Day after day their love story continued, but the next full moon neared.
HUGO von STAHL
Real Name: Hugo von Stahl
Identity/Class: Human sub-species (werewolf, 1950s)
Occupation: Unrevealed
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Erika Ludwig (lover)
Enemies: Otto
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: A village in central Europe
First Appearance: Mystery Tale#25/5 (January,
1955)
{prima apparizione in Italia: Capitan America#60 Editoriale
Corno (30 luglio 1975)}
Powers/Abilities: In his human form, von Stahl had no special powers. During full moon he transformed into a werewolf. The metamorphosis included the growth of dark fur and claws, large fangs, and an increased bestial killer instinct. He also retained some rationality in his werewolf form.
History: (Mystery Tale#25 (fb) - BTS) - Hugo von Stahl
was a werewolf. When the full moon rose he couldn't stop the transformation and
had to hunt for meat and blood.
For years von Stahl bore the curse and sometimes also thought
to commit suicide as a solution, but he never did it. Remorse ate him up.
(Mystery Tale#25) - One full moon night he waited for
prey near the street outside the village. Otto passed through
and the werewolf killed him.
The next day the villagers assembled to organize a hunt for
the werewolf. Hugo, in his human form, panicked and ran into the street meeting a
wonderful girl. Her name was Erika Ludwig, the two fell in
love for each other at first sight.
Day after day their love story continued, but the next full moon neared.
The evening of the full moon Hugo heard
Erika speaking with her friends. They warned Erika about Hugo, who hadn't
spoken about marriage yet. Shortly after when the two lovers were alone, Erika
asked Hugo to marry her, but Hugo knew that his curse did not allow him to marry
Erika, then noticed that the full moon was rising in the night sky and ran into
the woods. But Erika loved him and followed him. Hugo found a cave and hid there
while Erika drew ever closer while his transformation was almost complete.
With His killer instinct slowly overpowering him Hugo found a wooden stick and staked himself.
Erika did not find Hugo, but ran into her friends instead. A stake was
stuck in Hugo's heart. Suicide was the only way he could have saved Erika from himself.
Comments: Created by unknown writer and Don Heck (pencils and inks).
From the dresses shown and the song that Otto was singing, I guess that the village was probably located in Bayern, between southern Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
Profile by Spidermay.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Hugo von Stahl has no known connections to any other characters with a
similar name.
Erika Ludwig has no known connections to
Erika Ludwig was a normal girl.
Erika fell in love with Hugo, but he never
told her about his curse.
Despite being harrassed by her friends about her relationship with Hugo, Erika asked him to marry her, but he
refused. At first she denied her interest in him, but her love was
too strong and she ran after him. She was in real danger because she was near
the cave where Hugo was becoming a werewolf. He killed himself before the
transformaion was complete.
--Mystery Tale#25/5
Otto was a normal human, well known in the village.
One full moon night Otto got drunk and was walking outside the village alone. The werewolf assaulted and killed him.
--Mystery Tale#25/5
images: (without ads)
Mystery Tale#25/5, p1, pan1 (Werewolf, main image)
Mystery Tale#25/5, p5, pan4 (Werewolf, head shot)
Mystery Tale#25/5, p2, pan7 (Hugo von Stahl, head shot)
Mystery Tale#25/5, p3, pan4 (Erika Ludwig)
Mystery Tale#25/5, p1, pan4 (Otto)
Appearances:
Mystery Tales#25 (January, 1955) - Don Heck (artist), Stan Lee (editor)
Last updated: 02/18/11
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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