Hauptmann Deutschland

:"This article is about Hauptmann Deutschland. For Hauptmann Englande, see Hauptmann Englande.Superherobox|

caption = Hauptmann Deutschland fights Captain America on the cover of "Captain America" Vol. 1 #393. Art by Ron Lim and Danny Bulanadi.
comic_color = background:#ff8080
character_name = Hauptmann Deutschland
real_name = unknown
publisher = Marvel comics
debut = Captain America I #387
creators = unknown
alliance_color = background:#ffc0c0
status =
alliances = Schutz Heiligruppe
previous_alliances =
aliases = Vormund, Captain Germany, Guardian
relatives =
powers = Ability to absorb and redirect kinetic energy

Hauptmann Deutschland (German for Captain Germany), also known as Vormund, is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe.

Fictional character biography

Hauptmann Deutschland is part of a team called the [http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/schutzheiligruppe.htm Schutz Heiligruppe] , which was a national superteam protecting Germany. He first appeared in a backup story in "Captain America" where the Schutz Heiligruppe captured the Red Skull and abducted him back to Germany in an attempt to put him on trial for war crimes. Although they captured the Skull and subsequently his Skeleton Crew, they later surrendered the Skull to a false Thor, Iron Man and Captain America, who were actually shapeshifting "bioplastoid" androids created by the Skull's lackey Arnim Zola.

Realizing the deception, Hauptmann Deutschland followed the Skull back to America. After the obligatory brawl between heroes, he then teamed up with Captain America to track the Skull. They gave up the hunt when confronted with a false corpse of the Red Skull. The false Skull had been shot through the head, and appeared to have been killed by the Scourge of the Underworld, who left his trademark "Justice Is Served" scrawled on the wall.

Naming controversy

When the issues of Captain America containing Hauptmann Deutschland and the rest of the Schutz Heiligruppe were to be published in Germany by licensee Condor Interpart, the names of the team were changed in accordance with the German taboos on references to Nazism, despite the team being distinctly anti-Nazi in behavior. In Germany, Hauptmann Deutschland was renamed Freiheitskämpfer (Freedom Fighter).

Due to a lack of coordination, when Hauptmann Deutschland next appeared in American comics, he was renamed Vormund, which means "legal guardian," "warden" or "custodian." Per Markus Raymond, a submitter to the Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe, Vormund actually should be used only in reference to a "legal guardian for a child or somebody else who can't talk legally for himself." [http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/schutzheiligruppe.htm] .

Vormund's next appearance was in a somewhat convoluted tale where he set out with Zeitgeist, another member of the Schutz Heiligruppe, in order to investigate the slaying of their partner Blitzkrieger, who had himself been slain while investigating the murders of multiple South American local superheroes. Although Vormund was framed for the murders, it was eventually discovered that Zeitgeist was actually a somewhat obscure American villain known as the Everyman. While fleeing Captain America, Zeitgeist tried to stab Vormund with his sword. Vormund redirected the force of Zeitgeist/Everyman's stab and killed him.

Hauptmann Deutschland has not appeared since.

Powers and abilities

Hauptmann Deutschland has the power to absorb and redirect kinetic energy. He can project this energy into an opponent, use it to repel attacks, or increase his own strength and endurance. The origin of these powers is unknown. He is also a highly trained soldier and hand-to-hand combatant. He is also known to carry a variety of tactical gadgets in his belt, such as nets, oiled ball bearings, and a cable gun.

External links

* [http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/vormundcap.htm Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe's article on Hauptmann Deutschland, aka Vormund]