Fenris (comics)
Encyclopedia
Fenris are two fiction
al characters from the Marvel Comics
universe, namely German
twin
s Andrea and Andreas von Strucker
. They are the children of supervillain Baron Wolfgang von Strucker
of HYDRA
and the half-brother of Werner von Strucker
. Andrea is female, Andreas is male. They first appeared in Uncanny X-Men
#194 (June 1985) as Andrea and Andreas and were first called Fenris in Uncanny X-Men
#200 (Dec 1985). They were created by Chris Claremont
and John Romita, Jr.
Fenris is also the name of the terrorist organization the two are head of, which is made up of armored soldiers based on technology developed by HYDRA.
agenda, and strive for the Fourth Reich
. The Strucker twins have gone up against Storm, in which Storm interrupts Andreas' attempted assault on a native woman in Africa. Andrea retaliates for Storm's humiliation of her brother by shooting her in the head and leaving her to die.
The Strucker twins despise Magneto
for his role in their father's seeming death some years after World War II. They conduct acts of terrorism and finally attack Magneto during his trial in Paris by the International Court of Justice for his crimes against humanity. The X-Men
foil their assassination attempt, but Fenris manages to escape by allowing themselves to be swept into the old city sewers.
The twins later resurface as part of the Upstarts
, a group of mutant millionaires who engage in a campaign of murder as part of a game organized by the mutant telepath Gamesmaster
and the Hellfire Club
's former Black Queen
Selene
. The twins tried to acquire Omega Red
for the Upstarts but failed. The twins ultimately met their match, though, when they tried to kill Wolfsbane
, the former New Mutant
. Along with her new X-Factor
teammates, Wolfsbane easily beat the twins.
The twins joined a conference of powerful criminal leaders who intended to divide up the empire left by the fallen Kingpin
. Among the members of the conference were Slug
, Hammerhead
, Tombstone
and their sibling Werner von Strucker
. The twins did not believe Werner was actually their sibling. This, and other arguments, caused the conference to degenerate into a shouting, shooting and blasting match. Fenris attempted to kill Hammerhead but he was rescued. Their sibling is soon after killed by their father, who had attended the conference disguised as the assistant to Werner.
The twins resurfaced, where they were seen working with their father Baron Wolfgang Von Strucker
. They fight Citizen V
, though Andrea discovers that he is actually Baron Helmut Zemo. Having been decapitated by Nomad under orders of Henry Peter Gyrich
, Zemo had survived when Techno
, to Zemo's own surprise, transferred Zemo's mind into the comatose body of the second Citizen V, John Watkins III. Zemo quickly kills Andrea to keep her from telling anyone his secret.
After Andrea's death, her brother became the fourth Swordsman
and joined the New Thunderbolts. By tanning his sister's skin and using it as the grip on his sword, he is able to maintain the powers he shared with her as a part of Fenris.
Andrea mysteriously returned, not long after Andreas had contracted to have her cloned by Arnim Zola
. However, the speed at which she had been cloned concerns Thunderbolts' director Norman Osborn
. Andrea accompanies Andreas and the Thunderbolts into battle against the Skrull
s during the Secret Invasion
, and witnesses as Moonstone
incapacitates Andreas and attempts to make a deal with the Skrulls. Andrea then attacks Moonstone, and while she is preoccupied with Moonstone, Bullseye
kills her from behind.
