Helmut Zemo

Helmut Zemo (aka the 13th Baron Zemo) is Heinrich Zemo's son,{{Cite web |last=Beaty |first=Drew |date=May 7, 2021 |title=10 Best Marvel Legacy Villains Who Lived Up To Their Predecessor |url=https://screenrant.com/best-marvel-villains-better-than-predecessors/ |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=Screen Rant |language=en}} born in Leipzig, Germany. Helmut was originally an engineer until he became enraged when reading a report about the return of Captain America and his father's death. Helmut would ultimately follow in his father's footsteps, using his family's money and his own scientific know-how to recreate his father's work.

Helmut first surfaced under the alias of the Phoenix, and captured Captain America to get revenge upon him for the death of his father. He was presumed deceased when he fell into a vat of boiling, specially-treated Adhesive X (a chemical created by his father Heinrich, which was a universal adhesive and was practically indissolvable{{cite book |last1=DeFalco |first1=Tom |last2=Sanderson |first2=Peter |last3=Brevoort |first3=Tom |last4=Teitelbaum |first4=Michael |last5=Wallace |first5=Daniel |last6=Darling |first6=Andrew |last7=Forbeck |first7=Matt |last8=Cowsill |first8=Alan |last9=Bray |first9=Adam |title=The Marvel Encyclopedia |date=2019 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-7890-0 |page=43}}). In a battle with Captain America, spilt Adhesive X permanently attached Heinrich's hood to his face, preventing him from ever removing it;The Avengers #6 in a dramatic echo, Helmut's face was hideously scarred by the boiling Adhesive X, giving his face the appearance of molten wax.Captain America #168. Marvel Comics.

File:Helmut Zemo.jpg

He resurfaced years later in the comics as Baron Zemo, first allied with Arnim Zola's mutates. He allied with Primus I and the half-rat/half human mutate Vermin, and kidnapped Captain America's childhood friend Arnie Roth in order to lure Captain America into a trap. He forced the Captain to battle hordes of mutates before revealing that he knew Captain America's secret identity.Captain America #275-278. Marvel Comics.

Zemo later encountered Mother Superior and the Red Skull.Captain America #290. Marvel Comics. Zemo underwent tutelage by Mother Superior and Red Skull, and then kidnapped Captain America's friend David Cox and brainwashed him to battle Captain America.Captain America #293-294. Marvel Comics. Zemo then kidnapped Roth again, and directed a shared mental reenactment of Heinrich Zemo's last World War II encounter with Captain America.Captain America #295-297. Marvel Comics. Zemo then battled Mother Superior, but was psychically overpowered.Captain America #299. Marvel Comics.

Most notably, he formed a new incarnation of the Masters of Evil. This fourth Masters of Evil was formed to strike at Captain America through the Avengers; they invaded and occupied Avengers Mansion and crippled Hercules and the Avengers' butler Edwin Jarvis. Zemo captured Captain America and the Black Knight. Zemo battled Captain America, but fell off the mansion roof.The Avengers #273-277. Marvel Comics.

Zemo later hired Batroc's Brigade and psychic detective Tristram Micawber to help him locate the five fragments of the Bloodstone in hopes of restoring his father to life. Fighting Captain America and Diamondback, Zemo's plan backfired, as he instead turned his father's corpse into a vessel for the demonic forces that lurk inside of the Bloodstone. The reanimated corpse was destroyed by Crossbones (who sought to steal the Bloodstone for Red Skull) and a distraught Zemo fell down an inactive volcano in Japan trying to retrieve it.Captain America #357-362. Marvel Comics.

Zemo survived the fall, though his right hand (which was not protected by a glove) was horrifically burnt and mangled. Driven insane by the destruction of his father's body, Helmut took control of an army of mutates and tried to re-enslave Vermin. He was defeated by Spider-Man and Vermin was freed.

Broken and beaten, Zemo was taken in by a female scientist calling herself "the Baroness", who modeled herself after Heinrich. The two married and began kidnapping abused, neglected children to serve as their children. Zemo's sanity returned and he even created a new realistic face mask to hide his disfigured face from his adopted children, whom he nurtured and swore to protect from those who might return them to their abusive foster homes. The couple's peaceful life was ultimately shattered when Captain America discovered their home, while searching for the evil super-scientist Superia. Superia and the Baroness (who revealed that she had pretended to be Heinrich Zemo reborn in a clone body during a fight with Silver Sable and Spider-Man) mocked Helmut and his newfound domestic househusband status as they plotted to kill him. Zemo turned on his wife and Superia, before turning his attention to dropping Captain America into a vat of Adhesive X. The plan failed and Zemo (now wearing his trademark hood) fell into the container instead, with the Baroness (hoping to curry favor with her husband), falling in after him. The two were rescued by Captain America and Helmut bemoaned that like his father, his face now was permanently hidden by his mask. Captain America responded by revealing that the Avengers had since found a way to dissolve Adhesive X and would use it to free Zemo from his costume and hood, a fact that drove him further into a rage due to Captain America never offering to share this adhesive remover with his father.

