Debuting in 1965, the comic was written by Robert Kanigher and drawn by Joe Kubert and the character has been revived several times since by other writers and artists.

[4] The stories were often a stark contrast between the dark brooding character Von Hammer and his softer, kinder side as in Star Spangled War Stories #148 where Von Hammer rescues a little dog he names "Schatzi" and proceeds to befriend him, even introducing him to his dark hunting companion the gray wolf who accepts little Schatzi rather than eating him.

Unlike most comic book characters, Von Hammer does not have an arch-enemy, though a French pilot known as The Hangman was a persistent opponent.

Created by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert, the Enemy Ace was based loosely on Manfred von Richthofen.

A more recent work is Garth Ennis's Enemy Ace: War in Heaven (2001), with art by Chris Weston and Russ Heath.

In 1945, after bailing out of his damaged aircraft, he inadvertently parachutes into the Dachau concentration camp and is outraged to discover the German perpetration of the Holocaust.

His patience with the Nazi regime at an end, Von Hammer proposes a mutiny upon returning to his airbase and later surrenders his Jagdverband to advancing Allied troops, namely Sgt.

[1] Von Hammer makes a guest appearance of sorts as an opponent of General Wade Eiling's father in a tale set during the First World War.

[6] In Dark Nights: Death Metal, Enemy Ace is among the superheroes who Batman resurrects using a Black Lantern ring.

The mastermind behind the sabotage is stunt pilot Heinrich Frans, who bears a strong resemblance to Von Hammer and claims that he was his ancestor.

An unnamed gorilla wearing Enemy Ace's costume appears as a minor character in 2019's Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen.