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'{{Infobox comics character<!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics--> |image = capa038.jpg |caption = Red Skull as seen in the promotional art for ''Captain America'' vol. 5 #38 (July 2008) by [[Steve Epting]]. |character_name = Red Skull |real_name = Johann Schmidt |publisher = [[Marvel Comics]] |debut = ''[[Captain America Comics]]'' #7 (October 1941) |creators = [[Joe Simon]]<br>[[Jack Kirby]] |partners = [[Sin (Marvel Comics)|Sin]]<br>[[Baron Strucker]]<br>[[Viper (Madame Hydra)|The Viper]]<br>[[Baron Helmut Zemo]]<br>[[Crossbones (comics)|Crossbones]] |alliances = [[Kronas Corporation]]<br>[[Exiles (Red Skull allies)|Exiles]]<br>[[Nazi Germany]] ([[SS-Oberführer]])<br>[[Hydra (comics)|HYDRA]]<br>[[Advanced Idea Mechanics|A.I.M.]]<br>[[ULTIMATUM (comics)|ULTIMATUM]]<br>[[Skeleton Crew (comics)|Skeleton Crew]]<br>[[List of Avengers members#Astonishing Avengers (2014)|Astonishing Avengers]] |aliases = Der Rote Schädel (German name, translation: "The Red Skull"), Senator Dell Rusk, Bettman P. Lyles, the Agent of a Thousand Faces (impersonated in Europe during World War II), the Man (head of the People's Militia), Cyrus Fenton, John Smith (the English version of his natural German name), Teacher, Tod March (president and founder of Galactic Pictures), [[Aleksander Lukin]], the White Skull |powers = *[[Genius]]-level intellect and scientist *Expert tactician, strategist, and field commander *Skilled hand-to-hand combatant and [[marksman]] *Inhabits a cloned body of [[Captain America]] that grants: **Peak human strength, speed and stamina **[[Telepathy]] strong enough to reach out and manipulate countless people with his thought-waves **[[Astral Projection]] }} The '''Red Skull''' ('''Johann Schmidt''') is a [[fictional character]], a [[supervillain]] appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[Marvel Comics]]. The character is usually depicted as the [[archenemy]] of the [[superhero]] [[Captain America]].<ref>{{cite web| url= http://comicbooks.about.com/od/characters/tp/archenemies.htm|title=Top Ten Comic Book Archenemies - Superhero and Villain Arch-rivals| last= Albert | first= Aaron| website= [[About.com]]| accessdate= 2008-06-25}}</ref> Portrayed as a [[Nazi Germany|Nazi]] agent, the character was created by [[Joe Simon]] and [[Jack Kirby]], and first appeared in ''[[Captain America Comics]]'' #7 (October 1941). The character has been adapted to a variety of other media platforms, including [[animated]] [[television series]], [[video games]] and live-action [[feature films]]. He was portrayed by actor [[Scott Paulin]] in the 1990 [[direct-to-video]] film ''[[Captain America (1990 film)|Captain America]]'', and then by [[Hugo Weaving]] in the 2011 film ''[[Captain America: The First Avenger]]'' and by [[Ross Marquand]] in the 2018 film ''[[Avengers: Infinity War]]'', the latter two both set in the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]]. The Red Skull was ranked number 21 on [[Wizard (magazine)|''Wizard'' magazine]]'s Top 100 Greatest Villains Ever list and ranked as [[IGN]]'s 14th Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.ign.com/top/comic-book-villains/14.html|title = Red Skull is number 14|work = [[IGN]]|publisher = [[News Corporation]]}}</ref> ==Publication history== While considering ideas for an appropriate archenemy for Captain America, writer and artist [[Joe Simon]] saw a [[Fudge#Hot fudge|hot fudge]] [[sundae]] melting and noticed it resembled a human figure. Inspired, Simon at first considered calling his new villain "Hot Fudge". However, as the cherry on top of the sundae seemed like an exposed skull, he finally decided on "Red Skull" as a more appropriate moniker.<ref>{{cite web|last=Reagan|first=Robot|title=From ice cream to Red Skull: Joe Simon explains creation of character|url=http://geektyrant.com/news/2011/6/24/from-ice-cream-to-red-skull-joe-simon-explains-creation-of-c.html|publisher=Geektyrant.com|accessdate=23 December 2011}}</ref> The original Red Skull was introduced in [[Timely Comics]]' ''[[Captain America Comics]]'' #1 ([[cover-date]]d March 1941) which was written and drawn by the team of Joe Simon and [[Jack Kirby]].<ref>{{cite book| title= Interview| last= Kirby| first= Jack| interviewer= Bruce Hamilton| work= Rocket's Blast ComiCollector ''#81'' |year= 1971}}</ref><ref>{{cite book| last= Steranko| first= Jim| title= The Steranko History of Comics| volume= 1 | publisher= Supergraphics| year= 1970| page= 53}}</ref><ref>In a 1975 interview with Steve Sherman at the 1975 [[San Diego Comic Con]], Kirby said of Ed Herron, "He also fathered the Red Skull."{{citation needed|date=May 2013}}</ref> The Skull was to appear again in issue #3 of ''Captain America Comics''. As in issue #1, The Red Skull's secret identity is George Maxon, the owner of the Maxon Aircraft Company that makes airplanes for the US Army. Maxon wears a mask to create the look of the Red Skull and his face is often exposed. As the Red Skull, Maxon attempts to rob banks in order to raise money to overthrow the US government. In the comic he says, "Of course you realize the main item in overthrowing the government is money." A new, more lasting version of the Red Skull was introduced in ''Captain America'' #7 (October 1941). This Skull claims to be the real one and states that George Maxon was but a pawn posing as the Red Skull. In later comics this Red Skull is identified as the Nazi, Johann Schmidt. After an absence from comics for many years, both Captain America and the Red Skull were brought back in 1954 in ''Young Men Comics'' #24, in a story entitled "Back From The Dead". Here the Red Skull, thinking Captain America was dead, has left politics and started a big criminal enterprise in the United States. In his next appearance, in issue #27, the Red Skull is once again left for dead. The character was subsequently revived during the [[Silver Age of Comic Books]], first in ''[[Tales of Suspense]]'' #65 (May 1965) in a Captain America World War II-period story run, and then was established as a contemporary villain in issue #79 (July 1966). In that issue it is revealed that the Red Skull, like Steve Rogers, had been in suspended animation since World War II. For decades, the character's true face was hidden, but in ''[[Captain America (comic book)|Captain America]]'' #297 (September 1984) the Red Skull unmasks in front of Captain America and his face, albeit extremely aged, is fully revealed. In the next issue, the Red Skull retells his story with his face fully visible in his various ages. When the character is revealed to be alive in issue #350 (February 1989), in a story called "Resurrection", by [[Mark Gruenwald]], the face of Johann Schmidt's original body is hidden again, but the Skull's face is fully visible, albeit in his cloned copy of Captain America's body. The character's origin was more fully illustrated in the limited series, ''Red Skull: Incarnate'', with Schmidt's face fully visible again. ==Fictional character biography== ===Johann Schmidt=== Johann Schmidt was a Nazi general officer and confidant of [[Adolf Hitler]]. He has been closely affiliated with [[Hydra (comics)|Hydra]] and is an enemy of [[S.H.I.E.L.D.]], the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]], and the interests of the [[United States]] and the [[free world]] in general. He was physically augmented by having his mind placed into the body of a [[cloning|clone]] of Captain America, the pinnacle of human perfection. He has been seemingly killed in the past, only to return time and time again to plague the world with schemes of world domination and [[genocide]]. ====World War II era==== Johann Schmidt was born in a village in [[Germany]] to Hermann Schmidt and Martha Schmidt. His mother died in childbirth, and his father blamed Johann for her death. Johann's father tried to drown the baby, only to be stopped by the attending doctor; he later committed suicide, leaving Johann an orphan. The doctor took Johann to an orphanage, where the child led a lonely existence. Johann ran away from the orphanage when he was seven years old and lived on the streets as a beggar and thief. As he grew older, he worked at various menial jobs but spent most of his time in prison for crimes ranging from vagrancy to theft. As a young man, Schmidt was from time to time employed by a [[Jew]]ish shopkeeper, whose daughter Esther was the only person who had treated Schmidt kindly up to that point. Seized with passion for Esther, Schmidt tried to force himself upon her, only for her to reject him. In unthinking fury, Schmidt murdered her. Schmidt fled the scene in terror but also felt ecstatic joy in committing his first murder. In killing Esther, he had given vent to the rage at the world that had been building up in him throughout his young life.<ref name="Captain America #298">''Captain America'' #298</ref> According to the official version of the story told by Red Skull and the Nazis, Schmidt met Hitler while working as a [[bellhop]] in a hotel. This occurred during his late teens, around the same time that the [[Nazi Party]] gained power in Germany. Schmidt wound up serving Hitler's rooms at the hotel. By chance, Schmidt was present by bringing refreshments when the Führer was furiously scolding an officer for letting a spy escape, during which Hitler declared that he could create a better National Socialist out of the bellhop. Looking closely at the youth and sensing his dark inner nature, Hitler decided to act on his words and recruited Schmidt.