Robin Hood is a fictional character appearing in media published by

DC Comics DC Comics (originally DC Comics, Inc., and also known simply as DC) is an American comic book publisher owned by DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC is an initialism for "Detective Comics", an American comic book seri ...

, based on the legendary character of the same name. The character debuted in '' New Adventure Comics'' vol. 1 #23 (January 1938), and was created by Sven Elven.

Publication history

The DC Comics version of Robin Hood first appeared in '' New Adventure Comics'' vol. 1, #23 (January 1938). Robin Hood's debut in January 1938 was one of the earliest appearances of a recurring character in a DC Comics title, and predates

Superman Superman is a superhero created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, which first appeared in the comic book ''Action Comics'' Action Comics 1, #1, published in the United States on April 18, 1938.The copyright date of ''Action Comics ...

's debut in June 1938. The character then shows up in ''Robin Hood Tales'' #1 (February 1956) published by

Quality Comics Quality Comics was an American comic book publishing Publishing is the activities of making information, literature, music, software, and other content, physical or digital, available to the public for sale or free of charge. Traditionally, ...

; the series was later bought and published by

National Periodical Publications National Comics Publications (NCP; later known as National Periodical Publications Inc. or simply National) was an American comic book publishing company. It was the direct predecessor of modern-day DC Comics. History The corporation was origin ...

(later known as DC Comics) starting with ''Robin Hood Tales'' #7 (February 1957).

Fictional character biography

The mainstream

version of Robin Hood is Robert Fitzooth, the 12th century Earl of Huntingdon. Fitzooth a veteran soldier, discovers the ruins of his family castle upon returning from the

Crusades The Crusades were a series of religious wars initiated, supported, and at times directed by the Papacy during the Middle Ages. The most prominent of these were the campaigns to the Holy Land aimed at reclaiming Jerusalem and its surrounding t ...

. He later learns that Prince John has usurped the throne of his brother,

Richard the Lionheart Richard is a male given name. It originates, via Old French, from compound of the words descending from Proto-Germanic language">Proto-Germanic ''*rīk-'' 'ruler, leader, king' and ''*hardu-'' 'strong, brave, hardy', and it therefore means 'st ...

, Prince John razed the elder Earl of Huntingdon's castle and confiscated his lands because he supported King Richard. A suspicious Richard had sent Fitzooth back to England ahead of his return from the Crusades. Robert Fitzooth was given Richard's royal ring, and empowered to act on his behalf. Fitzooth loses the ring to Prince John's machinations and uses his military training to found a rebel movement based in

Sherwood Forest Sherwood Forest is the remnants of an ancient royal forest, Royal Forest in Nottinghamshire, within the East Midlands region in England. It has association with the legend of Robin Hood. The forest was proclaimed by William the Conqueror and ...

, to oppose Prince John's rule and retrieve the royal seal. He takes his namesake "Robin" from a small bird, a robin he sees bravely opposing a

falcon Falcons () are birds of prey in the genus ''Falco'', which includes about 40 species. Some small species of falcons with long, narrow wings are called hobbies, and some that hover while hunting are called kestrels. Falcons are widely distrib ...

. The surname "Hood" from a green hood was given to him by the Countess Marian, otherwise known as Lady Marian or Maid Marian.

''More Fun Comics''

In ''

More Fun Comics ''More Fun Comics'', originally titled ''New Fun: The Big Comic Magazine'',''New Fun'' #v1#1 (Feb. 1935 ...

'' #82 Speedy and Green Arrow use "time pills" confiscated from a

mad scientist The mad scientist (also mad doctor or mad professor) is a stock character of a scientist who is perceived as "mad, bad and dangerous to know" or "insanity, insane" owing to a combination of unusual or unsettling personality traits and the unabas ...

named Professor Wurm to travel back to the 12th century era of Robin Hood. They discover that Robin Hood has been framed for murder by Sir Guy of Gisbourne; Green Arrow clears Robin's name, and later returns to the present day with Speedy.

''Detective Comics''

In ''

Detective Comics ''Detective Comics'' (later retitled as ''Batman Detective Comics'') is an American comic book series published by Detective Comics, later shortened to DC Comics. The first volume, published from 1937 to 2011 (and later continued in 2016), is ...

'' vol. 1 #116,

Batman Batman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. Batman was created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on M ...

and Robin meet and rescue Robin Hood. Batman also takes part in an archery tournament sponsored by the Sheriff of Nottingham, all thanks to Professor Carter Nichols and his "time hypnosis" technology.

