Robin Hood

Product brand

DC Comics’ adaptation of the legendary outlaw, first published in 1938 and later featured in historical adventures and time-travel crossovers.

Last updated November 3, 2026

AI crawler reads

No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.

Overview

Robin Hood is a fictional character published by DC Comics and based on the much older English legend of the same name. The DC version first appeared in New Adventure Comics volume 1, issue 23, dated January 1938, with the character credited to creator Sven Elven. His debut predates Superman's first appearance in June 1938, placing him among the earliest recurring figures associated with the DC publishing line. In DC continuity, Robin Hood is generally identified as Robert Fitzooth, the twelfth-century Earl of Huntingdon. His origin combines elements of the traditional outlaw story with a specifically comic-book narrative. After serving as a soldier during the Crusades, Fitzooth returns to England and finds that his family castle has been destroyed and his lands confiscated. Prince John has seized power while Richard the Lionheart is away, punishing the elder Earl of Huntingdon for his loyalty to Richard. Richard sends Fitzooth back to England in advance of his own return and entrusts him with a royal ring, authorizing him to act in the king's interest. Prince John's schemes result in Fitzooth losing the ring and becoming a target of political persecution. Fitzooth responds by using his military experience to organize a resistance movement in Sherwood Forest. He adopts the name Robin after seeing a small robin confront a falcon, while the name Hood is associated with the green hood given to him by Countess Marian, also known as Lady Marian or Maid Marian. This version preserves the familiar themes of resistance to unjust rule, loyalty to Richard, archery, Sherwood Forest, and fellowship with the Merry Men, while giving the character a more developed heroic backstory. The character was also central to Robin Hood Tales, a comic-book series that began under Quality Comics with issue 1 in February 1956. National Periodical Publications, the company later known as DC Comics, subsequently took over publication beginning with issue 7 in February 1957. Beyond his own stories, Robin Hood became a recurring historical figure in DC's time-travel and crossover narratives. Green Arrow and Speedy encounter him through time-displacement devices in More Fun Comics and Adventure Comics, while Batman and Robin meet and rescue him in Detective Comics. Green Arrow also temporarily takes Robin Hood's place in World's Finest Comics and Justice League of America stories. Other DC characters who encounter the figure include Wonder Woman, Rip Hunter, Superman, Lois Lane, the Justice Society of America, and the Justice League of America. These stories commonly use Robin Hood as a historical counterpart or temporary ally for modern DC heroes, particularly Green Arrow, whose archery-based identity makes him a natural narrative partner. The character has also appeared in reinterpretations outside the principal medieval setting, including the post-apocalyptic alternate-history miniseries Outlaws: The Legend of the Man Called Hood and the Vertigo series Fables. Robin Hood is therefore best understood not as a standalone consumer-goods brand but as a licensed fictional-character property within the DC Comics publishing universe. His commercial identity is expressed through comic-book appearances, reprints, crossover stories, and adaptations of his legend rather than through a documented corporate product portfolio. The supplied reference material does not establish a current dedicated series, separate corporate website, standalone operating company, or independently reported financial performance.