<ref name="Captain America #298"/> In the miniseries ''Red Skull: Incarnate'', it has been revealed that Schmidt actually engineered his meeting with the Führer with himself disguised as a bellhop, tricking his fellow orphan Dieter into trying to kill Hitler and then taking this opportunity to save Hitler's life.<ref>''Red Skull: Incarnate'' #5</ref> Dissatisfied with the standard [[Drill instructor|drill instruction]] his subordinates used to train Schmidt, Hitler took over personally, training Schmidt as his [[wikt:right hand man|right-hand man]]. Upon completion, Hitler gave Schmidt a unique uniform with a grotesque red [[human skull|skull]] mask, and he emerged as the Red Skull (in literal German: ''Roter Totenkopf'' or ''Roter (Toten-)Schädel'') for the first time. His role was the embodiment of Nazi intimidation, while Hitler could remain the popular leader of Germany. To that end, Red Skull was appointed head of Nazi [[terrorism|terrorist]] activities with an additional large role in external [[espionage]] and [[sabotage]]. He succeeded, wreaking havoc throughout Europe in the early stages of [[World War II]]. The [[propaganda]] effect was so great that the United States government decided to counter it by creating their own equivalent using the one recipient of the lost [[Weapon Plus#Weapon I|Project Rebirth]]: Steve Rogers.<ref name="Captain America #298"/> In Europe during the war, Red Skull took personal command of many military actions and personally supervised the takeovers and lootings of many cities and towns; in various cases Red Skull ordered and supervised the eradication of the entire population of such communities. Red Skull also organized a "wolf pack" of submarines which preyed upon shipping across the world, often under Red Skull's personal command.<ref>''Tales of Suspense'' #66</ref> At first, Hitler took great pride in his protégé's successes and let Red Skull have anything he wanted. Hitler thus financed the construction of secret bases for Red Skull in various locations throughout the world, many of which were equipped with highly advanced experimental weapons and devices developed by Nazi scientists. Red Skull was particularly interested in procuring technological weapons that could be used for the purposes of subversion and warfare. During the war he stole plans for the nullatron, a device that could control human minds, adapted a space-warping device developed by the cyborg scientist codenamed [[Brain Drain (comics)|Brain Drain]], and commissioned Nazi scientists to develop a projector which could encircle and suspend sections of cities within spheres of energy. But while Red Skull always admired Hitler for his ideological vision, he was never fully content with being Hitler's subordinate. Red Skull kidnapped and killed many of Hitler's closest advisers and eventually rose to become the second-most powerful man in the [[Third Reich]]. Now Hitler could no longer effectively control Red Skull and came to fear him, especially since Red Skull had made little secret of his ambition to supplant Hitler someday. After the renowned military officer [[Baron Wolfgang von Strucker]] had a falling out with Hitler, Red Skull sent Strucker to [[Japan]] to found an organization that would prepare the way for takeovers in the Far East under Red Skull's leadership.<ref>''Tales of Suspense'' #66</ref> In the Far East, Strucker joined a subversive organization that came to be known as [[Hydra (comics)|HYDRA]], broke his ties with Red Skull, became head of HYDRA and made it into a major threat to world peace.{{issue|date=November 2011}} As World War II raged on, Hitler vowed that if he could not conquer the world, he would destroy it. To achieve this end, Red Skull proposed the construction of five gigantic war machines, to be called the Sleepers, which would be hidden in various locations while they generated and stored the power they would need, and then be released at a future date, "Der Tag" ("The Day" in German), to destroy the Earth if the Allies won the war. Hitler enthusiastically instructed Red Skull to construct the Sleepers, unaware that Red Skull intended to use them to conquer the world himself if Hitler's Third Reich fell. In the closing days of the war in Europe, Allied intelligence received reports of a Nazi doomsday plan, codenamed "Der Tag", to be implemented after Hitler's defeat. However, the Allies had no idea what the plan entailed. Captain America, often with teenage partner [[Bucky Barnes]], fought against and thwarted Red Skull and his plans many times during the war. The heroes also fought the Red Skull when they were members of the [[Invaders (comics)|Invaders]]. Once they were captured by him, and Captain America was placed under Nazi control by a drug and told to assassinate the supreme commander of the Allied armies in Europe, but thanks to Bucky he broke free.<ref>''Tales of Suspense'' #67</ref> During the final days of World War II in Europe, Captain America and Bucky were assigned to England to prevent desperate Nazi efforts at sabotaging Allied supply bases there.{{issue|date=November 2011}} Red Skull sent a number of his subordinates who became known as the [[Exiles (Red Skull allies)|Exiles]], and a large contingent of loyal German soldiers and their wives to a secret island base ("Exile Island"), where they would organize an army for use in the future.{{issue|date=November 2011}} The two counterparts soon clashed for the first time.<ref>''Adventures of Captain America'' #1–4</ref> Red Skull later temporarily brainwashed three of the Invaders into serving him.<ref>''Invaders'' #5–6</ref> The Red Skull and Captain America continued to engage in a series of skirmishes throughout the war. On one occasion, Red Skull captured Captain America and told him his origin. He placed Captain America under his control and tried to use him to kill a high-ranking officer but with Bucky's help Captain America broke free.<ref>''Tales of Suspense'' #66–68</ref> Now that the German defeat was becoming a reality, Red Skull was more determined than ever to obtain vengeance for his numerous personal defeats by Captain America and Bucky. Red Skull assigned [[Baron Heinrich Zemo]] to go to England, and, under the cover of stealing an experimental Allied drone plane, to capture or kill Captain America and Bucky. However, Red Skull was unaware that the Allies had just secretly parachuted Captain America into beleaguered Berlin to investigate "Der Tag".{{issue|date=November 2011}} Finally, Captain America tracked Red Skull down to his hidden bunker. Red Skull was about to hurl an armed [[hand grenade]] at his nemesis when Captain America threw his shield at him. The grenade exploded, but Red Skull was not killed, due to his body armor. He was, however, seriously hurt and partially buried in debris. Thinking he was dying, Red Skull defiantly told Captain America that the Sleepers would avenge the Nazis' defeat. Then, suddenly, an [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] attack on [[Berlin]] began. An Allied plane dropped a huge [[blockbuster bomb]] on the bunker, causing a cave-in that Captain America barely escaped. Captain America was picked up by the Allies and returned to England only to fall into Zemo's trap, which led to Bucky's supposed death and Captain America's falling into [[suspended animation]] for decades. Support pillars that crisscrossed over Red Skull when the bunker caved in saved him from being struck by tons of rubble when the bomb hit. The cave-in released an experimental gas from canisters in the bunker which put Red Skull into suspended animation, during which time his wounds slowly healed.<ref>''Tales of Suspense'' #79</ref> ===Post-World War II era=== ====Modern era==== [[File:Skullcosmic.png|left|thumb|The Red Skull wielding the [[Cosmic Cube]]: ''Tales of Suspense'' #80 (Aug. 1966). Cover art by [[Jack Kirby]] and [[Don Heck]].]] Johann Schmidt's legacy continues to cause trouble by way of the [[Sleeper (Marvel Comics)|Sleepers]] which are activated by his agents as scheduled. Captain America neutralizes all the machines in turn.{{issue|date=January 2013}} Johann Schmidt is eventually rescued and revived from suspended animation in modern times by the terrorist organization [[Advanced Idea Mechanics|A.I.M.]]. Red Skull quickly subverts a cell to his own ambitions of world conquest and the death of Captain America. He steals the [[Cosmic Cube]] after taking control of its Keeper's mind with a device he planted while shaking hands, and reveals that he gave [[Baron Zemo|Zemo]] the order to steal the bomb plane that led to Bucky Barnes' death. He had a rivalry with Zemo, and hoped to set his two foes against each other. Captain America learns, from the dying pilot of a plane that had been following the Keeper's plane, that the Cube had been used to destroy the plane. Schmidt tells another A.I.M. member of his plans after getting a mind control device on him, then causes him to shoot himself. He fights Captain America again for the first time in years after getting the Cube on an island. He begins sending Captain America to another dimension when Captain America offers to become his servant. Red Skull encases himself in a golden suit of armor, and talks of creating a new order of knights. Captain America gets close to him while the Red Skull prepares to knight him. Captain America tries to get the Cube, and in the fight the island splits apart from the Cube's power, and the Skull falls off a cliff while trying to get the Cosmic Cube.