The Black Hood

The Black Hood
The Black Hood, from Top-Notch Comics #9 (October 1940). Art by Al Camy.
Publication information
Publisher	Archie Comics
First appearance	Matthew Burland Top-Notch Comics #9 (October 1940) Thomas "Kip" Burland Archie's Super Hero Comic Digest Magazine #2 (1979) Mateo Burland The Web #5 (March 2010) Gregory Hettinger The Black Hood (vol. 4) #1 (February 2015)
Created by	Harry Shorten
In-story information
Alter ego	(Archie Comics) Matthew Burland Thomas "Kip" Burland Gregory Hettinger (DC Comics) Mateo Burland
Team affiliations	The Mighty Crusaders
Abilities	(Archie/Red Circle) Great fighter and detective (Impact) Magically increased physical abilities and awareness
'
	Cover to Black Hood Comics #12 (Fall 1944)
Series publication information
Publisher	(vol. 3) Impact Comics (remaining) MLJ Magazines/Archie Comics
Schedule	(vol.1) Quarterly (remaining) Monthly
Format	Ongoing series
Publication date	(vol. 1) Winter 1943 – Summer 1946 (vol. 2) June – October 1983 (vol. 3) December 1991 – December 1992 (vol. 4) February 2015 – present
Number of issues	(vol. 1) 11 (vol. 2) 3 (vol. 3) 13 (#1-12 plus 1 Annual) (vol. 4) 11 (vol. 4: Season 2) 1
Creative team
Writer(s)	Duane Swierczynski (vol. 4)
Artist(s)	Raymond Kinstler (vol. 1) Bill Vigoda (vol. 1) Harry Sahle (vol. 1) Clem Weisbecker (vol. 1) Michael Gaydos (vol. 4 #1-5, 7) Howard Chaykin (vol. 4 #6) Robert Hack (vol. 4 #8) Greg Scott (vol. 4 #9-)

The Black Hood is a fictional character created by MLJ Comics (later known as Archie Comics) during the period known as the "Golden Age of Comic Books." The Black Hood first appeared in Top-Notch Comics #9, October 1940 and became one of MLJ's most popular characters. He has been in four self-titled series as well as in his own radio show, Black Hood (1943-1944). In recent decades, the Black Hood (along with other Archie Comics superheroes) has been licensed and sporadically published by DC Comics. However, the character reappeared under the new Dark Circle Comics line in 2015.

The Black Hood first appeared in MLJ's Top-Notch Comics #9 (cover-dated Oct. 1940). He was created by Harry Shorten. The Black Hood became a popular character and was given his own title, Black Hood Comics, a pulp magazine in 1943. It lasted for 11 issues before being retitled Laugh Comics and becoming an all-humor title.

A second series debuted as part of the original Red Circle Comics imprint. It lasted for three issues from June to October 1983. This Black Hood was known as Thomas "Kip" Burland, the nephew of the original Black Hood.

In 1991, a third series was released under the Impact Comics imprint when DC Comics received the rights to the Red Circle superheroes. It lasted for 13 issues which included 12 regular issues and one annual.

A fourth series was released under the Archie Comics' imprint Dark Circle Comics in February 2015. In this version the man under the hood is Officer Gregory Hettinger who takes up the mantle of the Black Hood after accidentally killing the Thomas "Kip" Burland version. The series is a much darker and serious take on the character and has a modern, violent spin as it examines cops and criminals in the city of Philadelphia. The series is written by Duane Swierczynski with issues one through five and seven drawn by Michael Gaydos. Haward Chaykin quest-illustrated issue 6 and Robert Hack will guest-illustrate issue 8. Greg Scott will start as the series new artist in February 2016 beginning with issue 9.