File:Helmut as Citizen V.jpg.]]

Zemo ultimately escaped prison, though his wife the Baroness died shortly after being sentenced to prison for her role in the abduction of the children they were raising. During this time, Zemo discovered that Goliath was imprisoned in the Microverse and formed a new version of Masters of Evil to free Goliath. But after rescuing Goliath, the Avengers and the Fantastic Four disappeared during the Onslaught crisis and were presumed dead. After overhearing the Beetle (Abe Jenkins) and Goliath talk about who would replace the Avengers and The Fantastic Four, a distraught Zemo soon found a new purpose for his team: the Masters of Evil would take on new heroic identities as the Thunderbolts.Thunderbolts #1. Marvel Comics. Zemo would lead the group under the alias Citizen V (a twist of irony as Heinrich Zemo had killed the original Citizen V during World War II) and planned to have the Thunderbolts gain the world's trust in order to conquer it.Thunderbolts Annual 1997. Marvel Comics. The public took a liking to the team much more quickly than Zemo, or any of the other Thunderbolts, expected and soon most of them came to like the feeling of being heroes.

When the missing heroes returned, Zemo had the Thunderbolts' true identities leaked, forcing them to flee with him into deep space to assist his plan to conquer the world through mind control.Thunderbolts #10-11. Marvel Comics. However, most of the Thunderbolts rebelled and with the assistance of Iron Man foiled Zemo's plan.Thunderbolts #11-12. Marvel Comics. Zemo went into hiding and plotted revenge on his former teammates (who were trying to win back the public's trust by being true heroes).Thunderbolts #14. Marvel Comics. After another of Zemo's plans was foiled by Captain America and a new Citizen V (Dallas Riordan),Captain America/Citizen V 1998 Annual. Marvel Comics. Helmut was killed by the new Scourge of the Underworld,Thunderbolts #39. Marvel Comics. though his mind was transferred via bio-modem technology into the comatose body of John Watkins III.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=June 2013}} Now in possession of Watkins' body, Zemo again played the Citizen V role, this time as a member of the V-Battalion,Citizen V and the V-Battalion #1-3. Marvel Comics. until the Thunderbolts' final battle with Graviton, during which his consciousness was removed from Watkins' body and transferred, in electronic form, into his ally Fixer's mechanical "tech-pack". {{Volume needed|c=y|date=June 2013}}

On the artificial world Counter-Earth - the same world to which the Avengers and The Fantastic Four had previously vanished - the Thunderbolts encountered Zemo's counterpart, Iron Cross, in that world.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=June 2013}} Fixer transferred Zemo's mind into his double's unmutilated body. {{Volume needed|c=y|date=June 2013}} Zemo then took up leadership of the Thunderbolts who were on Counter-Earth;{{Volume needed|c=y|date=June 2013}} when this group was reunited with their teammates who had remained on the normal Marvel Universe Earth, {{Volume needed|c=y|date=June 2013}} Hawkeye briefly resumed leadership,{{Volume needed|c=y|date=June 2013}} but then left the team to return to the Avengers.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=June 2013}}

For a while Zemo remained the leader of the Thunderbolts.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=June 2013}} In 2004's "Avengers/Thunderbolts" limited series, he attempted to take over the world again — this time with the belief that he could save the world by taking it over.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=June 2013}} Zemo now seems to be motivated by a twisted altruism rather than his original selfish desires; he feels he has grown beyond his father in that regard. {{Volume needed|c=y|date=June 2013}} However, the Avengers foiled his scheme, his teammate Moonstone went berserk, Zemo's new body was blasted while he attempted to protect Captain America, and he left the team and went into hiding after obtaining Moonstone's twin alien gems, two artifacts of great power. {{Volume needed|c=y|date=June 2013}}

Zemo had been manipulating the United States government, the New Thunderbolts, the Purple Man, the Squadron Sinister, and a host of other relatively obscure Marvel characters. {{Volume needed|c=y|date=June 2013}} His goals are unknown, but he is clearly still motivated by a desire to save the world by taking it over, or at least manipulating it towards what he perceives as a beneficial future. Zemo has also, apparently through trial and error, learned how to use the power of the moonstones in various ways, from simply generating raw energy, to transporting himself and others through time, space, and dimensions, to viewing possible future events through dimensional rifts—and, apparently, to repair his damaged face (or, at least to create the illusion that it was undamaged).{{Volume needed|c=y|date=June 2013}} He has also recruited members of both his original and subsequent incarnations of the Thunderbolts to his cause, as well as eventually bringing the current team of Thunderbolts around to joining him. {{Volume needed|c=y|date=June 2013}} The group resides in what Zemo calls his "Folding Castle", a structure that he has connected to various other places around the world by dimensional portals.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=August 2012}}

As a result of The Civil War storyline, Iron Man asked Zemo to begin recruiting villains to his cause, which Zemo had already been doing, unknown to Iron Man.Thunderbolts #103. Marvel Comics. However, he met up with Captain America and informed him that he really had reformed. He showed Captain America his face, once again scarred, to remind him of his earlier sacrifice, and gave him a key that would allow him to escape from the super-human prison being constructed if Captain America would allow his Thunderbolts to fight the Squadron Sinister.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=June 2013}} He also gave Captain America all his old mementos, destroyed by Zemo in 'Avengers Under Siege', which he had gone back in time and rescued with the help of the Moonstones. Finally, Captain America agreed.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=August 2012}}

Zemo was always told as a child that he was superior, he now believes his father's Nazi ideals to be untrue, and that the only way to become superior is through righteousness. After helping Captain America, he remarked to his father's portrait that the man would be displeased with today's good deeds. Zemo—once again wearing his unscarred face—then revealed that Songbird was going to betray him and he was going to sacrifice himself in their upcoming battle with the Squadron Sinister. He told her that he would not die, but that he would become superior through his sacrifice "by living forever".{{Volume needed|c=y|date=August 2012}}

Zemo revealed his true nature when he saved the Wellspring of Power from the Grandmaster planning to use it for his own ends. Believing that all of his visions were subject to the flow of time, and that nothing was set in stone, Zemo defeated the Grandmaster, and boasted to his teammates that the power was now all his—and theirs. He insisted that he would use it to help the world, despite the consequences of doing so. Songbird, having temporarily lost her own powers during the final battle, was told by Zemo "...now is when your betrayal would have come". However, the vision of Songbird's betrayal turned out to be true after all. Using a simple opera note to crack the moonstones, Songbird sent Zemo into a whirlwind of cosmic space/time. Just before he was completely sucked into the vacuum, he screamed out that he "would never have hurt a world he worked so hard to save".{{Volume needed|c=y|date=August 2012}}

The limited series Thunderbolts Presents: Zemo - Born Better (2007), written by Fabian Nicieza and drawn by Tom Grummett, explores the history of the Zemo barony. Helmut, sucked into the vacuum, wakes up in medieval Germany (1503), witnessing Harbin Zemo's death and his succession, while in the present academic Wendell Volker and Reed Richards deduce that Helmut has traveled in time. Captured and taken prisoner as a leper, Helmut manages to inspire Harbin's twelve-year-old grandson Heller Zemo to kill his own father Hademar Zemo and fulfill his destiny as the third (and most enlightened and progressive) Baron Zemo. Heller goes to the hidden cell to free his "muse", discovering that Helmut has somehow disappeared. Helmut makes a jump to 1556 where he fights alongside Heller's son Herbert Zemo, then later jumps to 1640 where he slays Herbert's son Helmuth Zemo, and later arrives in 1710 where he narrowly escapes being killed by Helmuth's son Hackett Zemo.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=June 2013}}

Meanwhile in the present, Volker reveals that the Zemo bloodline is not just limited to Helmut's immediate family. In fact, Harbin's descendants are spread out all over the world. Wendell visits Miss Klein, a descendant of a bastard child of Hilliard Zemo, the eighth Baron Zemo and Jewish lover Elsbeth Kleinenshvitz. Hilliard becomes baron after the death of his father Hartwig Zemo in the Seven Years' War. In the past Helmut sees Hilliard and Elsbeth in love, realizing that the residual energy of the Moonstone is drawing him into the present, but forcing him to stop and live every key moment of Zemo's lineage. Helmut manages to save Elsbeth, who is sentenced to die by the Diet because of her Jewish ancestry and her wealthy family, but in the present Volker kills her distant descendant, convinced that his actions can pull Helmut to his proper place in the time stream. {{Volume needed|c=y|date=June 2013}}

Helmut next ends up in 1879 where he stays for several weeks working his way up to be part of the travelling guard of Hobart Zemo, the tenth Baron Zemo. Hobart is killed during a civilian uprising shortly after German Emperor William passes legislation to curb the Socialist party. Helmut jumps forward in time before he can save his own great-grandfather. Helmut arrives during World War I in a battle between British forces led by the original Union Jack and German forces led by his own grandfather Baron Herman Zemo, the eleventh Baron Zemo. Helmut witnesses Herman's men slaughter the majority of the British forces with mustard gas. Later, Helmut goes with Herman and his men to find Castle Zemo reduced to rubble by the war. Helmut travels forward in time again to his father's tenure as a Nazi during World War II. {{Volume needed|c=y|date=June 2013}}

