| Baron Blitzkrieg | |
|---|---|
 Baron Blitzkrieg as seen in Young All-Stars #9. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | World's Finest Comics #246 (September 1977) |
| Created by | Gerry Conway Don Heck |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Baron Reiter |
| Team affiliations | Axis Amerika Shadowspire Secret Society of Super Villains Black Lantern Corps |
| Abilities | Superhuman strength Heat vision Flight |
Baron Blitzkrieg is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. [1]
The character (also known as Baron Reiter and simply the Baron) was created by Gerry Conway and Don Heck, and first appeared in World's Finest Comics #246 (September 1977).
Baron Reiter was originally a vicious German army officer during World War II who was blinded and disfigured when a concentration camp prisoner threw a bottle in his face. German scientists experimented on the Nazi which restored his sight, but not his appearance. Nonetheless, he is given superhuman strength, invulnerability, optical energy beams, and the ability to fly. While he can initially manifest each of these abilities one at a time, he underwent training to incorporate these abilities together. [2]
Baron Blitzkrieg's first several appearances were antagonistic encounters with Wonder Woman and Superman. [3] [4] [5] Afterwards, Baron Blitzkrieg was a frequent opponent of the All-Star Squadron; [6] brainwashing Commander Steel, [7] confronting with Hourman which resulted in Red Bee's death, [8] conspiring with Zyklon to use the Liberty Bell to destroy Philadelphia before bring defeated by the original Liberty Belle, Johnny Quick and Jay Garrick / Flash, [9] trying to stay hidden in Jamaica, [10] and being a benefactor of Axis Amerika. [11]
The Baron is the leader of Shadowspire, conspiring with Vandal Savage's Symbolix organization in experimental research behind Damage, [12] [13] and an assassination attempt which is foiled by Deathstroke. [14]
During the "Infinite Crisis" storyline, Baron Blitzkrieg later joined the Society. He is killed by Superboy-Prime during the Battle of Metropolis. [15]
During the "Blackest Night" storyline, Baron Blitzkrieg's corpse is entombed below the Hall of Justice and later revived as a Black Lantern. [16]
In "DC All In", a flashback to Berlin of May 1945 had Baron Blitzkrieg leading Gudra the Valkyrie, Horned Owl, Zyklon, and some Nazi soldiers to a cathedral where the Spear of Destiny is located below it. They ended up in conflict with the Justice Society of America. When Gudra summons some Nazi airplanes to help Baron Blitzkrieg's forces, the JSA receives help from the Blackhawks. [17]
Baron Blitzkrieg has enhanced strength, agility and endurance. Additionally, he wore body armor that offered some protection from physical attacks and possesses heat vision and the ability to fly, and also could travel between Earth-2 and Earth-X.
In the alternate Flashpoint timeline, Baron Blitzkrieg makes a minor appearance in which he is killed by Frankenstein. [18]
