Editing Red Skull (section)

==Fictional character biography==
===Johann Shmidt===
Johann Shmidt 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|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]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Rovin |first=Jeff |title=[[The Encyclopedia of Super-Villains]] |date=1987 |publisher=Facts on File |isbn=0-8160-1356-X |location=New York |pages=296–297 |authorlink=Jeff Rovin}}[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofsu0000rovi_h5r9/page/296/mode/2up]</ref>

Johann Shmidt was born in a village in [[German Empire|Germany]] to Hermann Shmidt and Martha Shmidt. 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 7 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. The Skull's real name of Johann Shmidt was not revealed in his [[Golden Age of Comic Books|Golden Age]] and Silver Age appearances. As a young man, Shmidt was from time to time employed by a Jewish shopkeeper, whose daughter Esther was the only person who had treated Shmidt 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, Shmidt murdered her. Shmidt 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. Marvel Comics.</ref>

According to the official version of the story told by the Red Skull and the Nazis, Shmidt 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 [[Nazi Germany|Germany]]. Shmidt wound up serving Hitler's rooms at the hotel. By chance, Shmidt 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 Shmidt.<ref name="Captain America #298"/> In the miniseries ''Red Skull: Incarnate'', it has been revealed that Shmidt 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. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Dissatisfied with the standard drill instruction his subordinates used to train Shmidt, Hitler took over personally, training Shmidt as his right-hand man after [[Heinrich Himmler]]. Upon completion, Hitler gave Shmidt a unique uniform with a grotesque red 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, the Red Skull was appointed head of Nazi 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, as the superhero/counterintelligence agent, Captain America.<ref name="Captain America #298"/>

In Europe during the war, the Red Skull took personal command of many military actions and personally supervised the takeovers and lootings of many cities and towns. The Red Skull also organized a [[Wolfpack (naval tactic)|Wolf Pack]] of U-boats which preyed upon shipping across the world, often under the Red Skull's personal command.<ref name="Tales of Suspense #66">''Tales of Suspense'' #66. Marvel Comics.</ref> At first, Hitler took great pride in the successes of his protégé and let the Red Skull have anything he wanted. Hitler thus financed the construction of secret bases for the Red Skull in various locations throughout the world, many of which were equipped with highly advanced experimental weapons and devices developed by Nazi scientists. The 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 code-named [[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 the Red Skull always admired Hitler for his ideological vision, he was never fully content with being Hitler's subordinate. The Red Skull kidnapped and killed many of Hitler's closest advisers and eventually rose to become the second-most-powerful man in [[Nazi Germany]]. Now Hitler could no longer effectively control the Red Skull and came to fear him, especially since the Red Skull had made no secret of his ambition to supplant Hitler someday. Captain America, often with teenage partner [[Bucky Barnes]], fought and thwarted the Red Skull many times during the war. The heroes also fought the Red Skull when they were members of the [[Invaders (comics)|Invaders]]. On one occasion the Red Skull captured, drugged, and brainwashed Captain America. He sent the hero to kill a high-ranking officer, but with Bucky's help Captain America broke free.<ref>''Tales of Suspense'' #66–68. Marvel Comics.</ref> The Red Skull later temporarily brainwashed three of the Invaders into serving him.<ref>''Invaders'' #5–6. Marvel Comics.</ref> The Red Skull and Captain America continued to engage in a series of skirmishes throughout the war.

After the renowned military officer [[Baron Strucker|Baron Wolfgang von Strucker]] had a falling-out with Hitler, the Red Skull sent Strucker to Japan to found an organization that would prepare the way for takeovers in the Far East under the Red Skull's leadership.<ref>''The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe'' #9. Marvel Comics.</ref> In the Far East, Strucker joined a subversive organization that came to be known as [[Hydra (comics)|HYDRA]], severed his ties with the Red Skull, became head of HYDRA and made it into a major threat to world peace.<ref>''Captain Savage and His Leatherneck Raiders'' #4. Marvel Comics.</ref>

