RED SKELTON
Real Name: "Red" Skelton (first name
unrevealed)
Identity/Class: Normal human (WWII era)
Occupation: Criminal, fugitive
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: None
Enemies: Ka-Zar (David Rand), Professor Rice,
Mara Rice, Zar
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: Unrevealed
Base of Operations: Mobile internationally
First Appearance: Marvel Mystery Comics#7/8
(May, 1940)
Powers/Abilities: Red Skelton is a greedy and
ruthless villain who readily resorts to murder and extortion in the
pursuit of wealth. He has good accuracy with a handgun and can fly a
single-engine seaplane.
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 140 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Unrevealed (black mustache)
History:
(Marvel Mystery Comics#7/8 (fb) - BTS) - Red Skelton
committed crimes including murder and robbery, and was wanted by police
in London, Paris and New York. Aware that the wealthy botanist Prof.
Rice was planning an expedition to Africa to search for rare flowers,
he made himself available as a seaplane pilot, intending to extort Rice
for a large sum of money. Skelton used a pseudonym (unrevealed) and
Rice hired him, not realizing who the villain truly was, and Skelton
flew Prof. Rice and his daughter Mara to Africa around the Congo region.
(Marvel Mystery Comics#7/8) - Alerted by the noise of the plane's engine, the heroic Ka-Zar (David Rand) watched the plane land. Rice had asked Skelton to pick him and his daughter up in one month after their expedition concluded, but Skelton feigned engine trouble. Secretly watching, Ka-Zar did not trust Skelton because of his "cruel face" and continued monitoring. Still there after several days, Skelton made aggressive advances on Mara and Ka-Zar was about to intervene, but the professor arrived. Suspicious, the professor questioned Skelton, who then revealed his true identity and admitted his motives. Holding a gun and threatening their abandonment in the jungle, Skelton sought to extort the professor of signed bank authorization for cash payment, but then also demanded that Mara marry him. The professor refused and lunged at the villain, who shot him dead; Mara fled into the jungle. Meanwhile, Ka-Zar had his protective companion lion Zar follow Mara's tracks to safeguard her while he investigated the plane. Ka-Zar found a lighter and unwittingly lit a flame that led to the rapid burning of the plane. The fire drew the attention of Skelton, who angrily shot at Ka-Zar but missed. Ka-Zar quickly grabbed Skelton and killed him with his knife.
Comments: Created by uncredited writer & Ben Thompson.
Profile by Grendel Prime.
CLARIFICATIONS
:
Red Skelton has no known connections to:
images:
(without ads)
Marvel Mystery Comics#7/8, p7, pan1 (main image)
p2, pan2 (headshot)
Appearances:
Marvel Mystery Comics#7/8 (May, 1940) - uncredited writer, Ben Thompson
(art),
Martin Goodman (editor))
First posted: 10/30/2025
Last updated:
10/30/2025
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™
and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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