<ref>''Tales of Suspense'' #79–81</ref> When Johann reappears, he and Albert Malik start to antagonize each other while both claiming the identity of Red Skull.{{Issue|date=April 2009}} Finally Malik is the victim of an assassination organized by Red Skull, through a rogue agent of the [[Scourge of the Underworld]].<ref name="Captain America #347">''Captain America'' #347</ref> Red Skull captures part of Manhattan Island,<ref>''Tales of Suspense'' #88–91</ref> unleashes the fourth Sleeper, and captures Captain America on [[Exiles (Red Skull allies)|Exile Island]].<ref>''Captain America'' #101–104</ref> The Skull then regains the Cosmic Cube and temporarily switches bodies with Captain America. He also uses the Cube to alter the personality of [[Falcon (comics)|Sam "Snap" Wilson]].<ref>''Captain America'' #114–119</ref> Some time later in his first appearance outside of a title featuring Captain America, he fights [[Doctor Doom]].<ref>''Astonishing Tales'' #4–5</ref> Red Skull then foments racial hatred in New York,<ref>''Captain America'' #143</ref> and is revealed as the true power behind the Las Vegas HYDRA faction, and clashes with [[Kingpin (character)|the Kingpin]].<ref>''Captain America'' #148</ref> Some time later, Red Skull kills Roscoe (another wearer of the Captain America mantle). He also revives the use of his "dust of death".<ref>''Captain America'' #182, 184–186</ref> Red Skull later fights Doctor Doom on the moon but is defeated.<ref>''Super-Villain Team-Up'' #10–12</ref> With [[Arnim Zola]], Red Skull seeks to transplant Hitler's brain into Captain America's body.<ref>''Captain America'' #210–212</ref> He transforms a number of [[S.H.I.E.L.D.]] agents into his red skull-faced slaves.<ref>''Captain America'' #226–227</ref> Red Skull teams with the [[Hate-Monger]], a clone of Hitler, and traps him in a flawed Cosmic Cube.<ref>''Super-Villain Team-Up'' #16–17</ref> The Skull leads the Nihilist Order for a brief time.<ref>''Captain America'' #261–263</ref> Establishing a Nazi colony on a deserted island, Red Skull fathers a daughter who would eventually become known as [[Sin (Marvel Comics)|Mother Superior]].<ref>''Captain America'' #290</ref> The gas that placed Red Skull in suspended animation wears off and his body rapidly [[aging|ages]] to his actual years. Now physically weak and feeble in his mid-80s, Red Skull plans a final showdown with his archrival. Kidnapping Captain America's closest allies, he forces Captain America to surrender himself to a medical treatment that ages his body to its rightful age. The two men, their bodies now ancient, fight a battle to the death. When Captain America refuses to kill him, Red Skull dies cursing Captain America as his elderly body shuts down.<ref>''Captain America'' #293–300</ref> ====Resurrection==== Nazi geneticist [[Arnim Zola]] had obtained DNA samples of Captain America years earlier and arranged for Red Skull's mind to be transplanted into a clone body of Captain America at the moment of his death. Assuming the identity of "'''John Smith'''" (the English equivalent of his natural German name), Red Skull decides to reinvent himself and his quest for absolute power as a means to celebrate his cheating death. Red Skull abandons his longstanding beliefs in National Socialism and Hitler, on the belief that the Nazi philosophy made him look like a relic of the past, and turns towards American ideology. Red Skull sees much potential in the American dream of capitalism and self-determination and sets about establishing his own foothold inside Washington DC, culminating in him gaining control over the [[Commission on Superhuman Activities]], a government body in Washington that monitors and regulates superhero activities.{{issue|date=April 2014}} Red Skull also changes his mode of operations: rather than "living from one grand scheme to the next", he begins financing a score of evil organizations that report directly to him, such as the militia group the [[Watchdogs (Marvel Comics)|Watchdogs]]. He also employs one of the [[Scourge of the Underworld|Scourges]], an organization dedicated to killing supervillains.{{issue|date=April 2014}} Red Skull has the Commission remove Steve Rogers from the position of Captain America and replace him with [[Jingoism|jingoist]] [[U.S. Agent (comics)|John Walker]]. Although Walker attempts to live up to his predecessor's ideals, Red Skull arranges for the murders of Walker's parents, driving him insane and into a downward spiral of murder as part of his plan to blacken the name of Captain America.<ref>''Captain America'' #346–348</ref> Red Skull kills his chief pawn in the Commission, right in front of Captain America. About to be exposed, Red Skull tries to manipulate Walker into killing Rogers. When Rogers defeats Walker, Red Skull appears to gloat at what he had done to Rogers, Walker, and the reputation of Captain America. However, Rogers remains openly dubious of his claims to be his dead archenemy. Red Skull tries to kill Rogers with a cigarette holding a lethal dose of the Dust of Death (Red Skull's favorite poison), but Walker hits him from behind with his shield. Red Skull inhales the Dust of Death and his face takes on the appearance of a living red skull; his head loses its hair and its skin shrivels, clinging tightly to his skull, and taking on a red discoloration. Red Skull survives the exposure due to the effects of the [[Captain America#Fictional character biography|Super-Soldier Formula]].<ref>''Captain America'' #350</ref> After this, Red Skull masterminds a conflict between the United States and [[Symkaria]].<ref>''Amazing Spider-Man'' #325</ref> He joins the "[[Acts of Vengeance]]" conspiracy, but is attacked by the mutant terrorist [[Magneto (comics)|Magneto]], a [[Holocaust]] survivor who wants to punish him for his involvement in Hitler's regime. Magneto buries him alive with enough water to last a few months. Red Skull remains imprisoned, close to death and beginning to see the error of his ways, until he is rescued by his henchman [[Crossbones (comics)|Crossbones]]. Feeling ready to die in peace, Red Skull requests to be taken to his private estate's bed, and for Captain America to come see him. Upon seeing his archenemy's face, Red Skull is surprised to feel a sudden burst of hatred that reignites his will to live.<ref>''Captain America'' #364–367, 369–370</ref> Red Skull proposes an alliance with the [[Kingpin (character)|Kingpin]] to bring a new designer drug to New York, but Kingpin refuses to ally with the Nazi and the two engage in a drug war. He then defeats the Red Skull in hand-to-hand combat, sparing his life on the condition that he never come near Kingpin's territory again.<ref>''Captain America'' #376–378</ref> After Red Skull's agents allow fellow Nazi Baron [[Baron Strucker|Wolfgang von Strucker]] to be reborn, the grateful Strucker allows Red Skull the use of [[Hydra (Marvel Comics)|HYDRA]] resources.<ref>''Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.'' #26</ref> Red Skull's tenure in Washington comes to an end when he is captured by [[Hauptmann Deutschland]], and taken to Germany to stand trial for crimes against humanity, stemming from his days as an agent of the Third Reich. Red Skull narrowly escapes and is rescued by [[Arnim Zola]], and forced to fake his death and go into hiding in a Rocky Mountain compound. He recruits [[Viper (Madame Hydra)|Viper]], a move that alienates his minions and is further rocked when his chief henchman Crossbones kidnaps Captain America's girlfriend [[Diamondback (Rachel Leighton)|Diamondback]], resulting in Captain America finding Red Skull's new lair. Red Skull fires Crossbones, and goes into hiding while Viper, using funds she plied from Red Skull as part of a scheme to use televisions across America to blind TV viewers, is defeated by Captain America.<ref>''Captain America'' #387–391, 393–398</ref> Red Skull discovers that he is facing the same permanent paralysis that Captain America was facing due to their exposure to the Super-Soldier Formula.<ref>''Avengers'' vol. 3 #68</ref> When the evil scientist [[Superia]] offers Captain America a cure, Captain America refuses it because Superia said that Captain America would owe her. Red Skull takes the cure and apparently kills Superia, then arranges for Captain America to be kidnapped by his remaining forces and given a blood transfusion that cures him.<ref>''Captain America'' #445</ref> Captain America's recovery segues into a reluctant team-up with Red Skull; a Nazi cult that worshiped Hitler as a god had discovered a Cosmic Cube that contained Hitler's mind, put there by Red Skull himself. The two try to stop the cult from fully powering the Hitler Cosmic Cube but Red Skull opts instead to send Captain America (against his will) into the cube to kill Hitler, imprisoning Captain America in the cube while he uses its power to conquer humanity. Captain America escapes and uses his shield to sever one of Red Skull's arms, causing him to drop the Cube. The Cube becomes unstable, destroying Red Skull.<ref>''Captain America'' #445–448</ref> Trapped in a hellish nightmare dimension and forced to serve as a bellhop to a world of non-European immigrants, Red Skull's will ultimately is so great that he is able to escape his prison. As a result, Red Skull now possesses limited reality warping powers that make him a cosmic threat. He is further aided by [[Korvac]], posing as [[Kang the Conqueror]]. He is sent to [[Galactus]]'s ship to steal more power (in particular the power of omniscience), which would remove all limits to Red Skull's reality warping powers. Skull is ambushed by Korvac, who steals his cosmic powers and banishes him back to Earth.