Doctor Nicolas Von Essen was a member of the German Empire's Starkesturm project during the Great War. Described as "brilliant but evil-minded", Von Essen was focused on the destructive power of the technology his unit was developing. Reassembling his old unit and renaming it Die Spinne, Von Essen marshalled his forces and made his plans. His first contact was with Jonathan "Genghis" Kahn, leader of the Chicago Red Skulls. In exchange for the promise of power, Kahn agreed to provide Von Essen with support.