Supervillain Origins: The Red Skull
advertisement
VOICE OVER: Rebecca Brayton
He is a German who was discovered and personally trained by Hitler to become his right hand man. As a symbol of fear, he was given an identity based around a grotesque red skull mask and made the head of Nazi terrorist activities. In that role he took on a wide variety of missions, which involved carrying out assassinations and serving as the the embodiment of Nazi intimidation. As a result, he spurred the creation of his polar opposite, Captain America, a costumed superhero that stood for good and freedom. Clashing throughout the second war, he was eventually buried under rubble and exposed to experimental gas, which kept him alive for several decades in a state of suspended animation. Uncovered by the terrorist organization HYDRA, he quickly turned the attention of its resources toward the goal of world domination and the death of his enemy, who had survived the decades frozen in arctic ice. Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we take a look at the origin of The Red Skull.
Super Villain Origins: The Red Skull
He is the arch villain of Captain America and one of the most ruthless symbols of terror. Welcome to Watchmojo.com and today we will explore the origins of the Red Skull.
As with most comic book characters, there are often re-imaginations and different versions to a character’s past. We have chosen to primarily follow the storyline, which unfolded in the original Captain America Comics #1 & 7 and Tales of Suspense #65 & 66 & 80.
Johann Schmidt was raised in an orphanage, and grew up on the streets as a beggar and a thief. Following the Nazi’s rise to power, he had a chance encounter with Adolf Hitler, who sensed his dark inner nature. He was then instantly given the job of Gestapo chief.
Seeking to transform him into the perfect Nazi and his right hand man, Hitler personally trained Schmidt, giving him a new identity based around a grotesque red skull mask.
Answerable only to Hitler, the Red Skull became a master of disguise and the head of Nazi terrorist activities, external espionage and sabotage. In these roles, he took on a wide variety of missions, which involved spreading terror and carrying out assassinations.
As the embodiment of Nazi intimidation, The Red Skull spurred the creation of his polar opposite, Captain America, a costumed superhero that stood for good and freedom.
Leading a ring of spies, The Red Skull spread fear through his hypnotic gaze and use of deadly drugs. One of these spies was his decoy George John Maxon, an American businessman-turned-Nazi secret agent.
Clashing throughout the war with Captain America and his sidekick Bucky, The Red Skull was eventually buried under the rubble of a bombed building. Exposed to experimental gas, he was kept alive for several decades in a state of suspended animation.
Impersonated over the years by other fascists, his reputation stayed strong until he was uncovered in modern times by the Terrorist organization HYDRA. Creating his own terrorist cell, Red Skull quickly turned the attention of its resources toward the goal of world domination and the death of Captain America, who had survived the decades frozen in arctic ice.
Although the Red Skull has no real superpowers, he is regarded as a serious threat to Captain America. This is due to his highly gifted military and strategic mind, and expertise in combat and weaponry. He is also well known for his use of the ‘Dust of Death,’ which comes from a trick cigarette that shoots a fatal poison gas, and causes the victim’s head to resemble a red skull by shriveling and turning crimson.
He is the arch villain of Captain America and one of the most ruthless symbols of terror. Welcome to Watchmojo.com and today we will explore the origins of the Red Skull.
As with most comic book characters, there are often re-imaginations and different versions to a character’s past. We have chosen to primarily follow the storyline, which unfolded in the original Captain America Comics #1 & 7 and Tales of Suspense #65 & 66 & 80.
Johann Schmidt was raised in an orphanage, and grew up on the streets as a beggar and a thief. Following the Nazi’s rise to power, he had a chance encounter with Adolf Hitler, who sensed his dark inner nature. He was then instantly given the job of Gestapo chief.
Seeking to transform him into the perfect Nazi and his right hand man, Hitler personally trained Schmidt, giving him a new identity based around a grotesque red skull mask.
Answerable only to Hitler, the Red Skull became a master of disguise and the head of Nazi terrorist activities, external espionage and sabotage. In these roles, he took on a wide variety of missions, which involved spreading terror and carrying out assassinations.
As the embodiment of Nazi intimidation, The Red Skull spurred the creation of his polar opposite, Captain America, a costumed superhero that stood for good and freedom.
Leading a ring of spies, The Red Skull spread fear through his hypnotic gaze and use of deadly drugs. One of these spies was his decoy George John Maxon, an American businessman-turned-Nazi secret agent.
Clashing throughout the war with Captain America and his sidekick Bucky, The Red Skull was eventually buried under the rubble of a bombed building. Exposed to experimental gas, he was kept alive for several decades in a state of suspended animation.
Impersonated over the years by other fascists, his reputation stayed strong until he was uncovered in modern times by the Terrorist organization HYDRA. Creating his own terrorist cell, Red Skull quickly turned the attention of its resources toward the goal of world domination and the death of Captain America, who had survived the decades frozen in arctic ice.
Although the Red Skull has no real superpowers, he is regarded as a serious threat to Captain America. This is due to his highly gifted military and strategic mind, and expertise in combat and weaponry. He is also well known for his use of the ‘Dust of Death,’ which comes from a trick cigarette that shoots a fatal poison gas, and causes the victim’s head to resemble a red skull by shriveling and turning crimson.
