There's already a thread on this board about 'how' this villain obtained his red head, but this thread is about the symbolic significance of the red head.

WHY is this villain called the Red Skull and why is his appearance a bloody-horror red head mantle?

I started this thread, so we could entertain theories about the symbolism of the Red Skull. There's no one right answer, since Red Skull, like his valiant adversary Captain America, represents patriotism controversies and nationalism dialogue as it pertains to vigilantism daydreams and jurisprudence frustrations.

Since Red Skull represents anarchy and fascism and dangerous terrorism and serves as the ultimate foil to Captain America's defense of democracy and public virtue, and since Captain America's red-white-blue colors obviously signifies a crusading loyalty to American values, perhaps Red Skull's red head represents a nihilistic intention to seek blood-feuds and blood-lust at the cost of democracy for the sake of power and fascist revolution and authoritarianism.

Red Skull maybe relishes in his devious schemes and will resort to mayhem, genocide, and bloody terrorism to suit his plan for power-gain.

Maybe Red Skull has a red head, because he looks the way he feels --- bloodthirsty about dictatorship.

Just as Marvel's Hulk, a green super-brute, is green with angst (rather than envy), Red Skull is perhaps red with danger.

That's one theory at least!

Also, what are some relevant power-scheme diagrams involving Red Skull?

Red Skull (Wikipedia)

American Agnosticism?

If Captain America represents engaged populism-democracy values-centric dialogue surrounding key Americana issues such as illegal immigration and consumerism culture related corruption (i.e., Enron), then Red Skull is the ultimate black widow spider representing the inevitability of fascism.

This is how comics is wed to pedestrianism guesswork.

A People's History of the United States (Howard Zinn)

I am just going to share some things that I thought of regarding this topic.

The gun represents terrorism. Guns cause destruction, takes lives, that must be Red Skull's signature weapon.

Captain America's shield defends the people or the country from all this death and destruction.

Plus, a gun's only function and purpose is to destroy. Nothing else can be done with a gun. Captain America's shield can be used block and defend one from harm, can be used to ride when sliding on top of a snowy mountain and even as a plate to carry somethings.

What I am trying to say is that since a gun can only cause destruction and nothing else, that must mean people taught that Nazis back in the day only knew how to bring destruction. The shield symbolizes defense and the fact that the Americans know more than defending the innocent, but preserving them in a way.

The cosmic cube is square, while Captain America's shield is circular. A cube and square has edges, an ending, while the circular shape has none, it is everlasting. It probably means that the power you hold, will not be yours to hold forever. While the thing Captain America fights for, which is truth and justice, is here to stay. When Captain America died, Bucky stepped in and continued to fight for what Steve believed in before coming back. The spirit and name of Captain America lives on, while Red Skull's name, has been forgotten.

How did Red Skull even get a...Red Skull? Was he mutated? Was his faced burned off?