The Hood - the new MCU supervillain's history and powers explained

Ironheart is here, with the first three episodes of the new MCU show now streaming on Disney Plus, and the series wastes little time introducing viewers to the show's villain, the Hood (played by Anthony Ramos). The Hood and his gang are all over Ironheart, and fans are already getting some hints about the true, demonic nature of the Hood's powers.

In the comics, the Hood, AKA Parker Robbins, has faced off against several Marvel heroes, including the New Avengers. Although the Hood hasn't fought directly with Riri Williams, the titular star of the Ironheart series, both characters appear in Invincible Iron Man #600, written by Riri's co-creator Brian Michael Bendis.

So who exactly is the Hood, and what are his powers? Here's everything you need to know about Ramos's supervillain role.

Who is Ironheart villain the Hood, AKA Parker Robbins?

The Hood, AKA Parker Robbins, was created by Brian K. Vaughan and artists Kyle Hotz and Eric Powell in 2002. His first appearance was in a self-titled MAX (Marvel's adult-oriented imprint) limited series that summer, wherein he went from being a petty thief to the Hood after he defeated a demonic servant of Doctor Strange's arch-enemy Dormammu and stole his cloak and boots.

Parker gained superpowers by stealing from the demon and quickly made a name for himself in New York City's criminal underworld. Eventually, he formed his own crime syndicate and became part of the Marvel Universe Cabal as a powerful supervillain.

In some ways, Parker's upbringing trained him for a life of crime. His father was close with Kingpin, and as a child, Parker witnessed a fight between Daredevil and Elektra (back when they were sometimes-a adversaries and not spouses) which stuck with him for years. After his father died and his mother became hospitalized with severe cognitive damage, he turned to crime due to lack of direction and purpose.

What are the Hood's powers?

Upon stealing from the servant of Dormammu, Parker Robbins gained the superpowers teleportation, invisibility, and levitation. When he wears the boots he stole, he can walk on air, and when he wears the cloak and holds his breath at the same time, he can turn invisible. The cloak also allows him to see through certain illusions, and when under duress, he gains super physical strength and speed.

The Hood briefly loses these powers when Titania destroys his cloak in 2016's Avengers: Standoff!, but regains them after making a pact with an unnamed demon during Civil War II. Now, the Hood can also channel his magical abilities through his guns, which he uses as a focus (almost like a wand). He doesn't need the pistols themselves to do damage.

During 2020's Hawkeye: Freefall, Clint Barton made a deal with Count Nefaria to strip the Hood of his cloak, effectively removing his powers once more.

In the one-shot Mary Jane & Black Cat: Beyond #1, Parker blackmails Black Cat with a threat to murder both Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson if she doesn't agree to get his cloak back so he can regain his supernatural abilities. Felicia and Mary Jane successfully track down the cloak, which has been consumed by a bag demon. Upon returning it to Parker, he is also consumed by the bag demon, presumably removing him from the Marvel Universe - though Parker Robbins has found himself seemingly consumed by demonic forces before, and still managed to come back.

What role will does Hood play in the MCU's Ironheart?

The Hood is the main villain of the first three episodes of Ironheart (we're not counting out other villains joining the fray in the next three episodes). He has a gang assembled of characters who take their names and, in some cases, some light inspiration from Marvel Comics who are dedicated to blackmailing the CEOs of experimental companies.

Riri joins up with the gang in the first episode, seeking money to pay for the advanced tech she needs to upgrade her suit of armor. But things are already starting to fray at the seams for Riri, who seems to be getting in over her head by the end of episode 3.

What's more, we've already seen the toll the Hood's powers are taking on his body, with veins of strange, dark ichor spreading under his skin the more he wears the cursed object. We don't yet know the cloak's true origin, or how Parker Robbins acquired it, though a few rumors have been laid out.

Still, we're expecting things to take an even more serious turn as the story goes on, with the Hood's true nature likely to be exposed - and potentially even more villains revealed.

The first three episodes of Ironheart are now streaming on Disney Plus.

Not sure who Ironheart is? Here's everything you need to know about MCU star Riri Williams.