RED SKULL: The Agent Of A Thousand Faces
Wherever there was injustice, tyranny, ruthlessness, the RED SKULL was there leading the attack on the weak and helpless!
Who is RED SKULL?
A long-time enemy of Captain America, Johann Schmidt is a proud Nazi general and the embodiment of evil, fear, and horror. Many had shared the name of RED SKULL but Schmidt is the one true RED SKULL, his first appearance is on Captain America Comics #7 (Oct 1941).
Schmidt longed for a master who would show him the way to achieve power. Years later, after the Nazis had come to power in Germany, Shcmidt was working in a hotel where the dictator of Germany's Third Reich, Adolf Hitler, came one day to stay. That night Shcmidt brought refreshments to Hitler's suite and found Hitler berating the chief of the Gestapo for letting a spy escape. On hearing Hitler's voice, Schmidt decided that Hitler was the master he had sought. When Hitler ranted to the Gestapo chief that "I could teach that bellboy to do a better job than you!" the dictator then looked closely at Schmidt arid saw the bellboy's hatred, of all mankind, an emotion that Hitler asserted he himself shared. Schmidt saw in Hitler's eyes all of his own fears and frustrations, the embodiment of evil, and a model after which he could pattern himself. Inspired, Hitler declared that he would make the bellboy into a "perfect Nazi" who would serve as his right-hand man. Schmidt eagerly agreed to do what Hitler wished.
Hitler personally trained Schmidt, and he gave him a lifelike RED SKULL-like head mask and named him the RED SKULL. The Skull was answerable only to Hitler himself.
The Skull undertook a wide variety of missions for Hitler, most of which involved the Skull's specialty, the spreading of terror.
As World War II raged on, Hitler vowed, that if he could not conquer the world, he would destroy it. To achieve this end, the Skull proposed the construction of five terrifiying gigantic war machines, to be called the Sleepers.
The hero Captain America tracked the RED SKULL down to his hidden bunker. The RED SKULL was about to hurl an armed hand grenade at his nemesis when Captain America threw his shield at him. The grenade went off, but the RED SKULL was not killed, thanks to his body armor. He was, however; seriously hurt and partially buried in debris. Thinking he was dying, the Skull defiantly told Captain America that the Sleepers would avenge the Nazis' defeat. RED SKULL miraculously survived the bunker cave-in but an experimental gas from some canisters leaked out in the bunker which placed the RED SKULL into suspended animation during which his wounds slowly healed.
Years later the RED SKULL is found by HYDRA. By this time the first three Sleepers had already been destroyed by Captain America. Adolf Hitler is already dead, with the fuhrer gone, RED SKULL believes that he should now rule the world, the RED SKULL made repeated attempts at world domination.
RED SKULL with the Cosmic Cube, a weapon he thinks would help him in world domination.
The RED SKULL learned to his horror that the effects of the experimental gas that had kept him from aging while he was in suspended animation were reversing themselves. Determined that he and Captain America should perish together, the Skull captured Captain America and injected both of them with a poison that gave them only hours left to live. The two ancient adversaries engaged in hand-to-hand combat, and once more Captain America overpowered the Skull. Defeated, the Skull finally expired due to old age. His body was burned thereafter. Captain America was cured of the effects of the poison.
Unknown to the world, however, the Nazi scientist Armin Zola had preserved the mind of the Schmidt, RED SKULL at death, and transferred it into a clone of Steve Rogers, Captain America. Alive again, RED SKULL denounced Nazism as an outdated philosophy, and became determined to destroy America from within, using its own capitalism. When he had another face-off with his long-time nemesis,Steve Rogers who was going by the name The Captain, Schmidt accidentally dosed himself with the Dust of Death, giving him a permanent "RED SKULL" visage.
Now actually bearing a RED SKULL he continue his quest of spreading evil, fear, and horror.
Animated Appearances
The Marvel Super Heroes (1966)
The RED SKULL appears in several episodes of Captain America in the The Marvel Super Heroes (1966), he was voiced by Paul Kligman.