Back in the present, Volker discovers that Castle Zemo has been restored in the present. Wendell tours the castle with a local German police man and Interpol agent Herr Fleischtung, Wendell murders both men. Wendell has apparently murdered several Zemo relations in the belief that this spilling of Zemo blood would bring Helmut back to the present.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=June 2013}}

After battling his own father in the past, giving him the inspiration to take up the Zemo mantle, Helmut returns to the present and manages to convince Wendell not to kill him as well, instead taking what is discovered to be his cousin under his wing, as he sets out to do something new for the world. {{Volume needed|c=y|date=June 2013}}

During the "Dark Reign" storyline, Quasimodo researched Baron Zemo for Norman Osborn. While he states that Baron Zemo's whereabouts are unknown, Quasimodo recommends that they contain him as soon as possible.Dark Reign Files #1. Marvel Comics.

Following the events of The Siege crossover as seen in the Heroic Age storyline, Luke Cage assumes control over the Thunderbolts and has Fixer impersonate Zemo as a test to see which of his new teammates would betray the team if offered a chance to escape.Thunderbolts #144-145 Later on, it was revealed that Fixer was keeping in secret contact with Zemo while working on the Raft.Captain America'' #606. Marvel Comics.

During the Fear Itself event, Zemo gave Fixer key info on the mutant army threatening Chicago.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=February 2013}}

Having spent his time on the sidelines, watching Norman Osborn's rise to power with the intent of waiting to see what Norman would do with control over the Thunderbolts and later S.H.I.E.L.D., Zemo reappeared following the events of the Siege when Osborn was ultimately defeated by The Avengers. A chance encounter at the Thunderbolts' former base in Colorado with the Ghost led to him learning Bucky Barnes was the current iteration of Captain America. Zemo confronted his rival and discovered how the man had survived his father's death trap only to become the Winter Soldier, a trained Soviet assassin who killed scores of people for several Russian handlers. But most alarming was the fact that Zemo discovered the original Captain America had not only forgiven his successor for the crimes, but had actively covered them up even after Winter Soldier blew up a huge chunk of New York, killing several dozen S.H.I.E.L.D. agents in order to restore power to a Cosmic Cube fragment.Captain America #608. Marvel Comics.

Zemo recruited Jurgen "Iron-Handed" Hauptmann (of Red Skull's Exiles), as well as Fixer and a new female version of Beetle to expose the current Captain America's sins to the world. This included drugging Bucky with nanites that caused Captain America to behave irrationally and attack police officers and leaking to the media, not only detailed files revealing Winter Soldier's acts of terrorism committed as a mind-controlled pawn of the Russians, but video footage as well of him being trained by handlers. Zemo ultimately kidnapped Bucky and took his father's victim to Heinrich's island which is where Bucky's original "death" occurred. There Zemo confessed that he did what he did, not out of a desire to finish the job his father started, but out of jealousy over how Captain America and his allies quickly forgave Bucky for his crimes, yet continue to scorn the reformed Helmut who had saved the world on numerous occasions.Captain America #608-612. Marvel Comics. Zemo then forced Bucky into a similar deathtrap as the one his father put Bucky in, modified though in order to allow Bucky a chance to escape. Zemo then escaped from the island unharmed.Captain America #609-612. Marvel Comics.

Zemo has since turned his eye towards Hawkeye, who he blames for usurping control over the Thunderbolts from him. Zemo makes a deal with Hawkeye's former mentor Trick Shot (whose cancer had returned) to train Zemo's mystery acquaintance to become a master archer in exchange for medical care. When the training was complete, Zemo reneged on the deal. Trick Shot (on the brink of death) was delivered to Avengers Tower to serve as a message to Hawkeye. Before he died in his former pupil's arms, Trick Shot warns Hawkeye of the threat he will soon face.Hawkeye: Blindspot #1. Marvel Comics.

In Avengers Undercover, Zemo becomes the leader of the Shadow Council's Masters of Evil following the death of Max Fury.Avengers Undercover #1. Marvel Comics.

Zemo later becomes the new leader of HYDRA and enters into conflict with Sam Wilson, the new Captain America.All-New Captain America #1. Marvel Comics. Using the toxic blood of an Inhuman boy named Lucas, Zemo plans to sterilize the human race and distribute a cure to only a small portion of those infected, thus forcibly solving the planet's problems with overpopulation and lack of resources. He later kills Ian Rogers, the new Nomad and Captain America's partner, by slashing his throat and sends a photo to Steve Rogers.All-New Captain America #2 He later fights Wilson to a standstill until Lucas escapes via jet plane to spread his blood in the world.All-New Captain America #4. Marvel Comics.

