Who Is The Hood a.k.a. Parker Robbins in IRONHEART? The Mystical Villain’s Marvel Comics History, Explained

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As a long-time comics enthusiast and avid follower of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), I must say that the upcoming Ironheart series promises to deliver an exciting new twist on one of my favorite villains, the Hood. Having grown up reading about the exploits of the Kingpin and the Green Goblin, it’s refreshing to see a character like Parker Robbins get the spotlight he deserves.

Initially, Kevin Feige, the brains behind Marvel, unveiled the upcoming Disney+ series centered around Ironheart. He revealed that the series would revolve around Riri Williams, also known as Ironheart, confronting a mystical antagonist called the Hood. This will mark the first instance of science versus magic battle in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The role of the Hood will be played by actor Anthony Ramos within the series. Dominique Thorne, who plays Riri Williams, has confirmed that we won’t see Ironheart until 2025; however, fans can learn about her impending foe in the meantime. Here’s a comprehensive overview of the origin, abilities, and overall Marvel Comics history of the Hood.

A Brief Explanation of Parker Robbins a.k.a. The Hood

In a turn of events, a petty criminal named Parker Robbins stumbled upon a magical cloak, which bestowed extraordinary powers upon him, transforming him into the notorious supervillain known as the Hood. Utilizing his street cunning and newly acquired supernatural prowess, he ascended to become one of Marvel’s most influential criminal masterminds. Despite his humble origins, he has grown into a formidable adversary, posing a threat not only to the Avengers but also to the entire Marvel multiverse. He is often referred to as the “Godfather of all supervillains.”

The Hood’s Comics Origin Is a Story of Rags to Riches

For the first time in 2002, the character known as The Hood was introduced in a self-titled mini-series, penned by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Kyle Hotz and Eric Powell. Raised in New York City, Parker Robbins, as a teenager, was more captivated by Electro’s villainy during a confrontation between him and Daredevil, rather than the hero’s valor. In his adult years, Robbins led a questionable life, resorting to deception and theft to survive.

In a pinch for funds to care for his ailing mother, expecting girlfriend Sara (and secretly, another woman), Robbins accepted a dodgy job from his shady cousin John King to burglarize a warehouse. Instead of loot, they discovered the remnants of a sinister ritual and confronted an authentic demon. Robbins dispatched the demon with a bullet to the skull, choosing not to leave empty-handed, he pocketed its cloak and footwear.

Shortly thereafter, he found out that the boots allowed him to float and the cloak made him undetectable when he wasn’t breathing. Utilizing these novel abilities, Robbins orchestrated audacious heists, earning him the moniker “the Hood” by the law enforcement. Empowered by his new capabilities, Robbins transformed into an infamous supervillain and leader of a criminal organization.

The Hood’s Demonic Powers in the Marvel Comics, Explained

Originally, the Hood’s extraordinary abilities stem from his enchanted cloak and footwear. His cloak grants invisibility when he holds his breath, while his boots enable him to float or levitate. However, following his backstory, only his cloak was referenced again in subsequent events, and the Hood’s powers were largely attributed to this magical garment alone.

Nevertheless, Parker Robbins, devoid of his cloak, proves himself no pushover in a brawl. He’s quite adept with his twin pistols, a skill that’s signature to him. In terms other than combat, Robbins emerges as an impressive leader and tactician. His charisma comes into play when he persuades villains to join his criminal organization and outsmarts rival crime lords, ultimately ascending to the position of Kingpin in the underworld.

Over time, Robbins uncovered hidden capabilities in his cloak, including teleportation and resurrection. The cloak additionally grants him the unique vision to penetrate any kind of deception. In the event of “Secret Invasion”, he managed to discern who were disguised Skrulls. When engaged in a fight against Doctor Doom and a horde of Doombots, he was capable of distinguishing which one was the authentic Doom.