<ref>''Captain America'' vol. 3 #13–19</ref> Red Skull later manipulates his way into the position in the form of [[US Secretary of Defense]] '''Dell Rusk''' (an [[anagram]] of "Red Skull") to develop a biological weapon he tested at Mount Rushmore.<ref>''The Avengers'' vol. 3 #65 (May 2003)</ref> He is exposed and defeated by the Avengers. The [[Black Panther (comics)|Black Panther]] beats him so badly that he breaks Red Skull's jaw in half.<ref>''The Avengers'' vol. 3 #70 (October 2003)</ref> ====Aleksander Lukin==== [[File:Wsoldier11.jpg|thumb|125px|The Red Skull in Alexander Lukin's mind. Art by Steve Epting.]] Red Skull was assassinated by the mysterious Winter Soldier, under orders from the renegade former Soviet general [[Aleksander Lukin]] wanting to possess the new Cosmic Cube Red Skull had manufactured.<ref>''Captain America'' vol. 5 #01</ref> When Red Skull was shot, he attempted to use the Cosmic Cube to switch bodies with Lukin to survive, but as the Cosmic Cube was still weak he only managed to transfer his mind into Lukin's body, so that the two enemies are trapped together, waging a constant war for dominance which Red Skull seems to be progressively winning. During a plot to lure out Captain America, Red Skull/Lukin recruited several German skinheads and made them the successors to the [[Master Man (Marvel Comics)|Master Man]]. He then had these soldiers that are dubbed the "Master Race" launch an attack on London, which was thwarted by Captain America, [[Spitfire (comics)|Spitfire]] and [[Union Jack (comics)|Union Jack]]. Then, Red Skull/Lukin activated a Sleeper, a robot programmed for mass destruction, that was presumably created by Doctor Doom. The robot damaged a significant portion of the new London Kronas HQ, and was ultimately destroyed by Captain America and Bucky. In the aftermath, Red Skull sent a videotape, announcing to the world his return, followed by Lukin holding a press conference condemning the actions of both the Red Skull and Captain America, and supporting the [[Superhuman Registration Act|Superhero Registration Act]]. Then, in his office, Red Skull introduced Lukin to his old/new associates [[Crossbones (comics)|Crossbones]] and [[Sin (Marvel Comics)|Sin]].{{Issue|date=April 2009}} With America's superheroes [[Civil War (comics)|divided over the act]], Red Skull manipulates events to his own ends, with the aid of [[Doctor Faustus (comics)|Doctor Faustus]], [[Doctor Doom]] and [[Arnim Zola]]. His plans involved the reunion of Captain America and his former lover [[Sharon Carter]] being manipulated by Faustus.{{Issue|date=April 2009}} In the immediate aftermath of the Civil War, Red Skull puts his plans into action, arranging for Crossbones to shoot Captain America as he enters a courthouse in New York City; in the ensuing chaos, Carter, acting under Faustus's mental directive, assassinates Captain America. This is only the first phase of Red Skull's evil plan. Upon the discovery of his identity as Lukin, Red Skull fakes his death, and initiates the second part of his plan: using Kronas Corporation's vast holdings to economically cripple the United States, before having S.H.I.E.L.D. agents brainwashed by Doctor Faustus open fire on crowds of protesters in front of the [[White House]]. Red Skull continues his assault by engineering a riot by placing Kronas security troops and drugged water in a protest on the [[Lincoln Monument]].<ref>''Captain America'' vol. 5 #33–35</ref> All of this has apparently been to elevate his puppet politician, Gordon Wright, elevated in the public's eye with being credited as "resolving" the situations, as well as surviving a (staged) attack by the [[Serpent Squad]]. Once elected, Wright will led the country directly into a police state secretly controlled by Red Skull. Red Skull also plans to transfer his consciousness into Sharon's unborn child, apparently sired by Steve Rogers himself and potentially having inherited his Project: Rebirth enhancements.<ref>''Captain America'' vol. 5 #36</ref> Both schemes fail because of the impatience and incompetence of Red Skull's daughter - her near-fatal attack on Sharon causes her to lose the baby, and she intentionally botches her pseudo-assassination of Wright by attempting to kill Gordan for real. As Faustus has surreptitiously tampered with Sharon's programming, she is able to rebel, and before escaping shoots Lukin to death. This is not the end of Red Skull, since Zola had seconds earlier transferred his mind to one of his spare robotic bodies, but after having his current form damaged by the [[Grand Director|impostor Captain America]], he is unable to return to Red Skull, essentially trapping him in his current robotic form for the time being.<ref>''Captain America'' vol. 5 #42</ref> ====''Captain America: Reborn''==== It has been revealed that Red Skull did not actually kill Steve Rogers, but trapped his body in a fixed position in space and time. He was planning on using Sharon Carter and a machine created by Doctor Doom to return his body back to their time, but since Sharon destroyed the machine, his body is now drifting through time and space.<ref>''Captain America: Reborn'' #1</ref> Apparently, it is presumed that Red Skull intended to transfer his mind into Rogers's body. [[Norman Osborn]] decides to assist in completing his plan as a figurehead of Captain America leading [[Dark Avengers|his team of Avengers]] would increase his popularity with his [[Iron Patriot]] suit.<ref>''Captain America: Reborn'' #2</ref> Sin and Crossbones find him and take him to Latveria in order to place Red Skull's mind in a living body.<ref>''Captain America: Reborn'' #3</ref> Red Skull, Sin and Crossbones land in Latveria and Doctor Doom confronts them, saying that he would kill them if he was not a man of his word. Doctor Doom and Zola complete the machine and, after [[Victoria Hand]] brings Sharon to them, they strap her in. They activate the machine and soon Steve's body returns. When Steve opens his eyes, they are shown to be red, signifying that Red Skull is now in control.<ref>''Captain America: Reborn'' #4</ref> Rogers still resides in the body, and during Red Skull's invasion of Washington D.C., he and Steve battle in the mind of Steve's body.<ref>''Captain America: Reborn'' #5</ref> Steve eventually forces Red Skull out, placing him back into his robot body. To prevent him from escaping the immediate area, Sharon hits Red Skull with a shot of [[Pym Particles]], making him a massive robot who cannot elude any pursuer's attention. While Rogers and the Avengers keep Red Skull occupied with a team attack, he is destroyed by a missile barrage fired by Sharon on a hijacked AIM battleship. In the epilogue, it was shown that Sin was too close to the exploding robot and her face was heavily scarred, leaving her looking just like her father.<ref>''Captain America: Reborn'' #6</ref> ===Clone of Red Skull=== Following the ''[[Avengers vs. X-Men]]'' storyline, Red Skull mysteriously returns and assembles a team called the [[S-Men]]. Red Skull's S-Men attack [[Rogue (comics)|Rogue]] and [[Scarlet Witch]] at the grave of [[Professor X]] and steal his body. In his hideout, Red Skull is then seen removing Professor X's brain in a plot to "eradicate the mutant menace".<ref>''Uncanny Avengers'' #1</ref> This Red Skull is revealed to be a clone of the original, created by Arnim Zola in 1942 and held in [[cryogenic]] stasis in the event that Germany lost the war. Fusing part of Professor X's brain with his own, Red Skull brainwashes Scarlet Witch as part of a plot to wipe out the world's mutant population. Rogue attacks the Scarlet Witch and they fight until they both discover the lobotomized body of Professor X. Red Skull arrives and reveals that he has fused his brain with Professor X's brain.<ref name="Uncanny Avengers #2">''Uncanny Avengers'' #2</ref> Using Professor X's telepathy, Red Skull provokes ordinary citizens of New York into a mass assault against even potential mutants, even managing to take control of [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]]. However, his telepathy is still erratic with Red Skull being unable to completely control Captain America and an attack against him by [[Wolverine (character)|Wolverine]] cutting off his right hand and disrupting his powers long enough for Rogue and Scarlet Witch to break free.<ref>''Uncanny Avengers'' #3</ref> The team ultimately force Red Skull to retreat after Rogue manages to temporarily disrupt his powers, [[Havok (comics)|Havok]] mockingly comparing Red Skull to the jock who beats up gay kids to conceal his own homosexuality.<ref>''Uncanny Avengers'' #4</ref> During the ''[[AXIS (comics)|AXIS]]'' storyline, Magneto arrives in [[Genosha]] to find that Red Skull has turned it into a concentration camp for mutants and still has Professor X's brain in him. Magneto attacks Red Skull, but is quickly stopped by his S-Men.<ref>''Magneto'' vol. 3 #9</ref> Red Skull mind-tortures Magneto and gives him visions of those closest to him suffering while being unable to do anything to stop it. After being freed by Scarlet Witch, Rogue, and Havok, he bites down on a vial beneath his skin of Mutant Growth Hormone, giving himself enough power to fight.