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 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.<ref name="Tales of Suspense #72">''Tales of Suspense'' #72. Marvel Comics.</ref> Hitler enthusiastically instructed the Red Skull to construct the Sleepers, unaware that the Red Skull intended to use them to conquer the world himself if Nazi Germany fell. In the closing days of the war in Europe, Allied intelligence received reports of a Nazi [[Doomsday device|doomsday plan]], code-named "Der Tag", to be implemented after Hitler's defeat. However, the Allies had no idea what the plan entailed. The Red Skull sent a number of his subordinates who became known as the 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.<ref>''Captain America'' #102. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Now that the German defeat was becoming a reality, the Red Skull was more determined than ever to obtain vengeance for his numerous personal defeats by Captain America and Bucky. The 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.<ref>''Tales of Suspense'' #80. Marvel Comics.</ref> However, the Red Skull was unaware that the Allies had just secretly parachuted Captain America into beleaguered Berlin to investigate "Der Tag". Finally, 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 exploded, but the Red Skull was not killed, due to his body armor. He was, however, seriously hurt and partially buried in debris. Thinking he was dying, the 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.<ref name="Tales of Suspense #72"/> 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 the Red Skull when the bunker caved in saved him from being struck by tons of rubble when the bomb hit. The cave-in also released an experimental gas from canisters in the bunker which put the Red Skull into suspended animation, during which time his wounds slowly healed.<ref>''Tales of Suspense'' #79. Marvel Comics.</ref>

[[File:Tales of Suspense -80 (Aug 1966).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 Shmidt's legacy continued 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.<ref>''Tales of Suspense'' #72–74. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Johann Shmidt is eventually rescued and revived from suspended animation in modern times by the terrorist organization [[Advanced Idea Mechanics|A.I.M.]] The 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 ordered Baron Zemo to steal the bomb plane that led to Bucky Barnes's 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 Cosmic Cube had been used to destroy the plane. Shmidt 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 Cosmic Cube on an island. He begins sending Captain America to another dimension when Captain America offers to become his servant. The 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 Cosmic Cube, and in the fight the island splits apart from the Cosmic Cube's power, and the Red Skull falls off a cliff while trying to get the Cosmic Cube.<ref>''Tales of Suspense'' #79–81. Marvel Comics.</ref> When Johann reappears, he and [[#Albert Malik|Albert Malik]] start to antagonize each other while both claiming the Red Skull identity. Finally Malik is the victim of an assassination organized by the Red Skull, through a rogue agent of the [[Scourge of the Underworld|Scourges of the Underworld]].<ref name="Captain America #347">''Captain America'' #347. Marvel Comics.</ref>

The Red Skull captures part of Manhattan Island,<ref>''Tales of Suspense'' #88–91. Marvel Comics.</ref> unleashes the fourth Sleeper, and captures Captain America on Exile Island.<ref>''Captain America'' #101–104. Marvel Comics.</ref> The Red 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. Marvel Comics.</ref> Some time later in his first appearance outside of a title featuring Captain America, he fights [[Doctor Doom]].<ref>''Astonishing Tales'' #4–5. Marvel Comics.</ref> The Red Skull then foments racial hatred in New York,<ref>''Captain America'' #143. Marvel Comics.</ref> and is revealed as the true power behind a Las Vegas-based HYDRA fragment, and clashes with [[Kingpin (character)|Kingpin]].<ref>''Captain America'' #148. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Some time later, the 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. Marvel Comics.</ref> The Red Skull later fights Doctor Doom on the moon, but is defeated.<ref>''Super-Villain Team-Up'' #10–12. Marvel Comics.</ref> With [[Arnim Zola]], the Red Skull seeks to transplant Hitler's brain into Captain America's body.<ref>''Captain America'' #210–212. Marvel Comics.</ref> He transforms a number of [[S.H.I.E.L.D.]] agents into his red skull-faced slaves.<ref>''Captain America'' #226–227. Marvel Comics.</ref> The 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. Marvel Comics.</ref> The Red Skull leads the Nihilist Order for a brief time.<ref>''Captain America'' #261–263. Marvel Comics.</ref> Establishing a Nazi colony on a deserted island, the Red Skull fathers a daughter: [[Sin (Marvel Comics)|Synthia Schmidt]].<ref>''Captain America'' #290. Marvel Comics.</ref>

