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| The Hangman | |
| Aliases: | Hangman |
| Continuity: | Marvel Universe |
| Notability: | Antagonist |
| Type: | Supervillain |
| Gender: | Male |
| Race: | Human |
| Location: | Los Angeles, California |
| Status: | Deceased |
| First: | Werewolf by Night #11 |
| Final: | Bizarre Adventures #31 |
Harlan Krueger is a fictional comic book super-villain featured in titles published by Marvel Comics. Known by his code-name The Hangman, he was introduced in Werewolf by Night #11 in November, 1973.
Biography[]
Harlan Krueger was the product of another era. Growing up, he idolized Silver Screen action heroes like Humphrey Bogart, John Wayne and Tom Mix. Through their adventures, he developed a very clear sense of good and evil. In his perception, there were no grey areas. Heroes were incorruptible, while villains were irredeemable. When he came of age, he enlisted in the United States armed services and served during World War II.
Seeing the Nazi soldiers as the very epitome of evil, he savagely murdered as many enemy soldiers as possible. Despite his devout patriotism, his actions were considered not only above the call of duty, but recklessly unconscionable. Harlan was court-martialed and drummed out of the service.
Harlan attempted to continue his vow to combat evil by joining the police department, but his dishonorable discharge placed a a permanent stain on his employment record, and no police agency would hire him. Viewing law enforcement agencies as weak and corruptible, he decided to become a "crime-fighter" and adopted the guise of the Hangman. [1]
Distinguishing features[]
- Harlan Krueger's costume resembled that of a Medieval executioner.
- Harlan had a large scar that ran vertically across his left eye, and another that ran vertically down the right side of his face, below the cheekbone.
Equipment[]
- The Hangman carried two weapons as part of his crime-fighting arsenal. The first was a traditional Executioner's noose, measuring thirty-feet in length, and woven from half-inch hemp rope. The Hangman typically wore the rope around his waist as a makeshift belt when not in use, but as a weapon, he often used it for ensnaring and subsequently hanging his prey. In the event that he felt a perpetrator required more severe punishment, the Hangman wielded an eight-foot harvesting scythe. The top of the scythe was capped by a curved four-foot long single-edged steel blade.
Notes & Trivia[]
- The character of Harlan Krueger was created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist Gil Kane.
Appearances[]
- Bizarre Adventures 31 (Final appearance; dies)
- Iron Man: Legacy 6
- Iron Man: Legacy 7
- Spider-Woman 4
- Spider-Woman 5
- Spider-Woman 50
- Werewolf by Night 11 (1st appearance)
- Werewolf by Night 12
- Werewolf by Night 25
- Werewolf by Night 26
- Werewolf by Night 37