During the Avengers: Standoff! storyline, Zemo appears as a prisoner of the S.H.I.E.L.D. established gated community called Pleasant Hill where the technology Kobik that was derived from the Cosmic Cube turned him into an amnesiac man named Jim who later discovered that Pleasant Hill is surrounded by a forcefield. He briefly witnessed an eerie girl bring a bird back to life until she is taken away by some adults. Then he encounters a mechanic named Phil who arranges a meet-up following his arson activity. On Day 40, Jim met Phil who had created a device that enabled people to return to their true selves. Phil also stole a training video where Mayor Maria Hill gave a video tour of Pleasant Hill describing to the S.H.I.E.L.D. cadets watching this to be the future of supervillain incarceration where they are turned into mild-mannered civilians using reality-warping technology derived from the Cosmic Cube called "Kobik". A demonstration was shown when Graviton was turned into a Pleasant Hill inhabitant named Howie Howardson. As Phil uses the device on himself and Jim to restore their true selves, Jim was restored back to Zemo while Phil was Fixer once again. Both of them vow to use the device on the other brainwashed supervillain prisoners and reduce Pleasant Hill to dust.Avengers Standoff: Welcome to Pleasant Hill #1. Marvel Comics. Zemo and Fixer started working on restoring the memories of the inmates one by one. Then Zemo led a coordinated assault on a S.H.I.E.L.D. outpost that serves as the Pleasant Hill City Hall.Avengers Standoff: Assault on Pleasant Hill #1. Marvel Comics. After Kraven the Hunter captures Kobik, he loads her into Fixer's machine where Baron Zemo plans to control Kobik. During the Avengers' fight with Baron Zemo's villain allies, both Zemo and Erik Selvig tried to get Kobik to come with them. Kobik ended up teleporting Zemo and Selvig away from Pleasant Hill. They were last seen in the Himalayas trying to make their way back to civilization. Zemo brings Selvig with him as he's crucial to his next plan.Avengers Standoff: Assault on Pleasant Hill Omega #1. Marvel Comics.

After leaving the Himalayas, Zemo begins to form his "New Masters" group, he starts by recruiting Firebrand, Flying Tiger, and Plantman II. They later encounter Steve Rogers, the original Captain America, Free Spirit and Jack Flag. Zemo then tries to escape with Doctor Selvig until Captain America enters his plane. Before he could kill Steve Rogers, Zemo is defeated by Jack Flag.Captain America: Steve Rogers #1. Marvel Comics. After Rogers pushes Jack Flag out of the plane, he makes the plane crash into a building to kill Doctor Selvig and Zemo.Captain America: Steve Rogers #3. Marvel Comics. However, it is later revealed that Rogers kept Zemo in a cell.Captain America: Steve Rogers #7. Marvel Comics. Rogers then manages to convince Zemo that they were best friends since childhood, since Rogers's reality was rewritten by Kobik to believe he has been a Hydra double agent since childhood, and recruits him in his mission to kill the Red Skull. Zemo then starts to recruit all the supervillains who escaped from Pleasant Hill.Captain America: Steve Rogers #11-13. Marvel Comics.

After Rogers kills the Red Skull's clone in "Secret Empire", Zemo arrives with his larger team of supervillains that he formed on Rogers' behalf called the Army of Evil.Captain America: Steve Rogers #15. Marvel Comics. After the Army of Evil disappears after attacking Manhattan, Helmut Zemo uses the Darkhold to enhanced a brainwashed Blackout into covering Manhattan in a Darkforce dome while trapping the heroes there.Secret Empire #0. Marvel Comics. During the Underground's battle with HYDRA in Washington DC, Zemo goes to awaken the Army of Evil from their stasis as Winter Soldier arrives in time to free Black Panther. Both of them apprehend Zemo before he can awaken the Army of Evil.Secret Empire #9. Marvel Comics.

Helmut Zemo leads HYDRA into occupying Bagalia. In his shared plot with Dario Agger and Roxxon Energy Corporation to have the United Nations recognize Bagalia as an independent nation, Zemo selects the Mandarin as the public face of Bagalia. As part of his revenge on HYDRA for manipulating him, Punisher finds Mandarin making a speech at the United Nations and shoots him.Punisher vol. 12 #1. Marvel Comics.

During the One World Under Doom storyline, Zemo opposes the policies of Sorcerer Supreme Doctor Doom and attempts to invade Latveria. However, he is killed and replaced with a Doombot replica that arrived with Hydra to surrender their allegiance to him. When the Avengers and the Fantastic Four have noticed the differences, some of the Hydra agents also found out and harmed some civilians only for those Hydra agents to be killed by Doctor Doom when he arrives riding a Tyrannosaurus counterpart of himself from another reality. Doctor Doom confirmed that he killed Zemo and Red Skull because of their connections with the Nazis and that the Nazis used Hydra to do their dirty work.One World Under Doom #1. Marvel Comics.{{Cite web |last=Marston |first=George |date=February 12, 2025 |title=Doctor Doom officially rules the Earth in One World Under Doom #1, and he's kind of doing a suspiciously good job at it |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/comics/marvel-comics/one-world-under-doom-1-spoilers-explained/ |access-date=February 13, 2025 |website=GamesRadar+ |language=en}}

Helmut Zemo is a gifted genius who possesses certain scientific knowledge. He is an excellent marksman, and is impressively trained in unarmed combat. He is also a highly accomplished leader and strategist.