Swordsman later confronts Norman with the revelation that he was not being offered a slot on Norman's new Dark Avengers
team and that as he suspected, Norman had never planned on fulfilling his vow to resurrect Swordsman's sister or to give him a full presidential pardon after his contract with the Thunderbolts ended. Norman responded to Swordsman's threats by murdering him with his own sword and dumping his body out of a nearby window.
continuity, Andrea and Andreas von Strucker are co-presidents of Fenris International, a global investment firm. The Struckers are two androgynous German mutant
business tycoons who seek mutant supremacy through economic control. Although they claim their motives are honorable, they are deeply involved in corporate crime
. It was shown that they are both siblings and lovers. They have dealings with a thus-far unseen Black Tom Cassidy
, and have tried to recruit Gambit and Rogue; however, Rogue rejected the offer and Gambit, who was already in their employ, rebelled to help her escape. It is revealed that the Fenris twins are behind the recent Sentinel
attacks, along with Bolivar Trask
, the creator of the first wave of mutant hunting robots. It has also been revealed that they are tied to the Mutant Liberation Front. As a result of their activities involving the Sentinels and the Mutant Liberation Front, Bishop
apparently killed the twins during their battle with the Bishop's team.
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
al characters from the Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
universe, namely German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
twin
Twin
A twin is one of two offspring produced in the same pregnancy. Twins can either be monozygotic , meaning that they develop from one zygote that splits and forms two embryos, or dizygotic because they develop from two separate eggs that are fertilized by two separate sperm.In contrast, a fetus...
s Andrea and Andreas von Strucker
Andreas von Strucker
Andreas von Strucker is a comic book character in Marvel Comics' main shared universe. The character was created by Chris Claremont and John Romita Jr. Andreas and his twin sister Andrea were known together as Fenris; after she was killed, he became the new Swordsman. Andreas first appeared in...
. They are the children of supervillain Baron Wolfgang von Strucker
Baron Strucker
Baron Wolfgang von Strucker is a fictional character created for Marvel Comics by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #5...
of HYDRA
HYDRA
HYDRA is a fictional terrorist organization in the Marvel Universe.Despite the name's capitalization per Marvel's official spelling, the name is not an acronym but rather a reference to the mythical Lernaean Hydra...
and the half-brother of Werner von Strucker
Werner von Strucker
Werner von Strucker is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe.-Fictional character biography:Werner von Strucker is the oldest son of Baron Wolfgang von Strucker and the half-brother of twins Andrea and Andreas von Strucker....
. Andrea is female, Andreas is male. They first appeared in Uncanny X-Men
Uncanny X-Men
Uncanny X-Men, first published as The X-Men, is the flagship Marvel Comics comic book series for the X-Men franchise. It is the mainstream continuity featuring the adventures of the eponymous group of mutant superheroes...
#194 (June 1985) as Andrea and Andreas and were first called Fenris in Uncanny X-Men
Uncanny X-Men
Uncanny X-Men, first published as The X-Men, is the flagship Marvel Comics comic book series for the X-Men franchise. It is the mainstream continuity featuring the adventures of the eponymous group of mutant superheroes...
#200 (Dec 1985). They were created by Chris Claremont
Chris Claremont
Chris Claremont is an award-winning American comic book writer and novelist, known for his 17-year stint on Uncanny X-Men, far longer than any other writer, during which he is credited with developing strong female characters, and with introducing complex literary themes into superhero...
and John Romita, Jr.
John Romita, Jr.
John Salvatore Romita, Jr. is an American comic book artist best known for his extensive work for Marvel Comics from the 1970s to the 2000s...
Fenris is also the name of the terrorist organization the two are head of, which is made up of armored soldiers based on technology developed by HYDRA.
Fictional character biography
Like their father, the twins are white supremacists, have great sympathy for the NaziNazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
agenda, and strive for the Fourth Reich
Fourth Reich
The Fourth Reich is a term used to describe a theoretical future successor of the Third Reich.-Neo-Nazism:In terms of neo-Nazism, the Fourth Reich is envisioned as featuring Aryan supremacy, anti-Semitism, Lebensraum, aggressive militarism and totalitarianism...
. The Strucker twins have gone up against Storm, in which Storm interrupts Andreas' attempted assault on a native woman in Africa. Andrea retaliates for Storm's humiliation of her brother by shooting her in the head and leaving her to die.
