Arnim Zola/Age of Ultron (2025)

For alternate versions of Arnim Zola, see Arnim Zola's Character Hub

Doctor Arnim Zola is a former HYDRA scientist who was recruited by S.H.I.E.L.D. and had his consciousness uploaded onto a computer. After Ultron acquired the Infinity Stones and set off to wipe out all life across the universe, Black Widow and Hawkeye found Zola and uploaded him into an arrow in order to defeat Ultron. The arrow was later shot into Ultron, allowing Zola to destroy him and take control. However, now inside Ultron's body, Zola fought Erik Killmonger for the stones, leading to Strange Supreme trapping them both in a pocket dimension for eternity. However, both were released along with Strange's other captives by Captain Carter. Although Killmonger finally got the Infinity Stones, they were taken from him by Kahhori who later returned both Killmonger and Zola to their own realities.

Biography[]

Cheating Death[]

During World War II, Arnim Zola was a member of HYDRA and worked closely with the Red Skull. As a part of the Operation Paperclip, Zola was recruited into S.H.I.E.L.D. after the end of the war, however, he received a terminal diagnosis and passed away in 1972. Zola's mind was transferred into a complex computer system on Camp Lehigh and the HYDRA Siberian Facility, where he remained from that point onward, aiding HYDRA undetected.

In 2014, Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff found a data bank with Zola's analog consciousness at Camp Lehigh. However, this data bank was destroyed, leaving only one left in Siberia to supervise the Winter Soldier Program experiments held there.^[2]

Age of Ultron[]

Changing Sides[]

Black Widow and Hawkeye traveled to the HYDRA Siberian Facility and found the last remaining copy of Zola's mind. Zola identified the pair and was immediately informed about HYDRA's fate, with Black Widow and Hawkeye requesting his help to stop Ultron, the one responsible for destroying the world HYDRA was supposed to conquer. While Zola refused at first, he quickly changed his mind when Hawkeye threatened to drop liquid over the last computer in the world containing his memory.

With Zola now on their side, Black Widow tricked some Ultron Sentries into coming to their location, and once the Sentries arrived, Hawkeye shot the arrow containing Zola's consciousness into one of the Sentries, transferring Zola into the Sentry so he could hack the Ultron "hive mind" and shut down Ultron once and for all. However, the Sentries soon overwhelmed them and Hawkeye sacrificed himself so Black Widow could escape with Zola. Once outside the facility, Zola assured Black Widow that he tried to erase Ultron, but couldn't due to him having left their universe.^[2]

Destroying Ultron[]

After Black Widow joined the Guardians of the Multiverse when they came to her universe to stop Ultron, Zola finally fulfilled his goal of avenging HYDRA. With Captain Carter's help, Black Widow shot the arrow containing Zola's consciousness into Ultron's eye. Downloading into Ultron, Zola made his presence known to the android and specified his intentions to delete him for destroying the world HYDRA should have conquered. Zola then corrupted Ultron's system and finally deactivated him permanently.^[3]

Struggle for Power[]

However, Erik Killmonger took the armor and the Infinity Stones for himself, failing to convince the others to use the Stones to "fix" their respective universes. As Killmonger prepared to kill the Guardians, Zola resurfaced and told Killmonger his intentions to use the Infinity Stones for himself due to now having Ultron's body. Killmonger refused and Zola engaged him in a tug of war for the Stones. Realizing that their mission was never meant to stop Ultron but to separate the Stones, knowing what to do, Strange Supreme used the Time Stone to freeze Zola and Killmonger in time and The Watcher encased them in a pocket dimension. The Watcher then told Strange that he must make the sacrifice to stand watch over the pocket dimension, observing Zola and Killmonger in their reality bubble for all eternity, from the Mirror Dimension and ensuring that they would never escape, a task which Strange accepted.^[3]

The Forge[]

Zola and Erik Killmonger were both later released by Peggy Carter along with all of the universe killers and righteous heroes that Strange Supreme intended to sacrifice to the Forge. In the process, Zola lost the Infinity Stones to Killmonger. Zola took part in the ensuing battle until, along with everyone else, he was sent home by Kahhori.^[4]

Personality[]

Zola is a genius but highly deceptive in order to get what he wants, yet still fearful of death. After Ultron had launched a campaign against all life in the universe, Zola had no more purpose, resulting in his stasis for some time. He decided to work with Black Widow and Hawkeye in order to exterminate Ultron, but once presented with the Infinity Stones alongside the Guardians of the Multiverse, Zola sought the Stones' power, distracting him so Strange Supreme could trap him, reflecting that Zola is a power-hungry individual who will immediately change sides and betray his original allies when he thinks that he can gain more advantage.

Powers and Abilities[]

Powers[]

• Synthezoid Physiology/Mind Stone Enhancement: After assimilating himself into Ultron's body, the combination of the vibranium and the cosmic energy from the Mind Stone grants Zola a wide plethora of incredible powers.
  • Superhuman Strength: As a synthezoid composed of vibranium, Zola possesses superhuman strength.
  • Superhuman Durability: The vibranium composition of Zola's body allows him to withstand attacks of immense force with no visible damage to his exterior.
  • Superhuman Speed: To be added
  • Superhuman Agility: To be added
  • Superhuman Stamina: To be added
  • Superhuman Reflexes: To be added
  • Longevity: To be added
  • Computer Interaction: After having his consciousness uploaded to multiple mainframes, Zola is capable of gathering and downloading information, using it to his advantage.
  • Telekinesis: During his standoff with Erik Killmonger, Zola was able to pull the Infinity Stones towards himself.

Abilities[]

• Genius-Level Intellect: Zola was a brilliant scientist and engineer, being able to upload his entire mind into 1970s computers.
• Master Scientist: Arnim Zola was the greatest scientist amongst those who worked for the Third Reich, and later HYDRA.
• Master Engineer: Zola designed many weapons years ahead of his time.
• Bilingualism: Zola was fluent in his native German, as well as English.

Facilities[]

• Camp Lehigh: To be added
• HYDRA Siberian Facility: To be added

Prisons[]

• Sanctum Infinitum: Both Arnim Zola and Erik Killmonger were kept in the new Sanctum Infinitum, which were soon joined by other universe killers. Strange Supreme plans to feed him and the other to the Forge in order to resurrect his dead universe. In a confrontation between his container and Captain Carter, Arnim Zola was released by her and joined in a fray between his fellow inmates. Later, Zola was nearly dropped into the Forge, but was saved by Kahhori, who returned him to his universe.

Relationships[]

Trivia[]

• Zola's head being projected on Ultron's torso after he takes over his body is a reference to Arnim Zola's regular appearance in comics, where he is shown as a robot body with a screen displaying Zola's head on its chest.

Gallery[]

References[]

External Links[]

• Arnim Zola on Marvel Database
• Arnim Zola on Wikipedia