Blitzkrieg is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe

Marvel Universe

The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...

.

Publication history

Blitzkrieg first appeared in Marvel Super-Heroes: Contest of Champions #1 (June 1982). He also appeared in issue #3 of the series (August 1982).

The character subsequently appeared in The Incredible Hulk Vol. 2 #279 (January 1983), Rom #65 (April 1985), and Captain America #389-391 (August-September 1991), #393 (October 1991); he died in Captain America #442 (August 1995).

Blitzkrieg received an entry in the original Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe

Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe

The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe is an encyclopedic guide which details the fictional universe featured in Marvel Comics publications...

#2.

Fictional character biography

Franz Mittelstaedt was born in Backnang

Backnang

Backnang is a town in Germany in the Bundesland of Baden-Württemberg, roughly 30 kilometers northeast of Stuttgart. Its population has increased greatly over the past century, from 7,650 in 1900 to 35,761 in 2005....

, Germany

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

. He was inspecting an electrical power plant when a stray bolt of lightning struck a faulty generator and bathed him in electricity. When he emerged from his coma weeks later, he found that he could summon lightning at will to wield as a weapon. He decided to use his powers in the name of democracy.

Later he was teleported away by the Grandmaster

Grandmaster (comics)

The Grandmaster is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. who first appeared in The Avengers #69. He is one of the ageless Elders of the Universe and has mastered most civilizations' games of skill and chance.-Fictional character biography:...

, along with hundreds of other heroes of Earth, so that the Grandmaster and Death

Death (Marvel Comics)

Death is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain Marvel #27 Death is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain Marvel #27 Death is a fictional...

 could choose champions from among them. Blitzkrieg was chosen for the Grandmaster's team, fighting alongside fellow heroes Captain America

Captain America

Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...

, the aborigone Talisman

Talisman (Marvel Comics)

Talisman is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:Talisman first appeared in Marvel Super-Heroes: Contest of Champions #1 . He also appeared in issues #2-3 of the series...

 III, Darkstar

Darkstar (comics)

Darkstar is a fictional character, a mutant superheroine in the Marvel Comics universe. She has been a member of various super-teams in her career, including X-Corporation and Champions of Los Angeles.-Fictional character biography:...

, Captain Britain

Captain Britain

Captain Britain , briefly known as Britannic, is a fictional character, a superhero appearing in the comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Chris Claremont and Herb Trimpe, he first appeared in Captain Britain Weekly, #1...

, Wolverine

Wolverine (comics)

Wolverine is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Born as James Howlett and commonly known as Logan, Wolverine is a mutant, possessing animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, three retracting bone claws on each hand and a healing...

, Defensor

Defensor (comics)

Defensor is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:Defensor first appeared in Marvel Super-Heroes: Contest of Champions #1 . He also appeared in issues #2-3 of the series ....

, Sasquatch

Sasquatch (comics)

Sasquatch is a fictional character, a superhero in Marvel Comics' universe. He first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #120 and was created by John Byrne.-Fictional character biography:Dr...

, Daredevil

Daredevil (Marvel Comics)

Daredevil is a fictional character, a superhero in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Bill Everett, with an unspecified amount of input from Jack Kirby, and first appeared in Daredevil #1 .Living in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood...

, Peregrine

Peregrine (comics)

Le Peregrine is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Fictional character biography:Alain Racine was born in Moulins, France...

, She-Hulk

She-Hulk

She-Hulk is a Marvel Comics superheroine. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist John Buscema, she first appeared in Savage She-Hulk #1 ....

, and the Thing

Thing (comics)

The Thing is a fictional character, a founding member of the superhero team known as the Fantastic Four in the Marvel Comics universe. He was created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee in The Fantastic Four #1...

. When the Grandmaster's team won the contest, the heroes were returned to Earth.

Blitzkrieger later joined the German superhero team Schutz Heiliggruppe, along with Hauptmann Deutschland

Hauptmann Deutschland

Hauptmann Deutschland , also known as Vormund, is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe.-Fictional character biography:...

 and Zeitgeist

Everyman (Marvel Comics)

Everyman is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:The Everyman first appeared in Captain America #267 and was created by J. M. DeMatteis and Mike Zeck...

. The team intended to arrest the Red Skull

Red Skull

The Red Skull is a name shared by several fictional characters, all supervillains from the Marvel Comics universe. All incarnations of the character are enemies of Captain America, other superheroes, and the United States in general....

 for his World War II war crimes, assaulting Arnim Zola

Arnim Zola

Arnim Zola is a fictional character a supervillain appearing in the Marvel Comics universe. He is a master of biochemistry, and frequent foe of Captain America and the Avengers.-Publication history:...

's castle and fighting and defeating the Skeleton Crew

Skeleton Crew (comics)

The Skeleton Crew is a fictional organization in the Marvel Universe.-Fictional team history:The Skeleton Crew was an organization built by the Red Skull from his operatives. The original lineup was headed by Crossbones, and consisted of Mother Night , Machinesmith, the Voice, and the fourth Sleeper...

.

Blitzkrieg later traveled to Buenos Aires to investigate the deaths of a number of South American superheroes, including his former ally Defensor. Blitzkrieg was confronted by his teammate Zeitgeist, who turned out to be the serial killer Everyman. Everyman killed Blitzkrieg, adding him to his long list of murdered superheroes, but Blitzkrieg was later avenged by Hauptmann Deutschland, now known as Vormund, who killed Everyman.

Powers and abilities

Blitzkrieger possessed the ability to summon lightning mentally, at up to 15,000,000 volts. He can manipulate all forms of electrical energy, using them to allow him to fly, create electrical energy shields and cages, and electrical tornadoes. He is also immune to electricity, and can sense electrical transmissions and track them to their source.

External links

• http://en.marveldatabase.com/Franz_Mittelstaedt_%28Earth-616%29
• http://www.marveldirectory.com/individuals/b/blitzkrieg.htm
• http://marvel.com/universe/Blitzkrieger