The Strucker twins despise Magneto
Magneto (comics)
Magneto is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is the central villain of the X-Men comic, as well as the TV show and the films. The character first appears in X-Men #1 , and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby...
for his role in their father's seeming death some years after World War II. They conduct acts of terrorism and finally attack Magneto during his trial in Paris by the International Court of Justice for his crimes against humanity. The X-Men
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1...
foil their assassination attempt, but Fenris manages to escape by allowing themselves to be swept into the old city sewers.
The twins later resurface as part of the Upstarts
Upstarts (comics)
The Upstarts were a group of fictional comic book supervillains in the Marvel Comics with strong ties to the Hellfire Club. They first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #281 and were created by Jim Lee and Whilce Portacio.-Fictional team biography:...
, a group of mutant millionaires who engage in a campaign of murder as part of a game organized by the mutant telepath Gamesmaster
Gamesmaster (comics)
Gamesmaster is a fictional mutant character in the Marvel Comics Universe. His first appearance was in Uncanny X-Men #283 .-Fictional character biography:...
and the Hellfire Club
Hellfire Club (comics)
The Hellfire Club is a fictional society within the Marvel Comics Universe that often comes into confrontation with the mutant superhero team, the X-Men...
's former Black Queen
Black Queen (comics)
Black Queen, in comics, may refer to:*Marvel Comics characters, members of Hellfire Club:**Phoenix , member of The Lords Cardinal**Selene , replaced Phoenix after the Dark Phoenix Saga...
Selene
Selene (comics)
Selene Gallio is a fictional character, a comic book supervillainess from the Marvel Comics universe. She is a mutant, and an enemy of the X-Men often associated with the Hellfire Club's Inner Circle.-Publication history:...
. The twins tried to acquire Omega Red
Omega Red
Omega Red is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in X-Men #4 , and was created by Jim Lee...
for the Upstarts but failed. The twins ultimately met their match, though, when they tried to kill Wolfsbane
Wolfsbane (comics)
Wolfsbane is a Marvel Comics superheroine, associated with the X-Men.A Scottish mutant, Wolfsbane possesses the ability to transform into a wolf or into a transitional state somewhere between human and wolf...
, the former New Mutant
New Mutants
The New Mutants are a group of teenaged mutant superheroes-in-training published by Marvel Comics. They have been the main characters of three successive comic book series, which were spin-offs of the popular X-Men franchise....
. Along with her new X-Factor
X-Factor (comics)
X-Factor is an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics. It is a spin-off of the popular X-Men franchise, featuring characters from X-Men stories. The series has been relaunched several times with different team rosters, most recently as X-Factor Investigations.X-Factor launched in...
teammates, Wolfsbane easily beat the twins.
The twins joined a conference of powerful criminal leaders who intended to divide up the empire left by the fallen Kingpin
Kingpin (comics)
The Kingpin is a fictional character, a supervillain in the . Kingpin is one of the most feared and powerful crime lords in the Marvel Universe. The character is a major adversary of Daredevil, the Punisher, and Spider-Man...
. Among the members of the conference were Slug
Slug (comics)
Slug is a fictional character, a supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe.-Fictional character biography:Ulysses Lugman was born in Miami, Florida. He is a Miami-based drug kingpin and criminal organizer, and also president and owner of several legal businesses...
, Hammerhead
Hammerhead (comics)
Hammerhead is a fictional character, a supervillain that has appeared in various comic book series published by Marvel Comics. He is primarily an enemy of Spider-Man and a member of organized crime who exists in Marvel's main shared universe, known as the Marvel Universe...
, Tombstone
Tombstone (comics)
Tombstone is a supervillain in the fictional Marvel universe. The character was created by Gerry Conway and Alex Saviuk and first appeared in Web of Spider-Man #36 .-Fictional character biography:...
and their sibling Werner von Strucker
Werner von Strucker
Werner von Strucker is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe.-Fictional character biography:Werner von Strucker is the oldest son of Baron Wolfgang von Strucker and the half-brother of twins Andrea and Andreas von Strucker....
