The Hood: Start Here – The Essential Marvel Echoes Primers

Origin Spark: From Petty Thief to Demonic Kingpin

Before he became a supervillain, Parker Robbins was just a struggling kid from New York City, trying to make ends meet and care for his ailing mother. Life wasn't glamorous for Parker; he dropped out of high school and turned to petty crime with his cousin, John King, to pay for his mother's psychiatric care, as detailed in  The Hood  #1 (2002). He longed for a better life for himself, his girlfriend Sarah, and their soon-to-be-born child, but more than that, he craved respect and power.

His life took an irreversible turn during a botched burglary in the opening pages of the first issue. Instead of a treasure trove, Parker and John stumbled upon a mystical ritual and were attacked by a demon-like creature known as a Nisanti. In a moment of panic, Parker shot and killed the creature, then, thinking quickly, stole its cloak and boots. These weren't ordinary garments; the boots allowed him to walk on air, and the cloak granted him invisibility. This sudden influx of power transformed Parker into the Hood, a criminal with a distinct red cloak and a growing sense of invincibility.

His new powers quickly led him down a dangerous path. During a diamond heist, he accidentally shot a police officer, Eric Bondi, a tragic turn of events. To escape justice, Parker cleverly framed another woman as "The Hood," making it appear as though the masked criminal had been killed. This deception, which unfolds across  The Hood  #2-6 (2002), allowed him to operate under the radar while developing his powers and criminal enterprise. Despite his criminal activities, he attempted to maintain a semblance of a normal life with Sarah and their daughter, Brianna, but the lure of power and the whispers of the cloak proved too strong, driving him further into darkness.

The real game-changer came when Parker started hearing a voice through the cloak, guiding him to build a criminal empire starting in  New Avengers  #32 (2007). He leveraged the post-Civil War  chaos, recruiting and arming a vast network of supervillains in  New Avengers  #34 (2007). His actions drew the attention of the New Avengers, leading to direct confrontations that showcased his growing power and ruthless ambition. This was only the beginning of a relentless pursuit of power, often at the expense of everything he once held dear.

Allies and Adversaries: The Company a Kingpin Keeps

The Hood's journey is defined by the company he keeps, from the few he trusts to the many who want him dead. These relationships have shaped his rise, his reign, and his inevitable fall.

Key Allies

• John King:  Parker's cousin and original partner-in-crime, often serving as his conscience and a link to his former life.
• Madame Masque:  A fellow supervillain and Parker's lover, their tumultuous relationship is a dangerous mix of criminal ambition and genuine affection.
• Norman Osborn:  During his  Dark Reign, Osborn recruited The Hood into his villainous Cabal, giving him unprecedented power and resources.

Key Adversaries

• The New Avengers:  This team, particularly members like Doctor Strange and Luke Cage, became his primary antagonists, consistently working to dismantle his criminal empire.
• Tigra:  After he brutally assaulted her, the heroic Tigra made it her personal mission to see him brought to justice, representing a very personal and vengeful feud.
• The Punisher: Frank Castle became a relentless hunter of The Hood during  Dark Reign , proving immune to the demonic temptations Parker offered.
• Dormammu:  While the source of his power, the demonic lord of the Dark Dimension was also his greatest adversary, constantly trying to possess his body and corrupt his soul.

Resonance Arcs: The Corrupting Embrace of Power

The Hood's most impactful stories center around his acquisition and struggle with supernatural power, and the dark path it leads him down.

Blood from Stones:  The Hood #1-6 (2002)

This period covers Parker Robbins' initial transformation and his rapid ascent in the criminal underworld, fueled by the mysterious powers of the Nisanti cloak. We see him go from a petty thief to a significant threat, building an army of supervillains and clashing with established heroes like the New Avengers. The initial  Hood  miniseries by Brian K. Vaughan and Kyle Hotz is where it all begins, introducing his desperate motivations and the terrifying origin of his powers. This era establishes his internal conflict: his desire for a normal life versus the overwhelming pull of power and influence. It’s here that the seeds of his demonic possession are sown, subtly guiding his actions and pushing him towards darker choices.

