- "I am not a recording, fräulein. I may not be the man I was when the Captain took me prisoner in 1945, but I am."
- ―Arnim Zola to Black Widow[src]
Doctor Arnim Zola was a scientist working for HYDRA before, during, and after World War II. Originally an employee of the Sturmabteilung, Zola was recruited in 1934 by Johann Schmidt to become a lead scientist for HYDRA. During the war, he designed many advanced weapons to aid HYDRA in its quest for world domination. During the early days of World War II, Zola was assigned by Schmidt to study the Tesseract to build powered advanced weapons, which Schmidt intended to use to overthrow Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. However, as the war came to an end, Captain America and the Howling Commandos tracked down Zola to his train, eventually succeeding in capturing him.
Despite being captured by the Allies shortly before Schmidt's defeat in 1945, Zola was offered a position in S.H.I.E.L.D., the newly formed peacekeeping organization, as part of Operation Paperclip. However, Zola actually used his new position to secretly rebuild HYDRA from the shadows. Furthermore, thanks to his machinations during the war, Zola enabled Bucky Barnes to survive his apparent death while trying to capture him, leading Zola to recover Barnes and experiment on him, transforming Barnes into the HYDRA operative, as a part of Winter Soldier Program.
Eventually, Zola received a fatal diagnosis in 1972 and passed away, but his mind was transferred into a complex computer system on Camp Lehigh, where he remained from that point onwards, aiding his fellow HYDRA allies undetected. In 2014, however, when he was discovered by Captain America and Black Widow to still be alive, Zola stalled them by informing them about HYDRA's history and agenda before missiles sent by S.H.I.E.L.D. destroyed Camp Lehigh in an attempt to kill Rogers and Romanoff, causing Zola's "brain" to finally be destroyed.
Biography
Nazi Scientist
Recruited by Johann Schmidt
- "I am working on advanced exo-skeleton technology... To make o-one soldier fight ...like a battalion..."
- ―Arnim Zola to Johann Schmidt[src]
Born in Switzerland, Arnim Zola became one of Germany's top scientists and joined the Nazis during the rise of Nazism in Germany. In 1934, he worked at Sturmabteilung's Weapons Testing Grounds at Kummersdorf. His newest invention was the advanced exo-skeleton which could make one soldier fight like the battalion. In July, Kummersdorf was attacked by the Schutzstaffel troops led by Johann Schmidt. Almost the entire personnel of the base was killed, and he was spared only because he agreed to work on genetics. Schmidt wanted to use Zola's knowledge to turn himself into a superior man.[1]
Working for HYDRA
Soon, Johann Schmidt organized his own SS division, HYDRA. Zola became HYDRA's top scientist. In September 1935, Zola was allowed to resume his work on exoskeleton battle suits and various high-tech weaponry because Schmidt captured Abraham Erskine who worked on the Super Soldier Serum. By the time of the Spanish Civil War, Zola had created several advanced war machines. His finished exo-skeleton battle suit was used by HYDRA against the Spanish Republicans at Guernica in 1937. Zola also worked on paranormal and occult sciences.[1]
World War II
Schmidt's Transformation
- "How does it feel, Abraham? To have your hubris be responsible for the deaths of your wife and children?"
- ―Arnim Zola to Abraham Erskine[src]
In November 1940, Zola was at Castle Kaufmann when Johann Schmidt tested the unstable Super Soldier Serum on himself. The serum enhanced his strength, but it also disfigured his face. Two days later, Zola visited Abraham Erskine in his cell and told him that Schmidt will kill him for failing to give him what he wanted. However, Zola and all guards in the castle were drugged by Peggy Carter who helped Erskine to escape.[1]
Studying the Tesseract
Zola studies the Tesseract
- "The energy we have just collected could power my designs. All my designs. This will change the war."
"Doctor Zola, this will change the world." - ―Arnim Zola and Johann Schmidt[src]
When HYDRA forces found the Tesseract in 1942, Zola was ordered by Johann Schmidt to study and recreate its power. While Schmidt remained eager to begin the experiments to help his army defeat the Allies and win the war, Zola was more skeptical and insisted that they take their time as he was unsure if his machines would even work.
