WHISPER

Real Name: Karl Reifschneider

Identity/Class: Human mutant (World War II to modern era though it was intended to be the 1960s; see comments);
   citizen of Germany

Occupation: Mutant supremacist; former soldier, concentration camp guard

Group Membership: Formerly Nazis

Affiliations: Three unidentified mutants

Enemies: Leonid Brezhnev, Lyndon B. Johnson, Magneto (Max Eisenhardt), Robert Oppenheimer, Pope Paul the Sixth, Charles Xavier, many others

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: A secret hideout in East Berlin;
   formerly KZ Auschwitz in Oświęcim, Poland

First Appearance: Marvel Comics Presents II#3/2 (January, 2008)

Powers/Abilities: Whisper had the power to somehow steal the knowledge of anyone on the planet.

Height: 6'2" (by approximation)
Weight: 185 lbs. (by approximation)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown

History:
(Marvel Comics Presents II#3/2 (fb) - BTS) - During World War II Karl Reifschneider was a young soldier serving in Auschwitz as a guard. He was among the soldiers forcing Magneto's family (see comments) at gunpoint into gas chambers.

   Over the next decades the mutant Reifschneider realized that fear and paranoia would eventually lead to the genocide of mutants. Reifschneider gave up his human identity and became only known as Whisper, who assembling a small group of mutants around him. Using his mutant ability to steal knowledge he acquired secrets from Johnson, Brezhnev, Xavier, Oppenheimer and Paul the Sixth.

   Knowing his limits and need for someone with physical power Whisper set up a meeting with Magneto in East Berlin to join forces with him.

(Marvel Comics Presents II#3/2) - Whisper's guards led Magneto, Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver to Whisper and Magneto hugged Whisper because Magneto had learned outside from one of Whisper's guards that Whisper had witnessed the atrocities in Auschwitz. Whisper and Magneto sat down and Whisper asked Magneto if he had any problems to get to East Berlin, but Magneto replied that if a wall could stop him he wouldn't be a worthy ally. They then began to discuss how mutants needed to understand that they had to be proactive as to not be exterminated by humans. When Whisper noted that he gave up his human identity of Karl Reifschneider, Magneto recognized the name and realized that Whisper had not been a prisoner at Auschwitz, but one of the Nazis there. He pinned Whisper to a wall with a metal chair and ignored Whisper's excuse that he was too young to understand what was going on back then. After Whisper's followers were apprehended Magneto slew Whisper, who was still trying to convince Magneto to forget about those that died in the past and think about the lives they could save together in the future. While leaving the burning building Magneto assured Scarlet Witch that there was no way a man like Whisper would've been any help to them.

Comments: Created by David von Allmen & Mico Suyana.

Magneto referencing his family is a bit problematic since they died before ever reaching Auschwitz according to X-Men: Magneto Testament#3 (January, 2009). If we accept the later story as the full truth he probably meant all the Jewish people at the camp when he talked about his family or he just lied to Reifschneider.

Due to the sliding timescale most information from this story should be considered topical (in italics) because other information like the involvement of Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver is impossible if you don't.

As it is presented the story took place after Magneto's first comic book appearance in X-Men I#1 (September, 1963) and the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants' first appearance in X-Men I#4 (March, 1964), but rather than use Marvel's sliding timescale the story is written like it actually took place during the 1960s.

Real world people connected to the 1960s were mentioned (at least their last names in most cases):

The Berlin Wall split West and East Germany between 1961 and 1989.

This profile was completed 12/29/2020, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 20th anniversary 's celebratory event.

Profile by Markus Raymond.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Whisper (Karl Reifschneider) should not be confused with:

unidentified mutants

They were three unidentified mutants, who served Whisper. Two of them (a bald, tall guy and a brown-haired dude with a goatee) were guarding the door to Whisper's hideout in East Berlin and discussing Magneto, who had not much interest to meet Whisper in person until he learned that Whisper witnessed the atrocities in Auschwitz. They led Magneto and his associates Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver to Whisper, who was guarded by a third mutant wearing a hat. When Magneto attacked Whisper for his past crimes the bald guy tried to hit him with a piece of wood, but Scarlet Witch used her powers to destroy it. The guy with a hat tried to jump her, but Quicksilver saved her and knocked the guy out. Goatee dude stopped bald guy from further attacks because he was sure Magneto would win. Magneto wrapped them both in metal pipes. They were seen in the rubble when Magneto left the building with Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver.

--Marvel Comics Presents II#3/2

images (without ads)
Marvel Comics Presents II#3, p12, pan5 (main)
Marvel Comics Presents II#3, p13, pan3 (head shot)
Marvel Comics Presents II#3, p9, pan2 (two henchmen)
Marvel Comics Presents II#3, p14, pan6 (jumping henchman)

Appearances:
Marvel Comics Presents II#3/2 (January, 2008) - David von Allmen (writer), Mico Suayan (artist), Nick Lowe (editor)

First Posted: 09/11/2021
Last updated: 09/09/2021

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Non-Marvel Copyright info
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