Robin Hood (DC Comics)
Encyclopedia
Robin Hood is a fictional character
, a comic book
Outlaw
published by DC Comics
. Robin Hood debuted in New Adventure Comics vol. 1 #23 (January 1938), and was created by Sven Elven. The character is based on the mythical archer
Robin Hood
whose earliest recorded literary appearance was in William Langland
's 14th century narrative poem, Piers Plowman
. The character of Robin Hood was made popular by Howard Pyle
's 19th century novel The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood
.
, the series was later bought and published by National Comics
starting with Robin Hood Tales #7 (February 1957), National Comics is the company that would become DC Comics
. 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.
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
. He later learns that Prince John
has usurped the throne of his brother, Richard the Lionheart, 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
, 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
. And the surname "Hood" from a green hood given to him by the Countess Marian, otherwise known as Lady Marian or Maid Marian
.
#82 Speedy and Green Arrow use "time pills" confiscated from a mad scientist
named Professor Wurm, to travel backback 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.
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
and his "time hypnosis" technology.
vol. 1 #40.
vol. 1 #264, while visiting Sherwood Forest, Green Arrow and Speedy discover a time machine
in a secret World War II
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.
, as well as Robin Hood, Maid Marian and the Merry Men in Rip Hunter, Time Master
#22.
#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 vol. 1 #74.
#101 the Seven Soldiers of Victory, the Justice Society of America
, and the Justice League of America all become lost in time while battling the Nebula Man
. 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.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
, a comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
Outlaw
Outlaw
In historical legal systems, an outlaw is declared as outside the protection of the law. In pre-modern societies, this takes the burden of active prosecution of a criminal from the authorities. Instead, the criminal is withdrawn all legal protection, so that anyone is legally empowered to persecute...
published by DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
. Robin Hood debuted in New Adventure Comics vol. 1 #23 (January 1938), and was created by Sven Elven. The character is based on the mythical archer
Archery
Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
Robin Hood
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
whose earliest recorded literary appearance was in William Langland
William Langland
William Langland is the conjectured author of the 14th-century English dream-vision Piers Plowman.- Life :The attribution of Piers to Langland rests principally on the evidence of a manuscript held at Trinity College, Dublin...
's 14th century narrative poem, Piers Plowman
Piers Plowman
Piers Plowman or Visio Willelmi de Petro Plowman is the title of a Middle English allegorical narrative poem by William Langland. It is written in unrhymed alliterative verse divided into sections called "passus"...
. The character of Robin Hood was made popular by Howard Pyle
Howard Pyle
Howard Pyle was an American illustrator and author, primarily of books for young people. A native of Wilmington, Delaware, he spent the last year of his life in Florence, Italy.__FORCETOC__...
's 19th century novel The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood
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. Consisting of a series of episodes in the story of the English outlaw Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men, the novel compiles traditional material into a...
.
Publication history
The DC Comics version of Robin Hood first appeared in New Adventure Comics vol. 1 #23 (January 1938). He then shows up in Robin Hood Tales #1 (February 1956) published by Quality ComicsQuality Comics
Quality Comics was an American comic book publishing company that operated from 1939 to 1956 and was an influential creative force in what historians and fans call the Golden Age of comic books....
, the series was later bought and published by National Comics
National Comics
National Comics may refer to:* National Comics: An early name for the comic book publisher known later as DC Comics.* National Comics : a 1940's comic book series published by Quality Comics....
starting with Robin Hood Tales #7 (February 1957), National Comics is the company that would become DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
. 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
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
's debut in June 1938.
Fictional character biography
The mainstream DC ComicsDC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
version of Robin Hood is Robert Fitzooth
Robert Fitzooth
Robert Fitzooth or Fitzooth, Earl of Huntingdon , is a fictitious identity for Robin Hood. The name was first published in William Stukeley's Paleographica Britannica in 1746...
, the 12th century Earl of Huntingdon
Earl of Huntingdon
Earl of Huntingdon is a title which has been created several times in the Peerage of England. The title is associated with the ruling house of Scotland, and latterly with the Hastings family.-Early history:...
. Fitzooth a veteran soldier, discovers the ruins of his family castle upon returning from the Crusades
Crusades
The Crusades were a series of religious wars, blessed by the Pope and the Catholic Church with the main goal of restoring Christian access to the holy places in and near Jerusalem...
. He later learns that Prince John
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
has usurped the throne of his brother, Richard the Lionheart, 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
Sherwood Forest is a Royal Forest in Nottinghamshire, England, that is famous through its historical association with the legend of Robin Hood. Continuously forested since the end of the Ice Age, Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve today encompasses 423 hectares surrounding the village of...
, to oppose Prince John's rule and retrieve the royal seal. He takes his namesake "Robin" from a small bird, a robin
European Robin
The European Robin , most commonly known in Anglophone Europe simply as the Robin, is a small insectivorous passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family , but is now considered to be an Old World flycatcher...
he sees bravely opposing a falcon
Falcon
A falcon is any species of raptor in the genus Falco. The genus contains 37 species, widely distributed throughout Europe, Asia, and North America....
. And the surname "Hood" from a green hood given to him by the Countess Marian, otherwise known as Lady Marian or Maid Marian
Maid Marian
Maid Marian is the wife of the legendary English outlaw Robin Hood. Stemming from another, older tradition, she became associated with Robin Hood only in the 16th century.-History:The earliest medieval Robin Hood stories gave him no female companion...
