The Battle-Axis was one of the worst kinds of Nazi groups--it was made up of traitorous American Nazi sympathizers. The leader of these turncoats was the abominable James Bradley, aka Dr. Death. Bradley was the silent partner of Professor Phineas T. Horton, inventor of the Human Torch. When Horton decided to take his android public, Bradley dissolved their partnership and stormed out, taking with him a second, incomplete android [more on that in a minute--eric]. Bradley initially fought crime as Dr. Nemesis, but found it more lucrative to work for the Third Reich as Dr. Death. He founded the Battle-Axis and began working on Project:Mojave for the Nazis. Death learned that buried deep in the southwestern US were dozens of unused cans of poisonous gas left over from WW I. Dr. Death planned to trigger an earthquake that would open the canisters and wipe out most of the United States. Ultimately though, Dr. Death was slain by Battle-Axis member Volton [in INVADERS Limited Series #4]. Why? Well, read on true believer...
Volton believed that he gained his electrical manipulation abilities after being struck by lightning. He had amnesia following this accident, but was instructed by Dr. Death that lightning was indeed the cause of his powers. It also burned out all of his hair follicles, which meant he never had to shave [this is important later, trust me--e]. After a direct touch from the flaming Human Torch failed to burn Volton, Captain America deduced Volton's true origin. He had no memory of his pre-Volton life and no need to shave because he was actually the second, inferior android Dr. Death had mentioned (see above). Infuriated by Dr. Death's deception and unable to accept the fact he wasn't human, Volton went on a rampage and electrocuted Dr. Death. Following the Battle-Axis' defeat, Volton surrendered. It's unknown whatever became of him after the War.
Sharon Kane's husband was an American scientist who invented a web fluid weapon. Shortly afterwards, he was gunned down by Russian agents. Only two days afterwards, Germany invaded Russia and the Americans became allies of the Russians. Infuriated, Sharon used her late husband's invention to become the Spider Queen. She joined the Nazis because they fought against the Russians. It's unknown what became of the Spider Queen after she surrendered to the Invaders at Project:Mojave.
Percy van Norton was a New York millionaire playboy who was always picked on as a child. So, in 1940 he used all of his money on an experimental strength enhancing drug. It worked, but an unfortunate side-effect was that it made him as dumb as dirt. When Percy saw how the Germans worshipped strength and crushed their enemies, he readily joined up with Dr. Death and the Battle-Axis (OK, Roy was kinda reachin' on this one--e). Percy was the bruiser for the Battle-Axis until they all surrendered to the Invaders at Project:Mojave.
The Human Meteor was actually the reknowned adventurer Duke O'Dowd. O'Dowd's plane crashed in the Himalayas near the lost city of Bayakura. The Bayakurans believed that Duke O'Dowd fulfilled an ancient prophecy and so they taught him how to mentally control atoms. This knowledge allowed him to fly, and he returned to his native Boston to become a crimefighter (very similar to the Thin Man's origin). But when World War II started and the United States joined forces with the British, the Irish-born O'Dowd joined Battle-Axis to battle the Britons. After Dr. Death was killed at Project:Mojave, the Human Meteor was the first member of Battle-Axis to announce that the group surrendered to the Invaders. It is unknown whatever became of him after that.
Sky Shark next turned up as part of the Battle-Axis. He didn't get directly involved in most of Battle-Axis' confrontations with the Invaders, but instead manned their flying dirigible headquarters. The Third Reich's top air ace, Sky Shark joined his traitorous teammates at Project:Mojave. He was pretty much ineffective until the Golem's brother, Johann Goldstein, decided to stop Dr. Death from activating the oscillotron which would've started the deadly earthquake which would've released the gas (phew!). Sky Shark fatally shot Goldstein, in full view of the Golem. Infuriated, the Golem permanently grounded Sky Shark.
The Golem:see his individual entry.
The Vision:see his individual entry.
INSIDE STORY:All of the Battle-Axis characters had originally appeared as heroes in the Timely comics of the '40s. Roy gathered together some of the most forgotten heroes and turned them into Nazis, making for a great story. The first modern appearance for all of the members was INVADERS(Limited Series) #1 [except Sky Shark, who appeared in MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE ANNUAL #1 and ,b>MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE #20 (1976). He didn't turn up in Battle Axis until INVADERS (Limited Series) #2]. It's unknown what became of them after #4, except for Dr. Death and Sky Shark, who didn't survive past INVADERS (Limited Series) #4.
FIRST APPEARANCE (as a team):INVADERS [Limited Series] #1 (1993)
Other Appearances (as a team): INVADERS [Limted Series] #2-4 (1993)
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