The Surprising Origin of the Danzig Skull Logo

[@RalphPacheco2]

I use to run into him every year at SD Comic Con, he use to have a table with some artwork and comics for sale. He was a real nice guy.

[@Slashdance]

If you ever get back there, could be something to ask him about. :)

[@MichaelSartore]

"Originality is the art of not revealing your sources." - Glenn Danzig

[@LetsGoMetsGo33]

I did know this, and it's notable how Glen has such a great eye for appropriation. Yes, the Crimson Ghost was an old film series, then the Misfits font was adapted from the beloved genre movie magazine "Famous Monsters of Filimland", while Samhain's font was from the movie "the Giant Gila Monster". On a related note, the Cramps borrowed their font from an EC comic called "the Crypt of Terror". It all amounts to some kind of trashy pop art or something, how these cultural references are given new life, kind of like making a collage or something.

[@Slashdance]

Totally agree, I think that's all fascinating stuff. Being into comics, anime, horror movies etc...I'm always impressed when anyone from the generation before were ahead of the curve at the time when it was less common to be into that sorta thing.

[@shoplift6362]

Awesome!

[@forgerelli1]

I was aware of this being a huge comic fan. I'm not sure but I think Glen is wearing a Nemisis The Warlock T shirt when hes reading Wolverine. Nemisis is a British comic published with Judge Dredd.

[@ghostrider2664]

Trashy horror pop art. Its like the evil Andy Warhol designed everything and Danzig is the Evil Elvis

[@shooter7734]

Danzig also appropriated the cover art for the Die Die My Darling single from the Harvey Camber of Chills comic book

[@jcm78]

I got “in trouble” for drawing this skull in high school art class yet got away with drawing a picture of Cheech’s license plate with MUF DVR on it that hung on the wall of the classroom for most of the same year!

[@marblesthecat3861]

I met Glen Danzig at a comic book convention in Las Vegas back in 1996. He was surprisingly cool.

[@Slashdance]

I'm sure he is, he's I to a lot of cool stuff and seems chill in interviews these days.

[@HellRider_]

Man, I wish the full video of Danzig talking about his favorite comic books was still up. Dude had some good taste.

[@robnestor3371]

Both my cousins work for the company Obey/Giant. When they were going to print shirts with the skull, Glenn tried to sue them For using the skull without his permission. My cousins buddy brought the comic book, and the case was dismissed.

[@mirapilates]

The artwork for Die Die My Darling also comes from a comic called "Chamber of Chills".

[@Slashdance]

Oh man, I knew from sonewhere and forgot to include it. Thanks for the heads up!

[@mirapilates]

@Swiatek702 different piece of artwork. The Pushead design is the skull holding the eyeball. Love Pushead tho.

[@kriskjellquist1758]

“Lesser artists borrow; great artists steal” Picasso

[@UnreliableUsername]

I have been a Misfits Danzig and Samhain fan over 20 years now and this blew my mind!!! I knew about the Misfits logo, but just kind of assumed Glenn got some designer to make a fresh logo, great video

[@christopholies5617]

I didn't know this, I was always under the impression Glenn drew it himself. The more you know

[@b.l.fisher8230]

H.R. Giger had a crowd surfer serve Glenn a summons on stage in the 90's over residuals from How The God's Kill art...

[@Slashdance]

I have never heard this story until now and I love it. Just read a short article on it, thanks for that!

[@guitarsandsuchetc]

Read somewhere that Glenn had falling out with Giger, said he talked about him behind his back.

[@evergray5063]

I googled every combination of the applicable words and only found one short article mentioning it www.google.com/amp/s/weekend-reanimator.tumblr.com/post/85620890431/hey-remember-that-time-h-r-giger-sued-glenn/amp You got another link w more info?

[@stephanieleblanc6516]

Unaware of these facts and I loved hearing about it. More please!

[@Slashdance]

Thanks! I'll see what I can come up with for next week!

