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| Citizen V | |
|---|---|
 Helmut Zemo as Citizen V. Art byMark Bagley. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Daring Mystery Comics (January 1942) |
| Created by | Ben Thompson |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | John Watkins |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations | V-Battalion Thunderbolts |
| Abilities |
|
Citizen V is the codename of severalsuperheroes appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics.
The original incarnation (John Watkins) first appeared inDaring Mystery Comics (Jan 1942), during theGolden Age of Comic Books.[1] However, the identity was revived in the modern day viaThunderbolts. The various incarnations have usually been affiliated with theV-Battalion organization.
The "V" in the character's and group's name is the letter "V" - as opposed to the Roman numeral 5 - and is derived from the World War II-era slogan "V for Victory".
The original version of Citizen V wasJohn Watkins, anEnglishman who assisted theresistance inNazi-occupied France.[2] He led a group offreedom fighters called the V-Battalion.[3] He had a relationship with Paulette Brazee, and assistedCaptain America before he was killed in action byBaron Heinrich Zemo.[4][5]
The second version of Citizen V wasPaulette Brazee (also known as theShe-Wolf), the French lover of John Watkins and mother of JJ Watkins. During the war, she was a spy sent to romance Baron Zemo who she betrayed and eventually discovered she was pregnant. When John and the majority of the V-Battalion were slaughtered by Zemo, the remaining survivors had Paulette smuggled to England. There Paulette met a red-headed soldier whom she married.
After the V-Battalion was reconstituted in 1951, Paulette was given the Citizen V role. The V-Battalion began hunting down Nazi war criminals and was allowed to place their secret headquarters Castle Masada inSymkaria.
In 1953, Paulette was sent on a mission to Argentina to find Nazi scientist Johann Weimer and bring the scientist to the V-Battalion so they could use the Nazi's skills for them. Weimer was murdered by one of the Everlasting, a group of gods who had frequent run-ins with the V-Battalion.[6]
The third version of Citizen V isJohn "JJ" Watkins Jr., the alleged son of John Watkins Sr. and Paulette Brazee[7] (although an affair between Paulette and Baron Zemo had been implied). In 1953, he was nine years old so he was presumably born in 1944. Since his father died before he was born and his mother was often away on missions as Citizen V during his childhood, JJ was primarily raised by nannies employed by the V-Battalion. In 1971, JJ asked theShadow King for help in researching the Everlasting. JJ died when his own son was two years old.[8]
Helmut Zemo took the Citizen V name for his imposture as a superhero leader of theThunderbolts.[9][10]
Dallas Riordan worked with the V-Battalion and utilized the Citizen V costume.[11]
John Watkins III was raised to be a version of Citizen V. He presumably served as a field agent for the V-Battalion before he actually took the Citizen V title and was left comatose for five years. When Helmut Zemo's mind was placed in his body, John was remarkably healthy for someone who had been in a bed for five years. When Helmut was no longer in his body, John decided to change costumes and stayed on as Citizen V. He soon found himself fighting the Everlasting. He installedULTIMATUM as the leader of the country Rumekistan, a decision which later came back to haunt him. Under the holographic guise ofNenad Petrovic, Watkins orchestrated events to makeCable as Rumekistan's leader.
There is a mention inCitizen V (vol. 2) that he's the seventh version of Citizen V.
Roberto da Costa began to lead theU.S. Avengers under the Citizen V alias.[12]
Valentina Allegra de Fontaine is the new Citizen V.[13]
TheUltimate Marvel version of Citizen V (John Watkins) is depicted as a normal GI in a special uniform who rallied his men in the face of a Japaneseonslaught in 1942. He was shot and killed with his blood staining the American flag. A photograph of this image was released around the world to whichPresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt demands atrue super-soldier rather than a normal one.[14]
