In Hydra’s very first incarnation, from Jack Kirby and Stan Lee in Strange Tales #135 to #141, the organization resembles more of a non-affiliated super-spy agency hellbent on (say it with us now) total world domination. Truth be told, the first Hydra story has more to do with James Bond karate chopping nameless henchmen in Dr. No than it does with the Nazi-led group to come. While this might seem like a notch in the win category, even without known Nazi ties, Hydra’s goal at this stage is still holding the world hostage with an orbiting Betatron bomb. Hydra’s first leader is mild-mannered secretary Arnold Brown, who puts on padded robes and “built-up shoes” (perhaps Lee & Kirby were too nervous to write “high heels”) in his off-time as the Imperial Hydra. Aside from debuting Hydra as S.H.I.E.L.D.’s longtime nemesis, Brown also completely abandons his pet panther and comes within seconds of assuring his own daughter’s death before his ironic demise at the hands of personal bodyguards who don’t recognize him without his Hydra robes.
Most Evil Hydra Members
