History:
EMIL HANSEN
Real Name: Emil Hansen
Identity/Class: Human (German)
(World War II Era)
Occupation: Reporter
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Destroyer
Enemies: Nazis
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Berlin, Germany
First Appearance: USA Comics 70th Anniversary Special I#1 (September, 2009)
Powers/Abilities: Emil Hansen was trained as a journalist. He was a gifted writer.
Height: Unrevealed
(approximately 5'10")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 165 lbs.)
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Reddish-blond
History:
(USA Comics 70th Anniversary Special I#1) - In October, 1941, Emil Hansen was sent to occupied Poland to interview an official from the Nazis' Ministry of Public Enlightenment aboard a train. The official fed Hansen propaganda lines about the Nazis' certainty that they'd triumph over the Russians. The interview was interrupted by word the masked hero the Destroyer had invaded the train. The Destroyer burst into the official's compartment, killed his soldiers, then grabbed Hansen and jumped off the train with him, shortly before the train exploded.
Hansen assumed the Destroyer wanted him as a hostage and tried to explain he could be of more value to him by writing a story about him. The Destroyer was offended by this, accusing Hansen of wanting simply to save his own hide. The next day, the Destroyer had Hansen stand in the middle of the road as bait to make a German Army truck stop; Hansen tried to warn the truck's two soldiers that the Destroyer was about to kill them, but the Destroyer struck both men down, then accused Hansen of being a good Nazi. Hansen insisted he wasn't a Nazi, but the Destroyer believed Hansen would warn them and try to help his side win the war. Hansen said he didn't like the Nazis and he didn't want the war, but as a German he loved his country. He also questioned whether the Destroyer was any more humane than the Nazis, considering he blew up an entire train.
The Destroyer forced Hansen into the truck they'd captured and forced him to drive while he continued to shoot down army patrols who encountered them. Putting himself and Hansen into German Army uniforms, the Destroyer forced a German train to stop then he and Hansen joined the crowd of soldiers aboard. Hansen watched as the Destroyer killed more of the soldiers. Hansen was impressed as the Destroyer again saved his life and showed fearlessness against superior numbers.
Finally, the Destroyer brought the train to Reibnich Concentration Camp, where he'd once been kept as a prisoner. Telling Hansen it was time to see what kind of journalist he was, the Destroyer brought him into the camp to see the results of the German concentration camps. The Destroyer told Emil he shouldn't be afraid of the truth; seeing the concentration camp, Emil found he loved his country a little less that day.
Comments: Created by John Arcudi and Steve Ellis.
This profile was completed on 03/13/2026 but its publication was delayed, as it was intended for the Appendix's 25th anniversary celebratory event.
Profile by Prime Eternal.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Emil Hansen should not be confused with:
images: (without ads)
USA Comics 70th Anniversary Special I#1, page 2, panel 3 (main)
USA Comics 70th Anniversary Special I#1, page 8, panel 4 (face)
Appearances:
USA Comics 70th Anniversary Special I#1 (September, 2009) - John Arcudi
(writer), Steve Ellis (artist), Bill Rosemann (editor)
First posted: 09/26/2026
Last updated:
03/13/2026
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel
Copyright info
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