HANS ROOTEN

Real Name: Hans Rooten

Identity/Class: Human (Dutch, World War II era)

Occupation: Mascot, would-be commando

Group Membership: Howling Commandos (mascot)

Affiliations: Irving Cohen, Selma Cohen, Jerry Cologna, Bing Crosby, Jimmy Durante, Bob Hope, Bill Jones, Groucho Marx

Enemies: Nazis

Known Relatives: Mayor Rooten (Agent X, father), unnamed mother (deceased)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: The Ralston family estate, Kentucky
formerly Able Company base, England
formerly Holland

First Appearance: Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#15 (February, 1965)

Powers/Abilities: Hans was an expert marksman, and carried a .22 rifle. He received intensive physical training alongside the Howling Commandos, but was not allowed to participate in combat missions.

History: (Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#15 (fb) - BTS) - Hans' father was the mayor of a town in Holland. After his mother died fighting the Nazis, Hans noticed a change in his father, as he became increasingly loyal to the Nazis. Hans was determined to resist the Nazis despite his youth, unaware that his father was secretly aiding the Allies as Agent X.

(Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#15) - When the Howling Commandos came to Holland to meet Agent X and destroy the dikes on the coast to wipe out local Nazi forces, Hans aided the commandos by driving off a Nazi patrol that had ambushed them upon arrival. The Howlers were surprised to find that their ally was only a teenager, but Hans proved invaluable in helping the Howlers to move past the Nazis undetected. After the mission's successful completion, Agent X asked Sgt. Fury to take Hans with him to England for his safety. Fury realized that Agent X was Hans' father, but kept his secret, and took Hans with them as he requested.

(Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#16) - Hans trained with the Howling Commandos as their official mascot, and hoped that one day he would be a real Howling Commando.

(Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#17) - Hans watched with Captain Sawyer as the Howling Commandos were given the oak leaf clusters as a decoration for their most recent mission.

(Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#19) - When the Howlers returned from a mission to Holland, they told Hans that they had seen his father again, and that when the war was over they would tell him what kind of a man his father really was.

(Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#20) - Hans greeted the Howling Commandos as they returned from defeating the Blitzkrieg Squad.

(Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#24) - All of the Howlers (plus Hans) were given a two-week furlough in the United States. While there they met Izzy's parents and sister, went to the jazz club where Gabe's uncle performed, and Dino introduced them to Jimmy Durante, Bob Hope, Groucho Marx, and Bing Crosby at the stage-door canteen. Reb went home to see his family, but found them under siege by bundists who were after material on the Manhattan Project that was being held nearby. Fury realized Reb was in danger and came to his rescue, driving out the Nazis, although Dum-Dum was wounded and sent to a hospital for an indeterminate period of time. When they were told to return to England by orders from Captain Sawyer, they mutually agreed that Hans should remain with Reb's parents until they could find his father in Holland.

Comments: Created by Stan Lee, Dick Ayers and Steve Ditko.

In Hans' first appearance, Percy guessed him to be 14 years old, but no definite age was ever given to him.

by Prime Eternal

CLARIFICATIONS:
Hans Rooten should not be confused with:

• Rootar, one of the Inhumans' Crimson Cadre, @ Fantastic Four I#398