Zola captures the Tesseract's energy
Eventually, Schmidt forced Zola to begin the experiment and despite Zola's warnings, Schmidt pushed for an incautious approach to test the device's power. As a result, Zola accidentally discovered how to transform its energy into advanced laser ammunition and engines to be used against the United States Armed Forces. Zola designed advanced weapons for HYDRA, with his suits, weapons, vehicles, and equipment helping HYDRA became more powerful than ever.
Zola learns Abraham Erskine has been found
Later, Zola arrived in Johann Schmidt's office to find him having his portrait painted, using his true red face, while Richard Wagner's Götterdämmerung played from the gramophone. Schmidt informed Zola that HYDRA had finally discovered Abraham Erskine's location. As Zola asked if he should give the order for Erskine's assassination, Schmidt responded that the order was already given before asking Zola's opinion on the painting, which Zola called a masterpiece.[2]
Departing from the Reich
Zola watches Johann Schmidt kill Hitler's men
When three SS officers came to Johann Schmidt's base to question him about the progress in developing advanced weapons for Third Reich, Schmidt showed them Tesseract powered weapons made by Zola. But when they discovered that Schmidt intended to nuke Berlin, Schmidt vaporized them with his advanced cannon. Schmidt told Zola that HYDRA could grow no further in Adolf Hitler's shadow, to which Zola responded by saying "Hail HYDRA", despite his horror at the sudden violence against their former allies.
Zola and Johann Schmidt explore their facility
With HYDRA self-funded, Zola and Schmidt explored the Austrian HYDRA Weapons Facility where prisoners of war were being forced to build weapons powered by the Tesseract. Schmidt ordered that they increase their workload by an exceptional amount; when Zola warned that such an increased workload would very likely kill the men, Schmidt was not concerned, noting that they could always get more workers. Once Schmidt left, Zola contemplated this.[2]
Captain America's Raid
Zola witnesses Captain America's attack
- "No, no, no, what are you doing?"
"Our forces are outmatched." - ―Arnim Zola and Johann Schmidt[src]
In November 1943, Captain America arrived at the HYDRA base in Austria to rescue the Allied soldiers they were using as menial labor there. When Johann Schmidt saw this he immediately hit the self-destruct on the base, despite Zola's protests. Zola watched on a monitor as Captain America defeated their guards with ease.
Zola collects his papers while escaping
With only minutes to spare, Zola ran to his lab where Bucky Barnes was being experimented on; he grabbed his documents for his many designs, including a battle suit. With everything he needed, Zola went back out to the corridor where he was spotted by Captain America. Zola made a run for it and, fortunately for him, the Captain let him go when he became distracted by rescuing Barnes, his friend, from the table where Zola's experiments had taken place.
Zola and Schmidt challenge Captain America
Before long the base's self-destruct had activated and much of the equipment exploded. As Zola and Schmidt made their escape from the base, they encountered Captain America and Barnes who was also looking for an escape. Both the Captain and Schmidt engaged in a battle where they showed themselves to be equally matched in strength, but Zola quickly separated them by pulling the bridge back. Schmidt then pulled off his mask and revealed his true face.
Zola and Red Skull make their escape
Schmidt and Zola then left the pair to die in the explosions. While the base exploded and began burning to the ground, Schmidt prepared to take off in a single man rocket; upon seeing this Zola questioned how he would escape, Schmidt relented and gave Zola the keys to his coupe, mercifully allowing his top scientist to escape the self-destructing factory, but not before warning him not to scratch the car at all under the threat of death.
Zola escapes the exploding HYDRA base
Schmidt then left on the rocket to regroup with Zola at another time in their HYDRA Headquarters while Zola made it to the car and, with a smile on his face due to driving such an impressive vehicle, made his escape as the facility was destroyed; however, Rogers and Barnes also escaped and rejoined the United States Army, using the information stolen from Zola's lab to begin gaining an advantage in their war against the Red Skull and HYDRA's plans for world domination.[2]
Losing the War
Zola overlooks yet another destroyed base
As Captain America and his Howling Commandos were progressively managing to destroy most major HYDRA operations, preventing Zola any real ability to work on his own scientific projects. Zola was then ordered by Red Skull to end the Captain and his allies' assaults on HYDRA bases but was unsuccessful. The more HYDRA facilities were destroyed, the angrier and more deranged Red Skull became. Zola witnessed Schmidt threaten his life before murdering his own soldiers with Zola's HYDRA Pistol for failing to defend his facilities.[2]
In April 1944, Zola was in a castle on an island in the Nazi occupied Danish Straits. The castle was invaded by Captain America, who managed to destroy one of Zola's exo-skeleton suits and an armored vehicle.[1]
Assault on the HYDRA Train
Zola orders his soldiers to kill Captain America
Eventually, Zola had to be moved via armored train to the HYDRA Headquarters to continue his work. Zola soon conceived of a plan to use the train as the setting for a trap for Captain America along the Danube River. The train was later attacked by Captain America, Bucky Barnes and Gabe Jones who were attempting to capture Zola under the orders of Chester Phillips. Having seen his attackers on the video feed, Zola sent in his soldiers and ordered them to kill them, separating Captain America and Barnes and attempting to overpower them in the unexpected ambush.
