VULTURE
Real Name: Unrevealed
Identity/Class: Normal human (WWII era, German
citizen, Nazi)
Occupation: Commander of a German labor camp
Group Membership: German Army, Nazi Party
Affiliations: French collaborators (Jacques,
others)
Enemies: Bucky Barnes, Captain America (Steve
Rogers), French resistance (Joan, others)
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Savoie Haut,
(German-occupied) France
First Appearance: Captain America Comics
I#32/4 (November, 1943)
Powers/Abilities: The sadistic man known as
the Vulture is a brutal vindictive racist with above average strength
and has received German Army training. He enjoys inflicting pain on
others, particularly using a whip against bound victims. He is also
bilingual, although his English has a strong German accent.
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 195 lbs.
Eyes: Dark brown
Hair: Black
History:
(Captain America Comics I#32/4 (fb) - BTS) - The man
who came to be known as the Vulture ran a slave labor camp in the
alpine French region of Savoie Haut. He developed a fearsome reputation
for his brutality, including murdering civilians, as well as whipping
and starving them as part of interrogations. Local French resistance
guerrillas fought back, but the fear also led to informants. One
informant Jacques (brother to senior resistance leader Joan) told the
Vulture of an impending attack on a slave train.
(Captain America Comics I#32/4) - Captain America and
Bucky delivered armaments via a DC-3 cargo plane to the French
resistance, which the French soon used to stop the train. Prepared for
this, the Vulture opened fire as the signal for his troops to gun down
the French guerrillas and few escaped. From the air, Cap and Bucky saw
the gunfight, but could give little help using the single gun in the
plane;
instead, their plane was shot down and they were captured. The heroic
duo were brought before the Vulture, who forced them to watch as he
slaughtered the surviving guerrillas using his machine gun. The Vulture
declared that he intended to present Captain America and Bucky as a
present to Hitler. The Vulture left; Cap and Bucky escaped and
contacted the French resistance with Joan and a general, and a plan
hatched to free the prisoners and end the labor camp. French
guerrillas feigned an attack on the camp, and Cap and Bucky allowed
themselves to be captured. But the Vulture was aware of their approach.
Shirtless, the Vulture sadistically whipped the bound Captain America
in front of other prisoners, but ran out of energy as Cap endured the
pain. The Vulture left and Cap returned to the general cell area. The
next morning, the Vulture dined with his prize informant Jacques, but
Captain America had escaped (again) and secretly watched them. Cap was
infuriated at Jacques' betrayal; he leapt in and punched them
senseless. Bucky and the other prisoners soon joined them (including
newly arrived Joan). Captain America forced the Vulture to call in
soldiers; the French prisoners quickly overpowered them and took their
weapons. Cap took the wheel of the commander's car and used the Vulture
as a living shield as he charged the camp's gates. The Vulture died by
the German guards' gunfire, but the gates were rammed open and the
French prisoners escaped. Soon after, Joan punished Jacques' betrayal
by shooting him dead.
Comments: Created by uncredited writer, Syd Shores, Vince Alascia.
Savoie Haut very likely refers to Haute-Savoie, which lies in alpine southeastern France at the border with Switzerland and Italy.
Profile by Grendel Prime.
CLARIFICATIONS
:
Vulture has no known connections to:
images:
(without ads)
Captain America Comics I#32/4, p7, pan4 (main image)
p12, pan3 (headshot)
Appearances:
Captain America Comics I#32/4 (November, 1943) - uncredited writer, Syd
Shores (pencils), Vince Alascia (inks), Vince Fago (editor)
First posted: 05/31/2025
Last updated:
05/31/2025
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel Copyright info
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