Johann Schmidt

Johann Schmidt is the former head of HYDRA, the special weapons division of the Nazi Schutzstaffel and a modern-day incarnation of the ancient society. Having become a confidant of Adolf Hitler during World War II, Schmidt gained ambitions to become the superior man, leading him to use the prototype of Abraham Erskine's Super Soldier Serum on himself, resulting in him becoming disfigured with a red face, gaining the name Red Skull. While he led HYDRA, Red Skull had found the Cosmic Cube which he had believed could help him to control the world. However, Red Skull's plans were challenged by the Allies' only super soldier, Captain America, who destroyed the HYDRA facilities. Once Red Skull had launched his offensive, intending to bring the United States down onto its knees, he was intercepted by Captain America. However, the fight ended when Red Skull touched the Cosmic Cube with his bare hands, prompting it to create a wormhole and send him elsewhere.
== Biography ==
=== Early Life ===
==== Obsession with Power ====
Johann Schmidt was born in North Germany. 
==== Head of HYDRA ====
=== World War II ===
==== Becoming Red Skull ====
In 1939, Nazi Germany invaded Poland, thus starting World War II. As the war continued, Schmidt had actively participated in several German conquests, earning several high military decorations, including the Panzer Badge and the Iron Cross First Class, and Schmidt may have also suffered a wound during combat to merit him the Wound Badge which he would wear on his own SS uniform.
In 1940, Schmidt had learned that, at long last, the first, unstable version of Abraham Erskine's Super Soldier Serum was now finished, thanks to Wilfred Malick who delivered the last ingredient of the serum on behalf of Viola in return for the restoration of his family's name and fortune. Schmidt desired to use the serum for himself but Erskine refused to hand it over to him, despite Schmidt's orders and even the threat of execution. In the end, Schmidt took the serum by force and had Erskine imprisoned before ordering that Erskine's own wife and children were sent into a concentration camp.
Having regained Erskine's serum as he had intended, Schmidt then traveled onto Castle Kaufmann in the Bavarian Alps, where Schmidt had injected himself with the serum in order to get superpowers. The serum was supposed to make him faster, stronger, and more agile, and Schmidt soon felt all the effects running through his body, as his muscles grew and his mind became clearer, as Schmidt finally became the superior man as he had always intended.
However, the process also came with some painful side effects and rendered Schmidt with a red and horrifically deformed face. Though he adopted a synthetic mask that resembled his former appearance to disguise the deformity, he became known as "Red Skull". Erskine himself fled and sought refuge in the United States with the help of Peggy Carter, joining with the Strategic Scientific Reserve in order to continue his own research and aid the allies during the war.
As compensation, Adolf Hitler gave Schmidt a new base in the Alps, which became the headquarters of HYDRA, conducting research and development of weapons for the Third Reich. However, Schmidt saw his new post more as a form of exile than as a reward. He continued his research into the occult and developed a sense that HYDRA had become superior to the Nazis and sought to find a weapon that would overthrow Hitler. 
==== Finding the Cosmic Cube ====
==== Encountering Captain America ====
In November 1943, HYDRA Base Camp C3 had been suddenly invaded by Captain America, who had gone there on a one-man mission to free his friend, Bucky Barnes, and the other P.O.W.s. being held. As their riot broke out, Schmidt watched the carnage on his monitor as all the prisoners were freed and attacked Schmidt's forces. Schmidt then watched closely, while Captain America had overpowered all of their HYDRA soldiers with considerable ease.
Once the huge battle had occurred between all the freed P.O.W.s and Schmidt's forces, Schmidt saw that the battle was not going his way and had activated the self-destruct procedure throughout the facility. Witnessing this, Arnim Zola desperately attempted to protest, as he did not want his research to be destroyed, only for Schmidt to point to Captain America on all their monitors, as he had simply noted that their own forces were clearly outmatched by this latest enemy.