[@KennyRider137]

In the art world if an image is altered by 80% it is considered a different piece of art. In this case the drawing of the girl is obstructing a large portion of the skull. After enough time has passed without anyone saying anything the statute of limitations has run out. Danzig probably only chose The Giant Gila Monster font because it had all the letters to make Samhain.

[@puddleduckist]

Always loved the logo, had it painted on the back of my leather jacket years ago! Great info on Danzig, saw glen with type o years ago and it was one of the best shows I have been to!!

[@Slashdance]

Agreed, it is an all time classic! I caught Danzig on the "Legacy" Tour where he did a Danzig set, a Samhain set and a Misfits set and he was an incredible performer.

[@hajikilla91]

I saw Danzig with Type 0 in ‘93 on Halloween with special guest Rob Zombie...🤯 Awesome Concert

[@gduckles2]

The lower back devilman tattoo is real, i have an extensive collection of tattoos done by Rick Spellman who also did all of Henry Rollins tattoos and i can confirm from pictorial evidence that the tattoo is real

[@Slashdance]

This pleases me! It looked pretty real but I didn't look that deep into it. Thank you for letting us know, much appreciated!

[@VaughnDingus]

I have a couple from Rick too.

[@tonyynot6151]

Haha.. tramp stamp

[@justinchamberlain1454]

His Devilman tattoo also appears in the Danzig video for She Rides. Look around the 3:11 mark.

[@skeletem]

I knew nothing about Danzig but it's interesting that he potentially just took the logo with no consequences :o

[@Slashdance]

Agreed...pre-Internet world was weird!

[@michaelanderson751]

Should showed more samhain. Since that's when he started using it and only time really see the logo with a body. Also the logo was called the scarecrow beast till ppl started to call the danzig skull.

[@skeenj]

Yes, on November Coming Fire you could see the whole thing. There were Samhain shirts that had the whole scarecrow beast on them

[@kimberlyvespa]

I have the tattoo for Samhain

[@zambot3667]

I knew about it before, but your video presentation is amazing!

[@Slashdance]

Thanks! I know it's not super secret knowledge but I thought it'd be fun to get it out there summed up nicely.

[@m00k61]

What really blew my mind is I've had that blue Crystar dragon toy for 35 years and never knew where it was from. Just some toy my parents got me when I was a little kid. So you solved TWO crazy mysteries for me. I also had the Danzig skull logo on my first guitar when I was 12.

[@Slashdance]

Man, I know that feeling. I had a Crystar sticker in my bed as a kid but absolutely no idea who he was until I was an adult.

[@diegocorral7468]

It's news to me and I was a huge Misfits, Danzig, Samhain fan as a kid. Super fun, thanks!

[@Slashdance]

Thank you, glad you dug it!

[@worgothcgd]

I never knew that detail about the so call Danzig Skull ! It's a shame Golden has never been compensated for his artwork.

[@richardsharrer7950]

That's undeniable. Great video.

[@Slashdance]

Thank you!

[@morgellon9449]

Subscribed for the Skinny Puppy shirt. That was interesting. I always figured he just told someone to draw the evilest devil skull imaginable. Wait, actually when I was a kid I thought he probably got the idea from the Tom Cruise movie Legend, where Tim Curry plays the big red devil dude with the giant horns. Michael Golden definitely didn't get his idea from Legend, because that came out two years later. Looking forward to more cool stuff. Your channel has definite potential for greatness.

[@masonparker302]

It also appears on the Slayer - Hell Awaits album and in Lord of the Rings. But I’d still like to know what inspired its original artist.

[@TwinRabbitMan]

Amazing! 🤯 I had the Crystar figures and comics as a kid but never saw issue 8.

[@schmidington]

This was interesting and cool news. I never thought about where the image came from honestly. If I were to see Michael Golden at a convention, I wonder if he'd sign my Danzig shirt. 😀

[@Slashdance]

Probably! Someone in the comments said that Danzig chuckled and signed his Crystar comic at least, which made me happy.

[@mridlon1634]

He was offered to play the role as Wolverine in the 2000 X-Men movie, but declined the it due to scheduling conflicts.

