Robin Hood (DC Comics)

Publication history

The DC Comics version of Robin Hood first appeared in New Adventure Comics vol. 1, #23 (January 1938). The character then appears in Robin Hood Tales #1 (February 1956) published by Quality Comics. National Periodical Publications (later known as DC Comics) bought and published the series starting with Robin Hood Tales #7 (February 1957).

Fictional character biography

In the main DC Comics universe, Robin Hood is Robert Fitzooth, the Earl of Huntingdon from the 1100s. After returning from the Crusades, this seasoned soldier finds his family’s castle in ruins. He discovers that Prince John has taken the throne from his brother King Richard, and that John destroyed the elder Earl’s castle and seized his lands because of his loyalty to Richard. King Richard, suspicious of the situation, had sent Fitzooth back to England early, giving him the royal ring and authority to act in his name.

Fitzooth loses the ring due to Prince John’s schemes. Using his military skills, he starts a rebellion based in Sherwood Forest to fight Prince John and recover the royal seal. He gets the name “Robin” from a small robin he sees standing up to a falcon. The Countess Marian, also called Lady Marian or Maid Marian, gives him the surname “Hood” from a green hood.

Several DC heroes have visited his time. In More Fun Comics #82, Speedy and Green Arrow use time pills to go back and clear Robin Hood of a murder charge set up by Sir Guy of Gisbourne. In Detective Comics vol. 1 #116, Batman and Robin travel using time hypnosis to meet and rescue Robin Hood. Green Arrow swaps places with Robin Hood in World’s Finest Comics vol. 1 #40.

Wonder Woman goes back twice using the Amazon time-and-space transformer, in Wonder Woman vol. 1 #82 and #94. In Adventure Comics vol. 1 #264, Green Arrow takes the place of an injured Robin Hood after finding a time machine in a secret WWII lab. Rip Hunter meets Robin Hood in Rip Hunter, Time Master #22.

Other versions

Writer Michael Jan Friedman and artist Luke McDonnell launched Outlaws: The Legend of the Man Called Hood #1 (September 1991), an eight-issue mini-series re-imagining the legend in a future, post-apocalyptic alternate time. Robin Hood and his band appear in Fables #4 (October 2002), where along with other folk heroes in the Vertigo Comics series they give their lives to buy time for the last ship to flee to the mundane world.