With only minutes to spare, Zola ran to his lab to collect his research as Schmidt collected the Cosmic Cube. Without touching the immensely powerful item, Schmidt placed it into a briefcase and regrouped with Zola. While they made their way to the exit, the self-destruct on their base was activated and much of their powerful machinery inside the base had begun to explode one by one, causing the floor of the base to erupt in unstoppable flames, killing anyone who was left nearby.
While Schmidt and Zola were about to leave while the facility burned around them, they were then confronted by Captain America. Upon seeing him, Schmidt began to mock Captain America, noting that he had seen and enjoyed the many propaganda films he had starred in. Schmidt had then noted his surprise that Abraham Erskine managed to recreate his experiment, although he made it clear he did not view Captain America's strength as an improvement upon his own.
Ignoring the taunts, Captain America simply punched Schmidt in the face, which damaged his prosthetic mask, as he had then noted that Schmidt had no idea of what he was actually capable of. In order to show Captain America how they were the experiments who had been injected with the Super Soldier Serum, Schmidt noted that he knew what he was capable of, responding by punching at Captain America and made a large dent in his shield, much to his shock and horror.
As Captain America knew exactly what kind of enemy he was facing, the pair then engaged in a brief but highly violent fistfight, as Schmidt managed to knock Captain America's gun off the platform before he could try to shoot him. The blow knocked him down while Captain America had then kicked Schmidt across the platform, creating some more distance between them, which caused Zola to separate the pair by pulling the platform back as they got back onto their feet.
While Zola separated the two super soldiers and Schmidt revealed to Captain America that he believed he was Abraham Erskine's greatest success before ripping off his damaged face mask to show him what the serum had done to his face. While Captain America and Barnes were stunned by the hideous reveal, Red Skull threw his mask in the fire and told him he was deluded in believing he was a simple soldier since they had left humanity behind and he had embraced this.
As he left the pair to burn, Captain America called out to Red Skull to ask if he was without fear why was he running, but Red Skull ignored the taunt as he had believed they would both be dead soon while he would be able to get away. Red Skull revealed his intention to escape in a one-man Focke-Wulf Triebflügel, but when Zola questioned how he would escape from the base as well, Red Skull reluctantly handed him the keys to his car as he ordered him to drive it from the danger without scratching it, which Zola then agreed to without hesitation as he had secretly always wanted to drive Red Skull's impressive car.
Red Skull was able to fly his ship out of danger as he regrouped with the forces of HYDRA back at the headquarters. Despite the HYDRA base exploding shortly after their escape, both Captain America and Barnes managed to escape themselves and returned into the United States Armed Forces where they now planned to bring their fight to HYDRA. Knowing that Captain America and the U.S. army were after him, Red Skull then decided to now accelerate all of his plans.
==== Losing the War ====
: "You are failing! We are close to an offensive that will shake the planet, yet we are continually delayed because you cannot outwit a simpleton with a shield!"
: ―Red Skull[src]
Unfortunately for Red Skull, before their encounter on the bridge at his facility, Captain America had already managed to memorize the locations of all their HYDRA bases which he saw on a map in Red Skull's base in Austria. Using this information, Captain America and the Howling Commandos began to take them all down, allowing the Allies to progressively destroy most major HYDRA operations, and preventing Red Skull any chance to move forward with his plans.
Red Skull placed Arnim Zola in command of halting Captain America and his allies' assaults on HYDRA bases but the scientist was unable to do so, as all of Zola's latest weaponry, including Uber Tanks and Heavy Assault Rifles, were still no match against Captain America's team. The more HYDRA facilities that were destroyed as the war had continued, the more deranged Red Skull became, as he was enraged that his soldiers were completely unable to defeat their enemies.
