Hangman (Marvel Comics)

Hangman is the name of two fictional characters in the Marvel Universe.

Harlan Krueger

Hangman
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Werewolf by Night #11 (Nov 1973)
Created by	Marv Wolfman and Gil Kane
In-story information
Alter ego	Harlan Krueger

Harlan Krueger was born in Los Angeles, California. He was a fanatical moviegoer who idolized movie stars of the past (such as John Wayne, Humphrey Bogart, and Alan Ladd). He idenified with these heroic figures, developing a simplistic view of good and evil in real life, deciding that evildoers should pay for their crimes with their lives.

After being court-martialed from the army for torturing prisoners of war, he resolved to take the law into his own hands and make the masked vigilante the Hangman. His modus operandi involved executing male criminals while leaving female ones alive but imprisoned to 'protect them' from corruption (many died of starvation while in captivity). After years of stalking criminals with a noose and scythe, he came into conflict with the Werewolf by Night and Spider-Woman.

While attending a Hollywood costume party held for the premiere of a horror movie to 'purge' yet more 'unworthy souls', the Hangman killed a disguised woman, thus inadvertently violating his own moral code. As he knelt over the corpse in remorse, he was fatally stabbed in the back by film reviewer Matthew O'Brien, who had been trying to stop the Hangman from his latest killing spree, with his own scythe.

Jason Roland

Hangman
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
In-story information
Alter ego	Jason Roland
Team affiliations	Night Shift, Lethal Legion

Jason Roland was an aspiring actor who made a deal with a demon (later revealed to be Satannish) to make his career successful. He was trapped in a monstrous form and hid out for years. He eventually encountered the Night Shift and convinced them to deal with Satannish to increase their powers. They were defeated by the Avengers West Coast.

Satannish later used the Hangman as part of his Lethal Legion comprised of some of the most notorious figures in history. Mephisto aided the Avengers West Coast in defeating Satannish and his minions.

External Link

• http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/hangman2.htm