Red Skull

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The Red Skull, born Johann Schmidt,[note 1] was an infamous Nazi commander during World War II, known for his eponymous grotesque red mask. During the war, he was the nemesis of Captain America.

Biography

Origin

Johann Schmidt was a poor orphan living in the streets of Germany in the early 20th century, struggling to eat, survive, and hold a basic job. He was a young man working as a hotel bellhop when Adolf Hitler rose to power as Germany's chancellor.[note 2] Hitler stayed at the hotel that night, and Schmidt served him. Hitler saw the potential for violence and hatred in Schmidt's eyes and personally recruited him to the Nazi cause. Hitler personally trained and groomed Schmidt to be the perfect Nazi commander: in his words, "evil personified." He gave Schmidt a "Red Skull" mask and a distinctive and eye-catching Nazi uniform. As World War II began, Red Skull became infamous as a cruel, merciless commander, leading numerous attacks against "weak and helpless" citizens across Europe. His cruelty and ambition became so strong that he sought Hitler's position at the head of the Nazi regime, and punished those who answered to Hitler before him.

1941

Red Skull rose to such prominence that he began sending spies disguised in a replica of his mask on various missions.[note 3] Captain America, a brave soldier empowered by the super-soldier serum, emerged as the ultimate hero of the Allies, along with his sidekick Bucky. A fleet led by Red Skull attacked a sea convoy that Cap was aboard and took him captive. The arrogant Schmidt told Cap how he came to be the Red Skull, and a Nazi scientist gave Cap a drug that made his mind highly susceptible to influence. After passing out from the drug, Cap awoke and Red Skull reprogrammed him into a loyal Nazi soldier designed to kill a top Allied military commander.[1] This plan worked perfectly until the time came for Cap's mission in London, when he had his finger on the trigger to commit the murder: the cognitive dissonance involved in such an act caused him to snap out of his brainwashing and fight back against his Nazi handlers.[2] Red Skull focused his attention on Project Vanish, a potent vanishing ray developed by the English. He had one of the Nazis captured in the previous mission break out and locate the weapon, but he was once again taken down by Cap and Bucky, and the weapon was destroyed in the process.[3]

Notes

  1. Red Skull's name is frequently spelled "Shmidt," but this is a clear misspelling of the common German surname "Schmidt."
  2. Red Skull's recounting of his youth is told somewhat broadly, and it's unclear exactly when he first saw Hitler. In any case, in our universe, Hitler became chancellor in 1933.
  3. See Red Skull (George Maxon).

See also

References

  1. Tales of Suspense #66b: "The Fantastic Origin of the Red Skull." (June 1965) Lee, Stan (w), Kirby, Jack (p), Stone, Chic (i), Simek, Artie (let).
  2. Tales of Suspense #67b: "Lest Tyranny Triumph!" (July 1965) Lee, Stan (w), Kirby, Jack (p), Ray, Frank (i), Simek, Artie (let).
  3. Tales of Suspense #68b: "The Sentinel and the Spy!" (August 1965) Lee, Stan (w), Kirby, Jack (p), Ray, Frank (i), Rosen, Sam (let).