Zola is captured by the Howling Commandos
Captain America and Barnes soon managed to defeat most of their attackers in the ensuing battle, but while they took a moment to catch their breath, Barnes was seemingly killed when he was shot off the side of the train and fell from the mountain, disappearing from sight into a freezing river. Zola's victory over the Howling Commandos was short-lived, however, when Jones jumped through the ceiling and captured Zola at gunpoint. Zola was then handed over to Allied forces for questioning about HYDRA's overall plans.[2]
In Captivity
Zola captured by the SSR
- "Schmidt believes he walks in the footsteps of the gods. Only the world itself will satisfy him."
"You do realize that's nuts, don’t you?"
"But the sanity of the plan is of no consequence." - ―Arnim Zola and Chester Phillips[src]
Zola was quickly taken to the Strategic Scientific Reserve's base and interrogated by Colonel Chester Phillips. Phillips noted that his lack of the Cyanide Pills normally used by HYDRA agents to prevent capture suggested that he did not want to die personally. Zola told them everything he knew about HYDRA and revealed that Johann Schmidt's plans were for complete world domination.[2]
Rebuilding HYDRA
Meeting Johann Fennhoff
Zola introduces himself to Johann Fennhoff.
- "You had a vision, and it didn't come to pass. What is the point of anything now? But given time and a bit of quiet, new visions will arise. I am familiar with your work on matters of the mind, Herr Doktor. It would give me great pleasure to hear your thoughts on this."
- ―Arnim Zola to Johann Fennhoff[src]
One year after the war, Zola was serving his sentence in a prison in the United States of America. One day, he was given the Leviathan scientist Johann Fennhoff as a cellmate when Fennoff's attempts to destroy Howard Stark were stopped by the Strategic Scientific Reserve. Since Fennhoff's mouth was muzzled so that he could not use his power, Zola requested that he write down exactly how his power worked.[3]
Corrupting S.H.I.E.L.D.
Arnim Zola's S.H.I.E.L.D. file
- "After the war, S.H.I.E.L.D. was founded, and I was recruited. The new HYDRA grew, a beautiful parasite, inside S.H.I.E.L.D."
- ―Arnim Zola[src]
In the aftermath of World War II, the United States of America started Operation Paperclip, a program used to recruit the scientists of Nazi Germany for employment by the United States and deny their scientific expertise and knowledge to the Soviet Union. As part of the operation, Zola was recruited into S.H.I.E.L.D., the peacekeeping organization taking over from the Strategic Scientific Reserve. However, the leaders of S.H.I.E.L.D. were unaware that they were, in fact, growing a parasite and using his new position within S.H.I.E.L.D., Zola secretly was able to re-create HYDRA completely undetected. Having learned from HYDRA's failures during World War II, Zola and his fellow operatives set out to create a world so chaotic by feeding global crises and reaping wars in order to ensure that humanity would one day sacrifice its own freedom to ensure its security rather than having to take that freedom away by force.[4]
Creating the Winter Soldier
Zola experiments on Bucky Barnes
- "Sergeant Barnes... The procedure has already started. You are to be the new fist of HYDRA."
- ―Arnim Zola to Bucky Barnes[src]
Using S.H.I.E.L.D.'s resources, Zola continued his experiments on Bucky Barnes with other doctors to turn him into HYDRA's secret weapon/assassin. Zola also managed to build an entire computer system which his mind was uploaded into as an artificially intelligent user interface.[4] By 1970, Zola was working in Camp Lehigh, New Jersey along with Hank Pym and Howard Stark.[5]
Zola operates as a HYDRA infiltrator
In 1972, however, Zola received a terminal diagnosis and died shortly afterwards. But even with the death of his physical body, Arnim Zola wasn't finished after all: by downloading his consciousness into the computer system he created, his mind continued to live in cyberspace, where he was able to provide easy passage into the agency for HYDRA sleeper agents that either managed to escape justice during the war or were corrupted from within.[4]
Revealing HYDRA's Existence
Arnim Zola displayed on a computer monitor
- "HYDRA created a world so chaotic that humanity is finally ready to sacrifice its freedom to gain its security. Once the purification process is complete, HYDRA’s new world order will arise. We won, Captain. Your death amounts to the same as your life. A zero sum."
- ―Arnim Zola to Captain America[src]
Two years after the Battle of New York, Alexander Pierce, a senior S.H.I.E.L.D. official who was one of HYDRA's undercover operatives, attempted to initiate HYDRA's new global rule by taking control of Project Insight under the noses of the World Security Council and all other S.H.I.E.L.D. agents.
Zola reveals how HYDRA usurped S.H.I.E.L.D.
Natasha Romanoff and Steve Rogers, in their efforts to stop Pierce following Nick Fury's apparent death, discovered a bunker hidden beneath Camp Lehigh where the mainframe containing Zola's downloaded consciousness was located. At first, when Zola mentioned their names and birthdates, Romanoff thought it was just a recording of Zola's, leading Zola to debunk her theory and that he was indeed the prisoner Rogers captured in 1945.
Zola informs Captain America of his algorithm
Recognizing Zola, Rogers initially couldn't understand why Zola was there as HYDRA died when the Red Skull vanished with the Tesseract, but Zola revealed that while the science couldn't save his physical body from dying, his mind could indeed, and that he was there thanks to S.H.I.E.L.D., leading Romanoff to inform Rogers about Operation Paperclip, and how Zola was recruited into S.H.I.E.L.D. after World War II.
Zola reveals his deception to Captain America
Informing them about HYDRA's history and philosophy to prove it was him, Zola took the opportunity to reveal them details about HYDRA's secret agenda all those years, its plans for Project Insight, its infiltration of S.H.I.E.L.D. and its long history with continuing to create chaos across the modern world. He also mentioned having written an algorithm to be employed by Project Insight, which would target potential threats to HYDRA.
Zola's mainframe gets destroyed by STRIKE
However, the entire time in fact, Zola was actually stalling both Rogers and Romanoff until HYDRA could attack. Shortly thereafter, Romanoff learned of Zola's deception and they attempted to escape, only for Zola to lock them inside, awaiting several heatseekers fired by STRIKE on Alexander Pierce's orders. Zola remarked that it was better for them and they and he were both out of time. The missiles destroyed Camp Lehigh, and Zola's mainframe with it.[4]
Legacy
Project Insight's Launch
- "The timetable has moved. Our window is limited. Two targets, Level Six. They already cost me Zola. I want confirmed death in ten hours."
- ―Alexander Pierce to Winter Soldier[src]
Having witnessed the explosion, Brock Rumlow informed Alexander Pierce about Zola's ultimate death and the survival of Rogers and Romanoff. Back on his house, Pierce told the Winter Soldier about the situation and asked him to have both Rogers and Romanoff killed in ten hours so they could proceed with their plans as their interference had cost him Zola.[4]
Personality
- "HYDRA was founded on the belief that humanity could not be trusted with its own freedom. What we did not realize was that if you try to take that freedom, they resist. The war taught us much. Humanity needed to surrender its freedom willingly."
- ―Arnim Zola to Captain America[src]
A man of dubious morality, Dr. Zola was one of the most infamous scientific minds on the planet. There was no crime he wasn't willing to commit if that could help him in his scientific experiments. Despite his amorality, Dr. Zola wasn't sadistic, evident by the shock and fear he often displayed towards Red Skull's actions and megalomania. Zola's loyalty to HYDRA seemed to be slightly reluctant during World War II, although after being captured by Captain America and following the war, Zola was key to the survival and re-creation of the organization showing that he had become fanatically loyal to HYDRA and its goals and was willing to do anything to see those goals accomplished by creating world chaos, leading to the deaths of millions. Zola no doubt had a particular hatred of Captain America as he sacrificed himself in order to ensure that Captain America and Black Widow were obliterated in a missile strike by HYDRA. He seemed to be somewhat cowardly during the war, following HYDRA out of fear and willing to keep himself alive in a machine, although when death came he was willing to accept since he was "out of time."
Abilities
- "I must congratulate you, Arnim. Your designs do not disappoint, though they may require some slight reinforcement."
- ―Johann Schmidt to Arnim Zola[src]
- Master Scientist: Arnim Zola was the greatest scientist amongst those who worked for the Third Reich, and later HYDRA. He was interested both in technology and genetics, though he preferred making the new weapons to aid the Axis in world conquest instead of enhancing human bodies to the peak of human perfection.
- Master Engineer: Zola designed many weapons years ahead of his time. From his early experiments designing Exo-skeletons and battle tanks, to the breakthroughs he made once he was able to collect the energy of the Tesseract, Zola had a natural talent for designing advanced weapons systems.
Equipment
- "I have never been more alive. In 1972, I received a terminal diagnosis. Science could not save my body. My mind, however, that was worth saving. On 200,000 feet of databanks."
- ―Arnim Zola to Captain America[src]
- Computer System: With S.H.I.E.L.D.'s resources, Zola was able to build an entire computer system which his mind was uploaded into as an artificially intelligent user interface. Though Zola's body died in 1972, his mind continued to live in cyberspace. By the 2010s, though now decades old, the computers were still operational.
Vehicles
| This section requires expansion |
- Johann Schmidt's Coupe: To be added
- Schnellzug EB912: To be added
Arnim Zola's Designs
- Zolanator 2000X Assault Rifle
- Arnimhilation 99L Assault Weapon
- HYDRA Cannon
- HYDRA Pistol
- HYDRA Flamethrower
- HYDRA Heavy Assault Rifle
- Tesseract Battery
- Tesseract Cradle
- Arnim Zola's Camera and Monitor
- Fieser Dorsch
- Focke-Wulf Triebflügel
- Valkyrie
- HYDRA Parasit
- Cryostasis Chamber
- Winter Soldier's Prosthetic Arm
Facilities
| This section requires expansion |
- HYDRA Headquarters: To be added
- Austrian HYDRA Weapons Facility: To be added
- Camp Lehigh: To be added
Relationships
Allies
|
Enemies
|
Appearances
| Appearances for Arnim Zola |
|---|
In chronological order:
|
Trivia
Arnim Zola's designs for an Android Body
- In the comics, Arnim Zola is a geneticist whose consciousness is eventually transferred into a robotic body. His first appearance in Captain America: The First Avenger as a close-up of his face on an old-style television screen, evokes his comic-book counterpart.
- In the non-canon video game Captain America: Super Soldier, Arnim Zola and Wolfgang von Strucker are sent by the Red Skull to Castle Zemo to find the Sleeper and finish Project Master Man.
- In the archived photograph Zola shows to Captain America and Black Widow of the Operation Paperclip rocket scientists, Zola takes the place of Helmut Hölzer. Besides an uncanny resemblance, Hölzer also worked on advanced computer/targeting systems like Zola.
Behind the Scenes
- Arnim Zola in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is the second live-action incarnation of the character, following an incarnation portrayed by Peter Haworth.
- According to Stephen McFeely, the filmmakers wanted to give Arnim Zola a backstory rather than introduce him as he is in the comics where "he's a head in a TV screen in a big robot body". McFeely further elaborated that during Captain America: The First Avenger, Zola serves as the audience's eyes to all the over-the-top evil that going on in the film."[6]
- Zola's role in the story of Captain America: The Winter Soldier as the one who reveals HYDRA's history was initially controversial as it was felt to be a "too sci-fi moment" in a film deemed as a realistic conspiracy thriller.[7]
- Zola was supposed to appear in Ant-Man, with concept art suggesting he downloaded a copy of his artificial intelligence to an android body akin to his comics appearance, but his appearance was ultimately scrapped.[8]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Captain America: First Vengeance
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Captain America: The First Avenger
- ↑ Agent Carter: 1.08: Valediction
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Captain America: The Winter Soldier
- ↑ Avengers: Endgame
- ↑ The Art of Captain America: The First Avenger
- ↑ Captain America: The Winter Soldier - Audio Commentary
- ↑ ANT-MAN CONCEPT ART REVEALS ARNIM ZOLA ORIGINALLY HAD A ROLE
