10 Things You Didn't Know About Red Skull

1. The Red Skull Became A Nazi Because A Jewish Girl Turned Him Down

Red Skull Powers
Marvel Comics

Okay, it's a little more complex than that. But not really all that much more. The orphaned Johann Schmidt have a tough life, what with his mother dying in childbirth and his vengeful father trying to drown the baby, failing, and then committing suicide. He effectively raised himself on the streets: begging, stealing, boring, petty crook stuff.

At that point, he was a little troubled and a small-time criminal, but not the insane Nazi supervillain he would later become. That development was apparently sparked by Johann's crush on the daughter of a Jewish shopkeeper he was briefly employed by, and her rejection of him after Johann tried to force himself upon her. Ah, young love.

In a rage he murdered her, realised he liked killing people and – presumably – that he liked killing Jewish people as well. Deep down, amidst all the furious hatred and anti-Semitism, the core of the Red Skull's constant battles with Captain America and attempts to resurrect the Third Reich? It's all because of a girl. Oldest story in the world.

What other crazy facts are there about the Red Skull's past? Share any more down in the comments.

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Contributor

Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/