In April 1944, Red Skull was within a castle on an island in the Nazi-occupied Danish Straits. There, he began studying a mystical Viking Runestone. However, Captain America and the Howling Commandos invaded the castle, as Red Skull attempted to destroy them but they survived. Red Skull then explored the ruins of one of his destroyed facilities. Furious, Red Skull screamed at his soldiers and threatened Zola to continue his work before Captain America defeated them.
When Velt appeared and begged for forgiveness for his failures, Red Skull shot him without mercy. At the same time, Red Skull had Zola make energy weapons powered by their Cosmic Cube, intending to use them against the mainland of the United States of America, allowing HYDRA to claim victory in the war. In the meantime, Red Skull had ordered Werner Reinhardt to search for ancient artifacts of legendary power Reinhardt's team was eventually able to find the Obelisk in Portugal. As Reinhardt showed the artifact to his leader, Red Skull claimed that the Obelisk might hold the answers to death itself.
==== Inspiring HYDRA's Troops ====
: "Tomorrow, HYDRA will stand as master of the world, borne to victory on the wings of the Valkyrie. Our enemies' weapons will be powerless against us. If they shoot down one plane, hundreds more will rain fire upon them! If they cut off one head, two more shall take its place."
: ―Red Skull to HYDRA[src]
Before Red Skull could complete his schemes, Arnim Zola had been intercepted by Captain America and the Howling Commandos, leading to Zola surrendering key information about Red Skull's plans to the Allies. With Zola captured by the United States Armed Forces and key intel on his plans having been leaked to his enemies, Red Skull was then forced to move his plans forward and had then gathered his army inside the HYDRA Headquarters in order to inspire them before their plans had finally gone into action.
Red Skull then had all the Cosmic-powered energy bombs loaded on board the Valkyrie, ready to be launched against the United States of America. With everything now in place for them to claim their victory in World War II, Red Skull gave his speech to all his soldiers in which he promised they would stand triumphant before repeating the HYDRA motto and watching as all of his soldiers had saluted him, confident that nothing would stand in his way.
==== Attack on Headquarters ====
: "Arrogance may not be a uniquely American trait, but I must say, you do it better than anyone. But there are limits to what even you can do, Captain, or did Erskine tell you otherwise?""He told me you were insane."
: ―Red Skull and Captain America[src]
In February 1945, Red Skull was alerted that Captain America had just led a failed one man mission to try and infiltrate the HYDRA Headquarters. Despite having ridden into the base on his motorcycle and killing several of their guards, Captain America was eventually surrounded and captured. As the attempted ambush had failed, Red Skull then had the captured Captain America brought to him, mocking his arrogance at attempting this foolish mission, noting the United States of America's arrogance was astonishing.
Red Skull noted that there were limits to even what Captain America could do, as he questioned if Abraham Erskine had actually told him otherwise when he had injected him with the Super Soldier Serum. In response, Captain America noted that Erskine had told him that Red Skull was insane, to which Red Skull noted that Erskine had resented his genius and also tried to deny him what was rightfully his. Looking at his enemy, Red Skull asked why Erskine gave him the serum.
As Red Skull questioned what had made Captain America so special that Erskine gave him their serum, he responded by claiming that he was just a kid from Brooklyn and that there was not anything special about him. This answer enraged Red Skull, who proceeded to punch twice Captain America in the face, before knocking him down to his knees with a punch to the gut. However, Captain America then swiftly regained his breath, before insisting that he could do this all day.
Having grown tired of his enemy, Red Skull noted that while Captain America could keep going all day, he was on a tight schedule, as he drew his HYDRA Pistol, preparing to vaporize Captain America once and for all. However, hearing the sounds of the zip-lines striking the outside of their base, Red Skull looked up and saw that the Howling Commandos, led by Dum Dum Dugan, were now launching a second ambush. Before Red Skull could execute Captain America, he moved a HYDRA guard in the way of the shot, just as the Commandos burst in the room and opened fire, forcing Red Skull to make his escape.
