Robin Hood is a

fictional character In fiction, a character (or speaker, in poetry) is a person or other being in a narrative (such as a novel, play, radio or television series, music, film, or video game). The character may be entirely fictional or based on a real-life perso ...

, a

comic book A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are of ...

outlaw published by

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 ...

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

archer Archery is the sport, practice, or skill of using a bow to shoot arrows.Paterson ''Encyclopaedia of Archery'' p. 17 The word comes from the Latin ''arcus'', meaning bow. Historically, archery has been used for hunting and combat. In m ...

Robin Hood Robin Hood is a legendary heroic outlaw originally depicted in English folklore and subsequently featured in literature and film. According to legend, he was a highly skilled archer and swordsman. In some versions of the legend, he is dep ...

whose earliest recorded literary appearance was in

William Langland William Langland (; la, Willielmus de Langland; 1332 – c. 1386) is the presumed author of a work of Middle English alliterative verse generally known as ''Piers Plowman'', an allegory with a complex variety of religious themes. The poem tr ...

's 14th century narrative poem, Piers Plowman. The character of Robin Hood was made popular by

Howard Pyle Howard Pyle (March 5, 1853 – November 9, 1911) was an American illustrator and author, primarily of books for young people. He was a native of Wilmington, Delaware, and he spent the last year of his life in Florence, Italy. In 1894, he began ...

's 19th century novel ''

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood ''The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood of Great Renown in Nottinghamshire'' is an 1883 novel by the American illustrator and writer Howard Pyle. Pyle compiled the traditional Robin Hood ballads as a series of episodes of a coherent narrative. For ...

''.

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'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 company which operated from 1937 to 1956 and was a creative, influential force in what historians and fans call the Golden Age of Comic Books. Notable, long-running titles published by Qualit ...

; the series was later bought and published by

National Periodical Publications National Comics Publications, Inc. (also known as NCP or simply National) was an American comic book publishing company, and the direct predecessor of modern-day DC Comics. History The corporation was originally two companies: National Allied P ...

(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 Earl of Huntingdon is a title which has been created several times in the Peerage of England. The medieval title (1065 creation) was associated with the ruling house of Scotland ( David of Scotland). The seventh and most recent creation dates t ...

. 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 sometimes directed by the Latin Church in the medieval period. The best known of these Crusades are those to the Holy Land in the period between 1095 and 1291 that were ...

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

Richard the Lionheart Richard I (8 September 1157 – 6 April 1199) was King of England from 1189 until his death in 1199. He also ruled as Duke of Normandy, Aquitaine and Gascony, Lord of Cyprus, and Count of Poitiers, Anjou, Maine, and Nantes, and was overl ...

, 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 a royal forest in Nottinghamshire, England, famous because of its historic association with the legend of Robin Hood. The area has been wooded since the end of the Last Glacial Period (as attested by pollen sampling cor ...

, 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. Falcons are widely distributed on all continents of the world except Antarctica, though closely related raptors did occur there in the Eocene. Adult falcons ...

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

Maid Marian Maid Marian is the heroine of the Robin Hood legend in English folklore, often taken to be his lover. She is not mentioned in the early, medieval versions of the legend, but was the subject of at least two plays by 1600. Her history and circums ...

''More Fun Comics''

In ''

More Fun Comics ''More Fun Comics'', originally titled ''New Fun: The Big Comic Magazine'' a.k.a. ''New Fun Comics'',''N ...

'' #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 " insane" owing to a combination of unusual or unsettling personality traits and the unabashedly a ...

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 Sir Guy of Gisbourne (also spelled Gisburne, Gisborne, Gysborne, or Gisborn) is a character from the Robin Hood legends of English folklore. He first appears in "Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne" ( Child Ballad 118), where he is an assassin who att ...

; Green Arrow clears Robin's name, and later returns to the present day with Speedy.