. The twins did not believe Werner was actually their sibling. This, and other arguments, caused the conference to degenerate into a shouting, shooting and blasting match. Fenris attempted to kill Hammerhead but he was rescued. Their sibling is soon after killed by their father, who had attended the conference disguised as the assistant to Werner.
The twins resurfaced, where they were seen working with their father Baron Wolfgang Von Strucker
Baron Strucker
Baron Wolfgang von Strucker is a fictional character created for Marvel Comics by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #5...
. They fight Citizen V
Citizen V
Citizen V, is the codename of several fictional superheroes in the Marvel Comics universe. The original Citizen V was an obscure hero from the Golden Age of Comic Books, but the character's identity was revived in the modern day in the pages of Thunderbolts. The various incarnations of the...
, though Andrea discovers that he is actually Baron Helmut Zemo. Having been decapitated by Nomad under orders of Henry Peter Gyrich
Henry Peter Gyrich
Henry Peter Gyrich is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Avengers Vol. 1 #165 and was created by Jim Shooter and George Pérez.-Fictional character biography:...
, Zemo had survived when Techno
Fixer (comics)
The Fixer is a name used by two fictional characters, both of are which were introduced as villains in the Marvel Comics universe.-Roscoe Sweeney:...
, to Zemo's own surprise, transferred Zemo's mind into the comatose body of the second Citizen V, John Watkins III. Zemo quickly kills Andrea to keep her from telling anyone his secret.
After Andrea's death, her brother became the fourth Swordsman
Swordsman (comics)
Swordsman is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. His first appearance was in Avengers Vol.1 #19 and was created by Stan Lee and Don Heck. The Swordsman was introduced as an enemy of Hawkeye and the Avengers...
and joined the New Thunderbolts. By tanning his sister's skin and using it as the grip on his sword, he is able to maintain the powers he shared with her as a part of Fenris.
Andrea mysteriously returned, not long after Andreas had contracted to have her cloned by Arnim Zola
Arnim Zola
Arnim Zola is a fictional character a supervillain appearing in the Marvel Comics universe. He is a master of biochemistry, and frequent foe of Captain America and the Avengers.-Publication history:...
. However, the speed at which she had been cloned concerns Thunderbolts' director Norman Osborn
Green Goblin
The Green Goblin is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in the comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #14 ....
. Andrea accompanies Andreas and the Thunderbolts into battle against the Skrull
Skrull
The Skrulls are a fictional race of extraterrestrial shapeshifters that appear in publications by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:The Skrulls first appeared in Fantastic Four #2 and were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby....
s during the Secret Invasion
Secret Invasion
"Secret Invasion" is a comic book crossover storyline that ran through a self-titled eight issue limited series and several tie-in books published by Marvel Comics from April through December 2008....
, and witnesses as Moonstone
Moonstone (comics)
Moonstone is a fictional character, both a supervillain and superheroine in Marvel Comics' Marvel Universe.-Publication history:...
incapacitates Andreas and attempts to make a deal with the Skrulls. Andrea then attacks Moonstone, and while she is preoccupied with Moonstone, Bullseye
Bullseye (comics)
Bullseye is a fictional character, a supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe.A psychopathic assassin, Bullseye uses the opportunities afforded by his line of work to exercise his homicidal tendencies and to work out his own personal vendetta against Daredevil.Although he possesses no...
kills her from behind.
Swordsman later confronts Norman with the revelation that he was not being offered a slot on Norman's new Dark Avengers
Dark Avengers
Dark Avengers was an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics. It is part of a series of titles that have featured various iterations of the superhero team the Avengers...
team and that as he suspected, Norman had never planned on fulfilling his vow to resurrect Swordsman's sister or to give him a full presidential pardon after his contract with the Thunderbolts ended. Norman responded to Swordsman's threats by murdering him with his own sword and dumping his body out of a nearby window.