<ref>''Magneto'' vol. 3 #10</ref> When Scarlet Witch, Rogue, and Havok want to leave the island and alert the rest of the Avengers and X-Men of what Red Skull is doing, Magneto says he is going to stay and fight. Before they can do anything, Red Skull appears.<ref>''Uncanny Avengers'' #24</ref> Red Skull now has the group mind-controlled. He plans on using Scarlet Witch's power to shape reality in his image. He tells Magneto to bow if he wants his daughter to remain alive, but Magneto performs a sneak attack enough to break Red Skull's control over the others. After killing the S-Men, Magneto attacks Red Skull who then tells Magneto that Professor X's greatest fear was him leading the X-Men. Magneto kills Red Skull while the others look on in horror. Magneto believes everything is over only for Red Skull to appear as a giant called Red [[Onslaught (comics)|Onslaught]].<ref name= "Uncanny Avengers #25">''Uncanny Avengers'' #25</ref> In an attempt to defeat the new Red Onslaught and his army of Stark Sentinels — created from information acquired from Tony Stark during the time he was in charge of the Superhuman Registration Act — Magneto gathers a team of villains to try to take the Skull's forces by surprise.<ref>''Avengers & X-Men: Axis'' #2</ref> Wanda attempts to cast a spell that will 'invert' the Skull and bring out the part of Professor X that still exists in his brain. However, the plan backfires when the resulting spell causes the moral inversion of all heroes and villains in the area.<ref>''Avengers & X-Men: Axis'' #4</ref> With the villains now the only hope to defeat the corrupted heroes, Captain America is forced to protect the Skull (now calling himself the White Skull) from the evil Avengers while Spider-Man works with the inverted villains to fight off the various corrupted heroes.<ref>''Avengers & X-Men: Axis'' #8</ref> Doctor Doom is able to summon the spirit of [[Brother Voodoo]] to possess Wanda and invert the spell, the Skull sacrificing his heroism and freedom to restore the heroes to normal. Red Skull was later taken away by Doctor Doom.<ref>''Avengers & X-Men: Axis'' #9</ref> As part of the ''[[All-New, All-Different Marvel]]'', it is revealed that the Red Skull is hiding in [[Avengers Mansion]] (now a theme hotel as the various Avengers teams have moved on to new bases) in a secret underground room along with Sin (who has been restored to her original appearance) ever since he was defeated. He is nearly discovered when [[Quicksilver (comics)|Quicksilver]] and [[Deadpool]] investigate the room, but uses a psychic suggestion to convince them that the room is empty, as well as planting a command in Quicksilver's subconscious that will be triggered later.<ref>''Uncanny Avengers'' vol. 2 #6</ref> During the ''[[Avengers: Standoff!]]'' storyline, Red Skull infiltrates the S.H.I.E.L.D. facility Pleasant Hill by disguising himself as a priest named Father Patrick. As Patrick, the Red Skull secretly instigates an uprising of the facility's brainwashed inmates by manipulating Baron Zemo and the Fixer into restoring them to normal.<ref>''Captain America: Sam Wilson'' #7</ref> In the aftermath of the battle with the villains at Pleasant Hill, Red Skull founds his own version of HYDRA with Sin and Crossbones.<ref>''Avengers Standoff: Assault on Pleasant Hill Omega'' #1</ref> Their first strike occurs when they use Kobik — a sentient Cosmic Cube that once belonged to the Skull, now 'educated' to perceive HYDRA as a great organization — to manipulate Steve Rogers' memories so that he believes that he has been a HYDRA sleeper agent since childhood,<ref name="ReferenceA">''Steve Rogers: Captain America'' #2</ref> although the Skull is unaware that the HYDRA-converted Rogers now intends to stage a coup of the organization for his own ends.<ref>''Steve Rogers: Captain America'' #4</ref> The Skull eventually mounts an assault on the Avengers, using previously-planted commands to take control of the team, but Deadpool is able to resist him long enough to place Magneto's old helmet on Rogue's head, rendering her immune to telepathy long enough to knock the Skull out and take him to be operated on by [[Beast (comics)|Beast]].<ref name= "Uncanny Avengers Vol. 2 #21">''Uncanny Avengers'' vol. 3 #21</ref> The fragment of Xavier's brain is extracted from the Skull, but although Rogers attempts to take custody of the fragment for his own ends, Rogue and Johnny Storm fly up and incinerate the brain fragment, leaving the Skull to be taken into 'custody' by Rogers.<ref>''Uncanny Avengers'' vol. 3 #22</ref> Although he is rescued by Sin, Sin and Crossbones subsequently betray the Skull to prove their loyalty to Rogers, who kills the clone for good by pushing him over the cliff outside the Skull's mansion, Rogers revealing that he was never loyal to the Skull from the beginning.<ref>''Captain America: Steve Rogers'' vol. 1 #15</ref> During the ''[[Secret Empire (comics)|Secret Empire]]'' storyline, the disheveled man in a torn World War II uniform that introduced himself as Steve Rogers alongside people claiming to be "Bucky" and "Sam Wilson" encounter Red Skull's clone who plans to taken them "home."<ref>''Secret Empire'' #5</ref> As the other Steve Rogers is hanging from a rope tied to a tree, he finds himself next to a rambling man. As Red Skull's clone takes the rambling man away, he tells the other Steve Rogers that his time will come soon. Steve Rogers asks Red Skull's clone where he is as Red Skull claims that they are in "Hell". He also states that they are nothing but ghosts that are remnants fading into death. Red Skull's clone then uses a barbed bat on the other Steve Rogers' chest stating that the only path to peace is death.<ref>''Secret Empire'' #6</ref> Red Skull's clone is torturing the other Steve Rogers with a burning, thorn-wrapped, piece of wood. Red Skull's clone claims he is granting Rogers "peace". Red Skull's clone is about to deliver the killing blow to the other Steve Rogers. Before he can strike, the other Steve Rogers sees the beautiful blond girl he saw at the beginning of the series who was the same one that was poisoned and he thought died. He realizes there is still hope and evades the Red Skull's attack. The other Steve Rogers then tackles the Red Skull's clone and they both plummet off the cliff into the water below. The Red Skull's clone calls Rogers an idiot for his actions.<ref>''Secret Empire'' #7</ref> ===Other identity users=== There had been other people who passed themselves off as Red Skull: ====George John Maxon==== Created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, '''George Maxon''' appeared as Red Skull in ''[[Captain America Comics]]'' #1-3 (March-May 1941). Maxon is an American businessman and [[Nazism|Nazi]] agent who led a ring of spies and saboteurs and serves as an agent of Johann Schmidt (the true Red Skull). He faces Captain America during two of the latter's first missions.<ref name="rdskll">[http://www.marvel.com/universe/Red_Skull_%28Johann_Shmidt%29 Johann Shmidt] Red Skull bio by Marvel Universe</ref> Maxon is thought killed during the second encounter, though he would reappear for one last encounter with Captain America.<ref>''[[Tales of Suspense]]'' #65 (May 1965)</ref> ====Albert Malik==== With Johann Schmidt's disappearance after 1945, the reputation of Red Skull was still formidable enough to prove useful. In 1953, [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic|Russian]] [[KGB]] agent '''Albert Malik''' set up his spy/criminal organization in [[French Algeria|Algeria]] and assumed the Red Skull identity, pretending that he was the original, when he was actually serving Soviet interests, in ''Captain America Comics'' #61.<ref>{{Marvunapp|http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/rskul2.htm|Red Skull (communist, Albert Malik)}}</ref> During the 1950s, he faced the then [[Grand Director|then-active version]] of Captain America who was also pretending to be the original. While the Captain and [[Bucky (Marvel Comics)|Bucky]] (Jack Monroe) were placed into suspended animation when his flawed replicate of the Super-Soldier Formula seriously affected his and Bucky's minds, Malik continued his activities, and over time severed his links to the Soviet Union.<ref>''Solo Avengers'' #6</ref> He was also responsible for the deaths of [[Richard and Mary Parker|Richard Parker and Mary Fitzpatrick-Parker]], the parents of [[Spider-Man|Peter Parker]], tipped off by the supercriminal [[Gentleman (comics)|Gustav "The Gentleman" Fiers]] to their spy status.<ref>''Amazing Spider-Man Annual'' #5</ref><ref>''Amazing Spider-Man'' vol. 1 #366</ref> Albert was later killed by a [[Scourge of the Underworld]], operating on behalf of the original Red Skull (Johann Schmidt) disguised as a pilot.