Baron Blitzkrieg
| Baron Blitzkrieg | |
|---|---|
Baron Blitzkrieg as seen in Young All-Stars #9. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | World's Finest Comics #246 (September 1977) |
| Created by | Gerry Conway Don Heck |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Baron Reiter |
| Team affiliations | Axis Amerika Shadowspire Secret Society of Super Villains Black Lantern Corps |
| Abilities | Superhuman strength Heat vision Flight |
Baron Blitzkrieg is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.[1]
Publication history
The character (also known as Baron Reiter and simply the Baron) was created by Gerry Conway and Don Heck, and first appeared in World's Finest Comics #246 (September 1977).
Fictional character biography
Baron Reiter was originally a German army officer during World War II who was blinded and disfigured when a concentration camp prisoner threw a bottle in his face. German scientists experimented on Reiter, which restored his sight, but not his appearance. Nonetheless, he is given superhuman strength, invulnerability, optical energy beams, and the ability to fly. While he can initially manifest each of these abilities one at a time, he underwent training to incorporate these abilities together.[2]
Baron Blitzkrieg's first several appearances were antagonistic encounters with Wonder Woman and Superman.[3][4][5] Blitzkrieg went on to be a frequent opponent of the All-Star Squadron.[6]
Baron Blitzkrieg is the leader of Shadowspire, conspiring with Vandal Savage's Symbolix organization in experimental research that led to Damage gaining superpowers.[7]
During the "Infinite Crisis" storyline, Baron Blitzkrieg joins the Secret Society of Super Villains. He is killed by Superboy-Prime during the Battle of Metropolis.[8] Baron Blitzkrieg returns in the "Blackest Night" storyline, where he is temporarily resurrected as a Black Lantern.[9]
Baron Blitzkrieg appears in a flashback in JSA (vol. 2). During the 1940s, he led Gudra the Valkyrie, Horned Owl, Zyklon, and Nazi soldiers in a bid to steal the Spear of Destiny, only to be thwarted by the Justice Society of America and the Blackhawks.[10]
Powers and abilities
Baron Blitzkrieg possesses enhanced strength, durability, and agility, as well as heat vision and flight. He sports body armor that further enhances his durability.
Other versions
An alternate universe version of Baron Blitzkrieg makes a minor appearance in Flashpoint, where he is killed by Frankenstein.[11]
In other media
- Baron Reiter appears in flashbacks depicted in the fourth season of Arrow, portrayed by Jimmy Akingbola.[12][13] This version is African and grew up in a small village which was destroyed by bandits. Though Reiter survived, the event traumatized him and he vowed to never feel powerless again. After becoming a mercenary and founding Shadowspire, Reiter leads the group them in occupying Lian Yu to find a magical artifact called the Khushu Idol. Reiter finds the idol and sacrifices two of his men to gain power from it, acquiring superhuman strength and telekinesis. He battles Oliver Queen, who had been sent to stop him, and is killed in battle.
- Blitzkrieg appears in Freedom Fighters: The Ray, voiced by Scott Whyte.[14] This version is a speedster from Earth-X and a member of the New Reichsmen.
See also
References
- ^ Rovin, Jeff (1987). The Encyclopedia of Super-Villains. New York: Facts on File. p. 17. ISBN 0-8160-1356-X.
- ^ Jimenez, Phil; Wells, John (2010). The Essential Wonder Woman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. pp. 55–56. ISBN 978-0345501073.
- ^ Greenberger, Robert (2008), "Baron Blitzkrieg", in Dougall, Alastair (ed.), The DC Comics Encyclopedia, London: Dorling Kindersley, p. 37, ISBN 978-0-7566-4119-1
- ^ World's Finest Comics #246-247 (September - November 1977)
- ^ All New Collectors' Edition #54 (January 1978)
- ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 25. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
- ^ Damage #15 (August 1995)
- ^ Infinite Crisis #7 (June 2006)
- ^ Blackest Night #4 (December 2009)
- ^ JSA (vol. 2) #8 (August 2025)
- ^ Flashpoint: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #1 (June 2011)
- ^ Goldberg, Lesley (July 22, 2015). "'Arrow' Cast DC Villain Baron Blitzkrieg for Season 4". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 24, 2015.
- ^ Abrams, Natalie (July 22, 2015). "Arrow boss explains Baron Reiter casting". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 23, 2015. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
- ^ Wickline, Dan (December 8, 2017). "Freedom Fighters: The Ray Season 1 Recap – Things Are Just Getting Started". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on December 9, 2017. Retrieved December 8, 2017.