| Jack the Ripper | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Real Name |
Unknown |
|
Years Active |
1888 |
Historical Background[]
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. Five murders committed in the Whitechapel area of London in 1888 are generally attributed to him.[1]. His victims were women working as prostitutes.
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 Holmes, Ethel King, Sâr Dubnotal, 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: Jack brought to the 20th century. Battles Daffy.
- All Top Comics #8: : Jack brought to the 20th century. Battles Blue Beetle with Blackbeard.
- Eerie #5: A man buy's Jack the Ripper's knife in the 20th century and is possessed by the killer's spirit.
- Tales of Horror #2:Dr. Karvel invented a machine that transferred the consciousness of the long dead into living humans making them become someone from the past. He used this machine to turn Dr. Brown into Jack the Ripper.
- Adventures into the Unknown #29: The ghost of Jack the Ripper is summoned.
References[]
Public Domain Literary 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)