Number 467


Black Hood is back in the 'hood


Thanks to correspondent 1506NixNix for scans from the old MLJ Comics. Nix provided the origin of Cliff Campbell and Al Camy's Black Hood in Pappy's #382 last September. I'm finally getting around to showing the second of the series, from Top-Notch Comics #10, December 1940.

I've mentioned before that in their early days the MLJ Comics line was pretty wild. The cover is the kind that would make parents cringe. Anyone randomly flipping through the book might spot the gruesome hanged man on page 3. MLJ morphed into Archie Comics, and replaced their devil horns with a halo.

There is another kind of sin here; a storytelling sin. The hero, after the first page, doesn't show up again in costume until page 10.

Number 382


"I took eight bullets out of him and still he lives!"


Growing up I liked the Batman-type characters the best, the ones who used brains, skill and strength rather than super powers. The Black Hood has survived several incarnations since his origin in Top-Notch Comics #9, October 1940. All of those versions have been published by Archie Comics, which started in business as the rowdy publisher, MLJ Comics. Before being taken over by teenagers like Archie, the writers and artists at MLJ did some very entertaining comics full of ghastly characters, murders, horror...you know, the fun stuff.

Black Hood is policeman Kip Burland, who as you'll see in this origin story, gets shot full of holes by the henchmen of a villain called the Skull. Eight bullets. And only some old hermit--who doesn't give his name but confesses he was a "western sheriff"--to operate. In a cabin. In the woods.

Of course Kip comes back from his near death experience stronger and more able than ever once he's in his snappy Black Hood costume. But you can't keep a good villain down, and the folks who did Black Hood knew that they had a good one in the Skull.

The story was written by Cliff Campbell and drawn by Al Camy.

The scans were provided by correspondent 1506NixNix. Thanks, Nix!