The gas that placed the Red Skull in suspended animation wears off and his body rapidly ages to his actual years. Now physically weak and feeble in his mid-80s, the 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, the Red Skull dies in Captain America's arms, cursing his enemy as his elderly body shuts down.<ref>''Captain America'' #293–300. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Nazi geneticist Arnim Zola had obtained DNA samples of Captain America years earlier and arranged for the Red Skull's mind to be transplanted into a cloned body of Captain America at the moment of his death. Assuming the identity of "'''John Smith'''" (the English equivalent of his natural German name), the Red Skull decides to reinvent himself and his quest for absolute power as a means to celebrate his cheating death. The 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. The Red Skull sees much potential in the American dream of capitalism and self-determination and sets about establishing his own foothold inside Washington, D.C., culminating in him gaining control over the [[Commission on Superhuman Activities]], a government body in Washington that monitors and regulates superhero activities.<ref>''Captain America'' #346–350. Marvel Comics.</ref>

The 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 of the Underworld]], an organization dedicated to killing supervillains.<ref name="Captain America #350">''Captain America'' #350. Marvel Comics.</ref>

The Red Skull has the Commission remove Steve Rogers from the position of Captain America and replace him with jingoist [[U.S. Agent (comics)|John Walker]]. Although Walker attempts to live up to his predecessor's ideals, the 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'' #345. Marvel Comics.</ref>

The Red Skull kills his chief pawn in the Commission right in front of Captain America. About to be exposed, the Red Skull tries to manipulate Walker into killing Rogers. When Rogers defeats Walker, the 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. The Red Skull tries to kill Rogers with a cigarette holding a lethal dose of the dust of death (the Red Skull's favorite poison), but Walker hits him from behind with his shield. The 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.<ref name="Captain America #350"/> The Red Skull survives the exposure due to the effects of the [[Captain America#Fictional character biography|Super-Soldier Formula]].

After this, the Red Skull masterminds a conflict between the United States and [[Symkaria]].<ref>''Amazing Spider-Man'' #325. Marvel Comics.</ref> He joins the "[[Acts of Vengeance]]" conspiracy, but is attacked by the mutant terrorist [[Magneto (Marvel 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. The Red Skull remains imprisoned, close to death and beginning to see the error of his ways, until he is rescued by his henchman [[Crossbones (character)|Crossbones]]. Feeling ready to die in peace, the 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, the Red Skull is surprised to feel a sudden burst of hatred that reignites his will to live.<ref>''Captain America'' #364–367, 369–370. Marvel Comics.</ref>

The Red Skull proposes an alliance with the Kingpin to bring a new designer drug to New York, but the 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 the Kingpin's territory again.<ref>''Captain America'' #376–378. Marvel Comics.</ref> After the Red Skull's agents allow fellow Nazi Baron [[Baron Strucker|Wolfgang von Strucker]] to be reborn, the grateful Strucker allows the Red Skull the use of HYDRA resources.<ref>''Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.'' #26. Marvel Comics.</ref>

The 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 a Nazi agent. The 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 the [[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 the Red Skull's new lair. The Red Skull fires Crossbones and goes into hiding while the Viper, using funds she plied from the 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. Marvel Comics.</ref>

The 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>''The Avengers'' (vol. 3) #68. Marvel Comics.</ref> When the evil scientist [[Superia (comics)|Superia]] offers Captain America a cure, Captain America refuses it because Superia said that Captain America would owe her. The Red Skull takes the cure and apparently kills Superia, then arranges for Captain America to be kidnapped by his remaining forces (including Sharon Carter, whom he found still alive and recruits), and given a blood transfusion that cures him.<ref>''Captain America'' #445. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Captain America's recovery segues into a reluctant team-up with the Red Skull; a Nazi cult that worshiped Hitler as a god had discovered a Cosmic Cube that contained Hitler's soul, put there by the Red Skull himself. The two try to stop the cult from fully powering the Hitler Cosmic Cube, but the 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 the Red Skull's arms, causing him to drop the Cube. The Cube becomes unstable, destroying the Red Skull.<ref>''Captain America'' #445–448. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Trapped in a hellish nightmare dimension and forced to serve as a bellhop to a world of non-European immigrants, the Red Skull's will ultimately is so great that he is able to escape his prison. As a result, the 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 (particularly the power of omniscience), which would remove all limits to the Red Skull's reality-warping powers. The Red Skull is ambushed by Korvac, who steals his cosmic powers and banishes him back to Earth.<ref>''Captain America'' (vol. 3) #13–19. Marvel Comics.</ref>