[@kimberlyvespa]

I had forgotten about that!

[@JB-hl1qx]

"Unbreakable steel"?... Glen you say Adamantium when speaking about Logan put some respec on his name!! 😂. Great video!

[@robertsisson22]

I always thought that Glenn drew up the Danzig horned skull logo. All I know is that I had a few t-shirts with the logo on them because they are so cool. Robert

[@edgarmorales6715]

This has to be the best thing I've ever seen on youtube. I love Danzig and the secret trivia about him and his bands. My exwife and I are huge fans with both band logos tattooed on us, big surprise huh. Anyways this is a perfect excuse to send her this video I know she will love this. Thanks

[@Slashdance]

Thank you for watching (and the kind words!)

[@DC8091]

Ive been a fan of Glenn Danzig since 87, i didnt know that til I saw it Toy Galaxy & here. Also, I loved Crystar as a kid, so this is awesome!

[@Slashdance]

You can imagine my surprise when Toy Galaxy released a Crystar/Danzig video the same day as I did! It ended up being a blessing as a lot of people find mine after watching theirs. Toy Galaxy's focused more heavily on Crystar and mine on Danzig so they kinda compliment each other.

[@itsglen9646]

It's also amazing that Glenn and Jerry had legal battles for years over merch and licensing, yet here's a story suggesting that the Danzig Skull was lifted from a comic book cover!

[@VaughnDingus]

The Devilman tattoo is real. It was done by Rick Spellman. Rick also did the big sun on Henry Rollins’ back. He used a Horror Business 7” to trace my Misfits tattoo 20 years ago.

[@postingwhateveriwant4454]

Good job getting in my recommended!

[@138smd]

I Got my copy of the comic signed by glenn. I didn't think he would sign but he did. Was cool about it just chuckled when he saw it.

[@Slashdance]

This makes me happy.

[@billieethel6546]

Golden sells shirts with the skull and "Golden" in the Danzig font. I asked him about it and he confirmed that Danzig ripped him off and he was never comissioned for it.

[@ivon1688]

Fairly common knowledge, most collector Danzig fans have a copy of the comic, the Trasher magazine and have seen the interview from the 1st Danzig video but I guess for newer fans that might be obscure information. Interesting side note, the artist sells his own shirts with the logo but Golden written above in the Danzig font.

[@sarlatjp]

I have been a Danzig fan since I first saw the how the gods kill video on MTV (on 1993 I bealieve)and I did not know where that logo came from, I guess I did not care about those things but it is interesting to know. Thanks for the input.

[@jonquixote7691]

Man, I wish I had the Crystar action figures as a child, along with the old D&D figures. Really cool video. I hope you discover a connection between KMFDM and Power Lords in your next video.

[@Slashdance]

Thanks Johnathan! I didn't have any either, I only had some puffy stickers but had no idea who Crystar was or what he was about until way later. *Immediately does Google search for KMFDM/Power Lords*

[@nvfury13]

Still have all the Crystar figures and a bunch of the D&D figures around somewhere.

[@Slashdance]

@@nvfury13 Wicked! I almost forgot about D&D figures, but my neighbor growing up had the The Fortress of Fangs and I loved it. :)

[@USMC_Fowler1775]

That skull is on every marine corps Kilo Company merch I've ever seen

[@shermsmoke]

This was cool. Do more danzig videos

[@kevinbrown1893]

Somehow I have always imagined that skull was in reference to the Taurus constellation; an eon where babies were sacrificed to Baal's furnace belly. I thought that Danzig might have discovered that in one of his esoteric "bah-bles."

[@StephaneBourque]

I did not know this, very interesting! 🤘😎🔥

[@Slashdance]

Ah cool! Glad you found it interesting, thanks!

[@VegetaAlex]

I just want to know where to get those dope sunglasses from

[@illmsg77]

Yep, mind blown. Need Crystar #8 now!!!!!!

[@Slashdance]

Price seems to be all over the place on ebay. Seems to range anywhere from $8 to $35. I live in the middle of nowhere and managed to find it at my local comic shop so that's an option too.