As Red Skull escaped, he then witnessed Chester Phillips and Peggy Carter charging into the base with more soldiers, Red Skull picked up his Cosmic-powered gun and used it to then kill several American soldiers before the overwhelming forces pushed him back. Red Skull stayed ahead of Captain America and fired several shots at him, all of which were deflected on his shield. As Red Skull's soldiers then held Captain America back, Red Skull ran onto the Valkyrie to escape.
==== Battle in the Valkyrie ====
: "You could have the power of the gods! Yet you wear a flag on your chest and think you fight a battle of nations! I have seen the future, Captain! There are no flags!"
: ―Red Skull to Captain America[src]
Once Red Skull had retreated into the Valkyrie, he had then locked away the cube and prepared to finally initiate his attack on the United States of America. During the plane's launch, Red Skull noticed that Chester Phillips and Peggy Carter had taken his car and were chasing him across the runway, allowing Captain America to then get on board the Valkyrie just moments before they had taken off.
Having taken out his guards, Captain America climbed on the outside of a HYDRA Parasit and threw out the pilot before taking control of it himself. Red Skull had tried and failed to shoot him out of the sky but Captain America managed to avoid these shots before crash landing the bomb back into the plane; he got out and made his way into the cockpit where he then confronted Red Skull. However, refusing to be defeated, Red Skull had prepared himself to kill his greatest enemy.
As Captain America explored the cockpit, Red Skull waited for him to walk carefully over to the plane's controls before he had attempted to shoot him in the back with an Assault Weapon. However, as Captain America heard the gun charging up and was able to deflect the shot just in time. As one of the plane's windows had been shattered from the blast, a frustrated Red Skull had then mocked Captain America's constant refusal to give up, which Captain America admitted.
Facing each other, Captain America then charged at Red Skull, as he had continued attempting to shoot him, only for Captain America to block the shots and disarm him. They engaged in a fistfight with Red Skull gaining the upper hand by taking Captain America's shield and striking him with it, proving himself to match his enemy's strength. As he landed several body hits due to all his previous excessive combat experience as he furiously attempted to defeat Captain America.
However, Although Red Skull managed to pin Captain America back with his shield, his enemy had then managed to push Red Skull away from him, launching him backwards and straight into the controls of the Valkyrie, causing some considerable damage. When the pair had crashed into the controls, their plane spiraled out of control and the pair continued to fight while they were thrown across the room in mid air, with Red Skull able to kick Captain America across the plane.
Red Skull managed to set the ship back onto its course after he and Captain America were separated. Red Skull also managed to reach his HYDRA Pistol which he fired at Captain America who took cover, while he attempted to reclaim his shield. As the Red Skull continued firing his gun at the super-soldier, he had begun mocking him that he could have the power of the gods, as he claiming that HYDRA would create their future without any flags, and that HYDRA would rule.
Captain America defiantly told Red Skull this would not be his future and managed to avoid his continued shots before he threw his shield at Red Skull with great force, knocking him back and also damaging the Cradle which had contained the Cube. In the panic of that moment, Red Skull grabbed the Cosmic Cube, which reactivated itself. Red Skull could only scream in pain and rage while he saw the flesh from his hand burning away, once the Cosmic Cube had opened up a wormhole into the cosmos and transported Red Skull away.
== Personality ==
: "Schmidt believes he walks in the footsteps of the gods. Only the world itself will satisfy him."
: ―Arnim Zola to Chester Phillips[src]
Johann Schmidt is a megalomaniac and egocentric genius who firmly believed in the Nazi Party's long-standing misinterpretation of Friedrich Nietzsche's Übermensch, over-man, a concept where a race of superhuman beings are destined to rule the normal ones. Believing himself to be such a man, he used any means necessary to obtain a central position in Adolf Hitler's army, until his conceit made him arrive at the point of believing himself to be greater than Hitler, and thus starting a plan to overthrow him. Unlike other Nazis, Schmidt doesn't believe that the Germans are the destined "master race," but rather that the superior man has yet to be made. Also, Schmidt did not personally care to follow the Nazis' infamous holocaust plan against the Jewish race, although he nonetheless used it as a threat against Abraham Erskine to force him to make the Super Soldier Serum.
