In 1944, Baron Wolfgang von Strucker discovered an alien race, the Gnobians. They were an innocent but powerful race, and the Gnobian mother, who had born all the Gnobians on Earth, she was intrigued by Strucker and wanted him to be her guide. When Strucker was severely wounded battling Nick Fury, he went to the Gnobian mother for aid and she merged with him healing him. Unfortunately, Strucker's insanity infected the Gnobian mother.

The subsequent Gnobians born of the Gnobian mother carried Strucker's madness as well. They dressed themselves as Strucker's Death's Head Guard and set forth to enact the will of Baron Strucker.

Gnobians and the Death's Head Squadron have the ability to fly, read minds, create illusions, and fire energy blasts from their hands.