<ref>''Captain America'' vol. 1 #347</ref> ====Sinthea Schmidt==== {{main article|Sin (Marvel Comics)}} Sinthea "Sin" Schmidt is the daughter of Johann Schmidt hat adopts the Red Skull moniker after being scarred like her father. ==Powers and abilities== Although he has no superhuman abilities, Red Skull possesses a high intellect and inventive genius, and is a highly gifted subversive strategist and political operative. At one point, Red Skull's mind inhabited a body cloned from Captain America's, which possessed the mutagenic alterations induced by the Super-Soldier Formula. He was thus endowed with a body that was in perfect physical condition, with strength, speed, durability, agility, dexterity, reflexes, coordination, balance, and physical endurance that exceeded that of any Olympic athlete who ever performed. Despite the scar tissue covering his face and head, his senses were still above-average. He has been shown as a superb martial artist, though he was never on par with Captain America himself; he was originally trained by German athletes appointed by Hitler, and is heavily trained as a skilled marksman with various forms of handguns, and well-versed in the use of firearms and explosives. While sharing Alexander Lukin's body, he lost his superhuman abilities. Since then he resides in one of the android bodies engineered by Arnim Zola, with enhanced endurance and resilience. He typically armed himself with a trick cigarette that could fire fatal poison gas — his trademark "dust of death" — toward his victim. The "dust of death" is a red powder which kills a victim within seconds of skin contact. The powder causes the skin of the victim's head to shrivel, tighten, and take on a red discoloration, while causing all of his hair to fall out. Hence the victim's head resembles a "red skull". He also carries a large arsenal of conventional and advanced firearms and explosives. After fusing his own brain with that of [[Professor X|Charles Xavier]], the clone of Red Skull gains powerful telepathic abilities.<ref name="Uncanny Avengers #2"/> After being killed in a fight with Magneto, the Red Skull clone temporarily evolved into a psionic entity similar to [[Onslaught (comics)|Onslaught]], vastly increasing his original powers while also giving him new ones,<ref name="Uncanny Avengers #25"/> ranging from material astral projection, total control over his psionic state producing tendrils, changing size and such, energy projection in the form of optic blasts on top of greatly enhanced control over his psychic abilities being able to effect minds the world over to initiate world war hate.{{issue|date=July 2016}} After reverting to his original form however, he later expressed frustration with this new power as it makes conquest too easy for him, realizing that he wants people to grovel before him and mean it rather than just make them do it with his abilities manipulating them into submission.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Red Skull eventually loses these abilities when he is captured by Rogue and taken to Beast, who performs surgery on the Skull to extract the elements of Xavier's brain from his own.<ref name= "Uncanny Avengers Vol. 2 #21"/> ==Other versions== ===Earth-110=== Red Skull allied with Doctor Doom, Hulk, Magneto, Namor, and Ultron in order to take over Manhattan.<ref>''Fantastic Four: Big Town'' #1–4</ref> ===Heroes Reborn=== In the [[Heroes Reborn (comics)|Heroes Reborn]] universe, Red Skull is revealed to be the banker of the [[Master Man (Marvel Comics)|Master Man]]'s [[White Supremacy|World Party]]. This version references his fights with Captain America during [[World War II]],<ref>''Heroes Reborn'' #1/2</ref> but is stopped by [[Nick Fury]], Captain America and [[Falcon (comics)|Falcon]].<ref>''Captain America'' vol. 2 #5</ref> ===JLA/Avengers=== Red Skull appears briefly as one of the foes defending Krona's stronghold in issue #4, and is defeated by [[Jay Garrick]], the Golden Age Flash.<ref>''JLA/Avengers'' #4</ref> ===Earth X=== Johann Schmidt was killed by Captain America some time previous to [[Earth X]]. After Red Skull killed [[Bernie Rosenthal]] and then hailed Captain America as the realization of the Nazi dream, Captain America decapitated the Red Skull using his trademark shield. As a result of his disillusionment from taking a life, Captain America retired from the Avengers, only to further spiral into depression after the Avengers were killed in Washington, D.C.<ref>''Earth X'' #1</ref> Schmidt was later seen in the Land of the Dead, and then as one of those in Mar-Vell's Paradise waiting to live in his own personal version of Heaven.<ref>''Earth X'' #3</ref> Despite his death, Red Skull's legacy lived on in the Earth X universe. Ben Beckley took on the '''Skull''' identity (not the Red Skull as he had no idea who Red Skull was) and set out to conquer the world, starting with a coast-to-coast drive across America. Using his power of control over the cerebrum (and thereby actions) of anyone, he gathered an army of thousands, only to come into conflict with Steve Rogers in his Captain America identity. Insulting Captain America as old and out of date, the Skull spared him but took several of Captain America's allies as part of his army.<ref>''Earth X'' #1–6</ref> After reaching New York City, Skull was opposed by Captain America and other heroes, with Captain America breaking Skull's neck in order to stop him.<ref>''Earth X'' #7–9</ref> Beckley would later be seen in the Land of the Dead with his father [[Comet Man]] and would help the heroes to convince the dead that they were deceased.<ref>''Earth X'' #10</ref> ===Elseworlds=== In the 1997 DC/Marvel special ''Batman & Captain America'', Red Skull hires the [[Joker (character)|Joker]] to steal an [[atomic bomb]] during World War II. Joker evades [[Batman]], Cap, Bucky, and [[Robin (comics)|Robin]] and delivers it to Red Skull, but is horrified when he learns that Red Skull is a Nazi (saying "I may be a criminal lunatic but I'm an ''American'' criminal lunatic!"). When Red Skull threatens to drop the bomb on Washington D.C., Joker actually fights him in the plane's cargo bay. When Captain America and Batman take over the plane and bring it over the ocean, the two villains are dropped out with the bomb just before it explodes. Both Captain America and Batman are convinced the two are still alive somehow.<ref>''Batman & Captain America'' (January 1997)</ref> ===Marvel Zombies=== In ''[[Marvel Zombies]]'', Red Skull is an undead zombie with an unquenchable hunger for the flesh of the living. In issue #5, he finally manages to kill [[Alternative versions of Captain America#Marvel Zombies|Colonel America]], by scooping out the last of the Colonel's exposed brain before being decapitated by a zombified [[Zombie Spider-Man|Spider-Man]], and his head crushed by [[Henry Pym#Marvel Zombies|Giant Man]]'s boot. His last words were "It was worth it, all of it, just for this", indicating that he had waited for many years to finally kill his longtime enemy and that even his present zombification could not stop his lust for murder.<ref>''Marvel Zombies'' #5 (April 2006)</ref> ===Old Man Logan=== In a [[Old Man Logan|possible future]] where a final battle between the heroes and villains ended with the villains winning, Red Skull is revealed as the mastermind of the villains' conquest and has made himself President of the United States. Living in the Nazi-redecorated [[White House]], Red Skull had taken to wearing Captain America's old bloodstained uniform and collecting gruesome trophies from fallen heroes. When his men bring in a wounded Wolverine, Logan and Red Skull fight in his trophy room. Unwilling to pop his claws during the fight, Wolverine decapitates Red Skull with Captain America's shield, ending his villainous rule.<ref>''Wolverine Giant-Size Old Man Logan'' (September 2009)</ref> ===Ultimate Marvel=== [[File:Ultimate Red Skull.jpg|thumb|150px|Ultimate Red Skull shown on the variant cover to ''Ultimate Comics: Avengers'' #1. Art by Leinil Yu.]] The [[Ultimate Marvel]] version of Red Skull appears in ''[[Ultimate Comics: Avengers]]'' and was created by [[Mark Millar]]. This incarnation is the illegitimate son of Steve Rogers and [[Gail Richards]], and wears simple khaki pants and a white tee shirt instead of the Nazi/military costume of the 616 counterpart.<ref name="Ultimate Avengers #2"/> After his father's presumed death during World War II, he is taken from his mother and raised on an army base where he appears to be a well-adjusted, physically superior and tactically brilliant young man who greatly resembles his father. However, his easygoing personality is a ruse. Around the age of seventeen, he kills over 200 men on the base and then cuts off his own face in rejection of his father, leaving a "red skull".<ref name="Ultimate Avengers #2">''Ultimate Avengers'' #2</ref> As a final symbol of his rebellion against the system that created him, he assassinates President John F. Kennedy.<ref name="Ultimate Avengers #5">''Ultimate Avengers'' #5</ref> During his career, he forces [[Petra Laskov]] to choose between killing he woman's husband or infant son. After Petra kills the husband, the Skull kills the child anyway, and then has Petra viciously raped by his henchmen. After decades of working as a professional assassin, Red Skull joins [[Advanced Idea Mechanics|A.I.M.]] so that he and his men can steal the blueprints of the Cosmic Cube. There he finally meets [[Captain America (Ultimate Marvel character)|Captain America]] and brutally beats him. Before throwing Captain America out of his helicopter, Red Skull reveals his true identity. At A.I.M. headquarters in Alaska, Red Skull kills the lead officer and takes charge of the operation. Now in control of the Cosmic Cube, he gains great power. As a sadistic display of his power, he has the entire Alaskan A.I.M. team cannibalize each other. When the Avengers arrive on the scene, they immediately attack, but the Cube imbues him with nearly unlimited power, making him absolutely invulnerable. Captain America arrives in a stolen Teleporter Jet, but Red Skull forces the jet to crash. Cap survives the crash and teleports the jet to Red Skull's exact coordinates, impaling him on one of the two rods that protrude from its nose.