schmidt-harold-microm-upper-suitschmidt-harold-microm-face1HAROLD SCHMIDT

Real Name: Harold Schmidt

Identity/Class: Human (1940s era) advanced science-user

Occupation: Scientist

Group Membership:  None known

Affiliations: Jimmy Everett (aka Microman)

Enemies: None known

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America

First Appearance: Human Torch Comics#2/4 (Fall 1940)

   

schmidt-harold-microm-lab

   

Powers/Abilities: An eccentric and elderly chemist, Schmidt was capable of devising a shrinking potion and an "antidote" (enlarging potion, which may have only counteracted those affected by the shrinking potion).

    However, he took little care to prevent interference with his experiments, potions and equipment, especially while knowing there was a curious young boy who visited his lab regularly.

    He was visually shortsighted (despite wearing eyeglasses), slightly hard of hearing and took naps during the daytime while working.

    He enjoyed tobacco (presumably via pipe, but who knows").

   

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 5'10")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 170 lbs.)
Eyes: Unrevealed (dark)
Hair: Balding (small amount of white hair) with white beard
   

History:
(Human Torch Comics#2/4 (fb) - BTS / Marvel Mystery Handbook: 70th Anniversary Special#1) - Harold Schmidt worked out of laboratory in his home in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

(Human Torch Comics#2/4 (fb) - BTS / Marvel Mystery Handbook: 70th Anniversary Special#1) - In 1940 A.D. (at least), Jimmy Everett, the next door neighbor's 10-year-old son, frequenting traveled through the hedges separating their houses' property, knowing there would often be something new and exciting. Despite his intelligence, Jimmy sometimes secretly tested the chemist's experiments on himself.
    Jimmy also sometimes ran errands for Schmidt in exchange for payment. 

(Human Torch Comics#2/4 (fb) - BTS) - Schmidt developed a potion that would make a person smaller, as well as an antidote to reverse the effects of the shrinking potion.

(Human Torch Comics#2/4) <Late in 1940> - Jimmy came over just as Schmidt was mixing his shrinking potion. Since Schmidt was out of tobacco, he gave Jimmy some money to buy him some more, along with a buffalo nickel for running the errand. While Jimmy went to purchase the tobacco, the old chemist settled in a chair a dozed off.
schmidt-harold-microm-full-sit
    When Jimmy returned and found Schmidt asleep, the boy drank some of the shrinking potion and was reduced to a tiny size, smaller even the nickel he was carrying. As he shrank, Jimmy called out to Schmidt for help, but his reduced size and Schmidt's poor hearing prevented the sleeping scientist from being awakened by the cry.

    Upon awakening, Schmidt found the nickel on the ground and appreciated that Jimmy must have dropped it. Wondering why Jimmy had not returned yet, Schmidt decided to have some fun with him, picking up the nickel -- unaware that the tiny Jimmy was hanging onto its face -- and putting it in his pocket next to his watch. The ticking of the watch sounded like dynamite exploding to Jimmy, and he climbed via the watch's chain down to Schmidt's table, but Schmidt neither saw him nor heard his cries.

    After Jimmy thought to position himself under Schmidt's magnifying glass, the elderly scientist saw him, appreciated what had happened and called out to the boy, nearly knocking him down with his breath. Schmidt put a drop of the antidote to the shrinking solution next to Jimmy, who licked it and slowly returned to his normal size.

    Schmidt advised Jimmy that this sort of thing was what happened to little boys who did things that they shouldn't, but Jimmy instead proposed that he could be Schmidt's assistant.

(Marvel Mystery Handbook: 70th Anniversary Special#1) - Jimmy became Schmidt's assistant.

Comments: Created by Paul Quinn and Harold DeLay.

    Harold's first name was revealed in Jimmy Everett's profile in the Marvel Mystery Handbook: 70th Anniversary Special#1.

    Harold Schmidt previously had a sub-profile under Microman, originally published 08/09/2020.

    According to Wikipedia, all states had age restrictions for selling tobacco by 1939.
    However, small towns may or may not have been more lenient, especially if a youth was specifically purchasing something for an adult. Maybe Schmidt even gave Jimmy his identification or a note off-panel.

    Some comments from the original profile courtesy of Ron Fredricks (italics) and an occasional response from me (Snood, non-italics):
    He was referred to as just "Mr. Schmidt" twelve times in the story, but the final caption referred to him as "Dr. Schmidt."
    The Marvel Mystery Handbook: 70th Anniversary Special#1 profile for Jimmy Everett only refers to him as "Harold Schmidt" or just "Schmidt," never as "Mr." or "Dr."
    Despite his accomplishments, its possible that Harold Schmidt did not have a PhD or any other degree earning him the title "doctor," but that he was gifted with natural ability and intuition and that he learned from his experiences.
    I would also think that perhaps he was retired but just enjoyed experimenting from his home.

    Possibly Schmidt's shrinking potion utilized what would later be known as the size-altering Pym Particles.

    Despite the promise of the caption in the last panel -- NEXT MONTH DR. SCHMIDT STARTS A STRANGE EXPERIMENT WITH JIMMY -- this would be the first, last, and only appearance of this character.

    In regards to "Microman": Beyond the title of this 6-page story, Jimmy was never actually referred to by that moniker; presumably, if this feature had lasted longer, he would have adopted that sobriquet.
   The Marvel Mystery Handbook: 70th Anniversary Special#1 profile on Jimmy Everett listed "Microman" as an alias. Perhaps Jimmy retained the powers, or perhaps Schmidt called him that as a nickname based on their relative sizes and/or on Jimmy's shrinking experience.

    The Jimmy Everett profile also notes:

    "Despite similarities, no connection has been revealed between Schmidt’s shrinking formula and that of Prof. Andreas Barzak, the “Shrinking Spy.” Barzak disappeared several months earlier along with his shrinking tonic after being exposed as a Nazi spy by US Department of Justice agents Randy Hayes and Jack Savage."

        and

    "It is possible that Schmidt had discovered what would later be termed Pym Particles"

    Additionally, courtesy of David Zuckerman of the Marvel Database, here are some links to list of size-changing

Size_Alteration

Size_Increase

Size_Decrease

Pym_Particles

This profile was completed 09/29/2026, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 25th anniversary 's celebratory event to represent Microman's story and characters.

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Harold Schmidt should be distinguished from:

images: (without ads)
Human Torch Comics#2/4, pg. 1, panel 4 (working at lab, with Jimmy);
       pg. 4, panel 6 (seated, full);
       pg. 5, panel 2 (face, full);
       pg. 6, panel 6 (upper, lab coat open, showing suit);
Appearances:
 Human Torch Comics#2/4 "Microman" (Fall 1940) - Peter Quinn (writer), Harold DeLay (pencils and inks), Joe Simon (editor)

Marvel Mystery Handbook: 70th Anniversary Special#1 (2009) - Michael Hoskin (head writer/coordinator), Jeff Christiansen (Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Overseer), Ronald Byrd, Anthony Flamini, Stuart Vandal, Kevin Garcia, Jacob Rougemont, David Wiltfong & Sean McQuaid (writers), Gus Vasquez & Tom Smith (select character artwork), Brian Overton (copy editor), John Denning & Alex Starbuck (assistant editors), Mark D. Beazley & Jennifer Grunwald (editors, special projects), Jeff Youngquist (editor)

First posted: 09/30/2026
Last updated: 09/29/2026

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. If you like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com

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