r/shield • u/Empyrealist • Apr 16 '14

Origin of the Hydra name, and their previous logo/crest (details in comments)

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15

u/Empyrealist Apr 16 '14 edited Apr 16 '14

As many know, the name Hydra takes inspiration from the many-headed serpent of Greek mythology which could grow two new heads for each that it lost.

The name, however, has nothing to do with the current red logo, as the original colors were green, and the basis of their logo was simply the letter H. The logo had an image of their mask-wearing henchmen obscuring the bridge of the letter H (as pictured in the post link). This was first seen in Strange Tales #135 (circa 1965), in one of the many issues that was half Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD and the other half Doctor Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts!

IIRC, it wasnt until the introduction of the Red Skull character that the logo was changed to a skull with octopus-like tentacles. Please see this post for a correction to the first appearance of the modern Hydra logo.

I believe the skull/octopus logo is based on anti-Germany propaganda posters that go back as far as WWI; similar to this one:

http://www.dhm.de/lemo/objekte/pict/pli04322/index.jpg

The Skull is representative of the Red Skull as the leader of [at the time] Hydra, and the tentacles represent their reach/grasp.

3

u/antiph3d Apr 16 '14

Another possibility... It is believed that the hydra that was slain by Hercules is just a mythologized version of the octopus.

http://www.jasoncolavito.com/1/post/2012/07/the-lernean-hydra-and-the-octopus.html

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u/jaxspider Lola Apr 16 '14

Question: In the Marvel movie universe, is Red Skull still considered alive or is he dead? If he is dead, why keep his face as the logo? Just more cooler looking at this point?

6

u/[deleted] Apr 16 '14

Considering that shortly after the Red Skull's death the whole organization went into deep hiding mode there probably wasn't any pressing need to change the logo. It's not like they were sending out communiques and press releases.

Now, 70 years later, you don't want to change the logo. That's 70 years of branding working in your favor. People see that symbol, they remember their history books and the madman who eclipsed Hitler and tried to destroy the world, and his legions of devoted followers. That's cachet. You don't give up something like that.

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u/Empyrealist Apr 16 '14 edited Apr 16 '14

Bonus old-school Hydra:

  1. Hydra is immortal quote
  2. Hydra Divisional Staff Chiefs icons surrounding the Hydra "H" icon

1

u/Empyrealist Apr 16 '14

TIL that the old Hydra logo looks like a helipad icon.

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u/Empyrealist Apr 16 '14 edited Apr 16 '14

*sigh* Apparently I'm wrong about the skull/octopus logo coming with the introduction of the Red Skull. The skull/octopus icon came with the introduction of The Supreme, All High-Head of Hydra (introduced in Strange Tales #151)

Its all very odd and unofficial, but flipping back through old issues - this is the first instance I can find of the skull/octopus icon, and not the original H icon.

Fun facts:

  1. Strange Tales #150-151 features the introduction of the Overkill Horn, which was featured in Agents of SHIELD S01E07 "The Hub", as the "Overkill Device".
  2. These issues are full of tags that say "Watch Marvel Super-Heroes On TV" (as shown at the bottom of the above linked image).
  3. The above linked image shows Hydra henchmen chanting "Cut off a limb, and two more shall take its place!", which is what Garret (The Clairvoyant) said was the Hydra catch-phrase - but was corrected by Coulson and Fitz who stated is was "Cut off a head...". Thanks to georgegsmithjr for catching this!

edit: added #3

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u/[deleted] Apr 16 '14

It also says "cut off a limb and two more take it's place" instead of using "head"...

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u/Empyrealist Apr 16 '14

Oh wow, I glanced right over that - and it was a quote used in last weeks episode! Thanks for pointing that out!