Headmen
Encyclopedia
The Headmen is a group of fictional
supervillain
s in the Marvel Comics
universe
. They first appeared
(as a team) in The Defenders #21 (March 1975).
, She-Hulk
, and Spider-Man
on different occasions.
Defenders writer Steve Gerber
formed the Headmen from 1950s anthological
horror-story
characters appearing in the reprint title Weird Wonder Tales #7 (Dec. 1974). That comic's five reprinted stories included the introduction of Dr. Arthur Nagan
, the Gorilla-Man, from Mystery Tales #21 (art by Bob Powell
); Chondu the Yogi
, from Tales of Suspense
#9 (art by George Evans); and Dr. Jerry Morgan, a.k.a. Shrunken Bones
, from World of Fantasy
#11 (art by Angelo Torres
).
In The Defenders #32 (Feb. 1976), the Headmen were joined by Gerber's newly created Ruby Thursday (Thursday Rubinstein), who ran for President of the United States
and was the instigator of the death of another Gerber creation, Omega the Unknown
. In the same issue, Doctor Strange
declared that Chondu's real name was Harvey Schlemerman, and Jack Norris, husband of the woman whose body was being used by Valkyrie, claimed to have seen him perform.
The Headmen made an appearance in John Byrne's She-Hulk
comic, during a period when he was reviving Marvel villains. They had kidnapped She-Hulk for the purpose of giving Chondu a slightly more normal body than he currently sported. She-Hulk had temporarily been convinced her head had been detached and placed on a life-support system but this was not true, as she discovered with the aid of Spider-Man
. (Sensational She-Hulk 1989 - 1994 #3, July 1989.)
They also turned up for one issue of the Defenders vol. 2 relaunch, by Kurt Busiek
and Erik Larsen
. Chondu had an arachnid cyborg body for this outing. (Defenders 2001 2nd Series #5, July 2001.)
The Headmen next appear in Heroes for Hire
Vol. 2 when they have reprogrammed a Doombot to team with them to fight Humbug
. (Heroes for Hire 2006 2nd Series #6, March 2007)
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
supervillain
Supervillain
A supervillain or supervillainess is a variant of the villain character type, commonly found in comic books, action movies and science fiction in various media.They are sometimes used as foils to superheroes and other fictional heroes...
s in the Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
universe
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
. They first appeared
First appearance
In comic books and other stories with a long history, first appearance refers to the first occurrence to feature a fictional character.-Monetary value of first appearance issues:...
(as a team) in The Defenders #21 (March 1975).
Fictional biography
The Headmen are a group of would-be masterminds who use magic, science, and surgery to gain superpowers. They fought the DefendersDefenders (comics)
The Defenders is the name of a number of Marvel Comics superhero groups which are usually presented as a "non-team" of individualistic "outsiders," each known for following their own agendas...
, She-Hulk
She-Hulk
She-Hulk is a Marvel Comics superheroine. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist John Buscema, she first appeared in Savage She-Hulk #1 ....
, and Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
on different occasions.
Defenders writer Steve Gerber
Steve Gerber
Stephen Ross "Steve" Gerber was an American comic book writer best known as co-creator of the satiric Marvel Comics character Howard the Duck....
formed the Headmen from 1950s anthological
Anthology
An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
horror-story
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
characters appearing in the reprint title Weird Wonder Tales #7 (Dec. 1974). That comic's five reprinted stories included the introduction of Dr. Arthur Nagan
Gorilla-Man
Gorilla-Man is the name of three fictional characters appearing in the Marvel Comics universe. Ken Hale first appeared in Men's Adventures #26 , while Arthur Nagan first appeared in Mystery Tales #21 , and Franz Radzik first appeared in Tales to Astonish #28 .-Ken Hale:200px|thumb|left|Cover art...
, the Gorilla-Man, from Mystery Tales #21 (art by Bob Powell
Bob Powell (comics)
Bob Powell né Stanislav Robert Pawlowski was an American comic book artist known for his work during the 1930-40s Golden Age of comic books, including on the features "Sheena, Queen of the Jungle" and "Mr. Mystic". He received a belated credit in 1999 for co-writing the debut of the popular...
); Chondu the Yogi
Chondu the Mystic
Chondu the Mystic, sometimes known as Chondu the Yogi, is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Fictional character biography:...
, from Tales of Suspense
Tales of Suspense
Tales of Suspense is the name of an American comic book series and two one-shot comics published by Marvel Comics. The first, which ran from 1959 to 1968, began as a science-fiction anthology that served as a showcase for such artists as Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and Don Heck, then featured...