<ref name="Ultimate Avengers #6">''Ultimate Avengers'' #6</ref> Red Skull is taken to a hospital and kept alive long enough for his mother to say her goodbyes. Red Skull explains to [[Nick Fury (Ultimate Marvel character)|Nick Fury]] that all he wanted to do with the Cosmic Cube was to turn back time and prevent his father from being lost, so that he could grow up with him and lead a normal life. Petra (disguised as a nurse) enters the room and shoots Red Skull in the head, killing him. [[Gregory Stark]] implies that Fury was responsible for calling Red Skull out of retirement in order to regain his position in S.H.I.E.L.D.<ref name="Ultimate Avengers #6"/> ==In other media== ===Television=== [[File:Gauntletofredskull.jpg|thumb|width:200|Red Skull in the 1994 ''[[Spider-Man (1994 TV series)|Spider-Man]]'' animated series.]] * Red Skull appeared in several episodes of the Captain America segment of ''[[The Marvel Super Heroes]]'' 1960s animated series, voiced by [[Paul Kligman]].<ref name="TVoRS">{{cite web|title=The Voices of Red Skull|url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Captain-America/Red-Skull/|publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}}</ref> * Red Skull appeared in the 1981 ''[[Spider-Man (1981 TV series)|Spider-Man]]'' animated series, voiced by [[Peter Cullen]].<ref name="TVoRS"/> * Red Skull appeared in ''[[Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends]]'' episode "Quest of the Red Skull", voiced again by Peter Cullen.<ref name="TVoRS"/> * Red Skull appeared in the ''[[X-Men (TV series)|X-Men]]'' animated series, voiced by [[Cedric Smith (actor)|Cedric Smith]]. He is seen in a flashback of episode "Old Soldiers".{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}} * Red Skull appeared in the 1994 ''[[Spider-Man (1994 TV series)|Spider-Man]]'' animated series, voiced by [[David Warner (actor)|David Warner]] (in "The Cat") and by [[Earl Boen]] (in later appearances).<ref name="TVoRS"/> He first makes a cameo appearance in the episode "The Cat" before appearing as a central figure in the "Six Forgotten Warriors" story arc. In the 1940s, after a battle with [[Captain America]] and his teammates, they both got stuck in suspended animation in an open vortex. When Red Skull's son released his father from the vortex 50 years later, Captain America is inadvertently caused to be released as well, and Red Skull and Captain America fought again. At the end of the episode, after Captain America battles Red Skull to help save the world from his nefarious plans to take it over with his son [[Electro (Marvel Comics)|Electro]], Captain America pushes Red Skull into the open vortex and they both get stuck in suspended animation again. During the "Secret Wars" episode, Red Skull is among the villains that Beyonder placed on an alien planet where he collaborated with Doctor Octopus. He and the other villains are later sent back to Earth when Doctor Doom claimed the Beyonder's powers. * Red Skull appears in ''[[The Super Hero Squad Show]]'', voiced by [[Mark Hamill]] in a German accent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0907/28/voices.htm|title=Comics Continuum|publisher=Comics Continuum|date=2009-07-28|accessdate=2011-01-11}}</ref> He appears in the episodes "Wrath of the Red Skull" and "World War Witch". * Red Skull appears in ''[[The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes]]'', voiced by [[Steven Blum]] in a German accent for Red Skull and an Americanized-style tone for Dell Rusk's animated debut. During World War II, Red Skull uses [[Hydra (comics)|Hydra]]'s resources during World War II to abduct Nordic mythological beasts from the Nine Realms and subject them to their control. Although [[Captain America]] and [[Bucky Barnes]] thwarted his scheme, Red Skull indirectly causes Captain America's suspended animation and Bucky's demise. In the present, he quietly returns as Dell Rusk, the Secretary of Defense and the leader of Code Red with [[Falcon (comics)|Falcon]], [[Doc Samson]], [[Thunderbolt Ross|Red Hulk]] and Winter Soldier. He releases a biological weapon in New York and accuses the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]] of having released the weapon. He sends the Code Red to arrest them while Winter Soldier captures Captain America for Red Skull. Thanks to [[Iron Man]] and Winter Soldier, Captain America was able to defeat Red Skull. With his Dell Rusk alias exposed to the public, Red Skull is remanded to the Hydro Base until his [[Sleeper (Marvel Comics)|Sleepers]] spring him out of prison. It is revealed that he turned his nemesis's partner into the Winter Soldier to be his brainwashed assassin that serves him. Using his Sleepers which combine into one equipped with a Nova Cannon, he attacks Washington DC. As the Avengers fought the combined Sleeper, Captain America and Winter Soldier fight Red Skull in the Sleeper's head. Red Skull appears victorious until Winter Soldier damages the Sleeper's computer. The Avengers manage to defeat the Sleeper and capture Red Skull. * Red Skull appears in the ''[[Avengers Assemble (TV series)|Avengers Assemble]]'' animated series, voiced by [[Liam O'Brien]] in a German accent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://family-room.ew.com/2013/05/08/marvels-avengers-assemble-on-disneyxd-exclusive-first-look/|title='Marvel's Avengers Assemble' on DisneyXD -- EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK|work=Entertainment Weekly's EW.com}}</ref> In the first season, he is the leader of the [[Cabal (comics)|Cabal]]. In the two-part pilot "The Avengers Protocol", Red Skull appears before Captain America, much to Captain America's surprise. After seemingly vaporizing Captain America with a laser gun, Red Skull is confronted by Iron Man. He escapes, however, thanks to having allied with [[MODOK]]. After the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]] are reassembled to storm Red Skull's base, it is revealed that Cap is alive but is hooked to a machine with Red Skull. Cap subsequently attacks Iron Man, revealing that he's Red Skull having mindswapped himself in order to live longer, while leaving his nemesis to die in his own dying body. But after a battle with the Avengers, the mindswap is reversed, and the two enemies are back in their own bodies. However, MODOK steals Iron Man's [[Iron Man's armor|armor and arc reactor]] for Red Skull, rechristening himself the '''Iron Skull'''. Throughout the first season, Iron Skull recruits [[Dracula (Marvel Comics)|Dracula]], [[Attuma]] and [[Hyperion (comics)|Hyperion]] to join him and MODOK in the Cabal to beat the Avengers at their own game while obtaining the Tesseract. But the season finale revealed Iron Skull intended to eliminate his allies under the farce that he was sending them into other dimensions as he takes the Tesseract. But he is eventually defeated, losing his Iron Skull suit to Iron Man as he retreats into a portal where he presents the Tesseract to [[Thanos]]. In the second season, Red Skull returns to Earth, having been tortured by Thanos to the point of being a shell of his former self with the Power Stone as the Avengers place him in their custody. After surviving the Winter Soldier's kidnapping attempt, Red Skull gets restored into his former glory and escapes during the chaos caused by the Time Stone's temporal disruptions. He escaped to Monster Island thanks to an alliance with [[Dormammu]] to gain control over the [[Mindless Ones]]. He wanted to cover the whole island in an impenetrable magic force field to protect himself from Thanos despite the loss of the [[Infinity Gems|Infinity Stones]]. He succeeded but was kicked out from the island when [[Scott Lang|Ant-Man]] uses [[Fin Fang Foom]] and arrested him. Red Skull also made sporadic appearances in ''Avengers: Secret Wars''. * Red Skull appears in the summer 2013 Disney/Marvel animated special ''[[Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel]]'',<ref name="Phineas&Ferb">{{cite web|url=http://marvel.com/news/story/19084/phineas_and_ferb_mission_marvel_preview|title=Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel Preview|date=July 18, 2012|accessdate=August 31, 2012|work=[[Marvel Comics|Marvel.com]]|archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6AKbaUkIU?url=http://marvel.com/news/story/19084/phineas_and_ferb_mission_marvel_preview|archivedate=August 31, 2012|deadurl=no|df=}}</ref> voiced again by Liam O'Brien.<ref>{{cite web| last= Goldman |first= Eric|title=Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel Debut Date Announced| url= http://uk.ign.com/articles/2013/06/28/phineas-and-ferb-mission-marvel-debut-date-announced |publisher= IGN}}</ref> * Red Skull appears in ''[[Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.]]'', voiced again by Liam O'Brien.<ref name="TVoRS"/> In the episode "Days of Future Smash: Year of the Hydra", when the [[Hulk (comics)|Hulk]] followed the [[Leader (comics)|Leader]] to World War II and met Captain America, they come across the Leader's plot to use a replica of [[Abraham Erskine]]'s lab to use gamma energy to turn Red Skull into the Green Skull. Green Skull manages to overwhelm Hulk and Captain America. While Leader uses his Gamma Siphoner on Hulk, Green Skull frees Captain America in order to force to surrender. This leads to an alternate present where Leader rules HYDRA, uses a wheel-shaped device powered by Green Skull, and fights the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. alongside an older Captain America. Thanks to a tactic from Captain America before the public mention of a surrender over the airwaves, Hulk is freed, turning the Gamma Siphoner onto Green Skull, regressing him back to Red Skull. Hulk then defeats Red Skull and the Leader escapes causing the HYDRA-dominated present to shift back to the real present. * Red Skull appears in the ''[[Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Maximum Overload]]'' mini-series, voiced by [[Chi McBride]].