''World's Finest Comics''

Green Arrow travels through time again, and switches places with Robin Hood in ''

World's Finest Comics ''World's Finest Comics'' is an American comic book series published by DC Comics from 1941 to 1986. The series was initially titled ''World's Best Comics'' for its first issue; issue #2 (Summer 1941) switched to the more familiar name. Michael ...

'' vol. 1 #40.

''Wonder Woman''

Wonder Woman traveled back in time twice to meet Robin Hood using the "Amazon time-and-space transformer", in ''Wonder Woman'' vol. 1 #82, and then later in ''Wonder Woman'' vol. 1 #94.

''Adventure Comics''

In ''

Adventure Comics ''Adventure Comics'' is an American comic book series published by DC Comics from 1938 to 1983 and revived from 2009 to 2011. In its first era, the series ran for 503 issues (472 of those after the title changed from ''New Adventure Comics''), ...

'' vol. 1 #264, while visiting Sherwood Forest, Green Arrow and Speedy discover a time machine in a secret

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

laboratory. They both travel back in time where Green Arrow temporarily takes the place of an injured Robin Hood. He helps the Merry Men fight the Sheriff of Nottingham, and rescues Maid Marian. At adventure's conclusion the time machine returns Green Arrow and Speedy to the present.

''Rip Hunter, Time Master''

Rip Hunter and a pretty female stowaway meet

Richard I of England Richard I (8 September 1157 – 6 April 1199), known as Richard the Lionheart or Richard Cœur de Lion () because of his reputation as a great military leader and warrior, was King of England from 1189 until his death in 1199. He also ru ...

, as well as Robin Hood, Maid Marian and the Merry Men in '' Rip Hunter, Time Master'' #22.

''Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane''

In '' Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane'' #22, Robin Hood appears in an imaginary story where he meets Lois Lane and

. The story is later reprinted in ''Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane'' #74.

''Justice League of America''

In ''

Justice League of America The Justice League, or Justice League of America (JLA), is a group of superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The team first appeared in '' The Brave and the Bold'' #28 (March 1960). Writer Gardner Fox conceived t ...

'' #101 the Seven Soldiers of Victory, the

Justice Society of America The Justice Society of America (JSA) is a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. It was conceived by editor Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox during the Golden Age of Comic Books. It first appeared in '' ...

, and the

all become lost in time while battling the

Nebula Man Nebula Man is a fictional character in DC Comics. He first appeared in ''Justice League of America'' #100–101 (1972 in comics, 1972). Originally a villain responsible for the disappearance of the Seven Soldiers of Victory, he has since reappeare ...

. In the story Green Arrow once again stands in for an injured Robin Hood, he is captured by the Sheriff of Nottingham but later rescued by members of the JLA and JSA.

Other versions

* Writer

Michael Jan Friedman Michael Jan Friedman (born March 7, 1955) is a New York City born American author of nearly 60 books of fiction and nonfiction, more than half of which are in licensed tie-in products of the ''Star Trek'' franchise. Ten of his titles have appear ...

and artist Luke McDonnell launched a retelling of the Robin Hood legend with ''Outlaws: The Legend of the Man Called Hood'' #1 (September 1991). ''Outlaws'' was an eight issue mini-series which re-imagined the legend set in a future, post-apocalyptic alternate time, akin to the future depicted in films such as ''

Mad Max ''Mad Max'' is an Australian media franchise created by George Miller and Byron Kennedy. It centres on a series of post-apocalyptic and dystopian action films. The franchise began in 1979 with '' Mad Max'', and was followed by three sequels: ...

''. * Robin Hood and his band appear in ''

Fables Fable is a literary genre defined as a succinct fictional story, in prose or verse (poetry), verse, that features animals, legendary creatures, plants, inanimate objects, or forces of nature that are Anthropomorphism, anthropomorphized, and that ...

'' #4 (October 2002). Along with other folk heroes in the

Vertigo Comics DC Vertigo, also known as Vertigo Comics or simply Vertigo, is an Imprint (trade name), imprint of the American comic book publisher DC Comics. Vertigo publishes comics with adult comics, adult content, such as nudity, drug use, profanity, and ...

series, they give their lives to buy time for the last ship to flee to the mundane world.''Fables'' #4 (October 2002)

References

External links

Cosmic Teams: Robin HoodComicvine: New Adventure ComicsComicvine: Robin Hood TalesComicvine: Brave and the Bold - Robin HoodFanzing.com: Fanzing #39
{{DEFAULTSORT:Robin Hood (Dc Comics) Comics characters introduced in 1938 Fictional characters from the 12th century Mythology in DC Comics Golden Age superheroes Comics by Bob Haney DC Comics military personnel Fictional archers Fictional swordfighters in comics * Robin Hood Vigilante characters in comics Fictional earls