Welcome to Marwencol

Grandpa “Papi” Ewald

“When I’m working on the town, and I can’t get a German figure set up right or I’m missing a piece of something he should be carrying, my German grandfather’s voice comes into my head and tells me, ‘No, you gotta put this on and take this off. We didn’t wear those things.’ // My German grandfather, ‘Papi,’ was in the Luftwaffe during World War II. He told me he, as a young teen, was working to get his degree in mechanics, so he went to mechanic school, and when he finished, he got his diploma. It was mandatory at that time in Germany for every youngster or teenager when you were of age to do two years in the military. So my grandfather did that, and while he was in the Luftwaffe, the war broke out. So he was sucked into the war—he didn’t join. He was a mechanic for the antiaircraft guns, and he rode around on a BMW motorcycle with a sidecar. // I asked him one time, ‘Did you ever have a machine gun on the sidecar? And he said, ‘No, no, I carried all my tools in the sidecar to repair the guns. I didn’t put a machine gun on the sidecar until we went through Belgium.’ Maybe that’s one reason I set Marwencol in Belgium.”

“My grandfathers repairing the Spitfire for the injured Scott Merry.”

“Wendy, Colleen, and I look out over my bar.”

Wendy & Colleen

Wendy

Nationality: American

Title: Civilian owner of Wendy Lee’s Kitchen

Counterpart: Wendy, former waitress and hostess at the Anchorage Restaurant

Backstory: Wendy was one of the many female residents of Marwencol who hid during the SS siege of Marwencol. She owned and operated the former Wendy Lee’s Kitchen. Together with Colleen and Mark, Wendy’s name forms a part of the town’s name, Marwencol.

Colleen

Nationality: American

Title: Civilian owner of Pocket Full of Posies

Counterpart: Mark’s former neighbor

Backstory: Colleen was the owner of Marwencol’s former gift shop, Pocket Full of Posies. Shortly after Captain Hogancamp discovered Marwencol, he and Colleen dated and were engaged. When their brief engagement ended, Colleen was sent to a parallel universe by Deja Thoris, the Belgian Witch of Marwencol, and Pocket Full of Posies was transformed into a brothel.

Hogie receives new figures for his miniature World War II town in the mail.

Scott Merry rescues Danielle from her shipping box.

Mom is a German civilian based on Mark’s mother, Edda. She assists as a bartender, a nurse, and a Nazi killer—“Verever there is trouble.”

Mike is an American military police officer based on Mark’s brother Mike. He works alongside Gregg on Hogie’s bodyguard team.

The Professor is based on a friend of Mark’s from the Ultimate Soldier website. Originally a German sniper, he became the postmaster general of Marwencol, known as Mailman, after the death of Ruthie.

Gregg is an American military police officer based on Mark’s brother Gregg. He is one of Hogie’s two bodyguards, fending off the SS soldiers who hunt his brother.

Grandpa Hogancamp is a Polish mechanic based on Mark’s Polish grandfather. He works at Hogancamp’s Red Ball Express with Papi.

Hayden, the Ghost of Marwencol, is the lone reminder of those who died at the hands of the Nazis in Marwencol. She is visible only to Deja Thoris and the Giant of Marwencol.

Tod is an American medic based on Tod Lippy, editor of Esopus magazine. Tod is a Red Cross medical officer in Marwencol.

Ruthie is a Belgian civilian based on Mark’s friend and former coworker Ruthie. She is the paramour of a German sniper named the Professor.

Chris is based on Chris Shellen, the coauthor of this book. She lives and works with her husband Jeff in Malmberg Film Studios, where she regularly throws parties for the residents of Marwencol.

Jeff is an Associated Press director based on Jeff Malmberg, the director of Marwencol. A former German propaganda director, Jeff switched sides to work for the AP.

Tonjes is an American civilian based on a friend of Mark’s from the Ultimate Soldier website. He is a carpenter and sculptor who owns Tonjes’s Furniture in Marwencol.

Ten Bears is the daughter of Chief Great Bear, created to honor Mark’s paternal Native American roots. A powerful warrior, Ten Bears is named after the brave Comanche chief Ten Bears, who was also a character in The Outlaw Josey Wales.

The German Schutzstaffel (the SS)

Nationality: German

Counterparts: Mark’s attackers

Backstory: The German Schutzstaffel (the SS) began as Hitler’s personal guard and became known as the deadliest and more zealous of Germany’s World War II military forces. Before Captain Hogancamp’s crash landing, the SS swept through Marwencol, executing men, women, and children. Hogie and the women of Marwencol rebuilt the town, but the SS soon returned. Unlike the Wehrmacht (regular German soldiers), the SS are not placated by booze and catfights; they want blood, specifically that of Captain Hogancamp, whom they hunt relentlessly. The SS in Marwencol possess special powers that enable them to come back to life—”respawn”—when killed. To eliminate an SS soldier from Marwencol forever, they must be banished to another dimension by Deja Thoris, and beheaded by the mythical Knight of Marwencol.

The Knight of Marwencol

Nationality: Unknown

Rank: Knight

Counterpart: None

Backstory: The Knight of Marwencol lives in a parallel universe—a mythical land of green hills and blue skies. His identity is a secret to everyone except Deja Thoris. When someone misbehaves in Marwencol, Deja has the power to magically transport them to the land of the Knight of Marwencol, where justice is swiftly dealt by the knight’s sword. Once someone is beheaded by the knight, they can never return to Marwencol. It is the only way to permanently kill a member of the SS.

A. Hitler and his men walking into Marwencol.

B. A curious SS soldier interrupts the women of Marwencol as they bathe together in the river.

C. Two Nazi soldiers flip their Kübelwagen during an ambush.

D. A German named Viktor drags his raft up the west bank of the River Mulva.

Green Leader (G. L.)

Nationality: American

Rank: Three-Star General

Counterpart: Green Leader, head of the Ultimate Soldier website

Backstory: Green Leader (G. L.) is Marwencol’s highest-ranking American soldier, leading Hogie and his fellow troops in battle.

The Ultimate Soldiers

Mark met some of Marwencol’s most important residents through the Ultimate Soldier website. Led by G. L., these men come from around the world to serve in key positions throughout Marwencol. Some of the Ultimate Soldiers include, from left to right, ILAF, Rich, Mailman, Medi-Jeep, Irish, Tank Mechanic, Greaylin, Tonjes, Sgt. Howard, Warriors 1st BN, B. C. Ries, Storm, and Mike.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Characters