Where Did Zemo Come From?

[DrNewGod]

After the Red Skull, I don't think you can name a bigger enemy of Captain America than Baron Zemo. He's been the source of multiple major Avengers and Cap plots (to say nothing of launching The Thunderbolts).

Thing is, why Zemo? Back in 1963, he had nothing to offer The Skull couldn't provide. You could have swapped them seamlessly.

Kirby created Zemo. Kirby was also part of the team (with Simon) that created Red Skull. Was there something that prevented giving The Skull Zemo's role in 1963?

[Hybrid]

Back then, they hadn’t decided to bring back the Red Skull yet. So they introduced him as a substitute. It was only after they decided to bring Skull back that Zemo seemed redundant. Though it did at least lead to Helmut, who makes a nice contrast.

[DrNewGod]

Back then, they hadn’t decided to bring back the Red Skull yet. So they introduced him as a substitute. It was only after they decided to bring Skull back that Zemo seemed redundant. Though it did at least lead to Helmut, who makes a nice contrast.

They had been brought back Cap. Why not his Moriarty? I mean, what was stopping them?

The "Archenemy" in Avengers 4 was excessively vague. It could easily have been The Skull. Why Zemo?

Backstory?

[MichaelC]

For a long time he WAS redundant, but they eventually found a niche for him as more of a Prussian aristocrat than a Nazi. Red Skull became, if possible, even more evil than he was, the embodiment of everything repulsive in the human psyche. Zemo became the embodiment of aristocracy, which lead to a different range of stories than Skull's utter, queasy loathesomeness. If Skull is Rogers' Joker, Zemo is his Penguin.

[John Venus]

Skull is a villain you love to hate. He is loathsome to the point where he becomes a punching bag. You even enjoy other villains including the Kingpin sum slamming him.

Zemo, especially Helmut, offers more complexity (Captain America you killed my father, prepare to die) and a general sense of coolness (the sword, the aristocratic charm and even the sock mask looks cool under the right artist).

[John Venus]

For a long time he WAS redundant, but they eventually found a niche for him as more of a Prussian aristocrat than a Nazi. Red Skull became, if possible, even more evil than he was, the embodiment of everything repulsive in the human psyche. Zemo became the embodiment of aristocracy, which lead to a different range of stories than Skull's utter, queasy loathesomeness. If Skull is Rogers' Joker, Zemo is his Penguin.

Ah yes, the "I would be your archenemy if it weren't for the other more popular iconic villain' villain. The secondary archenemy.

Though I think with Batman it would be either Riddler or Two Face.

[DrNewGod]

So does anybody have a backstory on why Kirby created a different villain for Cap when he was added to the Avengers rather than use The Skull?

[K7P5V]

Ah yes, the "I would be your archenemy if it weren't for the other more popular iconic villain' villain. The secondary archenemy.

Though I think with Batman it would be either Riddler or Two Face.

My thoughts exactly. If it's alright, I might even add the original Mr. Freeze: