The Hangman is the name of several fictional

superhero A superhero or superheroine is a stock character that typically possesses ''superpowers'', abilities beyond those of ordinary people, and fits the role of the hero, typically using his or her powers to help the world become a better place, ...

es that appear in periodicals published by

MLJ Comics Archie Comic Publications, Inc., is an American comic book publisher headquartered in Pelham, New York.Dark Circle Comics Dark Circle Comics is an imprint of Archie Comics Publications, Inc. Under its previous name, Red Circle Comics, it published non-humor characters, particularly superheroes in the 1970s and 1980s, and was a digital imprint from 2012 to 2014. In ...

Publication history

The first Hangman (Robert Dickering) debuted in MLJ Comics' ''

Pep Comics ''Pep Comics'' is the name of an American comic book anthology series published by the Archie Comics predecessor MLJ Magazines Inc. (commonly known as MLJ Comics) during the 1930s and 1940s period known as the Golden Age of Comic Books. The titl ...

'' #17 (January 1941). Dickering is the brother of the Comet, a superhero who had been appearing since ''Pep'' #1. The Comet is killed in issue #17, and dies in his brother's arms. Robert promises to avenge his brother's death, and takes on the mantle of the Hangman. His recurring enemies include Captain Swastika and the villainous Jackal. The Hangman appeared in ''Pep Comics'' until the 47th issue, as well as in ''Special Comics'' #1. In Spring 1942, ''Special Comics'' was renamed ''

Hangman Comics ''Hangman Comics'' was the name of an American anthology comic book series published by MLJ Magazines Inc., more commonly known as MLJ Comics, for seven issues between Spring 1942 and Fall 1943. It featured MLJs costumed vigilante The Hangman, ...

'' starting with issue #2. It ran for seven issues, ending in fall 1943 when it was renamed ''

Black Hood Comics ''Black Hood Comics'' was the name of an American anthology comic book series published by MLJ Magazines Inc., more commonly known as MLJ Comics, for eleven issues between Winter 1943 and Summer 1946. The series featured MLJs costumed hero Bla ...

''. The Hangman appeared in '' Fly Man'' #33 (September 1965) after a 21-year absence. However, this time the Hangman was a villain who fought against the

Mighty Crusaders The Mighty Crusaders is a fictional superhero team published by Archie Comics. The team originally appeared in ''Fly-Man'' No. 31, #32 and No. 33 before being launched in its own title, ''Mighty Crusaders''. Written by Superman co-creator Jerry ...

. A new Hangman (Steve Dickering) appeared in ''The Comet'' #1 (1983), however he eventually faded into obscurity. After

DC Comics DC Comics, Inc. (doing business as DC) is an American comic book publisher and the flagship unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC Comics is one of the largest and oldest American comic book companies, with thei ...

continuity altering "

Final Crisis "Final Crisis" is a crossover storyline that appeared in comic books published by DC Comics in 2008, primarily the seven-issue miniseries of the same name written by Grant Morrison. Originally DC announced the project as being illustrated solely b ...

" company-wide crossover had ended, they licensed the rights to the Red Circle and

Milestone Media Milestone Media is a company best known for creating Milestone Comics, which were published and distributed by DC Comics and the ''Static Shock'' animated series. It was founded in 1993 by a coalition of African-American artists and writers, con ...

heroes, bringing them into

DC Universe The DC Universe (DCU) is the fictional shared universe where most stories in American comic book titles published by DC Comics take place. Superheroes such as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Robin, Martian Manhunter, The Flash, Green Lant ...

continuity. The Hangman appeared as a second feature in ''The Web'' written by Angela Robinson with art by Roger Robinson. His first appearance was in ''The Web'' #1 (November 2009). In March 2015, a new series featuring The Hangman was announced under the

Dark Circle Comics Dark Circle Comics is an imprint of Archie Comics Publications, Inc. Under its previous name, Red Circle Comics, it published non-humor characters, particularly superheroes in the 1970s and 1980s, and was a digital imprint from 2012 to 2014. In ...

imprint. ''The Hangman'' debuted in November 2015, written by Frank Tieri with art provided by Felix Ruiz. Dark Circle Comics Editor Alex Segura has described the new series as "

Quentin Tarantino Quentin Jerome Tarantino (; born March 27, 1963) is an American film director, writer, producer, and actor. His films are characterized by stylized violence, extended dialogue, profanity, Black comedy, dark humor, Nonlinear narrative, non-lin ...

adapting a

Stephen King Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American author of horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, crime, science-fiction, and fantasy novels. Described as the "King of Horror", a play on his surname and a reference to his high s ...

novel.".

