Jack the Ripper

Synopsis
Jack the Ripper is one of the more notorious killers in history, largely due to the fact that he was never caught or identified, leaving an air of mystery about him. It is uncertain exactly which murders could be attributed to him, but he is generally attributed with 11 murders committed in the Whitechapel area of London between 1888 and 1891. His victims were women, primarily known prostitutes. It is believed that he was probably a doctor, due to some of the very surgical cuts he made on victims bodies. However, his kills were hardly clean. In addition to slashing throats, he also removed organs and mutilated the faces, abdomens and genitalia of his victims. One letter, left for the authorities, marked "From Hell," was accompanied by half a kidney. The author of the letter, claimed the kidney was from one of the Ripper's victims (who was, in fact, missing a kidney), and that he had eaten the other half.



Fiction
In public domain detective fiction, Jack the Ripper was depicted being captured by a number of famous detectives including Sherlock Homes, Ethel King, Allan Dickson and Frank Allan. In comics, the Ripper is sometimes depicted as having ended his killing spree after being transported to the future. In these comics, he is usually depicted facing heroes such as the Blue Beetle.

Public Domain Comic Appearances

 * Smash Comics #45
 * All Top Comics #8

Public Domain Comic Appearances

 * The Curse Upon Mitre Square (1888) by John Francis Brewer
 * Uppskäraren (The Ripper, 1892) by Adolf Paul
 * Die Büchse der Pandora (Pandora's Box, 1904) by Frank Wedekind
 * The Lodger (1911) by Belloc Lowndes
 * L’Homme au complet gris (The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit, 1912) by Arnould Galopin: Sherlock Holmes recruits Australian detective Allan Dickson to travel to London and capture Jack the Ripper, a sailor on the ship Arabella.
 * "Jack l'Éventreur, le tueur de femmes" (Jack the Ripper, Killer of Women) in *Ethel King #3 (1912) by Jean Petithuguenin
 * "Die Blutsbrüder von Whitechapel" (The Blood Brothers of Whitechapel) in Frank Allan, der Rächer der Enterbten #29 (1921)