Marvel Super-Heroes Captain America - Chapters... by RenaudMan
Spider-man (1981)
RED SKULL appears in the 1981 Spider-Man episode "The Capture of Captain America" voiced by Peter Cullen. RED SKULL abducted Captain America in order to place his mind in The Captain's body.
Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends
The war mongering RED SKULL next will then be seen in Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends episode "Quest of the RED SKULL." By now you may be sensing that there wasn't much variety in his appearance.
Spider-Man: The Animated Series
RED SKULL appears in the 1994 Spider-Man cartoon voiced by Earl Boen.
X-Men Animated Series
He also appeared in the 90's X-Men series episode "Old Soldiers" featuring the team-up of Wolverine and Cap.
Super Hero Squad Show
RED SKULL appears in the The Super Hero Squad Show episode "Wrath of the RED SKULL" voiced by Mark Hamill in a stereotypical German accent.
The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes
RED SKULL appears in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes episode "Meet Captain America" voiced by Steven Blum. In this show, he is depicted as HYDRA's Super-Soldier.
LIVE APPEARANCES
Scott Paulin
In the 1990 film, Captain America, RED SKULL was portrayed by Scott Paulinl. In this adaptation, the character is an Italian Fascist officer called Tadzio de Santis, who had been kidnapped by the Italian army stormtroopers for their experiments when he was a child; his family is murdered immediately afterward. Cooperating with German scientists, they succeed in creating their first (and only) "übermensch".
Hugo Weaving
The RED SKULL will be the antagonist in Captain America: The First Avenger, portrayed by Hugo Weaving. In the film, RED SKULL is also the commander of terrorist organization HYDRA.
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POWERS & ABILITIES
Note: Due to the nature of comicbooks being an on-going tale, the character's powers along with his appearance, is in a constant state of flux.
Peak Human Strength: This body allowed the RED SKULL's physical strength to be enhanced to the very peak of human potential, allowing him to military press around 800 pounds.
Peak Human Speed: RED SKULL is able to run at a speed of approximately 30 miles per hour.
Peak Human Agility: This body allowed the RED SKULL to have agility superior to that of any Olympic athlete that has ever competed.
Peak Human Stamina: RED SKULL's body eliminates the excessive build-up of fatigue-producing poisons in his muscles, granting him phenomenal endurance. He can exert himself at peak capacity for an hour without rest before showing any signs of fatigue.
Peak Human Durability: Ability to resist or recover from injury and disease are superior to those of ordinary humans. This explains how he has survived the physical punishment during his career.
Peak Human Metabolism: Enhanced metabolism allows him to heal faster than normal when recovering from injury. Gunshot wounds and broken limbs heal within days, and lesser injuries can heal in just a few hours. This metabolism also renders him virtually immune to most poisons, including intoxication by consuming alcohol.
Peak Human Mental Process: His mind is able to operate in the most efficient and rapid manner possible.
Peak Human Reflexes: TPossess reaction time superior to any Olympic athlete that has ever competed.
Peak Human Perception: Possesses keen eyesight and hearing.
Strategic Genius: The RED SKULL is a master of political, military, and subversive strategy, as well as a brilliant planner and organizer.
Hand to Hand Combat: RED SKULL is a fine hand to hand combatant, and a brilliant fencer and skilled marksman.
Sources: http://www.comicvine.com/red-skull/29-2250/ : http://marvel.wikia.com/Red_Skull : http://marvel.wikia.com/Category:Johann_Shmidt_(Earth-616)/Quotes : http://marvel.wikia.com/Johann_Shmidt_(Earth-616)/Gallery : http://marvel.wikia.com/Johann_Shmidt_(Earth-616) : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Skull : http://www.watchmojo.com/index.php?id=8762 : http://superheroshows.blogspot.com/2010/03/spotlight-on-red-skull.html
This is the 76th article in my Know Your CBM Character series. Any requests and suggestions for an article for this series write it down in the comment section BELOW.
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