The 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 called "Project Bloodwash" he tested at [[Mount Rushmore]].<ref>''The Avengers'' (vol. 3) #65. Marvel Comics.</ref> He is exposed and defeated by the Avengers, where the [[Black Panther (character)|Black Panther]] beats him so badly that he breaks the Red Skull's jaw in half.<ref>''The Avengers'' (vol. 3) #70. Marvel Comics.</ref>

[[File:Wsoldier11.jpg|thumb|125px|The Red Skull in Alexander Lukin's mind. Art by Steve Epting]]
The 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 the Red Skull had manufactured.<ref>''Captain America'' (vol. 5) #01. Marvel Comics.</ref> When the 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 the Red Skull seems to be progressively winning. During a plot to lure out Captain America, the Red Skull/Lukin recruited several German skinheads and made them the successors to [[Master Man (Marvel Comics)|Master Man]]. He then had these soldiers, 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, the 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 H.Q., and was ultimately destroyed by Captain America and Bucky. In the aftermath, the 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, the Red Skull introduced Lukin to his old/new associates [[Crossbones (comics)|Crossbones]] and [[Sin (Marvel Comics)|Sin]].{{Volume needed|c=y|date=April 2009}}

With America's superheroes [[Civil War (comics)|divided over the act]], the 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.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=April 2009}}

In the immediate aftermath of the Civil War, the 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 the Red Skull's plan. Upon the discovery of his identity as Lukin, the Red Skull fakes his death, and initiates the second phase of his plan: using the 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]]. The Red Skull continues his assault by engineering a riot by placing Kronas security troops and drugged water in a protest on the [[Lincoln Memorial]].<ref>''Captain America'' (vol. 5) #33–35. Marvel Comics.</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 lead the country directly into a police state secretly controlled by the Red Skull. The 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. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Both schemes fail because of the impatience and incompetence of the 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 him 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 the Red Skull, since Zola had seconds earlier transferred his mind to one of the spare robotic bodies, but after having his current form damaged by the [[Captain America (William Burnside)|impostor Captain America]], he is unable to return to the Red Skull, trapping him in his robotic form.<ref>''Captain America'' vol. 5 #42. Marvel Comics.</ref>

It has been revealed that the Red Skull did not 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. Marvel Comics.</ref> Apparently, it is presumed that the Red Skull intended to transfer his mind into Rogers' 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 popularity with as the Iron Patriot.<ref>''Captain America: Reborn'' #2. Marvel Comics.</ref> Sin and Crossbones find him and take him to Latveria to place the Red Skull's mind in a living body.<ref>''Captain America: Reborn'' #3. Marvel Comics.</ref> The 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 the Red Skull is now in control.<ref>''Captain America: Reborn'' #4. Marvel Comics.</ref> Rogers still resides in the body and during the Red Skull's invasion of Washington, D.C., he and Steve battle in the mind of Steve's body.<ref>''Captain America: Reborn'' #5. Marvel Comics.</ref> Steve eventually forces the Red Skull out, placing him back into his robot body. To prevent him from escaping the immediate area, Sharon hits the 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 the Red Skull occupied with a team attack, he is destroyed by a missile barrage fired by Sharon on a hijacked A.I.M. battleship.<ref>''Captain America: Reborn'' #6. Marvel Comics.</ref>

After Lukin was brought back from the dead by the Power Elite, a side effect has a fragment of the original Red Skull's mind also revived.<ref name=":0">''Captain America'' (vol. 9) #6. Marvel Comics.</ref>

After he was revived, Red Skull worked to rebuild his empire. This led him into conflict with the [[Thunderbolts (comics)|Thunderbolts]] where they find him hiding out in Latveria. Despite an attempt to use [[American Kaiju]] on the Thunderbolts, Red Skull was attacked by the Thunderbolts which ended with Red Skull being killed by Doctor Doom.<ref>''Thunderbolts'' Vol. 5 #1-4. Marvel Comics.</ref>

During the "[[One World Under Doom]]" storyline, Doctor Doom confirmed his reason for killing Red Skull and Baron Helmut Zemo because they are associated with the Nazis and that the Nazis used Hydra to do their dirty work.<ref>''One World Under Doom'' #1. Marvel Comics.</ref>

===Other identity users===
There had been other people who passed themselves off as the Red Skull:

====George John Maxon====
[[File:Red Skull (George John Maxon).png|thumb|upright|George John Maxon as the Red Skull, before the retcon as being a decoy for Johann Shmidt. Artwork from ''Captain America Comics'' #3 (May 1941 Timely Comics). Art by Jack Kirby]]
Created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, '''George John Maxon''' appeared as Red Skull in ''Captain America Comics'' #1 and #3 (March–May 1941). He faces Captain America during two of the latter's early missions. Maxon is an American businessman and Nazi agent who leads a ring of spies and saboteurs and serves as a stand-in of Johann Schmidt (the true Red Skull). 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). Marvel Comics.</ref>
{{-}}

====Albert Malik====
After the disappearance of Johann Schmidt in 1945, the reputation of the Red Skull was still formidable enough to prove useful. In 1953, [[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 ({{langx|ru|Красный Череп}}), 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 [[Captain America (William Burnside)|then-active version]] of Captain America, who was also pretending to be the original. While the Captain and [[Bucky (Marvel Comics)|Bucky]] ([[Jack Monroe (character)|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. Marvel Comics.</ref>

He was also responsible for the deaths of [[Richard and Mary Parker]], the parents of [[Peter Parker]], tipped off by the supercriminal [[Gentleman (character)|Gustav "the Gentleman" Fiers]] to their spy status.<ref>''Amazing Spider-Man Annual'' #5. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>''Amazing Spider-Man'' #366. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Malik was later killed by a [[Scourge of the Underworld]], operating on behalf of the original Red Skull (Johann Schmidt) disguised as a pilot.<ref name="Captain America #347"/>

====Sinthea Shmidt====
{{main|Sin (Marvel Comics)}}
Sinthea "Sin" Shmidt is the daughter of Johann Shmidt who briefly adopts the Red Skull moniker after being scarred like her father.

====Clone of Johann Shmidt====
Following the ''[[Avengers vs. X-Men]]'' storyline, the Red Skull mysteriously returns and assembles a team called the [[S-Men]]. The Red Skull's S-Men attack [[Rogue (Marvel Comics)|Rogue]] and the [[Scarlet Witch]] at [[Professor X]]'s grave and steal the mutant's body. In his hideout, the Red Skull is then seen removing Professor X's brain in a plot to "eradicate the mutant menace".<ref>''Uncanny Avengers'' #1. Marvel Comics.</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, the Red Skull brainwashes the 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. The Red Skull arrives and reveals that he has fused his brain with Professor X's brain.<ref name="Uncanny Avengers #2">''Uncanny Avengers'' #2. Marvel Comics.</ref> Using Professor X's telepathy, the 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 the 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 the Scarlet Witch to break free.<ref>''Uncanny Avengers'' #3. Marvel Comics.</ref> The team ultimately force the Red Skull to retreat after Rogue manages to temporarily disrupt his powers, [[Havok (comics)|Havok]] mockingly comparing the Red Skull to the jock who beats up gay kids to conceal his own homosexuality.<ref>''Uncanny Avengers'' #4. Marvel Comics.</ref>

During the ''[[AXIS (comics)|AXIS]]'' storyline, Magneto finds out that the Red Skull has turned [[Genosha]] into a concentration camp for mutants and still has Professor X's brain inside him. Magneto attacks the Red Skull, but is quickly stopped by the S-Men.<ref>''Magneto'' (vol. 3) #9. Marvel Comics.</ref> The Red Skull mind-tortures Magneto with visions of those closest to the mutant suffering while being unable to do anything to stop it. After being freed by the 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. Marvel Comics.</ref> When the Scarlet Witch, Rogue and Havok want to leave the island and alert the rest of the Avengers and the X-Men of what the Red Skull is doing, Magneto wants to stay and fight. Before they can do anything, the Red Skull appears.<ref>''Uncanny Avengers'' #24. Marvel Comics.</ref> The Red Skull now has the group mind-controlled. He plans on using the Scarlet Witch's power to shape reality in his image. He tells Magneto to bow if the Scarlet Witch were to remain alive, but Magneto performs a sneak attack enough to break the Red Skull's control over the others. After killing the S-Men, Magneto attacks the Red Skull, who then tells Magneto that Professor X's greatest fear was leading the X-Men. Magneto kills the Red Skull while the others look on in horror. Magneto believes everything is over, only for the Red Skull to appear as a giant called "'''[[Onslaught (Marvel Comics)|Red Onslaught]]'''".<ref name= "Uncanny Avengers #25">''Uncanny Avengers'' #25. Marvel Comics.</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 of the Superhuman Registration Act—Magneto gathers a team of villains to try to take the Red Skull's forces by surprise.<ref>''Avengers & X-Men: Axis'' #2. Marvel Comics.</ref> The Scarlet Witch attempts to cast a spell that will 'invert' the Red 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. Marvel Comics.</ref> With the villains now the only hope to defeat the corrupted heroes, Captain America is forced to protect the Red 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. Marvel Comics.</ref> Doctor Doom is able to summon the spirit of [[Brother Voodoo]] to possess the Scarlet Witch and invert the spell, the Red Skull sacrificing his heroism and freedom to restore the heroes to normal. The Red Skull was later taken away by Doctor Doom.<ref>''Avengers & X-Men: Axis'' #9. Marvel Comics.</ref>