Robert "Bob" Dickering

MLJ Comics

Fictional character biography

The Hangman is secretly Robert "Bob" Dickering, whose brother John Dickering is the hero the Comet. Bob Dickering becomes the Hangman after watching his brother die by the men he was trying to put behind bars. Afterwards, he promises to get revenge against all criminals and takes up the identity of the Hangman. Whenever the Hangman is needed, Dickering changes into his costume, which consists of a green, skin-tight body suit, along with a black cowl and cape, blue gloves, and black trunks and boots; he also carries a noose. He announces his presence by using a flashlight to shine an image of gallows on the nearest wall to a criminal he's caught in the act. Dickering fights alongside such heroes as

the Shield ''The Shield'' is an American crime drama television series starring Michael Chiklis that premiered on March 12, 2002, on FX in the United States, and concluded on November 25, 2008, after seven seasons. Known for its portrayal of corrupt poli ...

while doing battle against villains, most notably Madam Satan. After disappearing for some time, he returns as a criminal himself, fighting against the

. He eventually returns to the side of good.

DC Comics

Robert Dickering is a lieutenant and doctor in the United States Army during the

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...

against the Confederate States of America. During this time he was ambushed by a group of thieves and left for dead. After awakening he realizes that the thieves left him behind enemy lines. When he returns he is sentenced with the death penalty for spying behind enemy lines. With minutes left to live, he is approached by a mysterious figure cloaked in the shadows offering him a way out of death. He told Dickering that he could survive the hanging in return for hunting down all those who don't repent for the evil deeds they have committed. He must do this forever until he is destroyed by something equal to the mysterious shadow's powers, or until the end of the world. Dickering accepts the offer and survives the hanging. He decides to take up a secret identity creating the Hangman. For over a hundred years since his execution, he has continued to punish those guilty while helping the innocent.

Dark Circle Comics

Robert Dickering appears as the Hangman in the first issue of ''The Hangman'' (vol. 2) in November 2015. He comes for hitman Michael Minetta and proceeds to hang him. After hanging Minetta, Dickering is deemed worth of ascension.

Steve Dickering

Archie Comics

Fictional character biography

The second Hangman is Steve Dickering, the son of the original Hangman who first appeared in '' The Comet'' #1 (1983). He took up the mantle of the Hangman to prove to his father that he could honor the title. The second Hangman wore a costume similar to the original Hangman complete with carrying around a hangman's

noose A noose is a loop at the end of a rope in which the knot tightens under load and can be loosened without untying the knot. The knot can be used to secure a rope to a post, pole, or animal but only where the end is in a position that the loop can ...

Eric Adams

DC Comics' Impact imprint

The third Hangman debuted under DC Comics'

Impact Comics Impact Comics was an imprint of DC Comics that was aimed at younger audiences. It began in 1991 and ended in 1993. The initial "I" in the logo was stylized as an exclamation point, but the official name of the imprint was not ''!mpact''. Impact ...

imprint. He is secretly Eric Adams, a lawyer working for Native American rights. He is attacked because of his work leaving him blind and left for dead. A local tribal shaman found him and healed him as well as giving him a bag of magical charms and a

raven A raven is any of several larger-bodied bird species of the genus ''Corvus''. These species do not form a single taxonomic group within the genus. There is no consistent distinction between "crows" and "ravens", common names which are assigned t ...

whose eyes Eric could see through. With these gifts, Adams fights corruption both in the courtroom and on the streets as the Hangman.

Powers and abilities

The Hangman has no superpowers, however he uses a bag of magical charms to fight crime as well as using the eyes of a Raven to see through.

Michael Minetta

Dark Circle Comics

The fourth Hangman first appeared in ''The Hangman'' (vol. 2) #1 as a loyal hitman-for-hire named Michael "Mikey Ice" Minetta. He lives in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn with his wife and daughter, Gabby. He is hired to "take care" of a man named Petey after he slept with another man's wife. On his way back for the hit he is attacked by the Hangman (Robert Dickering) who proceeds to beat up Minetta and hang him from a street lamp. Minetta awakens in hell and is met by Satan. Satan tells Minetta the story of the Hangmen and how they have been around for centuries collecting the souls of those who are deemed unworthy to remain existing. Satan offers the now open position of the Hangman after Dickering was deemed worthy of ascension. Minetta initially refuses the offer until he realizes that his wife and daughter could still be put in danger. He accepts Satan's offer and is brought back to walk the Earth as the Hangman.

In other media

Michael Minetta appears in the second season of

The CW ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

series '' Riverdale'' as Sheriff Tom Keller's replacement in the investigation of

Midge Klump Midge Klump is a fictional character appearing in Archie Comics. She frequently appears as the girlfriend of Moose Mason and the unrequited crush of Reggie Mantle. The live-action version of Midge was portrayed by Emilija Baranac in the televisi ...

's murder.

Notes

External links

Toonepedia entry

the Mighty Crusaders Encyclopedia

the Mighty Crusaders Encyclopedia {{GoldenAge Golden Age superheroes Hangman Characters created by Harry Lucey Comics characters introduced in 1941 DC Comics superheroes 1941 comics debuts 1943 comics endings 1965 comics debuts 1965 comics endings 1983 comics debuts 2015 comics debuts Vigilante characters in comics