''Detective Comics''

In '' Detective Comics'' vol. 1 #116, Batman 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 Nabu Nabu is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. First appearing in ''More Fun Comics'' #67 in May 1941, he is a major supporting character in ''Doctor Fate'' titles. A fictionalized version of the ...

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'' was 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'' 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, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

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 The Sheriff of Nottingham is the main antagonist in the legend of Robin Hood. He is generally depicted as an unjust tyrant who mistreats the local people of Nottinghamshire, subjecting them to unaffordable taxes. Robin Hood fights against him, ...

, 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) was King of England from 1189 until his death in 1199. He also ruled as Duke of Normandy, Aquitaine and Gascony, Lord of Cyprus, and Count of Poitiers, Anjou, Maine, and Nantes, and was overl ...

, 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 ''Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane'' is an American comic book series published monthly by DC Comics. The series focusing on the adventures of Lois Lane began publication with a March/April 1958 cover date and ended its run in September/October 1 ...

'' #22, Robin Hood appears in an imaginary story where he meets Lois Lane and Superman. 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 (also known as The Justice League of America) are a team of superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The team first appeared in '' The Brave and the Bold'' #28 (March 1960). The team was conceive ...

'' #101 the Seven Soldiers of Victory, the

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

, 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). Originally a villain responsible for the disappearance of the Seven Soldiers of Victory, he has since reappeared as Neh-Buh-Loh ...

. In the story Green Arrow once again stands in for an injured Robin Hood, he is captured by the

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 sixty 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 a ...

and artist

Luke McDonnell Luke McDonnell (born July 19, 1959) is an American artist whose early career was spent specialising in comic books. Career Comic books Luke McDonnell began his career as a comics artist in 1980 and illustrated a wide variety of comics including ...

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 post-apocalyptic action film series and media franchise created by George Miller and Byron Kennedy. It began in 1979 with '' Mad Max'', and was followed by three sequels: ''Mad Max 2'' (1981, released in the Unite ...

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

Fables Fable is a literary genre: a succinct fictional story, in prose or verse, that features animals, legendary creatures, plants, inanimate objects, or forces of nature that are anthropomorphized, and that illustrates or leads to a particular moral ...

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

Vertigo Comics Vertigo Comics, also known as DC Vertigo or simply Vertigo, was an imprint of American comic book publisher DC Comics started by editor Karen Berger in 1993. Vertigo's purpose was to publish comics with adult content, such as nudity, drug us ...

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

In other media

Super Friends ''Super Friends'' is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes, which ran from 1973 to 1985 on ABC as part of its Saturday-morning cartoon lineup. It was produced by Hanna-Barbera and was based on the Justice League of ...

* Robin Hood was mentioned by Green Arrow more than once in the season one episode "Gulliver's Gigantic Goof". * Robin Hood was seen on a

movie poster A film poster is a poster used to promote and advertise a film primarily to persuade paying customers into a theater to see it. Studios often print several posters that vary in size and content for various domestic and international markets. T ...

in Crime Alley in the final season episode "The Fear".

Arrowverse The Arrowverse is an American superhero media franchise and a shared universe that is centered on various interconnected television series based on DC Comics superhero characters, primarily airing on The CW as well as web series on CW See ...

On the Arrow television series, Green Arrow is referred to as Robin Hood a number of times, and is mentioned in

Supergirl Supergirl is the name of several fictional superheroines appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The original, current, and most well known Supergirl is Kara Zor-El, the cousin of superhero Superman. The character made her fir ...

episode "

Crisis on Earth-X "Crisis on Earth-X" is the fourth Arrowverse Crossover (fiction), crossover event, featuring episodes of the live-action television series ''Supergirl (TV series), Supergirl'', ''Arrow (TV series), Arrow'', ''The Flash (2014 TV series), The Flash ...

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) Mythology in DC Comics Golden Age superheroes Comics by Bob Haney Comics characters introduced in 1938 DC Comics military personnel Fictional archers Fictional swordfighters in comics * Robin Hood Vigilante characters in comics