| Arnim Zola | |
|---|---|
 Arnim Zola as depicted inCaptain America vol. 5 #42 (November 2008). Art bySteve Epting. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Captain America and the Falcon #208 (April 1977) |
| Created by | Jack Kirby |
| In-story information | |
| Species | Human mutate-cyborg |
| Team affiliations | Hydra |
| Partnerships | Red Skull |
| Notable aliases | The Bio-Fanatic |
| Abilities |
|
Arnim Zola is asupervillain appearing inAmerican comic books byMarvel Comics. He is a master ofbiochemistry and a recurring enemy ofCaptain America and theAvengers. The character first appeared inCaptain America and the Falcon #208 (April 1977), and was created by writer/artistJack Kirby.[1] When he was first introduced, Zola was a Nazi scientist experimenting with genetic engineering duringWorld War II. His skills as a geneticist drew the attention of theRed Skull, who recruited him intoHydra to aid their efforts to create super soldiers. One of his experiments led to the brain ofAdolf Hitler being copied into a being later known asHate-Monger.[2] Later in life, Zola transferred his own mind into a sophisticated robot body which protected it by storing it in its chest and displaying a digital image of Zola's face on its chest plate. This robot body allowed Zola to survive until modern times, as whenever it is destroyed, Zola could simply upload his consciousness into a new body.
Zola has appeared in several forms of media outside of comics. He made his live-action debut in the television filmNick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (1998), portrayed by Peter Haworth, and appears in media set in theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), portrayed byToby Jones. Additionally, Grant Moninger,Mark Hamill, andTrevor Devall have voiced Zola in animation.
Arnim Zola was created byJack Kirby, and he first appeared inCaptain America and the Falcon #208 (April 1977).
Arnim Zola was a Swiss biochemist duringWorld War II who became one of the first humangenetic engineers in history after finding papers and equipment used by the offshoot race of humanity known as theDeviants. He finds a ready home among theNazi Party, who see his experiments as a means to ensure the existence of theMaster Race.[3]
One of his first accomplishments is the creation of a brain pattern imprinting device, which allows a person's mental essence to be projected into a cloned brain. Zola uses this machine onAdolf Hitler, creating theHate-Monger. Zola was later approached byBaron Strucker into taking part in the establishment ofHydra.[4]
TheRed Skull also financed some of Zola's experiments, allowing him to createPrimus,Doughboy, and Man-Fish.[5] During one such experiment, Zola collects humans from the rubble ofNew York City after the devastation caused byOnslaught. Zola endows a teenager with superpowers, creating the hero known asJolt, who is eventually stopped by theThunderbolts.[6] Zola also collected DNA samples ofCaptain America at the time when Red Skull's body began to age rapidly,[7] and used this template to create a new body for his ally.[8]
As part of another experiment, he collects the DNA of multiple superpowered individuals and uses it to create Proto-Husks that are destroyed byDeadpool.[9]
A copy of Zola, who had been impersonatingBrian Braddock's mentor Professor Walsh, is killed byMeggan.[10]
During the "X-Men: Endangered Species" storyline, Arnim Zola is among the nine supervillain geniuses recruited byBeast to help him reverse the effects of "Decimation".[11]
In the aftermath of "Civil War", Zola joins theRed Skull in his newest attempt to kill Captain America, which succeeds. Afterwards, while Red Skull is busy with his plans to control America with a puppet government, Zola attempts to reverse-engineer a mysterious device given to him byDoctor Doom, as well as craft a device that will separate the Skull's consciousness fromAleksander Lukin. He manages to unlock the device's secrets and has a brainwashedSharon Carter hooked up to it. However, she breaks off the connection asS.H.I.E.L.D. agents storm the base. Zola quickly transfers Red Skull out of Lukin but his body is destroyed by theGrand Director. Red Skull was then stuck in one of Zola's robot bodies.[12]
In the "Dark Reign" storyline, Zola is located byNorman Osborn. He informs the current director ofH.A.M.M.E.R. that Captain America is locked in space and time on the date of his supposed death. Doom's machine was meant to bring him back for an unknown purpose but because of Sharon, he has become unstuck in time, causing him to relive the events of World War II.[13] By the time Zola rebuilds the machine in Castle Doom, Sharon Carter is brought to him so that he can transfer the Red Skull's mind into her body.[14]
Eventually,Captain America finds Zola hiding in an alternate dimension known as Dimension Z, where time moves at faster rate than on Earth. There, Zola has built a massive fortress and an army of genetically altered soldiers with the intent of conquering Earth. In the initial assault, Cap rescues a genetically engineered infant boy (Zola's sonLeopold). In the decade stranded in Dimension Z, Cap raises the boy as his son, Ian. The two take up with the peaceful Phrox, and eventually lead a rebellion to stop Zola's forces, now commanded by Zola's daughter Jet Black. Ian is later captured by Zola and brainwashed to accept him as his father again. He breaks out of his control, only to be shot by Sharon Carter. Sharon sacrifices herself to destroy Zola and his fortress, allowing Cap and a reformed Jet to return to Earth, where only seconds have passed since the former's arrival in Dimension Z.[15]
During the "AXIS" storyline, Red Skull tells Arnim Zola that everything is in place on his end. Zola is confronted by Jet, who refuses to return to his side. Falcon sneak attacks Zola. Ian finds and frees Sharon Carter, only to learn that Zola has a bomb strong enough to destroy all of New York City. Falcon removes the telepathic antenna on Zola's body to stop him from controlling the bomb, but it only sets the bomb to activate. Falcon takes the bomb high into the sky above New York before it goes off.[16] After the Unvengers are defeated, Zola flees with Jet.[17]
Arnim Zola later appears as a member of Hydra's High Council when the Red Skull usesKobik to rewrite history and make Captain America a Hydra sleeper agent.[18][19]
In "Secret Empire", Arnim Zola assists Hydra in taking over the United States.[20] Hydra also obtainsBruce Banner's corpse and resurrects him for their use.[21]
In "Spider-Geddon", Arnim Zola and Hydra meet withSuperior Octopus in an attempt to recruit him to rebuild Hydra. However, Octopus defeats them and dismantles Zola.[22]
A flawed copy of Arnim Zola's consciousness later joins theShadow Council and battles theSecret Avengers, who are investigating the group's operations.[23]
Arnim Zola has no natural superpowers, but is a scientific genius and biochemist specializing in genetics and cloning. His android body gives him the ability to control the minds of others, generate mental blasts, and transfer his consciousness into another body if destroyed.[24]
An alternate universe variant of Arnim Zola from Earth-85826 appears in theSecret Wars tie-in seriesHail Hydra.[25][26][27] This version is the leader of Hydra.
An alternate universe variant of Arnim Zola from Earth-65 appears inSpider-Gwen.[28]
An alternate universe variant of Arnim Zola fromEarth-1610 appears inUltimates Annual #2.[29] This version is an artificial intelligence based on the real Zola created by theO.S.S.[29][30] Additionally, a character based on Zola namedArnim Zola III appears inUltimate Mystery as a member ofRoxxon's brain trust.[31][32][33]
Arnim Zola appears inNick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., portrayed by Peter Haworth. This version is an elderly Hydra chemist who created the "Death's Head virus" and was recruited back into Hydra byViper.
Arnim Zola appears in media set in theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), portrayed byToby Jones. Following his first appearance inCaptain America: The First Avenger, Zola appears in theAgent Carter episode "Valediction" andCaptain America: The Winter Soldier.[36] Additionally,alternate reality variants of Zola appear inWhat If...?.[37][34]
Arnim Zola appears inAnt-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle!, portrayed again by Toby Jones.
