| “ | Though it has the appearance of granite, justice is a pliable dough. Morality, shifting concept, bending to the will of the conqueror. It is the perspective of the victor that forms history, and defines the future. So long as you win, you claim the moral high ground--No matter the means you used to claim it. The Christians knew this when they launched their crusades. Napoleon and Alexander dreamed of a world united and understood the bloodshed it demanded. And the Americans knew this when they dropped their a-bombs. You and your progeny will know only opulence, wealth, and comfort, Lucas. You will not only save the world--You will be its king. The brave young man who brought an end to our crusade--And a beginning to the Age of Hydra! | „ |
| ~ Baron Zemo II. |
| “ | You can join me and be a part of something far greater than you have ever experienced before... or defy me and be ground beneath the crushing power of inevitability. Choose, or have your fate chosen for you. | „ |
| ~ Baron Zemo II to the Thunderbolts. |
Helmut Zemo, better known as Baron Zemo or Baron Zemo II, is a major antagonist in Marvel Comics serving as one of the secondary antagonists in the Captain America franchise and a major antagonist of the Avengers franchise due to him leading the Masters of Evil.
The son of the original supervillain Baron Zemo in a long line of German royalty, Helmut Zemo took up his father's legacy and became a modern version of the infamous super-Nazi. He serves as the main antagonist of his fare share of Avengers arcs, particularly those involving the Masters of Evil acting as their leader and is also a Neo-Nazi. He serves as the second archenemy of Captain America after his father's death.
Biography[]
Wanting revenge on Captain America for his father's death, Helmut first took on the guise of the supervillain Phoenix (not to be confused with Jean Grey/Phoenix/Dark Phoenix) but was defeated and fell into a vat of chemicals, disfiguring his face.
He later appeared as the next Baron Zemo, and lead a new version of the Masters of Evil, defeating the Avengers and taking over the Avengers Mansion before being overpowered by Captain America. He battled the Captain and the Avengers several other times after.
When the monster Onslaught seemingly killed Captain America and the Avengers, Zemo was distraught, as he saw his life was now meaningless without an archenemy. He then decided to form a team of supervillains and masquerade as heroes in hopes to gain the trust of the public. He took the name Citizen V and called his new team the Thunderbolts. His plan succeeded and everyone believed that the Thunderbolts were heroes. When he finally gained enough resources and actually took over the world, the rest of his team turned on him and mutinied because they had actually enjoyed being good.
Zemo had many later run-ins with Captain America, the Avengers, and the now-good Thunderbolts. After a while, Helmut began rethinking his villainous lifestyle and became more of a neutral character.
Powers and Abilities[]
Powers[]
Compound X Enhancements: Like his father, Zemo makes use of the Compound X serum to retain his youth and vitality, despite his considerable chronological age.
- Above Average Human Physical Condition: Zemo's body his constantly in top physical condition, even above most humans in peak condition. He is able to throw Agent 13 through a glass window with one hand, knock out the Winter Soldier, trade blow with super soldiers, and tackled Songbird out of midair. He is durable enough to survive falling great heights, take hit from super soldiers, and survive a blast from Songbird. He's fast enough to evade automatic gunfire, dodge a laser energy blast, caught one of the mechanical arms of Doctor Octopus, and deflect a solar energy beam from Vision.
- Slowed Aging: Zemo ages far slower than any normal human, having lived over more than sixty years.
Abilities[]
- Genius Level Intellect: Helmut is a strategic and tactical genius, as well as a brilliant planner and organizer. He also has an impressive scientific and inventive ability, but not at the level his father was.
- Master Tactician/Manipulator: He is very skilled in field tactics, close range combat, and even turning the tide of any debate that he is involved in to his favor. Although he can be truthful in simple conversations with his peers, it is hard to deduce what Helmut is really thinking or planning in his mind. He can appear and appeal as an ally to any villain or hero, but may simply be using them to do his bidding; it can vary from using them as a shield against another foe, or even getting him past security inside a highly secure structure such as the U.N. He has gone as far as earning respect and acceptance from former enemies such as Captain America in order to ensure the success of any scheme he hatches. He is a dangerous influence to any individual he meets. He has used his ability to morally change persons with even the greatest of good intentions to ruthless human beings. His tactics have sometimes even caused individuals to question their own morality, and judgment towards other individuals.
- Leadership: Zemo has proven to be a very charismatic leader behind the scenes or in the field with his minions. he has leader many groups such as HYDRA, the Masters of Evil, and The Thunderbolts.
- Master Scientist: Like his father, Helmut is a highly inventive scientist, able to construct many gadgets and compound formulas.