As part of the ''[[All-New, All-Different Marvel]]'', it is revealed that the Red Skull is hiding in [[Avengers Mansion]] (now a themed hotel as the various Avengers teams have moved on to new bases) in a secret underground room along with Sin (whose original appearance has been restored) ever since he was defeated. He is nearly discovered when [[Quicksilver (Marvel 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. Marvel Comics.</ref>

During the ''[[Avengers: Standoff!]]'' storyline, the 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 [[Helmut Zemo]] and the [[Fixer (Marvel Comics)|Fixer]] into restoring them to normal.<ref>''Captain America: Sam Wilson'' #7. Marvel Comics.</ref> In the aftermath of the battle with the villains at Pleasant Hill, the Red Skull founds his own version of HYDRA with Sin and Crossbones.<ref>''Avengers Standoff: Assault on Pleasant Hill Omega'' #1. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Their first strike occurs when they use [[Kobik]]—a sentient Cosmic Cube that once belonged to the Red Skull, now 'educated' to perceive HYDRA as a great organization—to manipulate [[Alternative versions of Captain America#Earth-61311|Steve Rogers's memories into believing of being a HYDRA sleeper agent since childhood]],<ref name="ReferenceA">''Steve Rogers: Captain America'' #2. Marvel Comics.</ref> although the Red Skull is unaware that the HYDRA-converted soldier now intends to stage a coup of the organization for his own ends.<ref>''Steve Rogers: Captain America'' #4. Marvel Comics.</ref>

The Red 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 Rogue immune to telepathy long enough to knock the Red Skull out and take him to be operated on by [[Beast (Marvel Comics)|Beast]].<ref name= "Uncanny Avengers Vol. 3 #21">''Uncanny Avengers'' (vol. 3) #21. Marvel Comics.</ref> The fragment of Professor X's brain is extracted from the Red Skull, but although Rogers attempts to take custody of the fragment for his own ends, Rogue and [[Human Torch|Johnny Storm]] fly up and incinerate the brain fragment, leaving the Red Skull to be taken into 'custody' by Rogers.<ref>''Uncanny Avengers'' (vol. 3) #22. Marvel Comics.</ref> Although Red Skull is rescued by Sin, she and Crossbones subsequently betray the Red Skull to prove loyalty to Rogers, who kills the clone for good by pushing him over the cliff outside the Red Skull's mansion with Rogers revealing never being loyal to the Red Skull from the beginning.<ref>''Captain America: Steve Rogers'' #15. Marvel Comics.</ref>

During the ''[[Secret Empire (2017 comic)|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", encounters the Red Skull's clone who plans to taken them "home".<ref>''Secret Empire'' #5. Marvel Comics.</ref> As the other Steve Rogers is hanging from a rope tied to a tree, he finds himself next to a rambling man. As the Red Skull's clone takes the rambling man away, he tells the other Steve Rogers that his time will come soon. The other Steve Rogers asks the Red Skull's clone where he is and the Red Skull's clone claims that they are in "Hell". He also states that they are nothing but ghosts that are remnants fading into death. The 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. Marvel Comics.</ref> The Red Skull's clone is torturing the other Steve Rogers with a burning, thorn-wrapped piece of wood. The Red Skull's clone claims he is granting the other Steve Rogers "peace" and 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 that he thought had died. He realizes there is still hope and evades the Red Skull's clone'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 the other Steve Rogers an idiot for his actions.<ref>''Secret Empire'' #7. Marvel Comics.</ref>