Mark Todd was a reporter for the Federated Press Syndicate in the early 40s. He was on assignment in China when Japanese shelling drove him into an underground cave. He began exploring the cave, which led down to the hidden lair of the Skull-Men. They were an ancient race of highly intellectual beings who had turned their skin transparent, allowing their skulls to show. They did this to remind themselves not to be misled by physical appearance.
Deeming Mark Todd worthy of their attention, they gave him a fiery skull mask and taught him how to be immune to fire. Mark left the Skull-Men and returned to the surface world to fight for the peace the Skull-Men held so dear. He eventually learned to turn his own flesh invisible and fought the Axis tyrants as the Blazing Skull.
During the Invaders' battle with the Battle Axis, the Blazing Skull was contacted by the Thin Man and asked to help the Invaders. The Blazing Skull caught up with the Invaders and helped them defeat the Battle Axis. What became of him after the war is unknown.
INSIDE STORY: The Blazing Skull's appearance in the 1993 Invaders Limited Series seems to me to be an attempt to attract fans of the then-popular Ghost Rider. There's an obvious resemblance, and I'm sure Marvel wanted to catch the attention of
all the Ghost Rider fans of that time. But I wouldn't say Roy included the Blazing Skull solely for that purpose. He had written the character, as a figment of Rick Jones' imagination, into the Kree-Skrull War several years before the original Ghost Rider first appeared. And it was hinted at in the original Invaders series that Roy planned on eventually using the Blazing Skull. He was an interesting character, and I think if Roy ever writes any more Invaders stories he may make the Blazing Skull an official (if short-lived) member of the team.
First Appearance: MYSTIC COMICS #5 (1941)
Other Appearances: MYSTIC COMICS #6-9, AVENGERS #97 (1972), INVADERS (Limited Series) #2-4 (1993)
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