His headband has built-in circuitry designed to disrupt psychic powers. Helmut Zemo carries various rifles and sometimes, a handheld spray gun for Adhesive X, a powerful bonding agent. Like his father, Helmut does not age.Marvel Avengers: The Ultimate Character Guide Vol 1 #1 (September 2010). Marvel Comics. The Moonstones grant him a wide array of abilities, including gravity, light, or molecular manipulation, superhuman strength and durability, as well as flight.Heroic Age: Villains Vol 1 #1 (January 2011). Marvel Comics.

IGN ranked Helmut Zemo 40th in their Top 100 Comic Book Vilains" list.{{Citation |title=The Top 100 Comic Book Villains - IGN.com |url=https://www.ign.com/lists/top-100-comic-book-villains |access-date=2024-01-20 |publisher=IGN |language=en}} David Harth of Comic Book Resources called Zemo one of the most important" and best Marvel vilains owing to his "confounding schemes."{{Cite web |last=Harth |first=David |date=September 25, 2023 |title=The 20 Most Important Marvel Villains, Ranked |url=https://www.cbr.com/marvel-important-villains-ranked/ |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=Comic Book Resources |language=en}} Chase Magnett of ComicBook.com named Zemo one of the best Black Panther villains, calling him a "symbol of white supremacy."{{Cite web |last=Magnett |first=Chase |date=February 21, 2018 |title=The 8 Best Black Panther Villains |url=https://comicbook.com/marvel/news/best-black-panther-villains-ranked/ |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en}} George Marston of Newsarama ranked Zemo as the 2nd best Captain America villains of all time.{{Cite web |last=Marston |first=George |date=March 26, 2021 |title=10 Best Captain America villains of all time |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/best-captain-america-villains/ |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=Newsarama |language=en}}

An alternate version of Helmut Zemo appears in the Marvel Zombies limited series. He is zombified and his Thunderbolts attack Thor before he receives aid from Nova.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=December 2020}}

An alternate version of Helmut Zemo appears in the MC2 alternate universe. Red Skull and the Nazis had successfully conquered the Earth. This version is a scientific advisor to Red Skull's successor, Victor Von Doom and Reed Richards. After Doom's demise at the hands of Crimson Curse, Richards and Zemo fight to become his successor.A-Next #11. Marvel Comics.

An alternate version of Helmut Zemo appears in the Ultimate Marvel universe. Loki disguises himself as Baron Zemo while leading Third Reich soldiers and Ice Giants in an attack on Asgard during World War II.Ultimate Thor #1. Marvel Comics.Ultimate Thor #2. Marvel Comics. In the present, Loki's elderly second-in-command Helmutt Zemo uses the Norn Stones to summon the god of mischief to his time. After escaping The Room With No Doors, Loki murders Zemo.Ultimate Thor #4. Marvel Comics.

An alternate version of Helmut Zemo appears in the Deadpool MAX series. He is an American white supremacist who claims to have descended from German nobility despite having come from a working-class home. He fosters a hatred of minorities due to his father having had an affair with a black woman as well as the irrational belief that Jewish doctors killed his mother with poisoned water. He finds a survivalist retreat dubbed "Whiteland" and plans to use sarin gas on his followers to incite a race war across the United States. However, his plans are foiled when Deadpool infiltrates the compound and accuses Zemo of possessing Jewish ancestry, which distracts Zemo's henchmen long enough for Deadpool to kill them and Zemo.Deadpool MAX #3. Marvel Comics.

An alternate version of Helmut Zemo appears in the Old Man Logan universe. He is responsible for the deaths of most of the Avengers after turning the Thunderbolts against them. He only leaves Hawkeye alive out of spite for taking the Thunderbolts from him to begin with. Decades later, Hawkeye goes on a revenge killing spree against all the Thunderbolts for their betrayal.Old Man Hawkeye #6. Marvel Comics. When he confronts Zemo in the Weapon X facility, he finds the villain in a wheelchair as Zemo had developed ALS while also working on recreating the Super Soldier Serum. While Hawkeye initially planned to leave Zemo humiliated in his condition, he instead decides to shoot dozens of arrows into Zemo using the last of his sight.Old Man Hawkeye #11. Marvel Comics.

