| “ | ERSKINE! You and your accursed experiment shall both die in this room! Down with democracy! Down with freedom! The Third Reich shall live forever! HEIL HITLER! | „ |
| ~ Heinz Kruger in the comics. |
| “ | Steve: "Who the hell are you!?" Heinz: "The first of many! Cut off one head... [bites on capsule] Two more shall take its place. Hail HYDRA!" |
„ |
| ~ Steve and Heinz as the latter dies in Captain America: The First Avenger. |
Heinz Kruger is a minor antagonist in Marvel's Captain America comics. He also appeared in Captain America: The First Avenger. He is a Nazi assassin, spy, and member of HYDRA in the employ of Johann Schmidt (better known as the "Red Skull").
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he is portrayed by Richard Armitage, who also played Francis Dolarhyde in Hannibal, Guy of Gisborne in Robin Hood, and James Sullivan in Space Sweepers.
Personality[]
Kruger was an extremely cunning, ruthless and intelligent individual, being knowledgeable to deal with situations of danger or combat easily. He was ruthless and cowardly enough to hold a child hostage as a human shield and then attempt to kill him once he was no longer useful. In addition to his intelligence and ruthlessness, Kruger was also an extremely loyal individual to HYDRA Organization, being obsessed with only one goal; to steal a sample of the Super Soldier serum so that HYDRA can create its own army of Super Soldiers and kill Erskine so that none of HYDRA's enemies could do the same. He also knew when to "retire" by killing himself with a cyanide pill hidden in his mouth to avoid interrogation and capture.
Biography[]
Marvel Comics[]
When Steve Rogers is first given the Super-Soldier formula, Kruger managed to infiltrate the lab as a government official named "Fred Clemson". However, he revealed his true allegiance when his bullet cut down Dr. Abraham Erskine, the creator of the formula. As Kruger attempted to escape, he turned on Erskine's electric Omniverter and was killed via electrocution.
Because of his interference, Erskine was dead and the knowledge of the Super Soldier Serum was lost, leaving Steven Rogers as the only Super Soldier.
Marvel Cinematic Universe[]
Kruger appears as a minor antagonist in the 2011 MCU film Captain America: The First Avenger, where he was portrayed by Richard Armitage. Like his comic book counterpart, Kruger is disguised as a government official named Fred Clemson and witnesses Steve Rogers' transformation into Captain America. Once the process is complete, Kruger detonates a bomb, and in the chaos, kills Abraham Erskine. However, unlike his comic book counterpart, Kruger isn't killed in the lab, but manages to escape along with a sample of the doctor's serum so that HYDRA can create an army of super soldiers instead of America.
Despite Agent Peggy Carter managing to kill Kruger's getaway driver, he steals a taxi to continue his escape, but Rogers, with his newfound abilities, pursues Kruger's car through the streets of Brooklyn, eventually latching onto the car's roof. Failing to shake Rogers off, Kruger escapes from the car and takes a nearby boy hostage, threatening to kill him if Rogers doesn't back off. When Rogers continues his pursuit, Kruger attempts to kill him, but his gun is out of bullets, so he instead throws the boy into the harbor as a distraction. The boy is, fortunately, unharmed and able to swim, and urges Rogers to "go get him." Kruger then boards an advanced HYDRA submarine and prepares to return to Germany with the serum, but before he can, Rogers dives into the water and catches up with him. Shattering the sub's cockpit, he grabs Kruger, pulls him onto the dock and subdues him, causing the serum to be dropped and destroyed.
However, as Rogers prepares to interrogate him, he bites down on a concealed cyanide pill. In his dying breaths, Kruger proclaims that he is "the first of many" and that if he were to "cut off one head, two more would take its place." He then declares, "Hail HYDRA!" before finally dying.
What If...?[]
Heinz Kruger appears in the first episode of Marvel's What If...? animated series, titled What If… Captain Carter Were the First Avenger?.
In this version, Heinz Kruger detonates the bomb before Steve Rogers is subjected to the program. As Steve attempts to stop him, Heinz shoots him and attempts to steal the serum for HYDRA, but is then shot dead by Peggy Carter. Because of his actions, the program was nearly lost, but Peggy subjects herself to it and becomes Captain Carter.
Trivia[]
- The film The First Avenger came out in July 22, 2011, a year before The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, in which Armitage portrayed Thorin Oakenshield.
- Heinz Kruger has the same role as Joe Chill from the Batman comics and The Burglar from Spiderman comics, although regardless if he had came and killed Erskine, Rogers would have already completed his transformation into Captain America, whereas Spider-Man and Batman had to have these tragedies befall them in order for them to turn over to crime fighting.
