FRANZ HEINRICH
Real Name: Baron Franz Heinrich
Identity/Class: Normal human (1950s era)
(former German citizen)
Occupation: Inventor, adventurer
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Venus
Enemies: Azrael
Known Relatives: Anna Heinrich
(wife)
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: New York, USA; briefly
Mars;
formerly Munich, Germany
First Appearance: Venus I#14/1 (June, 1951)
Powers/Abilities: Franz Heinrich is a
brilliant inventor, space engineer, astrophysicist and researcher. He
enjoys adventure but is greedy and an egotist. He is overweight and
requires a monocle to aid his right eyesight.
Height: 6'
Weight: 220 lbs.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: None (bald)
History:
(Venus I#14/1 (fb) - BTS) - "Baron" Franz Heinrich
was born in Munich and fled Germany with the rise of Nazi rule to
settle in the USA where he married Anna in New York. He was a renown
inventor and adventurer, and enjoyed bragging about them (although it
sometimes invited ridicule). However, he deserted Anna when marriage
commitments interfered with his research and personal adventures.
Heinrich became obsessed with finding the Fountain of Youth, partly for
its wealth potential, and narrowed its location to be on planet Mars. He constructed a rocket to travel to the planet.
(Venus I#14/1) - Heinrich went to the high-end Embassy Club, keen to broadcast his exploits. When several listeners thought he was joking about his planned to trip to Mars, he rebuffed them. He was observed by the goddess Venus (who was posing as a journalist) and her employer Whitney Hammond. Considering it a potentially good feature article, Venus interviewed Heinrich the next day. He revealed his goal and Venus expressed excitement; considering it good documentation, Heinrich agreed to let her accompany him. They soon rocketed into space and landed on Mars near the southern polar cap. Fruitless days passed searching for the Fountain of Youth; Venus became frustrated but Heinrich was obsessed with finding it, eventually doing so alone while Venus secretly gained information from Zeus. However, Heinrich was confronted by Azrael, the Fountain's guardian, who revealed he knew of Heinrich's history and motives. Greedy, Heinrich lunged a sudden frenzied attack that pushed Azrael over a cliff, killing him (Azrael would immediately be resurrected on Earth as per his nature). Venus witnessed the fray and warned that Martians may attack to protect the Fountain (but were never seen).
(Venus I#14/1 (fb) - BTS) - Heinrich and Venus fled and returned days later to Earth. Venus wrote up the adventure but considered it incomplete, so it wasn't published.
(Venus I#14/1) - Heinrich returned to the Embassy
Club. Following Zeus' plan, Venus attended with Hammond. When Heinrich
demanded to know about the news story, Venus pretended she didn't know
him. Others overheard the commotion and mocked Heinrich for the
apparent absurdity of the Fountain of Youth. Greatly upset, Heinrich
ran off. Venus called to him and encouraged him to remember the Martian
encounter and who he would share the Fountain of Youth with. Heinrich
suddenly remembered he beloved wife. Days passed; Venus and Hammond
visited Heinrich's house and found he had reconciled with Anna, who
believed him. Heinrich had realized his Martian opponent's name as the
Angel of Death, and that to ultimately overcome him, one had to do good
on Earth.
(Marvel Zombies: The Book of Angels, Demons &
Various Monstrosities) - All those who killed Azrael's corporeal form
gained the right to later battle Azrael in Purgatory if slain (so it's
possible Heinrich may have met Azrael again after his inevitable death).
Comments: Created by Bill Everett.
Germany abolished aristocratic titles in 1919
except as part of a name. Although not made explicit, it seems clear
that Heinrich gave away German citizenship to settle in the USA by way of
marriage.
It's unclear what the normally Earth-bound Azrael is doing on Mars; evidently the Martian Fountain of Youth has a direct link to restoring life to humans (as well as Martians?). It's later shown Azrael has long been a foe of Wolverine (Logan) in Wolverine III#57 (November, 2007).
Heinrich states that Mars is "35 million miles" from Earth, which is fairly accurate. The closest theoretical approach is 33.9 million miles while the closest recorded approach of 34.8 million miles was in 2003.
The Martians are only referred to in this story.
While it could be argued that Venus' warning of approaching Martians
was just a ruse to leave Mars, Azrael suggests that Martian beings are superior to Earth people.
Profile by Grendel Prime.
CLARIFICATIONS
:
Franz Heinrich has no known connections to:
Anna married Franz Heinrich after he fled from Nazi
Germany to the USA. However, Franz became too focused on his research
exploits and feats, and so deserted her. After their adventure to the
planet Mars to find the Fountain of Youth, the goddess Venus (posing as
a journalist) told Franz to find the person who would believe his
incredible exploit when no one else would. Franz remembered his
estranged wife and they reconciled, rekindling their love for each
other.
--Venus I#14/1
images:
(without ads)
Venus I#14/1, p1, pan1 (main image)
p2, pan4 (headshot)
p8, pan3 (Anna)
Appearances:
Venus I#14/1 (June, 1951) - Bill Everett (writer, art), Stan Lee
(editor)
First posted: 04/13/2026
Last updated:
04/13/2026
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™
and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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