[@illmsg77]

Slashdance No shit? For some reason I thought it would be some unattainable price. Thanks for bringing me back to reality. Great video too.

[@Slashdance]

@@illmsg77 No sweat. I think outside of Danzig fans it's not really that sought after (even then it may not be, haha)

[@illmsg77]

You deserve more subscribers bro, quality work.

[@MrDizzyvonclutch]

I didn’t know! Really cool learning though! Thank you!

[@Slashdance]

Thanks for watching!

[@andypowell4702]

My fantasy football neam is named crimson ghost and a screen shot of the crimson ghost firing a gun out the window of a car during a chase scene is the logo.

[@jar111raj]

mind blown... I never knew this! I want that comic! Nice SP shirt!!! Cleanse Fold and Manipulate!! Great Skinny Puppy Album!!

[@Slashdance]

Thanks Justin, glad you dug it! Skinny Puppy are one of my favourite bands. I actually own one of their slightly smashed synths they used on Last Rights.

[@jar111raj]

@@Slashdance Last Rights has always been one of my favorite records of all time!! Just got it on vinyl a few months ago!!

[@Slashdance]

@@jar111raj Same! I was glad got a new vinyl release. If only they'd do one of Too Dark Park...

[@deathmetalchili6902]

Yes......mind blown! Well done!

[@Slashdance]

Awesome, stoked to make that happen. Thank you!

[@deathmetalchili6902]

@@Slashdance No.....thank you! :)

[@benderrodriguez147]

I'm here from Toy Galaxy. Now I'm stuck on this channel

[@Slashdance]

Uh...hopefully stuck in a good way? I've been getting a lot of views on that Danzig video because the The Toy Galaxy Crystar video went up 6 hours after mine. Love Toy Galaxy, couldn't believe the coincidence.

[@markyvintage6066]

Good info. Thanks!

[@Slashdance]

Thanks for checking it out!

[@aaronshirk746]

So is there any relationship between the Crystar comics and the cartoon Darkstar? They look similar.

[@da751]

nice, did not know that , Glenn has a good eye

[@Slashdance]

I agree!

[@Smith686plus]

It was news to me. Thanks

[@lynnsalzwedel6812]

Right on...thanks for the info🖖🏻

[@samstoner4984]

Did not know that....love danzig misfits Samhain

[@Seraphim_skateboards]

Just ordered crystar issue 1

[@Slashdance]

Nice, they're cool little 80's time capsules for sure!

[@NBM3]

Tidbit ..... The 20 + FOOT stage prop horned skull had a name . It was affectionatley reffered to by the crew who had to fly it every night as .... "THE BULLWINKLE " .

[@michaelbanks2401]

Good stuff, You must find out the origin of the Social D skeleton/martini

[@edbeale]

Not that surprising, especially if you’re a Dazing/Samhain fan. A lot of people have known this for years

[@KC-zp6gy]

Fun and perfectly short for my attention span 🤝🫡

[@adamturner1563]

Love Danzig! ... true innovation!

[@jamesgagme780]

Didn’t the initium album come out months before the comic?

[@Slashdance]

Initium came out in August, the comic is dated July, but comics are a month early from the dates so it would have been more like May/June. Initium finished recording in May, it's just a guess but I'd imagine he probably saw the comic around the time they were wrapping up the album.

[@ignatiuslatte2637]

Love the skinny puppy T!

[@Slashdance]

Thanks, one of my favourite bands!

[@johnplisskin3145]

That skinny puppy shirt doeee

[@TuffBaddi]

I hadn't heard anything about this! I just assumed Glenn had paid somebody to 'make the misfits logo, but more evil' this is great though!

[@MikeBastarache]

Holy crap, I had Crystar action figures! I never knew the logo originated from them.

[@Slashdance]

When I was a kid I had some Crystar puffy stickers but that had no idea who or what he was about until the 90's when the Internet showed up. Don't remember where I got this one, probably a flea market or something.

[@CCCoolati]

Had no idea. But it didn't "blow my mind".