<ref name="TVoRS"/> * Red Skull appears in ''[[Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers]]'', voiced by [[Motomu Kiyokawa]].<ref name="TVoRS"/> ===Film=== {{multiple image |align = right |direction = vertical | width = |image1 = RedSkull1990Film.png |width1 = 200 |alt1 = |caption1 = [[Scott Paulin]] as Red Skull in the 1990 film ''[[Captain America (1990 film)|Captain America]]''. |image2 = Hugo Weaving as Red Skull.jpg |width2 = 200 |alt2 = |caption2 = [[Hugo Weaving]] as Red Skull in the 2011 film ''[[Captain America: The First Avenger]]''. |image3 = https://fanfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/fc50f21e7b92b09c-600x400.jpg |width3 = 200 |alt3 = |caption3 = [[Ross Marquand]] as Red Skull in the 2018 film ''[[Avengers: Infinity War]]''. }} * Red Skull appeared in the 1990 film ''[[Captain America (1990 film)|Captain America]]'', portrayed by [[Scott Paulin]]. In this adaptation, the character is an [[Italians|Italian]] officer and later mafioso named '''Tadzio de Santis'''. Tadzio was a boy genius whose family was killed by Axis soldiers who subjected him to the Super Soldier serum leaving him deformed and evil. Red Skull launches a missile at Washington but Captain America attacks Red Skull's base. Red Skull battles Captain America aboard the flying missile and is forced to cut off his hand to avoid death. After Cap is trapped in ice Red Skull forms a criminal organization with his daughter Valentina. Red Skull attempts to brainwash the president only to be stopped via a recording of his family's death. Lost in thought Captain America uses his shield to throw Red Skull off a cliff. * Red Skull has appeared in two [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]] films: ** [[Hugo Weaving]] portrays the Red Skull in the 2011 film ''[[Captain America: The First Avenger]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last= Graser |first= Marc| url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118016757.html?categoryid=13&cs=1|title=Chris Evans to play 'Captain America'|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]| date=2010-03-22| accessdate= 2011-01-11}}</ref><ref name="firstavenger">{{Cite news |url= http://www.superherohype.com/news/captainamericanews.php?id=9051|title=Red Skull Confirmed as Captain America Villain| website= SuperheroHype.com|date=2010-02-06| accessdate= 2010-02-07}}</ref> In this adaptation, he is the head of HYDRA which served as the Nazis' deep-science division. Schmitt ordered Dr. Erskine to use the experimental Super Soldier Serum on him. The unfinished formula had physically enhanced him, but had permanently deformed him. He was exiled by Adolf Hitler who gave him his moniker "Red Skull". Red Skull leads an incursion into Norway where he recovers the [[Cosmic Cube|Tesseract]], an artifact once owned by the Norse God [[Odin (comics)|Odin]] which contains the [[Infinity Stones|Space Stone]], and has his chief scientist [[Arnim Zola]] develop advanced weapons powered by the device. Ultimately, disillusioned with the Nazis, Red Skull breaks away from the Nazi Regime and establishes HYDRA as its own force against the Allies and Axis alike with aspirations of world dominion. [[Captain America]] leads the fight against HYDRA, forcing the group to retreat to their final base in the Alps. The Red Skull launches his plan to destroy every major capital on the planet, starting with New York. He is defeated by Captain America on board his plane, the ''Valkyrie''. Upon touching the Tesseract, he is presumed to have been destroyed. ** [[Ross Marquand]] portrays the character in the 2018 film ''[[Avengers: Infinity War]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2018/04/avengers-infinity-war-recast-a-character-and-you-probably-didnt-even-notice/|title=Avengers: Infinity War Recast a Character, and You Probably Didn't Even Notice|website=[[Gizmodo]]|last=Pritchard|first=Tom|date=April 26, 2018|accessdate=April 26, 2018}}</ref> Following the events of ''The First Avenger'', the Red Skull is revealed to have been transported to the planet [[List of planets in Marvel Comics#Vormir|Vormir]], where he is cursed to serve as a ghostly guide to those seeking the [[Infinity Stones|Soul Stone]]. Red Skull leads [[Thanos]] and [[Gamora]] to the nearby abyss and informs that Thanos must sacrifice someone who the Titan loves for the Infinity Stone while standing by as Gamora is tearfully thrown off the cliff to death. Due to loving no one but himself, Red Skull was unable to claim the Infinity Stone. Directors [[Russo brothers|Joe and Anthony Russo]] stated that after Thanos claims the Soul Stone, Red Skull is freed from his curse and permitted to leave Vormir and pursue his own desire for the Infinity Stones.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/the-avengers/news/a863287/avengers-infinity-war-red-skull-future-mcu/|title=Avengers: Infinity War directors hint at the Red Skull's future in the MCU|website=[[Digital Spy]]|last=Armitage|first=Hugh|date=August 6, 2018|accessdate=August 7, 2018}}</ref> * Red Skull makes a cameo appearance in the end credits of ''[[Iron Man & Hulk: Heroes United]]''. * Red Skull appears in the 2014 animated movie ''[[Heroes United|Heroes United: Iron Man and Captain America]]'', voiced by Liam O'Brien. ===Video games=== * Red Skull is the final boss of ''[[Captain America and the Avengers]]''. * Red Skull appears in the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of ''[[Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet]]'', voiced by [[Mark Hamill]]. * Red Skull appears in ''[[Captain America: Super Soldier]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/23109/Captain-America-Super-Soldier-Announced/|title=Captain America: Super Soldier Announced - Xbox|website=teamxbox.com|date=2010-10-05|accessdate=2011-01-11|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101008195734/http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/23109/Captain-America-Super-Soldier-Announced/|archivedate=2010-10-08|df=}}</ref> voiced by [[Keith Ferguson (voice actor)|Keith Ferguson]]. * Red Skull appears as a villain character in ''[[Marvel Super Hero Squad Online]]''. * Red Skull appears as a non-playable in ''[[Marvel Super Hero Squad: Comic Combat]]'', voiced by Mark Hamill. * Red Skull is featured as a boss in the [[Facebook]] game ''[[Marvel: Avengers Alliance]]''. He was brought out of his suspended animation when the "Pulse" hit Earth. * Red Skull appears in ''[[Marvel Heroes (video game)|Marvel Heroes]]''. * Red Skull appears in ''[[Lego Marvel Super Heroes]]'', voiced again by [[Steven Blum]]. * Red Skull appears as playable character in ''[[Lego Marvel's Avengers]]'', voiced by [[Liam O'Brien]].<ref name="TVoRS"/> He also has a role in the story, appearing in the past portions of the third level (which is based on his role in ''Captain America: The First Avenger''). * Red Skull is a playable character in ''[[Marvel: Future Fight]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Characters/MarvelFutureFight|title=Marvel Future Fight / Characters - TV Tropes|website=tvtropes.org|access-date=2018-03-24}}</ref> ===Live performance=== * Red Skull will appear in the ''[[Marvel Universe Live!]]'' arena show, sporting his black armor from ''Avengers Assemble''.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://marvel.com/news/story/21561/character_reveals_for_marvel_universe_live| title= Character Reveals for Marvel Universe LIVE! | work= marvel.com}}</ref> ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * [http://marvel.com/universe/Red_Skull_%28disambiguation%29 Red Skull (disambiguation)] at Marvel.com * [http://marvel.com/universe/Red_Skull_%28Johann_Shmidt%29 Red Skull (Johann Shmidt)] at Marvel.com * [http://marvel.com/universe/Red_Skull_%28Albert_Malik%29 Red Skull (Albert Malik)] at Marvel.com * {{Marvunapp|http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/rskul2.htm|Red Skull II}} {{Captain America}} {{Howling Commandos}} {{Invaders}} {{Avengers}} {{Doctor Doom}} {{Magneto}} {{Spider-Man characters}} {{Thanos}} {{Uncanny Avengers}} [[Category:Animated series villains]] [[Category:Captain America]] [[Category:Characters created by Jack Kirby]] [[Category:Characters created by Joe Simon]] [[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1941]] [[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1947]] [[Category:Fictional characters with disfigurements]] [[Category:Fictional cryonically preserved characters in comics]] [[Category:Fictional dictators]] [[Category:Fictional German people]] [[Category:Fictional mass murderers]] [[Category:Fictional Nazis]] [[Category:Fictional orphans]] [[Category:Fictional terrorists]] [[Category:Fictional torturers]] [[Category:Film characters]] [[Category:Golden Age supervillains]] [[Category:Hydra agents]] [[Category:Male characters in comics]] [[Category:Marvel Comics martial artists]] [[Category:Marvel Comics mutates]] [[Category:Marvel Comics supervillains]] [[Category:Nazis in comic book fiction]] [[Category:Timely Comics characters]]'