Iron Major

IRON MAJOR

Real Name: Unknown

Class: Human villain

Occupation: Major, German Army Corps

Group Affiliation: None

Known Relatives: Unnamed mother (deceased)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Europe

First Appearance: Our Army at War #158 (September, 1965)

Powers: Iron Major is a superb athlete, fighter and tactician. His greatest weapon was the iron hand he wore attached to his right wrist. Seemingly indestructible, it could shatter stone and deflect bullets.

History: The man who would become Iron Major was born in the small German village of Mannlich, and once he joined the German army he rapidly rose through the ranks, soon becoming a major. In the early days of WWII he was sent to the Russian front as part of Von Paulus’ 6th Army. The major and his men were forced to retreat over the frozen Don River when an attacking Russian plane shattered the ice, plunging the major’s closest friend into the frigid water. He rescued his friend, but his right hand became hideously frostbitten and was soon infected with gangrene. His hand was amputated, and as a symbol to his troops he had it replaced with an iron fist. Because of his iron hand and his iron will his troops dubbed him the Iron Major, a name he was extremely proud of. No longer considered fit for duty on the front line, the Iron Major was made Commandant of Stalag 9, an ancient castle functioning as a P.O.W. camp. It was there that Iron Major first encountered Sgt. Rock, who was destined to become his greatest advesary. Rock was the first prisoner to ever escape from Stalag 9, and Iron Major pursued him into the Forest of Forgotten Skulls. In the ensuing fight Iron Major was badly wounded by an exploding land mine.

(Swamp Thing vol. 2 #46)-Iron Major is briefly sent to the present day aboard Monitor’s ship during the Crisis.

Iron Major and Sgt. Rock clashed several more times before the end of WWII. Iron Major died during the final days of WWII.

(Hawk and Dove Annual #1) - S.T.A.R. Labs opened a portal to Limbo in operation Zeppelin, and the souls of deceased villains Iron Major, Top, Clayface, El Papagayo, Electrocutioner and Icicle were seeking to escape the underworld and return to Earth through the portal. When Director Jeffrey Simon, creator of Zeppelin, disappeared, a rescue party went through the portal, and the villains captured them. They bargained with their demonic jailer, a demon impersonating Etrigan, exchanging their prisoners to gain temporary mortal forms, and prepared to return to Earth. They were opposed by Hawk, Dove, and the Titans West. The battle was fierce, but the tide turned when Jeb Stuart came down from heaven and gave Hawk his Haunted Tank. The false Etrigan offered them a way out through another portal, but he was merely toying with the dead villains, and when he sent them through a portal, it turned out to be an entrance to Hell.

Comments: Created by Joe Kubert & Robert Kanigher

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.