since the 1940s have featured several fictional teams and organizations and this page lists them. 0–9 198 A A-Force A-Next A.I. Army The A.I. Army is a fictional organization appearing i ...

'', a secret group dedicated to hunting down war criminals. Iron Cross apparently dies preventing the spread of nanotechnology throughout the world by terrorist organization HYDRA.

Clare Gruler

Clare Gruler is the daughter of Helmut Gruler who took on her father's legacy and became a hero in Germany. As part of the ''

All-New, All-Different Marvel All-New, All-Different Marvel (ANADM) is a 2015–2019 branding for Marvel Comics' entire main line of comics. Taking place after the crossover storyline "Secret Wars", it details the new Marvel Universe, with nearly 60–65 titles relaunched wi ...

'' event, Clare Gruler's

Inhuman Inhuman may refer to: Comics *Inhumans, a fictional race in Marvel Comics ** ''Inhuman'' (comics), a comic book series focusing on Inhumans ** ''Inhumans'' (TV series), a television series set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe Music *InHuman ...

gene activated when she was inside the Iron Cross armor which caused her to have powers that molecular-bonded her to the Iron Cross armor transforming her into a cyborg. Iron Cross was later kidnapped by Kurt Dagmar due to her new nature alongside the other robots and AIs. Iron Cross managed to send a signal for help which was received by Winter Soldier. The control Dagmar had over Iron Cross was interrupted when he was killed by one of his

Deathlok Deathlok (also referred to as Deathlok the Demolisher) is the name of several fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The first Deathlok, Luther Manning, appeared in '' Astonishing Tales'' #25 (Aug. 1974 ...

s. She thanks Namor for absolving her father of any war crimes during the

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. She later battles Neo-Nazis in Germany and requests help from the All-New Invaders. They are interrupted by the Inhuman Lash, who is attempting to recruit Iron Cross, Toro, and the Neo-Nazis leader, who had no idea he was an Nuhuman. Medusa and the Inhuman Royal Court appear, so Lash leaves with the Neo-Nazi, who abandons the Nazi cause since he does not have pure Aryan blood. The Invaders later disband and Iron Cross returns to Germany to protect it from evil.

Powers and abilities

Helmut Gruler wears an advanced suit of armor that provides superhuman strength and durability, and

flight Flight or flying is the motion (physics), motion of an Physical object, object through an atmosphere, or through the vacuum of Outer space, space, without contacting any planetary surface. This can be achieved by generating aerodynamic lift ass ...

via boot jets. The armor also has several offensive features, and is capable of releasing electric current,

sleeping gas Incapacitating agent is a chemical or biological agent which renders a person unable to harm themselves or others, regardless of consciousness. Lethal agents are primarily intended to kill, but incapacitating agents can also kill if administered ...

and an inky fluid similar to that discharged by an octopus. The suit provides some longevity by sustaining Gruler's body. Clare Gruler's Iron Cross armor grants her flight and energy discharge. Her molecular bonding appears to have only worked once when her Inhuman gene activated.

In other media

The Helmut Gruler incarnation of Iron Cross appears as a boss in '' Captain America: Super Soldier'', voiced by

Michael Donovan Michael Donovan is a Canadian voice actor and director. Filmography Television Film Video games Anime *''Dragon Ball''Master Roshi *'' Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies''Penny's father, Master Roshi *'' Dragon Warrior'' - Ado ...

.http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/112/1125597p1.html#ixzz11WLb93H2 ''Captain America: Super Soldier Announced" This version works for Hydra under the

Red Skull The Red Skull is the alias of several supervillains appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by France Herron, Jack Kirby, and Joe Simon, the character first appeared in ''Captain America Comics'' #1 (March 1941), in ...

and

Arnim Zola Arnim Zola is a supervillain appearing in American comic books by Marvel Comics. He is a master of biochemistry and a recurring enemy of Captain America and the Avengers. The character first appeared in ''Captain America and the Falcon'' #208 (A ...

. He is assigned to capture

Captain America Captain America is a superhero created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby who appears in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in '' Captain America Comics'' #1, published on December 20, 1940, by Timely C ...

and obtain his blood so Hydra can recreate Abraham Erskine's super-soldier serum. However, Captain America defeats Iron Cross.