.
More Fun Comics
In More Fun ComicsMore Fun Comics
More Fun Comics, originally titled New Fun: The Big Comic Magazine a.k.a. New Fun Comics, was a 1935-1947 American comic book anthology that introduced several major superhero characters and was the first American comic-book series to feature solely original material rather than reprints of...
#82 Speedy and Green Arrow use "time pills" confiscated from a mad scientist
Mad scientist
A mad scientist is a stock character of popular fiction, specifically science fiction. The mad scientist may be villainous or antagonistic, benign or neutral, and whether insane, eccentric, or simply bumbling, mad scientists often work with fictional technology in order to forward their schemes, if...
named Professor Wurm, to travel backback 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 ComicsDetective Comics
Detective Comics is an American comic book series published monthly by DC Comics since 1937, best known for introducing the iconic superhero Batman in Detective Comics #27 . It is, along with Action Comics, the book that launched with the debut of Superman, one of the medium's signature series, and...
vol. 1 #116, Batman and Robin
Batman and Robin
Batman and Robin refers to the partnership between Batman and Robin, two superhero characters originally appearing in DC Comics.It is also the title of a number of fictional works starring the duo:...
meet and rescue Robin Hood, Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
also takes part in an archery tournament sponsored by the Sheriff of Nottingham. All thanks to Professor Carter Nichols
Professor Carter Nichols
Professor Carter Nichols is a fictional character, a comic book scientist published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Batman #24 , and was created by Joe Samachson and Dick Sprang.-Fictional character biography:...
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 ComicsWorld'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 switched to the more familiar name...
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 ComicsAdventure Comics
Adventure Comics was a comic book series published by DC Comics from 1935 to 1983 and then revamped from 2009 to 2011. In its first era, the series ran for 503 issues , making it the fifth-longest-running DC series, behind Detective Comics, Action Comics, Superman, and Batman...
vol. 1 #264, while visiting Sherwood Forest, Green Arrow and Speedy discover a time machine
Time Machine
A time machine is a fictional/hypothetical device used to achieve time travel. The term may also refer to:-Novels and films:* The Time Machine, an 1895 novel by H. G...
in a secret World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
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
Sheriff of Nottingham
The Sheriff of Nottingham was historically the office responsible for enforcing law and order in Nottingham and bringing criminals to justice. For years the post has been directly appointed by the Lord Mayor of Nottingham and in modern times, with the existence of the police force, the position is...
, 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 EnglandRichard I of England
Richard I was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death. He also ruled as Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Lord of Cyprus, Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Count of Nantes, and Overlord of Brittany at various times during the same period...
, as well as Robin Hood, Maid Marian and the Merry Men in Rip Hunter, Time Master
Rip Hunter
Rip Hunter is a DC Comics character who first appeared in Showcase #20 . Following three more appearances in Showcase , Rip Hunter was given his own series, which ran for 29 issues . He later starred in the six-issue Time Masters series , written by Bob Wayne and Lewis Shiner...
#22.
Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane
In Superman's Girl Friend, Lois LaneSuperman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane
Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane was a comic book series published monthly by DC Comics focusing on the adventures of supporting character Lois Lane. The series began publication March/April 1958 and ended its run September/October 1974 with 137 regular issues and 2 80-page Annuals...
#22, Robin Hood appears in an imaginary story where he meets Lois Lane and Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
. The story is later reprinted in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane vol. 1 #74.
Justice League of America
In Justice League of AmericaJustice League
The Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by DC Comics....
#101 the Seven Soldiers of Victory, the Justice Society of America
Justice Society of America
The Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a DC Comics superhero group, the first team of superheroes in comic book history. Conceived by editor Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox, the JSA first appeared in All Star Comics #3 ....
, and the Justice League of America all become lost in time while battling the Nebula Man
Nebula Man
Nebula Man is a fictional character in DC Comics. He first appeared in Justice League of America #100-101 .Originally a villain responsible for the disappearance of the Seven Soldiers of Victory, he has since reappeared as Neh-Buh-Loh, a primary antagonist in the 2005-2006 mega-series Seven...
. In the story Green Arrow once again stands in for an injured Robin Hood, he is captured by the Sheriff of Nottingham
Sheriff of Nottingham
The Sheriff of Nottingham was historically the office responsible for enforcing law and order in Nottingham and bringing criminals to justice. For years the post has been directly appointed by the Lord Mayor of Nottingham and in modern times, with the existence of the police force, the position is...
but later rescued by members of the JLA and JSA.
Other versions
- Writer Michael Jan FriedmanMichael Jan FriedmanMichael Jan Friedman is an author of nearly sixty books of fiction and nonfiction, more than half of which are in the Star Trek universe. Ten of his titles have appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list...
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 of the legend set in a future, post-apocalytic alternate time, akin to the future depicted in films such as Mad MaxMad MaxMad Max is a 1979 Australian dystopian action film directed by George Miller and revised by Miller and Byron Kennedy over the original script by James McCausland. The film stars Mel Gibson, who was unknown at the time. Its narrative based around the traditional western genre, Mad Max tells a story...
. - Robin Hood and his band appear in Fables #4 (October 2002). 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.