[@Frank_the_skank]

My brother had a crystar dude! That's cool!

[@cemetarygates79]

Ultra surprised Marvel hasnt come looking for $ Especially now that mega demon, Disney owns them.

[@rikuruohomaki3230]

Only tangentially related, but... Speaking of demons... :D These days, Disney owns Marvel. Despite their wholesome family image, Danzig 666: Satan's Child was released by Hollywood Records (6th Danzig record, after the band Samhain had, as suggested by producer Rick Rubin, as Danzig, after their lead vocalist. They were already using the skull as Samhain, and their logo used the same font). The record label was owned by Disney! This caused some controversy, back in the day. The album had cover art by comic book artist Simon Bisley, known for his edgy and darkly humorous depictions of muscular men and ultra violence and his work on titles like Slaine, Judge Dredd, Dredd/Batman cross-over Judgment on Gotham, Lobo, Alien for Dark Horse, Deathdealer and other titles for Danzig's, own Verotik publishing company. Biz has also drawn several titles for his pal, TMNT creator & Heavy Metal magazine owner Kevin Eastman. Heavy Metal 2000, the sequel to the cult classic animated movie, was based on their collaboration comic Melting Pot / FAKK 2. They also collaborated on Hard Boiled, an ultra violent TMNT story, inspired by the gunplay and action in John Woo movies. In one Judge Dredd story, written by Dredd creator John Wagner and his frequent writing collaborator Alan Grant, Bisley parodied Disney's Bambi, the story ending in a bloody massacre of talking woodland animals. That one Danzig album cover is the closest Biz has ever come to working for Disney. With current PC culture, the situation is unlikely to change.

[@cemetarygates79]

Yeah was a huge Samhain, Misfits, and Damzig fan growing up. But I never really dug into the skull. Always kinda thought it was just his thing for some reason. Should've known better. I knew about the misfits mascot hehe. Felt kinda dumb insode after having watched this. Hehe.

[@cemetarygates79]

Indidnt even think of Biz about the Heavy Metal work. Loved those too coming up. Crazy. Not at all surprised. Disney has been dark from day 1. Theyre just more blatant now.

[@jesuscampos8136]

Mr. Golden created a master piece 💪

[@Talami771]

Devilman is a very good manga thats needs more live than it gets

[@avarose3992]

The top of my cats head looks like his logo 100%

[@DiablitoKawaii]

Im gonna sub for that sailor moon pic that was epic

[@Slashdance]

It is absolutely incredible, haha.

[@WizardOfArc]

The artist should be compensated

[@shawnrickman9217]

To be a beast upon human sheep - Glenn

[@smokedawg1]

This is old news. I knew about this for years (even decades now). Still, this was a good video for people who don't know about this to be informed about it.

[@Crodon]

Ok hipster.

[@punkinmyvitamins1]

So, you came to the conclusion on your own that your comment was unnecessary and you still wrote it....

[@smokedawg1]

@@punkinmyvitamins1 See, I complemented the man on his video. It's a d@*m good video. You must have missed that part. I can see that the man that made this video didn't have anything bad to say about my comment. His feelings didn't get all hurt like you and the "hipster" comment guy's feelings. I found out about the Danzig skull thing back when you was watching barney and fighting with your sister over back street boys cd's. See, I got to remind myself that these new young metal/ punk fans of today are snowflakes, and snowflakes like you have feelings made of glass and a$_h__l_e$ made of paper. I want you to look down at your thumb and your pointer finger and rub them together. Remember that's me playing the world's smallest violin for you and your little feelings. :) If your snowflake is going to melt, PLEASE do it elsewhere and not on my music. Thank you.

[@punkinmyvitamins1]

@@smokedawg1 snowflake? Wow. Good one.

[@Crodon]

@@smokedawg1 Ok, hipster.

[@n0ctem845]

I knew the skull was "borrowed" from something, but I did not know Danzig is a weeb.