• Baron Helmut Zemo appears in The Marvel Super Heroes,{{Cite web |last=Motes |first=Jax |date=February 8, 2020 |title=Super Saturday: 'The Marvel Super Heroes' (1966) - The FIRST Marvel Cartoon Ever! |url=https://sciencefiction.com/2020/02/08/super-saturday-the-marvel-super-heroes-1966-the-first-marvel-cartoon-ever/ |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=ScienceFiction.com |language=en-US}} voiced by Gillie Fenwick.{{cite web |title=Baron Zemo Voices (Captain America) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Captain-America/Baron-Zemo/ |website=Behind The Voice Actors |postscript=. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.}}
• Baron Helmut Zemo appears in The Avengers: United They Stand episode "Command Decision", voiced by Phillip Shepherd. This version is the leader of the Masters of Evil.
• Baron Helmut Zemo / Citizen V appears in Avengers Assemble,{{cite web |last=Ching |first=Albert |date=June 1, 2015 |title="Ultimate Spider-Man" and "Avengers" Renewed on Disney XD with New Titles |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/ultimate-spider-man-and-avengers-renewed-on-disney-xd-with-new-titles |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924140345/http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/ultimate-spider-man-and-avengers-renewed-on-disney-xd-with-new-titles |archive-date=2015-09-24 |access-date=2016-07-07 |website=Comic Book Resources}} voiced by David Kaye. This version is a high-ranking operative of Hydra and leader of the Masters of Evil. Throughout the series, he manipulates Captain America into helping him retrieve his father Heinrich's super-soldier serums to rejuvenate himself,{{cite episode |title=Saving Captain Rogers |series=Avengers Assemble |network=Disney XD |season=3 |number=3 |date=March 27, 2016}} leads the Masters of Evil in masquerading as the Thunderbolts until they embrace their heroic personas and join the Avengers in exposing him,{{cite episode |title=The Thunderbolts |series=Avengers Assemble |network=Disney XD |season=3 |number=5 |date=April 10, 2016}} and works with the Black Panther and Captain America to seize Wakandan relics before the Shadow Council does until Madame Masque and Erik Killmonger throw Zemo off a bridge to drown.
• Baron Helmut Zemo appears in the X-Men '97 episode "Tolerance is Extinction" Pt. 1, voiced by Rama Vallury.{{cite web | url=https://collider.com/x-men-97-episode-8-cameo-characters/ | title=Each of Those Wild Cameo Appearances in 'X-Men '97's Latest Episode, Explained | website=Collider | date=2 May 2024 }}{{Cite web | url=https://www.gamesradar.com/x-men-97-episodes-easter-eggs/ | title=Unknown}}{{Dead link | date=August 2024 | fix-attempted=yes}} This version is an associate of Bastion.

Baron Helmut Zemo appears in Avengers Confidential: Black Widow & Punisher, voiced by Eric Bauza.

{{See also|Helmut Zemo (Marvel Cinematic Universe)}}

Helmut Zemo appears in media set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), portrayed by Daniel Brühl. This version is a Baron of Sokovia and former special operations soldier who seeks revenge against the Avengers for the death of his family at the hands of Ultron, who was created by Tony Stark and Bruce Banner. First appearing in the film Captain America: Civil War (2016),{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/captain-america-civil-war-first-to-use-new-imaxarri-2d-camera-exclusive-1201470965/ |title='Captain America: Civil War' First to Use New Imax/Arri 2D Camera (EXCLUSIVE) |last=Lang |first=Brent |date=April 13, 2015 |work=Variety |accessdate=April 13, 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414180557/http://variety.com/2015/film/news/captain-america-civil-war-first-to-use-new-imaxarri-2d-camera-exclusive-1201470965/ |archivedate=April 14, 2015 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/daniel-brhl-when-you-have-success-abroad-you-become-a-traitor-envy-is-very-german-10123801.html |title=Daniel Brühl: 'When you have success abroad, you become a traitor. Envy is very German' |last=Jones |first=Alice |date=April 22, 2015 |work=The Independent |accessdate=April 26, 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150430233057/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/daniel-brhl-when-you-have-success-abroad-you-become-a-traitor-envy-is-very-german-10123801.html |archivedate=April 30, 2015 |url-status=dead }} Zemo makes an additional appearance in the miniseries The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021).{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/05/kari-skogland-to-direct-6-part-the-falcon-and-the-winter-soldier-miniseries-with-anthony-mackie-sebastian-stan-daniel-bruhl-emily-van-camp-1202619197/ |title=Kari Skogland To Direct 6-Part 'The Falcon And The Winter Soldier' Miniseries With Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Daniel Bruhl & Emily Van Camp|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=May 20, 2019|access-date=May 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521004227/https://deadline.com/2019/05/kari-skogland-to-direct-6-part-the-falcon-and-the-winter-soldier-miniseries-with-anthony-mackie-sebastian-stan-daniel-bruhl-emily-van-camp-1202619197/|archive-date=May 21, 2019|url-status=live}}