#9 (art by George Evans); and Dr. Jerry Morgan, a.k.a. Shrunken Bones
Shrunken Bones
Jerry Morgan is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:Dr. Jerold Morgan first appeared in World of Fantasy #11 , and was created by Angelo Torres. This story was reprinted in Weird Wonder Tales #7 .The character subsequently appears in Defenders vol...
, from World of Fantasy
World of Fantasy
World of Fantasy was a science fiction/fantasy comic book anthology series published by Marvel Comics' 1950s predecessor company, Atlas Comics. Lasting from 1956 to 1959, it included the work of several notable comics artists, including industry legends Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and Bill Everett.The...
#11 (art by Angelo Torres
Angelo Torres
Angelo Torres is an American cartoonist and caricaturist whose work has appeared in many comic books, as well as a long-running regular slot in Mad magazine, typically film or television parodies.-Biography:...
).
In The Defenders #32 (Feb. 1976), the Headmen were joined by Gerber's newly created Ruby Thursday (Thursday Rubinstein), who ran for President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
and was the instigator of the death of another Gerber creation, Omega the Unknown
Omega The Unknown
Omega the Unknown was an American comic book published by Marvel Comics from 1976 to 1977, featuring the eponymous fictional character. The series, written by Steve Gerber and Mary Skrenes and illustrated by Jim Mooney, ran for 10 issues before cancellation for low sales...
. In the same issue, Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange
Doctor Stephen Strange is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was co-created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in Strange Tales #110 ....
declared that Chondu's real name was Harvey Schlemerman, and Jack Norris, husband of the woman whose body was being used by Valkyrie, claimed to have seen him perform.
The Headmen made an appearance in John Byrne's She-Hulk
She-Hulk
She-Hulk is a Marvel Comics superheroine. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist John Buscema, she first appeared in Savage She-Hulk #1 ....
comic, during a period when he was reviving Marvel villains. They had kidnapped She-Hulk for the purpose of giving Chondu a slightly more normal body than he currently sported. She-Hulk had temporarily been convinced her head had been detached and placed on a life-support system but this was not true, as she discovered with the aid of Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
. (Sensational She-Hulk 1989 - 1994 #3, July 1989.)
They also turned up for one issue of the Defenders vol. 2 relaunch, by Kurt Busiek
Kurt Busiek
Kurt Busiek is an American comic book writer notable for his work on the Marvels limited series, his own title Astro City, and his four-year run on Avengers.-Early life:...
and Erik Larsen
Erik Larsen
Erik J. Larsen is an American comic book writer, artist and publisher. He is best known for his work on Savage Dragon, as one of the founders of Image Comics, and for his work on Spider-Man for Marvel Comics.-Early life:...
. Chondu had an arachnid cyborg body for this outing. (Defenders 2001 2nd Series #5, July 2001.)
The Headmen next appear in Heroes for Hire
Heroes For Hire
Heroes for Hire is a fictional superhero team published by Marvel Comics. The team first appeared in Power Man and Iron Fist #54 , and was created by Ed Hannigan and Lee Elias.-Publication history and original concept:...
Vol. 2 when they have reprogrammed a Doombot to team with them to fight Humbug
Humbug (comics)
Buck Mitty, known as Humbug, is a fictional character that appeared in the Marvel Comics universe. Humbug was originally a super-villain but later became a super-hero and a member of the Heroes for Hire.-Fictional character biography:...
. (Heroes for Hire 2006 2nd Series #6, March 2007)
Members
- Dr. Arthur Nagan (Gorilla-ManGorilla-ManGorilla-Man is the name of three fictional characters appearing in the Marvel Comics universe. Ken Hale first appeared in Men's Adventures #26 , while Arthur Nagan first appeared in Mystery Tales #21 , and Franz Radzik first appeared in Tales to Astonish #28 .-Ken Hale:200px|thumb|left|Cover art...
--name not used in the stories) (leader) - Harvey Schlemerman (Chondu the MysticChondu the MysticChondu the Mystic, sometimes known as Chondu the Yogi, is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Fictional character biography:...
) - Dr. Jerold "Jerry" Morgan (Shrunken BonesShrunken BonesJerry Morgan is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:Dr. Jerold Morgan first appeared in World of Fantasy #11 , and was created by Angelo Torres. This story was reprinted in Weird Wonder Tales #7 .The character subsequently appears in Defenders vol...
--name not used in the stories) - Thursday Rubinstein (Ruby ThursdayRuby ThursdayRuby Thursday a fictional character in the Marvel Comics Universe and a member of the Headmen.-Publication history:...
)