Schmidt was pitiless and cruel, but also a scientific genius, who was able to see beyond appearances and managed to see the truth behind myths believed to be superstition, which was, in reality, fragments of Asgardian origin. While he did believe in myths and arcane mystics, he didn't view them in a religious or superstitious manner but instead saw them as a form of science to be studied and used for their own purposes, as he stated to the Church Keeper from Tønsberg, Norway.
Schmidt was said to be a fully-fledged supporter of the Nazi Party until the incident which left him deformed. The truth is that he worked with the Nazis only so he could use their resources to achieve his own goals, and no longer seemed to share the racial ideals of Nazism. He claims that he was isolated to his HYDRA Headquarters in the Alps because he no longer shares Hitler's image of Aryan perfection. In addition, despite otherwise being proud of leaving humanity far behind to the extent of openly stating that he embraces this without fear, he nonetheless gets angry when reminded of the deformities inflicted by the super serum prototype, especially in an insulting manner, as evidenced by his reaction to Schroeder's reference to him as the "Red Skull." Though he is disillusioned by the Führer's ideals, he is still morally devoid and capable of mass murder. Once a mere professor at the University of Berlin, Schmidt became a cold-blooded killer who would do anything to accomplish his goals. Even his subordinate officers had reasons to fear him as Schmidt had an extremely low tolerance of failure: If they didn't do their job right, death was the only penalty he would give to those who failed him.
== Powers and Abilities ==
=== Powers ===
: "He has become convinced that there is a great power hidden in the Earth, left here by the gods, waiting to be seized by a superior man. So when he hears about my formula and what it can do, he cannot resist. Schmidt must become that superior man."
: ―Abraham Erskine to Steve Rogers[src]
* Artificially Enhanced Physiology: As a result of the unfinished formula developed by Abraham Erskine, Schmidt obtained incredible attributes, such as an enormous strength, speed, stamina, and reflexes, but was left horribly disfigured. In addition, his intelligence was also increased, allowing him to become a mastermind of warfare. Like Captain America, Schmidt's physiology has been enhanced beyond any human at the time, leading him to refer to himself as "Erskine's greatest success."
** Enhanced Strength: Schmidt's strength was enhanced to an early level of superhuman potential, having the strength of ten men or more. He was able to move a giant stone casket lid by himself with little effort after three normal men could barely make it budge. He was also able to lift a giant wardrobe over his head and threw it dozens of feet away, and this happened just a few days after he received the serum. His punches were able to dent Captain America's original metal shield and hurt Captain America, despite his similar super soldier enhanced body.
** Enhanced Durability: While fighting Captain America, Schmidt was able to quickly recover from blows received from his opponent. He wasn't fazed by a full force punch by Captain America, although his prosthetic mask did chip away from the punch.
** Enhanced Speed: The Super Soldier Serum gave Schmidt enhanced speed, allowing him to land punches on the also enhanced Captain America before his reflexes could respond.
** Enhanced Agility: Schmidt was an agile hand-to-hand combatant while engaged in a one on one battle with Captain America. Though Schmidt prefers to shoot from a distance, Schmidt has been known to lunge great distances at a stunned Captain America when the opportunity arises.
** Enhanced Stamina: Schmidt is more resilient to fatigue and exhaustion, allowing him to fight and exert himself for long periods without strain or weakness, even when Captain America sent him flying through the air.
** Enhanced Reflexes: With the serum, Schmidt's reflexes were also enhanced. This allowed him to dodge a near fatal attack by Captain America. Rogers swung his shield and Red Skull's neck to which Schmidt dodged.
