Red Skull

George Maxon was an American businessman and Nazi collaborator who served as a decoy Red Skull, donning a crimson skull mask while running Maxon Aircraft Company as cover for enemy sabotage operations — all while the true Red Skull, Johann Schmidt, operated in the shadows.

Few villains cast as long and dark a shadow as Red Skull, who first menaced the Marvel Universe way back in 1941's All-Winners Comics #2 — a Golden Age debut that planted the seeds of one of comics' most enduring antagonists. Over an astonishing 85-year publishing history spanning 381 catalog appearances, this icon of Marvel villainy has crossed paths with the mightiest heroes the House of Ideas has to offer, from Steve Rogers to Thor, Iron Man, and Spider-Man, making him a fixture at the very center of Marvel's universe. With 17 key issues to his name and a presence stretching deepest in the pages of Captain America and beyond, Red Skull isn't merely a recurring threat — he's a defining force whose longevity speaks to just how powerfully he resonates with readers and creators alike. If you're serious about Marvel history, following Red Skull's trail through the decades is practically a masterclass in the evolution of the superhero genre itself.