Powers and abilities
As a result of genetic engineering with their X-Genes when they were still in utero, the twins possess bio-energy powers which only function if the twins are in physical contact - usually by holding hands. Andrea generates blasts of destructive energy that can disintegrate matter, while Andreas fires bolts of pure concussive force. Their powers also allow them to fly, though again, only when they are in physical contact.House of M
Fenris was seen assisting their father in a resistance against both mutants and Kree. Both of them end up killed in action.Ultimate Fenris
In the Ultimate MarvelUltimate Marvel
Ultimate Marvel is an imprint of comic books published by Marvel Comics, featuring reimagined and updated versions of the company's superhero characters, including Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Avengers, and the Fantastic Four. The imprint was launched in 2000 with the publication of the series...
continuity, Andrea and Andreas von Strucker are co-presidents of Fenris International, a global investment firm. The Struckers are two androgynous German mutant
Mutant (Marvel Comics)
In comic books published by Marvel Comics, a mutant is an organism who possesses a genetic trait called an X-gene that allows the mutant to naturally develop superhuman powers and abilities...
business tycoons who seek mutant supremacy through economic control. Although they claim their motives are honorable, they are deeply involved in corporate crime
Corporate crime
In criminology, corporate crime refers to crimes committed either by a corporation , or by individuals acting on behalf of a corporation or other business entity...
. It was shown that they are both siblings and lovers. They have dealings with a thus-far unseen Black Tom Cassidy
Black Tom Cassidy
"Black Tom" Cassidy is a Marvel Comics supervillain, an enemy of the X-Men, and archenemy of Banshee. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Dave Cockrum, he first fully appeared in Uncanny X-Men #101...
, and have tried to recruit Gambit and Rogue; however, Rogue rejected the offer and Gambit, who was already in their employ, rebelled to help her escape. It is revealed that the Fenris twins are behind the recent Sentinel
Sentinel (comics)
Sentinels are a fictional variety of mutant-hunting robots, appearing in the Marvel Comics Universe. They are usually portrayed as antagonists to the X-Men. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, they first appeared in The X-Men #14 .According to Marvel canon, Sentinels are programmed to locate...
attacks, along with Bolivar Trask
Bolivar Trask
Bolivar Trask is a fictional character and a military scientist in the Marvel Comics universe. He first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #14 . He is the creator of the Sentinels.-Fictional character biography:...
, the creator of the first wave of mutant hunting robots. It has also been revealed that they are tied to the Mutant Liberation Front. As a result of their activities involving the Sentinels and the Mutant Liberation Front, Bishop
Bishop (comics)
Bishop is a fictional comic book superhero, appearing in books published by Marvel Comics, in particular the X-Men family of books...
apparently killed the twins during their battle with the Bishop's team.
Television
- Whilst not appearing, Fenris are referenced in Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, in the episode "Widow's Sting". Baron StruckerBaron StruckerBaron Wolfgang von Strucker is a fictional character created for Marvel Comics by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #5...
has the name set as the codeword to set off the self-destruct sequence for HYDRA Island.
Film
- In the 1998 film Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., Andrea von Strucker was played by Sandra HessSandra HessSandra Hess is an actress best known for her role as Sonya Blade in the film Mortal Kombat: Annihilation.-Biography:Hess began modeling and working on television commercials when she was 15...
. Andreas did not appear, but Andrea did have a younger brother named Werner (in the comics the twins had an older half-brother named WernerWerner von StruckerWerner von Strucker is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe.-Fictional character biography:Werner von Strucker is the oldest son of Baron Wolfgang von Strucker and the half-brother of twins Andrea and Andreas von Strucker....
). The two had no apparent mutant powers. Andrea was codenamed Viper. At the end of the film, she escapes with the body of her father who is revived in the final scene of the film.