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HistoryEdit

A German scientist working for the Nazis, and a member of the Thule Society, Dr. Kroenen became one of the top scientists for Project Ragna Rok, and a close disciple of Grigori Rasputin, along with Ilsa Haupstein and Leopold Kurtz. He was present with Rasputin at the secret ritual in Scotland that brought Hellboy to the world.

Kroenen, Haupstein, and Kurtz were frozen inside a secret Nazi base, until they were resuscitated by industrialist Roderick Zinco, acting on Rasputin's orders. Kroenen resumed work on several of his former projects, including making an "Apocalypse Army" by combining corpses with robotics. He also convinced Zinco to retrieve the head of his colleague, Herman von Klempt, from South America. Kroenen retained an affection for his colleague, though Rasputin had rejected von Klempt as unsuitable for Ragna Rok. When von Klempt's head was re-animated, he tried to convince Kroenen to abandon Rasputin's plan - to awaken the Ogdru Jahad - and instead to use the Army to retrieve von Klempt's work in South America. Overhearing, Kurtz became furious and attacked von Klempt's head, screaming, "Rasputin is master!" In a panic, Kroenen seized a knife and killed Kurtz. When their plan failed, an enraged Rasputin struck Zinco blind. Wandering around, Zinco accidentally pressed a self-destruct button in the base, destroying it completely and taking Kroenen with it.

Powers and AbilitiesEdit

Powers

Clockwork Heart: Following his injuries sustained after project Ragna Rok, Kroenen had his pierced heart replaced by a mystical clockwork version which was mentally linked to his brain. This enabled him to control his cardiovascular functions, and therefore speed up or slow down his heartbeat, or fake his own death by causing it to beat so fast or so slowly that it cannot be heard or felt. It also offers him a few extra abilities:

  • Superhuman Strength: Kroenen can push himself beyond human capacity and lift more than two tons. Although he has not really been shown lifting great weights, his strength was great enough to let him cut right through stone and most metals.
  • Superhuman Stamina: Kroenen's ability to perfectly control his own heartbeat prevents his muscles from producing fatigue toxins and therefore grant him near limitless stamina.
  • Superhuman Reflexes: Kroenen possesses incredible reaction time and has been shown dodging bullets, and can also deflect them with swords. He does this with such pinpoint dexterity, accuracy and coordination that he was capable of deflecting bullets back at the police, killing them.
  • Superhuman Agility: Kroenens coordination, balance, agility and flexibility is also superhuman, allowing him to perform complex acrobatic feats.
  • Superhuman Durability: Due to Kroenen's clockwork heart directly supporting his body, Karl Ruprecht Kroenen's blood no longer circulated and has now dried up inside his veins, leaving only dust, and allowing him to absorb most impacts and be invulnerable to bullets and powerful punches.
  • Superhuman Longevity: Kroenens heart supports the rest of his organs, preventing them from losing effectiveness, allowing him to keep his youthful vigor and vitality into his centennial years. His skin also has been kept in excellent condition, granting him a youthful outward appearance.

Abilities

Genius level intellect:

  • Inventive Genius: Kroenen is a brilliant mechanic and inventor, whose inventions have included his own superhuman clockwork heart, a prosthetic mechanical hand, a virtually indestructible gas mask, and many others.
  • Master Surgeon: Kroenen is an expert surgeon with encyclopedial medical knowledge, as well as expert skill in dissection and vivisection.
  • Master Occultist: Karl is highly trained in the use of both theoretical and practical occult magic, and is considered a medium level mage. Although he mainly uses magic in the form of rituals and potions, but is also competent with spellcasting.
  • Leadership: Kroenen is an excellent leader and inspiring commander, who has often been selected as a favorite commander for many warlords such as Adolf Hitler and Grigori Rasputin.

Master Swordsman: He is a champion of virtually every edged weapon ever invented.

Master Martial Artist: Kroenen is an expert of melee combat and fighting disciplines.

Accurate Marksman: Karl Kroenen is proficient with both throwing knives and pistols.

Weapons Specialist: Kroenen knows how to use almost any weapon invented to its maximum potential and effectiveness.

Masochist: Kroenen revels in pain and can keep going long after the pain would stop a normal human.

Singing Prodigy: Has been a brilliant performer with a mesmerizing voice since infancy.

Strength level

Superhumanly Enhanced.

Weaknesses

Seperation from his artificial heart will prove fatal to kroenen. Despite his immortality, he also has a fear of germs, which is why he wears a gasmask and protective suit.

ParaphernaliaEdit

Equipment

Wears his trademark, virtually indestructible, tight-fitting gas mask with a trench coat over his SS unoform.

Transportation

It is assumed he travels with his colleagues

Weapons

He wields various melee and light arms weapons, including but not limited to tofas, katar daggers, and a Luger pistol. His katar-like wrist blades, as well as his tonfa swords seem to be able to cut through just about any substance.

NotesEdit

Doesn't seem to speak in the Hellboy movie, but Guillermo notion at some ability to speak. Can be heard laughing in Hellboy movie

Appearances in Other MediaEdit

Film Biography

Kronen is a mystical germaphobic undead assassin. He has a clockwork heart and dust for blood. He killed Trevor Bruttenholm.

Born in 1897, Kronen quickly became an opera prodigy, singing throughout Europe until puberty, when he lost his opera voice.

He attempted to get it back through multiple experiments and surgeries, to no avail. Instead, he became addicted to surgery, and created a tight fit gas mask to take the place of his lips and eyelids. In 1930, he began to follow Grigori Rasputin's leadership, and later joined Hitler's SS. From there, he joined The Thule Society, which was the Nazi occult.

Kroenen assisted in Ragna Rok, where he conjured Hellboy as the scarlet beast. Allied forces corrupted the mission, destroying Kroenen's left hand, and part of his clockwork chest.

He reappeared in 2004 to resurrect Rasputin, but became trapped in a pit by Hellboy after killing Trevor Bruttenholm, who was the one who took his hand via grenade.

Related


Footnotes



Hellboy Character
This character exists under the Dark Horse Imprint, and their continuity takes place within the Hellboy titles. This template will categorize articles that include it into the category "Hellboy Characters."
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