Tonight’s episode of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. introduced a new character from the Marvel Comics Universe into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Werner Von Strucker, the son of deceased Hydra head Baron Wolfgang Von Strucker, debuted in “The Purpose in the Machine,” and now seems set to rebuild Hydra at Grant Ward’s side.
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Werner’s comic book origin is similar. The previously unheard of eldest son of Baron Strucker stepped up to lead Hydra after one of his father’s many supposed deaths. His reign was not a very impressive one.
During Werner’s time as head of Hydra, the terrorist organization turned its attention to more mundane, criminal affairs. Werner attempted to move in on the Kingpin’s territory in Las Vegas, and attended a conference of organized crime leaders there. Unfortunately for him, his group was infiltrated by two supposed members of the Secret Empire, who were actually Microchip and Mickey Fondozzi, allies of the Punisher. Werner let the spies live in order to avoid a conflict with the Secret Empire, but since the actual Secret Empire members sent to the conference never arrived, the act of mercy proved fruitless. The Empire sent a motorcycle gang to attack the conference.
Werner managed to escape the conference, along with his elderly assistant called Snakeskin. Unfortunately for Werner, Snakeskin turned out to be his father, Baron Strucker, in disguise. The very much alive Baron Strucker was looking to reclaim his seat as head of Hydra and – as he always favored his younger children, the Fenris Twins, anyway – had no reservations about killing Werner. The grim vigilante Terror would later pluck the eyes from Werner’s corpse in order to gain information about the criminal conference.
And so ended Werner Von Strucker’s short and unimpressive tenure has leader of Hydra. Will he fare any better in the MCU, with Grant Ward by his side? Watch Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Tuesdays on ABC to find out.
