Eric Gruning

This page is similar in name or subject to other pages. See also Eric for a complete list of references to clarify differences between these closely named or closely related articles.

Eric Gruning
Aliases:	Gruning
Continuity:	Marvel Universe
Notability:	Antagonist
Gender:	Male
Race:	Human
Location:	Exile Island
Associations:	Exiles
Status:	Deceased
First:	Captain America, Vol. 1 #102
Final:	Avengers, Vol. 4 #16

Eric Gruning is a fictional criminal and a recurring antagonist featured in comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is part of the mainstream Marvel Universe and was introduced in a shadowed-out cameo panel in Captain America, Volume 1 #102 in June, 1968. Eric Gruning made his first full appearance in the following issue, Captain America, Volume 1 #103 in July, 1968. The character was created by writer Stan Lee, artist Jack Kirby and inker Syd Shores.

Biography

Eric Gruning was a Nazi war criminal and would-be world conqueror. He aligned himself with a group of similarly ambitious men to form the Exiles. Stationed on Exile Island, Eric Gruning often employed his talents in the service of the Red Skull.

Of all the Exiles, Eric Gruning was the most loyal to the Red Skull. In the early days of the group's involvement with the Skull, Gruning prevented his colleague, General Ching, from staging a coup against him.

When Captain America was forced to return to Exile Island, he had to fight a pitched battle against each of the Exiles in turn. While Franz Cadavus kept Cap on the defensive with his death chair, Gruning stunned him with his electric whip.

---