Rodney Skinner

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caption=Tony Curran as Rodney Skinner
comic_color=background:#8080ff
character_name=Rodney Skinner
publisher=20th Century Fox
debut="The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" film
creators=James Dale Robinson
alliance_color=background:#cccccc
status=Active
alliances=The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
previous_alliances=
aliases=
powers=Invisibility, Stealth|

Rodney Skinner is a fictional character in the film "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen", portrayed by Tony Curran.

Physically, he is completely invisible; he renders himself visible when necessary by the application of white greasepaint to his face and (shaven) head, and usually wears a long leather trenchcoat, a trilby, and dark pince-nez. He speaks with a Cockney lilt to his voice.

Skinner is the alter ego of The Invisible Man. While most characters in the film (and the comic series) are the direct equivalent of their turn-of-the-century literary characters, Skinner was specially created, due to copyright issues regarding H.G. Wells' original novel. In his "League" incarnation, Skinner is a thief who stole the invisibility formula from (we are led to assume) the original novel's anti-hero, Griffin.

In the original graphic novel series of "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" by Alan Moore, Griffin was given the name of Hawley Griffin, alluding to the name of a famous murderer, Hawley Crippen. Skinner was the maiden name of Crippen's mother.

Also, the name "Rodney Skinner" could be a pun played on the fact that his "skin" is invisible.

While Dr. Hawley Griffin from the comic is a sociopath and a serial rapist, Rodney Skinner is merely mischievous, though it takes a long time for his teammates to trust him. No one can determine exactly what his ulterior motives are, and he is almost universally suspected of being a traitor. Later, when the real traitor is revealed, Skinner proves himself no less a hero than the rest of the League. He places himself in profound danger by providing directions for the rest of the League to the villains' headquarters. Once the League reconvenes, he takes on one of the most difficult aspects of their plan, moving throughout the headquarters to plant the bombs that will destroy their enemy's armory. He also nearly dies while saving Tom Sawyer from a horrible death, receiving some horrific injuries as a result. Allan Quatermain offers the master thief some rather backwards praise by scolding him: "All this time, pretending you're not a hero!"