| Flag-Smasher | |
|---|---|
 The Flag-Smasher explains his politics. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Captain America #312 (Dec.1985) |
| Created by | Mark Gruenwald Paul Neary |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Karl Morgenthau |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations | ULTIMATUM |
| Abilities | Brilliant terrorist strategist Gifted hand to hand combatant Arsenal of weapons provided byULTIMATUM |
TheFlag-Smasher is the name used by different anti-nationalistsupervillains appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics:Karl Morgenthau andGuy Thierrault. The original version was most often a foe ofCaptain America while other adversaries include thePunisher,Moon Knight,Ghost Rider, theRunaways, theLiberteens andDeadpool.
A group called theFlag Smashers appeared in theMarvel Cinematic Universe /Disney+ seriesThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021), led by a female version of the Karl Morgenthau incarnation renamedKarli Morgenthau (portrayed byErin Kellyman).
Mark Gruenwald created Flag-Smasher as a character in the tradition of theRed Skull: a villain with a symbolic aspect that would make him a nemesis specifically intended for Captain America. Whereas the Red Skull symbolizesNazism, Flag-Smasher symbolizesanti-patriotism.[1] The character first appeared inCaptain America #312 (Dec. 1985).[2]
The first Flag-Smasher, Karl Morgenthau, is the son of a wealthySwissbanker-turned-diplomat, inBern, Switzerland. He wanted to follow in his father's footsteps and become a diplomat until his father was trampled to death in a riot at aLatverian embassy. He came to believe that humanity needed to do away with the concept of countries and nationalism that made people feel superior to those of different nationalities.[3]
The Flag-Smasher uses terrorism to spread anti-nationalist sentiment. He conducts a one-man terrorist campaign in New York City against nationalist symbols, holding hundreds as hostages untilCaptain America captures him.[4] Flag-Smasher establishesULTIMATUM (Underground Liberated Totally Integrated Mobile Army To Unite Mankind), an anti-nationalistic terrorist organization, with himself its Supreme Commander. With ULTIMATUM, he hijacks an American airliner, holds its passengers hostage, and demands the surrender of Captain America, who joins forces withS.H.I.E.L.D. to thwart his plot. Captain America tries to persuade the Flag-Smasher that while his violent methods are unacceptable, his overall goal of world peace and cooperation is laudable and he should promote it by being a positive example. However, Flag-Smasher refuses to listen and has to be subdued by force.[5]
The Flag-Smasher later learns that theRed Skull had been funding ULTIMATUM. Believing that his unwilling association with the Red Skull will diminish his reputation, Flag-Smasher reluctantly teams up with Captain America,Battlestar, andDemolition Man in thwarting ULTIMATUM's plot to set off a worldwide electromagnetic pulse that would have disabled all electrically-powered machinery.[6]
The Flag-Smasher is installed as the ruler of Rumekistan by theV-Battalion as a compromise between powers.[7] He is later assassinated byDomino, which results inCable becoming the interim leader of Rumekistan.[8][9]
Following the original Flag-Smasher's death, Canadian ULTIMATUM agent Guy Thierrault assumes the mantle to continue his agenda.[10] During the "Civil War" story arc, he attacks theSanta Monica Farmers' Market to show his opposition to theSuper-Human Registration Act, but is stopped by theRunaways.[11]
Flag-Smasher launches an attack on a New York diner, whereRikki Barnes is having a chat with her friend John. The explosion causes John to get hurt, and Rikki quickly puts on her new Nomad uniform to fight the Flag-Smasher. TheFalcon andRedwing help Nomad defeat the Flag-Smasher, who is arrested.[12]
The Flag-Smasher later kidnaps a Middle Eastern banker, but is confronted byFlash Thompson. Thompson loses control due to theVenom symbiote's murderous tendencies and kills the Flag-Smasher's cohorts before biting off Flag-Smasher's right arm.[13]
Flag-Smasher is killed alongside a group of ULTIMATUM forces after attackingDeadpool.[14]
A new version of Flag-Smasher and iteration of ULTIMATUM announce their presence to the world by crashing a gala held in honor of Tom Herald, a conservative senator from Texas. Attaching time bombs to Herald and six others, Flag-Smasher attempts to coerce two versions of Captain America, Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson, into joining him, before arming both the explosives and "data bombs" that will leak theNSA's surveillance data, decrypt America's nuclear launch codes, and erase the country's electronic banking sanctions and itsNo Fly List. The digital bombs and three of the physical ones are disarmed byRick Jones, but Flag-Smasher and his minions escape after Wilson fails to stop them from shooting Herald.[15]
It is later revealed that the attack was secretly orchestrated by Rogers, who had come to believe that he was aHydra agent due to his personal history being rewritten byKobik. Flag-Smasher had been aLife Model Decoy created byErik Selvig to assassinate Senator Herald on Rogers's behalf.[15]
After Grant Rogers' identity asCaptain Krakoa is exposed, he adopts the Flag-Smasher mantle for himself.[16]
The Flag-Smasher is an athletic man who is a gifted hand-to-hand combatant with great proficiency in the martial art ofshotokan karate-do. He is also a brilliant terrorist strategist, and has fluency in English, French, German, Russian, Italian, Japanese, andEsperanto.
ULTIMATUM personnel have supplied him with a number of weapons and other devices, including a flame-throwing pistol, a teargas gun, a spiked mace, a shield, jet-propelled skis used for flight, teleportation devices, submarines, and rocket-propelled hovercraft.
An alternate universe version of Karl Morgenthau from Earth-138 called Captain Anarchy appears inEdge of Spider-Geddon #1. This version is an ally ofSpider-Punk who sports an outfit similar to Captain America's, wields an unbreakable shield, and is empowered by a Super-Insurgent Serum.[17]