Skull the Slayer

Creation

The idea of Skull the Slayer came to Marv Wolfman in 1973, while working as an assistant editor for DC Comics. Wolfman stated the basic concept:

Publication history

Skull the Slayer had his own ongoing series starting in August 1975, which ran for eight issues. He appeared later in Quasar, Fantastic Four, X-Men, and Squadron Supreme series.

Fictional character biography

Skull the Slayer is a trained soldier turned superhero who wears a Scorpion power belt that enhances his strength and durability. The belt also has preservative effects on his body's metabolism. On one occasion, Scully was able to funnel energy into explosive force. The full capabilities of the belt are unknown.

Jim Scully was an adventurer whose plane went through a time warp in the Bermuda Triangle, marooning him and three companions in an alternate Earth where dinosaurs, primitives, and aliens co-existed. Scully and his three companions were eventually rescued and returned to their own world by the Thing of the Fantastic Four. He served in Doctor Druid's team of occult investigators the Shock Troop, alongside Sepulchre and N'Kantu, the Living Mummy. He was attempting to find a way to remove the power belt, which had been damaged and given him a skeletal appearance. During this time, he had adopted the alias of the Blazing Skull. He crossed paths with heroes such as Quasar and Captain America while a member of the team. Eventually, Doctor Druid was able to restore him to his normal appearance and he left the team. Sometime later, Scully's attempts to remove the belt caused him to lose the youthful metabolism that the belt provided.

Skull the Slayer finds his way back to the alternate Earth as the member of a prospecting expedition, along with Lee Forrester, and sends a message back to Earth, asking to be saved. By the time the X-Men and the Future Foundation arrive to rescue them, Forrester and Skull have been trapped for three years while only days have passed on Earth. The two decide to stay behind, having fallen in love during their time together, and safeguard two artifacts that would ensure peace between the alternate Earths' tribes.

Powers and abilities

Skull the Slayer has no superpowers, but wears a Scorpion power belt that enhances his strength and durability.

Other versions

During the Secret Wars storyline, a variation of Skull the Slayer resides in the Battleworld domain of Weirdworld. Following a battle with Arkon, Skull encounters Jennifer Kale, who recruits him into a rebellion against Morgan le Fay.

Collected editions

• Skull the Slayer; collects Skull the Slayer #1-8, Marvel Two-in-One #35-36; Marvel, 2015.

References

References

1. (1975). "Skull the Slayer".
2. ''[[Marvel Two-in-One]]'' #35-36 (January - February 1978)
3. ''[[Quasar (Wendell Vaughn). Quasar]]'' #45-46 (April - May 1993)
4. ''[[Captain America (comic book). Captain America]]'' #420 (October 1993)
5. ''[[Hawkeye (Clint Barton). Hawkeye]]'' (vol. 3) #1 (December 2003)
6. ''[[X-Men (comic book). X-Men]]'' (vol. 3) #16 (October 2011)
7. ''X-Men'' (vol. 3) #19 (December 2011)
8. ''[[Weirdworld]]'' #3 (October 2015)
9. ''Weirdworld'' #4 (November 2015)