Captain America - Every National Hero In Marvel Comics Explained

“Iron Cross” is a bit of a dodgy name, considering it's a German military decoration used sporadically 1871 and 1945, which became a symbol for a particular ideology popularised in the 1930s by angry men with dodgy moustaches.

Iron Cross’ first appearance in 1979 goes pretty much as you would expect – Helmet Gruler dons experimental supercharged armour created by German scientist and old school friend Professor Franz Schneider, and becomes the Axis Powers’ answer to Steve Rogers.

Iron Cross was technically a national hero, even if he was on the side of the Nazis. He at least managed a redemption arc of sorts when Gruber became part of an organisation tasked with hunting down war heroes. He died fighting for the right side, which was of some comfort to his daughter Clare.

An Inhuman, Clare Gruler took on her father’s mantle to become a real hero for her home country. She even took her father’s attachment to his suit a step further too, molecularly bonding herself to it as a result of her Inhuman genetic make-up.

Helmet may have done his best to atone for his previous misdemeanours, but it’s his daughter who continues to do the heavy-lifting clearing the family name.