• Baron Helmut Zemo appears as a boss in the PlayStation, PC, Game Boy, and Sega Game Gear versions of Iron Man and X-O Manowar in Heavy Metal.{{Cite web |last=Garcia |first=Derek |date=May 28, 2022 |title=The Iron Man Crossover Video Game No One Remembers |url=https://screenrant.com/iron-man-xo-manowar-marvel-crossover-game-bad/ |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=Screen Rant |language=en}}
• Baron Helmut Zemo appears as a boss in Marvel Avengers Alliance.{{Cite web |last=Yen |first=Andy |date=March 14, 2012 |title='Marvel: Avengers Alliance' Facebook Game is Free Fun with a Potential Price [Review] |url=https://comicsalliance.com/marvel-avengers-alliance-facebook-game-review/ |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=ComicsAlliance |language=en}}
• Baron Helmut Zemo appears as a playable character in Marvel Contest of Champions.{{Cite web |last=Sheehan |first=Gavin |date=January 9, 2023 |title=Marvel Contest Of Champions Releases Plans For 2023 |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/marvel-contest-of-champions-releases-plans-for-2023/ |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=Bleeding Cool |language=en}}
• Baron Helmut Zemo appears as a playable character in Marvel Avengers Academy.
• Baron Helmut Zemo and Citizen V appear as separate downloadable playable characters in Lego Marvel's Avengers, voiced by Robin Atkin Downes. They are available via the "Masters of Evil" and "Thunderbolts" DLC packs respectively.{{cite web |last=Boccher |first=Mike |date=March 17, 2016 |title=LEGO Marvel Avengers first DLC packs get release dates |url=http://www.gamezone.com/news/lego-marvel-avengers-first-dlc-packs-get-release-dates-3435056 |website=GameZone |publisher=}}
• Baron Helmut Zemo appears as a playable character in Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2, voiced by Tim Bentinck.
• Baron Helmut Zemo appears as a playable character in Marvel: Future Fight.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Olly |date=July 5, 2021 |title=Marvel Future Fight's new update collaborates with The Falcon and The Winter Soldier |url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/marvel-future-fight/marvel-future-fights-new-update-collaborates-with-the-falcon-and-the-winter-sold/ |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=Pocket Gamer |language=en}}
• Baron Helmut Zemo appears as a playable character in Marvel Strike Force.{{Cite web |last=Levandoski |first=Quinn |date=December 12, 2021 |title=Marvel Strike Force: 10 Best Skill Characters, Ranked |url=https://screenrant.com/marvel-strike-force-best-skill-characters-ranked/ |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=Screen Rant |language=en}}

Helmut Zemo appears in Marvel's Wastelanders: Hawkeye, voiced by James Saito. This version became King Zemo before dying a decade prior, leading to his teenage son Herman impersonating him.{{Cite magazine|last=Levitt|first=Hayley|date=October 15, 2021|title=A Marvel Podcast Is Rachel Chavkin's Latest Larger-Than-Life Stage|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/a-marvel-podcast-is-rachel-chavkins-latest-larger-than-life-stage|magazine=Playbill|language=en|access-date=November 9, 2021}}Chavkin, Rachel. (November 29, 2021). Marvel's Wastelanders: Hawkeye "Chapter 10: Justice is Blind" Marvel New Media/SiriusXM.

• In 2013, Hasbro release a Baron Helmut Zemo action figure as part of the Marvel Legends action figure line.{{Cite web |last=Goellner |first=Caleb |date=February 9, 2013 |title=Toy Fair 2013: Hasbro's 3.75″ Marvel Universe Official Action Figure Images |url=https://comicsalliance.com/toy-fair-2013-hasbro-marvel-universe-action-figure-images/ |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=ComicsAlliance |language=en}}
• In 2021, Funko released a Baron Helmut Zemo Funko Pop figure inspired by the MCU incarnation of the character.{{Cite web |last=Fallon |first=Sean |date=April 5, 2021 |title=The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Baron Zemo and Sharon Carter Funko Pops Are on Sale Now |url=https://comicbook.com/marvel/news/falcon-and-the-winter-soldier-baron-zemo-sharon-carter-funko-pops/ |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en}}
• In 2021, Hasbro release a Baron Helmut Zemo action figure inspired by the MCU incarnation of the character as part of the Marvel Legends action figure line.{{Cite web |date=April 26, 2021 |title=@Hasbro Marvel Fan First Monday Disney+ #MarvelLegends Product Reveals! |url=http://www.actionfigureinsider.com/hasbro-marvel-fan-first-monday-disney-marvellegends-product-reveals/ |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=Action Figure Insider |language=en}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.marvel.com/characters/baron-zemo-helmut-zemo Helmut Zemo] at Marvel.com

{{Captain America characters}}

{{Avengers characters}}

{{Thunderbolts}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zemo, Helmut}}

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