How A 1946 Movie Ghost Became One of Punk’s Most Iconic Logos

The cranium emblem/mascot most intently related to the Misfits, has a legacy that dates again lengthy earlier than the legendary punk band performed its first tune — all the way in which again to Nineteen Forties horror.

What Impressed The Misfits’ Cranium Mascot

Some name it the “fiend,” whereas others acknowledge it as “the crimson ghost.” With regards to the true origin of the Misfits’ cranium emblem, the latter moniker is extra exact.

The Crimson Ghost was a 12-chapter movie serial that debuted in 1946, greater than 35 years earlier than the band’s debut album, Stroll Amongst Us.

The movie follows the story of the evil prison mastermind referred to as The Crimson Ghost, who seeks to accumulate a tool referred to as the Cyclotrode. It’s believed to be so highly effective that it might probably short-circuit each electrical present in existence.

If all of this sounds acquainted, it is referenced in a 1997 Misfits tune with the identical identify.

By the point the Misfits dropped the monitor “Crimson Ghost”, the band had already been utilizing their emblem derived from the film for practically 20 years. The tune was included on American Psycho, which featured comparable titles impressed by horror movies.

The Misfits’ Fiend Membership fan membership was born in 1979. That very same 12 months, the band launched their “Horror Enterprise” single, marking the primary time the fiend was used as a part of their art work.

What Makes The Crimson Ghost An Odd Alternative

The crimson ghost emblem guidelines when used within the context of The Misfits. It isn’t solely related to the band, but in addition a sure period of punk music.

However whenever you look again on the film that impressed all of it, the crimson ghost is perhaps a bit hokey immediately.

The Crimson Ghost debuted in 1946, a time when movie magic wasn’t so… effectively, MAGICAL.

The title character parades throughout the display screen sporting a skeleton masks and gloves that appear to be one thing that may be within the low cost part of a Spirit Halloween retailer immediately.

What makes it much more hilarious is seeing folks work together with the character within the movie as if the person is not sporting a ridiculous skeleton outfit whereas laying out his diabolical plan.

Authorized Battles Over Use Of The Fiend Cranium

As we speak, the usage of the fiend cranium is intently guarded by the Misfits camp and has prompted a number of lawsuits, together with some between the band members themselves.

In 2014, Glenn Danzig sued bassist Jerry Just for a number of violations, alleging misuse of Misfits logos and logos when Solely shaped a brand new model of the band with out Danzig. The grievance included references to Solely’s use of the cranium derived from the 1946 film.

Two sides ultimately settled, and Danzig returned to carry out with Solely as The Authentic Misfits in 2016. However that hasn’t stopped extra lawsuits alleging misuse of the brand.

In 2020, the Misfits filed a lawsuit in opposition to Abrams Books, the writer of the 2019 visible historical past e book Scream With Me: The Enduring Legacy of the Misfits.

READ MORE: The Letter Glenn Danzig Wrote To Cliff Burton About Metallica Masking A Misfits Music

The go well with alleges that Abrams used the fiend cranium within the e book with out the permission of Misfits AD, the corporate based by Danzig and Solely after they reunited in 2016.

In response to a report from Bloomberg Legislation, the band dropped the lawsuit 5 months after it was initially filed.