When faced with extreme peril, the Hood undergoes a transformation, taking on a more demonic appearance. His visage becomes terrifyingly monstrous, his digits transform into sharp claws, and he gains immense power, speed, and magical prowess. As a demon, the Hood is capable of holding his own against heavyweights like Wolverine and Doctor Doom. (By the way, it’s worth mentioning that one of the Hood’s most notorious actions was shooting Wolverine in a sensitive area during a fight, which didn’t exactly turn out well for him.)

After a while wearing the cloak, Robbins started to converse with the source of its dark influence and discovered that it was none other than Doctor Strange’s foe, Dormammu. The ruler of the Dark Dimension then assisted Robbins in tapping into more of the cloak’s power. However, the longer Robbins wore the cloak, the more he became tainted by Dormamu’s wickedness.

In a turn of events, when an exorcism severed Loki’s connection with Dormammu, he struck a bargain with Robbins for restoring his Asgardian-legendary Norn Stones’ power. However, Loki later reclaimed the power of these Norn Stones, leaving Robbins powerless again. It wasn’t long before Robbins found himself behind bars until another inmate revealed the whereabouts of an Infinity Gem to him. Seizing this opportunity, Robbins managed to break free and nearly collected all the gems before being halted by the Avengers. Despite repeated setbacks, Robbins consistently manages to regain his power and continues his mission to rule as the crime kingpin.

The Hood Is a Criminal Mastermind

After assuming the role of a crime boss in New York City, the Hood established multiple criminal enterprises and joined forces with various supervillain factions. His ambitious plan to rule as the Kingpin of crime gained momentum following the aftermath of the Civil War, when the hero community was in disarray. This state of chaos facilitated his accumulation of power and mobilization of a vast criminal network to exploit the situation.

In my gaming world, as I delved deeper into the secrets of my enigmatic cloak, I found myself growing more formidable, a constant menace to the Avengers. Then, during the Dark Reign era, when Norman Osborn seized control, I found myself in his inner circle, part of his council of villains known as the Cabal. Seeking to match the power wielded by the original Illuminati, I formed my own sinister version, joining forces with Black Ant, Enchantress, Mad Thinker, Thunderball, and Titania.

Anthony Ramos Will Deliver a New Twist on the Hood in Marvel’s Ironheart Series

In the narrative of Ironheart, MIT prodigy Riri Williams finds herself back in her native city of Chicago, immersing herself in her heritage while attempting to restore her armor suit. However, her peaceful life is disrupted when she encounters Parker Robbins, also known as the Hood. When the Hood makes his live-action premiere in Ironheart, he will exhibit some variations from his comic book persona.

Actor Anthony Ramos revealed to Entertainment Weekly that his character Parker Robbins in the Marvel Cinematic Universe will hail from Chicago instead of New York. More specifically, he’ll be from Humboldt Park, a neighborhood with a substantial Puerto Rican population. This adjustment not only brings the hero and villain closer but also forges a personal connection between them. Ramos explained that they developed an extensive backstory for Parker Robbins, with his mother being part of the Young Lords and raising him as a gang member-turned-activist. Chicago holds significant importance for all our characters and this series, so Ramos is eager for viewers to explore that aspect.

In an unexpected turn of events, the normally valiant Riri Williams is set to become part of the criminal enterprise known as the Hood’s organization in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Historically, these two characters have had no connection in the comics, making their relationship a fresh and exclusive aspect for the MCU. At the conclusion of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Riri was forced to abandon her state-of-the-art armor suit in Wakanda, leading her to ally with the Hood’s gang in order to finance the construction of a new one in Ironheart.

In a similar vein for both Riri Williams and Parker Robbins, there’s an underlying theme of “What can I achieve with what I have? If I get a bit more, perhaps I can do even more.” This perspective is fascinating as it reveals how they develop, sometimes positively and negatively. Moreover, we observe how these characters manipulate each other to gain advantages – be it power, resources, or wealth. It’s intriguing to watch their narratives unfold and intertwine over time.

We cannot wait to see what the MCU does with the Hood next year when Ironheart hits Disney+.

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2024-08-23 00:03