Dark Reign:  Dark Reign: The Hood #1-5 (2009)

Following the Skrull Invasion, Norman Osborn rose to power, and The Hood became a key member of his Cabal a "Dark Illuminati" in Dark Reign: The Cabal  #1 (2009). This arc saw Parker at the height of his influence, commanding a resurrected army of villains and even challenging iconic figures like the Punisher throughout Punisher  (Vol. 8) #2-10 (2009). This was a critical time for The Hood, as Dormammu's control over him became nearly absolute, and Parker wrestled with the loss of his humanity. The Dark Reign: The Hood  miniseries by Jeff Parker and Kyle Hotz delves deep into this internal struggle, showcasing the psychological toll of his demonic pact and his increasing ruthlessness. This arc truly solidified his position as a major antagonist, demonstrating how his ambition could warp his sense of self and lead him to unthinkable acts.

Siege and Aftermath:  Siege #1-4 (2010)

The Siege event marked a turning point for The Hood. During the final battle in Asgard, Dormammu was finally banished from Earth, severing his connection to Parker and leaving him powerless in  Siege  #4 (2010). However, his story didn't end there. Loki, the Trickster God, then granted him the Asgardian Norn Stones, restoring his abilities with a different power source in  New Avengers: Finale  #1 (2010). This shift highlighted Parker's desperate need for power, regardless of its source. The aftermath saw him imprisoned and confronted by Tigra in  Avengers: The Initiative  #35 (2010), a hero he had previously brutalized, leading to a poignant moment where he truly faced the consequences of his actions and the profound loss of his family.

Legacy and Echoes: The Enduring Allure of Forbidden Power

The Hood's legacy is a cautionary tale about the corrosive nature of unchecked ambition, with his influence rippling through both the criminal underworld and the heroes he fought.

• Hood's Gang:  He organized countless low-level villains into a powerful criminal organization and crime syndicate, effectively giving a unified and dangerous voice to a previously fractured part of the Marvel Universe.
• Dormammu:  By becoming the demonic entity's willing host, he brought one of Doctor Strange's greatest enemies back to the forefront as a major threat to the entire planet.
• Spirit of Vengeance:  In his relentless pursuit of power, Parker recently usurped Johnny Blaze to become a new Ghost Rider, showing his ambition knows no bounds and that he is willing to claim even the most infernal legacies for himself.

The Primer: Essential Hood Reading

Ready to delve into the shadowed world of The Hood? These essential collections are the perfect starting point, gathering his complete origin and most impactful storylines.

• The Hood: Blood from Stones    (2002):  This is where it all begins! Discover Parker Robbins' origin story and his first steps into the supernatural criminal underworld.
• New Avengers Vol. 3    (2007):  Witness The Hood's rise as a criminal mastermind and his early clashes with the New Avengers.
• Dark Reign: The Hood    (2009):  Explore the height of his power and his deep entanglement with Dormammu during Norman Osborn's Dark Reign.
• Siege    (2010):  See the dramatic climax of his demonic pact and the consequences that follow in this massive event collection.
• Ghost Rider: Final Vengeance (2024): This series marks a major shift in Marvel’s supernatural landscape, blending street-level crime with cosmic horror with Parker Robbins becoming a Ghost Rider.

Now you're ready to explore the darkness. Pick up a story, meet the Marvel Universe's most ambitious crime lord, and see what happens when a man makes a deal with a demon.

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GettinJiggly

Author & Editor

William has been reading Marvel comics since the early ’90s, starting with the X-Men and never looking back. Raised on X-Men: The Animated Series, he fell in love with the characters, the drama, and the wild twists that made every issue feel like a revelation.

Marvel has always been his go-to universe—whether it’s flipping through classic origin stories or catching every MCU movie and show the moment they drop. Through Marvel Echoes, William shares the stories that shaped his fandom, hoping to help others discover the heroes, villains, and cosmic oddities that make this multiverse so unforgettable.