[@jonathandrewstefancin5924]

I just assumed it was the Balrog from LOTR. Way to go

[@underworlddreams9511]

Been a Danzig fan since the OG album dropped, and I've known of this for ages. I really enjoyed your take on it, and I think I will subscribe so I can see what you have up your sleeves for us next week. Will it be about Danzig getting the name 'the Misfits' from the title of Marilyn Monroe's last movie? or perhaps how there's an actual city called Danzig (that I myself have been to simply for that reason). Looks like we'll have to wait and find out. BTW, did anyone ever tell you that you look like a slightly chubbier John Christ? However that came out I mean it as a compliment.

[@Slashdance]

Thanks for subscribing! I don't really have any more Danzig specific content planned, more just random retro/nostalgia stuff but I still hope you dig it.

[@underworlddreams9511]

@@Slashdance Remember that one can't rush genius, and with that said as a new subscriber I have your other videos to feast my senses with in the meantime. I plan to check out your music as well, and I can't help but wonder if I'm the only here who immediately knew your username is referring to an 80s movie about a welder who moonlights as a stripper.

[@Slashdance]

@@underworlddreams9511 You are definitely in the minority that caught that Slaahdance reference! :)

[@ricardoybarra5056]

Cool.I thought the logo came from the Fantasia Mickey mouse cartoon Demon I saw as a kid?

[@Slashdance]

First I've heard about a Fantasia connection, was there a similar design?

[@cgh7337]

I heard that as well.

[@Slashdance]

@@cgh7337 That's wild. I can't find anything about Fantasia and Danzig but it's interesting that it seems to be out there that enough people have heard it.

[@matthewcarosella7723]

@Slashdance the name of demon in Fantasia is Chernobog.

[@Frankenador]

Wow What a tail i love it i've never heard or found more then it's a cow skull, awesome Glens so weird i like weird, yeah pretty cool

[@stephenjones1046]

I had that toy funny thing then as an adult I loved the band

[@anychavez7801]

I had the toys, i collected comics(not this one though) and listened to danzig, never once knew this about the skull, definitely blew my mind. Also, that comic can fetch you some decent cash if its in real good condition, yeah i looked it up haha.

[@Slashdance]

I'm pretty sure I paid about $10 for the entire Crystar run, haha.

[@davem4250]

So I have a reappropriated skull tattooed? Well I guess it fits with all the other skulls & eagles tattd on me then. Reappropiated🤣👍🏽

[@Katharsis540]

Quality.

[@Slashdance]

Thanks!

[@wakeinfright5498]

How awesome was that?

[@illgottenjohnny]

Tattoo story is true. You also see it in the video for She Rides

[@Slashdance]

That's wild, I had that VHS tape and never noticed. I'll have to keep an eye out next time I see it.

[@illgottenjohnny]

@@Slashdance If you watch through to the last chorus, look to the right; Eerie Von accidentally headbutts one of the dancing girls and she keeps professional but wobbly. I guess they only had enough film for one take

[@wholebunchofkidz]

Wow

[@adrianjabs5752]

Danzig is the person your " mother " warned you about " am I demon ?" Yes you r Glen !☠️

[@caveiradacaverna6713]

Danzig is good at stealing Skulls then, wait............

[@Slashdance]

Right? He warned us this would happen!

[@gorillas213]

I own the comic

[@dereksendrak]

Did u have that Crystar figure since you were a kid or did u just buy it for the video? Lol

[@Slashdance]

Haha, fair question! I bought him maybe 20 years ago, around the same time I picked up the comic. I collect 70s and 80s toys, everything from old Star Wars to arcade and pinball machines. (These show up in other videos)

[@leekronforst4589]

REMCO RULES!

[@miahconnell23]

Oh 😳

[@godstomper]

And did he ever pay for the rights to use that art?

[@313Valentine]

I had those toys 😆

[@Slashdance]

Wicked, they are pretty cool looking at the time (and also right now!)

[@chad832]

I remember the dragons wings didnt stay on well.

[@morningstar4204]

AVE Danzig 🤘🏻😈🤘🏻

[@cobyporschifer221]

Cool 🤟