The Hood: Who is the Magical Mob Boss?

Little Red Demon Hood

A SWAT team gathers near a door. They’ve gotten a tip about a gang holed up in an abandoned factory. They breach and rush in. Several crooks run away. Some shoot at the police, but are gunned down. An explosion sends cops flying. The survivors see a flash of red on the stairs and chase after it.

The cops rush out onto the roof and scan the area. No one’s there, but they’re certain the attacker came this way. They investigate, even checking to make sure no one is hanging on a ledge, but find nothing. As they head back to the stairs, the cops are shot in the back. One dying officer sees a man materialize while floating in the sky. He can’t see a face, just a Hood.

The Hood is one of Marvel’s most practical villains. He may not be the strongest or smartest, but he’s got street smarts like none other and a powerful patron waiting in the wings. So who is he? How did he get his powers? Who is his patron? Let’s find out.

Rags to Stolen Riches: The Hood’s Backstory

The Hood debuted in The Hood #1 in 2002. He was created by Brian K. Vaughan, Kyle Hotz, and Eric Powell

Parker Robbins was a small-time crook who idolized supervillains. He committed crimes to pay for his mother’s Alzheimer’s treatments and support his pregnant girlfriend, but lied about where the money came from. Parker’s life changed forever when he stole a cloak and boots from a dying demon.

He discovered that his new duds were magical. Parker used them to become a crime boss called The Hood and slowly built an empire. The Hood attracted many minor villains who hoped to make it big like him.

The Hood learned that his magic came from Dormammu, Lord of the Dark Dimension. The demon Parker robbed had been Dormammu’s agent on Earth and now that duty fell to Parker. The Hood accepted that being Dormammu’s pawn was the price for his patron’s power.

Focus Fixation: The Hood’s History

The Hood became infamous but was never the kingpin. He was best known for torturing Avenger Tigra. She avenged herself by outing Parker as a criminal to his girlfriend, ensuring that he would never see his daughter. 

The blows kept coming. The Hood was ordered to retrieve a sample of the Marvel Zombies’ virus. He lost his magic mid-fight because Dormammu found a more powerful agent to corrupt. The Hood fought alongside the heroes, stopped the outbreak, and escaped.

Desperate for the power he once held, The Hood spent his life chasing powers he couldn’t retain. Asgardian relics called the Norn Stones empowered him until they were stolen by Loki. The Hood spent billions to reach one of the Infinity Stones and fought to unite them all, but he was outplayed by Iron Man and left powerless again. 

The Hood hit a lucky break when he bonded to a Spirit of Vengeance named Zarathos and became the Ghost Rider. He began a gang war with vampires to rebuild his empire, but the bloodsuckers turned his girlfriend and daughter into vampires. The Hood called on the devilish Mephisto and sold his soul to have them cured. He is currently stuck in Hell, ferrying the damned to their eternal punishments.

Dark Dimension Duds: The Hood’s Powers and Personality

The Hood is a Dungeons and Dragons Warlock, entirely reliant on others for his magic. Without any power source or patron, he is a street fighter and marksman. The Hood’s cloak turns him invisible while he holds his breath and his boots let him walk on air. A pair of pistols serve as his magical focus, though he has admitted they’re just for show against magical threats.

Dormammu made The Hood an Avengers-level threat. Parker could teleport, transform into a demon, and conjure lightning. When his boss abandoned him, Parker used Norn and Infinity Stones to become a godlike sorcerer. The Hood kept punching above his weight limit, but couldn’t hold onto the power that stolen relics gave him.

The Hood is addicted to power. He wants to be one of the Big Bad villains like Doctor Doom or Electro, but he’s a small-time thug at heart. Tigra’s torture was the height of his infamy. When he loses power or status, he desperately tries to reclaim it. Despite those flaws, The Hood acknowledges his mistakes and cares for his loved ones.

The Actors Who Play Him

Todd Haberkorn – Marvel Future Avengers
Meng’er Zhang – What If…?
Anthony Ramos – Ironheart

Didya Get All That?

A crook turned power junkie in a snazzy suit.

Image: Parker Robbins/The Hood (Anthony Ramos) in Marvel Television’s IRONHEART, exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel. © 2025 MARVEL. All Rights Reserved.

Jared Bounacos

Jared Bounacos has written for Movie Rewind since 2016.