** Enhanced Intelligence: Since Schmidt's intelligence is enhanced, he has proven to be a formidable researcher and scientist, being able to distinguish truth from myths concerning ancient and powerful relics.
** Regenerative Healing Factor: The Super Soldier Serum potentially granted Schmidt' physiology an accelerated rate of healing and regeneration. However, due to it being an imperfect formula, the facial scars that led to him gaining the moniker of Red Skull were permanent.
=== Abilities ===
* Genius-Level Intellect: Even before getting his intelligence enhanced by the serum, Schmidt was a very smart man. 
* Master Tactician: As the leader of HYDRA, Schmidt was in command of all the organization's soldiers and led them in many operations during World War II. Many of which had successful outcomes. Being the head of HYDRA, he usually is most suited for combat. Both with the HYDRA division and as a single man going toe to toe with Captain America. Schmidt has managed to orchestrate the assassinations of his enemies such as Ernst Kaufmann and Abraham Erskine, manipulated his way to power, and led HYDRA in planning an offensive that would have devastated the world's most influential countries had Captain America not interfered. He strategically blew up his own base so that he could trap Captain America and kill him. However, Rogers and Bucky Barnes still got out.
* Master Scientist: Acknowledged by Erskine himself as a brilliant scientist, Schmidt was put by Hitler in charge of the Nazi science division HYDRA-Abteilung.
* Expert Combatant: Schmidt was very proficient in unarmed combat. He was able to go toe-to-toe with Captain America and briefly gained the upper hand.
* Marksman: Schmidt was an expert marksman, being able to use many of the weaponry engineered by HYDRA, and was especially skilled with his German sidearm. He shot and killed the Church Keeper with a single round. He also was able to shoot accurately at Captain America, even though Rogers blocked all of the shots with his Shield.
* Pilot: Schmidt was an accomplished pilot, using a Focke-Wulf Triebflügel to escape from HYDRA Base Camp C3 before its destruction, and personally piloting the Valkyrie to attack the United States of America.
* Bilingualism: Schmidt was fluent in his native German, as well as English, albeit with a German accent.
== Equipment ==
=== Weapons ===
* HYDRA Cannon: Having become annoyed at the insults leveled at him by Adolf Hitler's officers, Schmidt activated a Cannon
* Uniform: Before and during the first years of World War II, Schmidt used an official black SS uniform, wearing the rank insignia of Obergruppenführer. He wore three military decorations on the left side of the uniform, the Panzer Badge, the Wound Badge, and the Iron Cross First Class. Over the uniform, he wore the black leather coat with the HYDRA badge on the left side of the collar. His officer cap also had the HYDRA badge instead of the SS Totenkopf badge. From 1943 on, he wore the unique green uniform with the HYDRA insignia on the upper parts of the sleeves. In March 1945, he briefly wore a unique black uniform while piloting the Valkyrie.
== Relationships ==
=== Allies ===
* HYDRA - Former Subordinates
** Arnim Zola †
** Heinz Kruger
=== Enemies ===
* United States Army
** Chester Phillips
* Strategic Scientific Reserve
** Abraham Erskine †
** Peggy Carter
** Howard Stark †
* Third Reich - Former Allies
** Wehrmacht
*** Adolf Hitler † - Former Superior
*** Schneider † - Victim
*** Roeder † - Victim
*** Hutter † - Victim
* Schutzstaffel
** Howling Commandos
*** Steve Rogers/Captain America - Attempted Victim
*** Bucky Barnes
*** Dum Dum Dugan
*** Gabe Jones
*** Jim Morita †
== Appearances ==
In Order:
* Captain America
== Trivia ==
* In the comics, Johann Shmidt was Adolf Hitler's right hand, second-in-command and personal assassin, and originally had no relationships with HYDRA, although he helped Baron Strucker to escape from Germany and to organize HYDRA in Japanese territories during the middle of World War II.
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Category:Super Soldier Serum Users
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