- Master Tactician/Manipulator: He is very skilled in field tactics, close range combat, and even turning the tide of any debate that he is involved in to his favor. Although he can be truthful in simple conversations with his peers, it is hard to deduce what Helmut is really thinking or planning in his mind. He can appear and appeal as an ally to any villain or hero, but may simply be using them to do his bidding; it can vary from using them as a shield against another foe, or even getting him past security inside a highly secure structure such as the U.N. He has gone as far as earning respect and acceptance from former enemies such as Captain America in order to ensure the success of any scheme he hatches. He is a dangerous influence to any individual he meets. He has used his ability to morally change persons with even the greatest of good intentions to ruthless human beings. His tactics have sometimes even caused individuals to question their own morality, and judgment towards other individuals.
- Master Combatant: He is a masterful unarmed and armed combatant, surpassing his late father in physical skill and prowess, but is only slightly under the level of Captain America. He is also able to fight other skilled fighters such as Sharon Carter, Winter Soldier, Sam Wilson, Nomad, Jack Flag, and Mother Superior.
- Master Swordsman: He is a world-class fencer portraying phenomenal skill with a rapier, medieval broadswords, and possibly other weapons used in Medieval Europe. His skill is great enough that he disarmed Sharon Carter before she could shoot her gun. He has dueled the likes of Joystick, Trick Swords, and Nomad.
- Master Marksman: Helmut is an Olympic-level marksman with firearms and even a bow and arrow. He shot Bucky Barnes as Captain America in the back before he could retreat, shot a solider with his own gun a few seconds after disarming him, and was able to casually shoot someone behind him without looking.
- Expert Pilot: Zemo is an expert in piloting aerial vehicles.
- High Pain Tolerance: Baron Zemo possesses a high tolerance for pain as he was barely fazed from being stabbed through the hand and endured beatings from super soldiers.
- Stealth: Helmut is skilled at stealth, as he was able to sneak up on the likes of Sam Wilson and Sharon Carter,
Equipment[]
- Adamantium Sword: In close-combat, Zemo prefers a sword as his main weapon of choice. It is coated in Adamantium, making the blade nearly indestructible which allowed him to block a laser from Vision.
- Handguns: Helmut has used twin semi-automatic handguns as his sidearms of choice. He has sometimes carried a Luger pistol on his person.
- Knife: Helmut carries a small, single edged knife which he used to execute Nomad with.
- bow and arrow: Baron Zemo has used a bow and arrow on at least one occasion.
- Energy Baton: Zemo has used a baton that can electrical energy during a fight with Captain America.
- Flash-bang Grenade: Helmut has used a flash-bang grenade to escape from Captain America.
- Adhesive X: Zemo occasionally uses weapons or traps incorporating his father's Adhesive X, which forms an unbreakable bond with any substance unless it is subjected to a special solvent.
- Strength Dampener: A piece of machinery that can slow down the momentum and muscle movement of body parts.
- Costume: Zemo's costume is reinforced to withstand hits from super soldiers such as Captain America or Winter Soldier and is shown to be fire resistant as well.
- Mask: His mask contains circuitry in his headband to guard against mind-control attacks and psionic assaults.
- Nano Tech Fiber Gauntlets: Sewed in nanotech fiber energy to his gauntlets that respond to his every gesture. these allow him to imbue his hits with an electrical energy shock.
- Moonstone (formerly): Zemo has usurped Karla Sofen's moonstone, alien power gems which enable him to manipulate energy on a massive scale for effects such as strength/durability augmentation, space warp creation, gravity manipulation, light manipulation, molecular phasing, and more.
Other Media[]
Marvel Cinematic Universe[]
- Main article: Helmut Zemo (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
Daniel Brühl portrayed Helmut Zemo as the main antagonist in Captain America: Civil War and a supporting antagonist in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
The Avengers: United They Stand[]
Phillip Shepherd voices Baron Zemo II in The Avengers: United They Stand, where he leads the Masters of Evil to get his revenge on Captain America.
Avengers Assemble[]
David Kaye voices Baron Zemo in Avengers Assemble, who is a high-ranking member of HYDRA who is an enemy of the Avengers.
LEGO Marvel's Avengers[]
In LEGO Marvel's Avengers, Baron Zeno is the villainous protagonist of the 'Masters of Evil' DLC level pack, alongside with Radioactive Man, Nathan Garrett the Black Knight, and the Melter to stop two Avengers members (Iron Man and Thor) to finish their operation.
X-Men 97[]
Baron Zemo appears as a cameo in X-Men 97, as a representative of the anti mutant organization Operation: Zero Tolerance
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Zemo was created by Roy Thomas, Tony Isabella, and Sal Buscema.
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