Friedrich von Roehm

Friedrich von Roehm, also known as the Black Rook, is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is usually depicted as an adversary of the X-Men.

Von Roehm possesses a hereditary ability that is likened to lycanthropy. Von Roehm undergoes a transformation from his ordinary human form through a process mentally activated by Selene. He attained the rank of "Black Rook" of the Lords Cardinal of the New York branch of the Hellfire Club, an exclusive secret society bent on world domination. In civilian life, he was a jeweler.

Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Bill Sienkiewicz, the Black Rook first appeared in The New Mutants #22 (December 1984).

The character subsequently appears in The Uncanny X-Men #189 (January 1985), and #208 - 209 (August - September 1986), in which he dies.

Friedrich von Roehm operates a jewelry shop on New York City's Park Avenue. Von Roehm is also secretly a lycanthrope and a high priest of the supernatural being and self-described goddess Selene. Von Roehm, who had worshipped Selene as a goddess, becomes her personal servant after she visits his jewelry shop.

As a member of the Hellfire Club, von Roehm sponsors Selene for membership. Selene becomes the new Black Queen, and von Roehm serving as the Black Rook. Alongside the Hellfire Club, he battles the X-Men in New York's Central Park. Selene uses her powers to mentally trigger von Roehm's transformation and sends him in pursuit of Rachel Summers. When Nimrod intervenes to attack the X-Men and the Club, Storm proposes an alliance to battle Nimrod. Von Roehm rejects this proposal and attempts to attack the X-Men, but is disintegrated by Nimrod.^[1]

Von Roehm possessed a power likened to lycanthropy. Von Roehm did not undergo the typical change in appearance associated with werewolves. However, he acquired superhuman strength, enhanced senses, claws, and barely controllable bloodlust during his transformation. His powers were genetically based, but required mental triggering by Selene. Aside from his personal devotion to Selene, von Roehm was apparently mentally compelled to obey Selene while in his superhuman state.

Friedrich Von Roehm, among other Hellfire Club members, was originally planned to appear in Dark Phoenix, but was ultimately cut from the film.^[2]

• Friedrich von Roehm at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe