Thanks to the runaway success that's the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you'd have to be living under a rock to not know recognize both Captain America (so ably portrayed by Chris Evans) and the Star-Spangled Avenger's eternal nemesis, the Red Skull. Fans who only know Cap and the Skull through the MCU, however, are missing out on a lot of rich lore. For example, they may never even have heard of the Red Skull's signature weapon (at least as of the late 1980s): the Dust of Death!
According to its entry in the Marvel Database, the dust would kill:
Conventional wisdom is that the Dust of Death first appeared in Captain America #184 (APR 1975). (see here and here), but there's also a contention by Marvel Comics Chronology commenter Mark Drummond that the Skull, "used the Dust in the Golden Age; [Writer, Steve] Englehart just revived it."
Given the prominence of the Dust of Death--at least by the time of my comicdom (i.e., 80s-early 90s), you'd think it would be pretty easy to source Drummond's claim. However, I've not been able to find any specific references to these supposed Golden Age appearances.
However, during some other reading in Golden Age comics I ran across a story entitled, "The Meeting that Death Attended" from Fox Feature Syndicate's The Big 3 #7 (JAN 1942). In it writer Jay Foster treats us to the conflict between the patriotic V-Man and the nefarious (and hilariously named) Baron Von Und Zu Schutz. Check out these panels featuring the Baron's weapon of choice:
And in the first direct clash between V-Man and Baron Von Und Zu Schutz
And, finally, after his initial defeat and return for the closing act, the Baron is hoisted on his own petard.
Since the Red Skull's first appearance was in Captain America Comics #7 (OCT 1941), it is possible that he made use of the Dust of Death first and Jay Foster copied the idea here in The Big 3 #7 (JAN 1942).
However, in the synopses that I can find online of comics: (1) featuring the Red Skull and (2) published prior to January 1942, to wit:
NOTE: I realize one could argue that all the Dust of Death stuff is ultimately derivative of the concept of Joker Venom. If you buy that argument--and, frankly, I don't--then Joker's weapon has precedence since it appeared first in Batman #1 (APR 1940)
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| I vividly remember how these panels affected me when I first read them in Captain America #350 (February 1989) |
According to its entry in the Marvel Database, the dust would kill:
...by making contact with [its] victim's skin, causing the skin on the...head to tighten, shrivel, and take on a red discoloration...causing all the hair on the victim's head to fall out...[and leaving the corpse with the appearance of having] a "red skull"/"masque of the red death" for a head. The Red Skull would many times dispense "the dust of death" from a large cigarette holder...[but] could also fire [the dust] from a special handgun. (Dust of Death. Marvel Database)
Conventional wisdom is that the Dust of Death first appeared in Captain America #184 (APR 1975). (see here and here), but there's also a contention by Marvel Comics Chronology commenter Mark Drummond that the Skull, "used the Dust in the Golden Age; [Writer, Steve] Englehart just revived it."
Given the prominence of the Dust of Death--at least by the time of my comicdom (i.e., 80s-early 90s), you'd think it would be pretty easy to source Drummond's claim. However, I've not been able to find any specific references to these supposed Golden Age appearances.
However, during some other reading in Golden Age comics I ran across a story entitled, "The Meeting that Death Attended" from Fox Feature Syndicate's The Big 3 #7 (JAN 1942). In it writer Jay Foster treats us to the conflict between the patriotic V-Man and the nefarious (and hilariously named) Baron Von Und Zu Schutz. Check out these panels featuring the Baron's weapon of choice:
 |
| It may not be red, but doesn't that pilot's face look kinda skull-y? |
And in the first direct clash between V-Man and Baron Von Und Zu Schutz
And, finally, after his initial defeat and return for the closing act, the Baron is hoisted on his own petard.
Since the Red Skull's first appearance was in Captain America Comics #7 (OCT 1941), it is possible that he made use of the Dust of Death first and Jay Foster copied the idea here in The Big 3 #7 (JAN 1942).
However, in the synopses that I can find online of comics: (1) featuring the Red Skull and (2) published prior to January 1942, to wit:
- Captain America Comics #1 (MAR 1941)
- Captain America Comics #3 (MAY 1941)
- Young Allies Comics (JUN 1941)
- Captain America Comics #7 (OCT 1941)
NOTE: I realize one could argue that all the Dust of Death stuff is ultimately derivative of the concept of Joker Venom. If you buy that argument--and, frankly, I don't--then Joker's weapon has precedence since it appeared first in Batman #1 (APR 1940)
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