Death's Head Guards
Real Name: Unknown, but as members of a collective intelligence, they probably don't need names.
AKA: Death's Head Commandos
First Appearance: Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. 1
Died In: The whole lot of 'em bought the farm in Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. 6 after deciding death was preferable to life as fascist automatons.
What's Their Problem? Originally part of a peaceful and curious race that established an observation post on Earth, the Gnobians had the unbelievably bad luck to do so in the midst of fascist Germany during World War II. Coming into contact with Baron Von Strucker, the Gnobian Mother merged with him, becoming so tainted by the experience that her subsequent offspring were born with an intense hatred of "The Howler," Nick Fury, and a determination to set up the 4th Reich despite their intense revulsion for the principles behind fascism. Taking their title from Baron Von Strucker's slain personal SS troops, the Death's Head Guard targeted the planet's governments for take over, but were side-tracked by their involuntary and compulsive hatred of Nick Fury.
Favorite Quote: "For us, your hellish war will never be over." (Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. 2)
Powers: Being Gnobians, the Death's Head Guard were all extremely empathic. They could also float, teleport, and could even withstand bullets and laser blasts up to a point far beyond human endurance. What is inherent ability and what they owed to their advanced technology is hard to pinpoint. The Gnobian technology has been rumored to be the basis for the advanced weaponry of both HYDRA and A.I.M., but recent retconns have thrown the link between the alien race and the terrorist organizations into doubt.
Heroes They Kept Running Into: As a group determined to re-establish the glory days of Nazi Germany, the Death's Head Guard couldn't avoid Nick Fury, and were in fact responsible for the re-establishment of S.H.I.E.L.D.
People Who Don't Think They're So Bad: Actually, most people who came into contact with the Guards ended up pitying their involuntary compulsion to carry out the life dream of a madman. Von Strucker's own son, Werner Von Strucker, tried to help them even after they turned his wife into a vegetable, although his later association with the Yellow Claw might cause some to question his sincerity.
Most Despicable Act: The Death's Head Guard slew hundreds of N.A.T.O. soldiers in a pre-emptive strike against the democratic governments of the world (Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. 4)
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