Brief history of the BLACK HOOD in comics
This is a site dedicated to a comic book hero that has existed since the golden age of comics, and
in many different forms.
The Black Hood first appeared in 1940 in Top-Notch Comics#9; published by MLJ comics (later
known as Archie Comics). The Black Hood proved to be one of MLJ's more popular heros of the time, however
as the case was for most publishers of the time, super-hero comics eventually fell out of favor with the
public until about the 1960's, also known as the silver-age.
Archie Comics (as well as many other companies), tried to cash in the resurgence of the super-hero genre
started by DC and Marvel, by introducing new characters; The Fly and the Shield (Private Strong). The Mighty Crusaders
were introduced; a team of classic MLJ heroes (including the Black Hood) and the new characters. This
version would not last too long into the silver-age however.
The only thing to note from the 70's would be Archie's Super Hero Special Digest #2.
This issue introduced us to a new version of the Black Hood, "reprinting" stories from a planned Black Hood comic
series that only saw print here. Stories featured art by Neal Adams, Gray Morrow, and others.
Also in this version is the concept of a legacy of Black Hoods, (which would be developed further in the 90's).
In the 80's, Archie Comics (under the Red Circle banner) once again reintroduced their heroes to a new
generation. The 70's version of the Black Hood, served as a member of the Mighty Crusaders. Once again, the heroes faded away
in time.
The 1990's brought the biggest change into the Archie heroes comic book careers. Archie liscenced out their characters
to DC Comics. Instead of simply assimilating the heroes into the mainsteam DC Universe (like what happened to the Charlton
heroes), DC chose to redesign and re-vamp the Archie characters and create the Impact Comics line.
The Black Hood was the "mystery title" from the beginning. Building this title up, the Black Hood appeared
in the other characters titles until he was set to star in his own title. The Black Hood proved to be one of the most popular titles of the
Impact line. The title lasted only 12 issues before the Impact line was shut down for an overhaul.
This overhaul came in the form of a 6-issue mini-series called Crucible: the final impact. The Black Hood, the Comet,
and the Shield were the focal points of this storyline. For whatever reasons, the Crucible would be the end for this version of the Black Hood,
and the rest of the Impact line.
Since the end of Impact comics, the Archie heroes have only made sporadic appearances in public service ads in Archie Comics.
Rumours of a new line by Archie themselves to start a new comic series never got off the ground. The heroes can be found currently on the Archie
Comics web site. Recently the heroes, including a cameo by the 70's Black Hood, appeared in Archie's Weird Mysteries #3.
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