History

The DC Comics incarnation of Robin Hood was introduced in New Adventure Comics volume 1, issue 23, published in January 1938. The character was created by Sven Elven and appeared during the formative period of the DC publishing line, before Superman's debut later that year. Although the character derives from medieval English legend, DC presented him through the conventions of serialized superhero and adventure comics, giving the outlaw a defined personal identity and a larger role in the publisher's shared fictional history. DC's principal version identifies Robin Hood as Robert Fitzooth, Earl of Huntingdon, a twelfth-century nobleman and veteran of the Crusades. When Fitzooth returns to England, he discovers that Prince John has usurped authority while Richard the Lionheart is absent. His family castle has been ruined and his lands confiscated because his father supported Richard. Richard had sent Fitzooth ahead of his return and entrusted him with a royal ring, allowing Fitzooth to act in the king's name. Prince John's actions eventually cause Fitzooth to lose the ring, after which Fitzooth uses his military training to build a resistance movement in Sherwood Forest. The origin also explains the character's familiar name. Fitzooth takes Robin from a robin that he sees courageously challenging a falcon. Marian, identified as Countess Marian or Maid Marian, associates him with a green hood and supplies the surname Hood. The resulting identity combines noble lineage, military skill, political loyalty, archery, and a commitment to oppose Prince John's rule. The Merry Men and the Sheriff of Nottingham remain important parts of the surrounding legend, although DC's stories place the character within a broader network of time-traveling and superhero adventures. Robin Hood later received a dedicated comic-book venue in Robin Hood Tales. Quality Comics published the series from its first issue in February 1956. National Periodical Publications, which was later known as DC Comics, assumed publication beginning with issue 7 in February 1957. This change connected the character more directly to the DC publishing catalog and allowed him to function both as the protagonist of period adventure stories and as a historical guest figure in other titles. His most distinctive continuing role in DC continuity is as a figure encountered through time travel. In More Fun Comics, Green Arrow and Speedy use time pills taken from the scientist Professor Wurm and arrive in Robin Hood's era, where they help clear him after Sir Guy of Gisbourne frames him for murder. In Detective Comics, Batman and Robin encounter and rescue Robin Hood during an adventure involving Professor Carter Nichols's time-hypnosis technology and an archery tournament sponsored by the Sheriff of Nottingham. Green Arrow's repeated association with Robin Hood is especially significant. In World's Finest Comics, Green Arrow travels through time and exchanges places with him. In Adventure Comics, Green Arrow and Speedy reach the medieval period through a time machine hidden in a former World War II laboratory; Green Arrow temporarily substitutes for an injured Robin Hood, assists the Merry Men, and rescues Maid Marian. A later Justice League of America story again has Green Arrow stand in for Robin Hood after the Seven Soldiers of Victory, the Justice Society of America, and the Justice League become lost in time while fighting the Nebula Man. Other encounters broaden the character's relationship with the DC universe. Wonder Woman meets Robin Hood through an Amazonian time-and-space device in two stories. Rip Hunter encounters Robin Hood, Marian, the Merry Men, and Richard the Lionheart in Rip Hunter, Time Master. Robin Hood also appears in an imaginary story involving Lois Lane and Superman. These appearances treat him as a legitimate historical figure within the narrative rather than merely as a modern character using a medieval costume. DC and its associated Vertigo imprint later used the property in more revisionist forms. Outlaws: The Legend of the Man Called Hood, launched in September 1991, retells the legend in a post-apocalyptic future over eight issues. In Fables, Robin Hood appears among legendary and folkloric figures whose actions help preserve the escape of other characters to the mundane world. These later uses demonstrate the adaptability of the Robin Hood concept across conventional historical adventure, superhero time travel, speculative fiction, and modern mythic fantasy. The available reference material does not document a current dedicated Robin Hood comic line, a separate operating company, a standalone headquarters, or financial results. The property is best classified as a fictional-character trademark associated with DC Comics rather than as a food or consumer-staples brand. Its documented significance rests on its early DC debut, recurring appearances in historical crossover stories, and reinterpretations across the wider DC and Vertigo publishing catalog.

2002
Appearance in Fables
[1]Robin Hood (DC Comics)en.wikipedia.org
Robin Hood and his band appeared in Fables #4, in a separate Vertigo Comics story involving folk heroes.
1991
A post-apocalyptic reimagining appears
[1]Robin Hood (DC Comics)en.wikipedia.org
Outlaws: The Legend of the Man Called Hood retold the legend in a future, post-apocalyptic setting.
1957
DC’s predecessor continues Robin Hood Tales
[1]Robin Hood (DC Comics)en.wikipedia.org
National Periodical Publications began publishing the series with issue #7 after the earlier Quality Comics issues.
1956
Robin Hood Tales begins publication
[1]Robin Hood (DC Comics)en.wikipedia.org
Quality Comics launched Robin Hood Tales, giving the character a dedicated series before DC’s predecessor continued it.
1942
Green Arrow and Speedy meet Robin Hood
[1]Robin Hood (DC Comics)en.wikipedia.org
In More Fun Comics #82, Green Arrow and Speedy travel to Robin Hood’s era and help clear him of a murder accusation.
1938
First appearance in New Adventure Comics
[1]Robin Hood (DC Comics)en.wikipedia.org
Sven Elven’s Robin Hood story appeared in New Adventure Comics vol. 1, #23, introducing DC’s adaptation of the legendary outlaw.

Products and positioning

A DC Comics adaptation of the legendary outlaw, presented as a skilled archer and rebel against Prince John’s usurpation. The character functions primarily as a historical-adventure figure and occasional crossover character rather than as a contemporary superhero franchise.

Comic-book stories · 1938
Robin Hood stories in New Adventure Comics
The character’s initial DC-era stories were created by Sven Elven and appeared in New Adventure Comics in 1938. They established the comic-book version of Robin Hood as an outlaw operating in the familiar Sherwood Forest setting. The available references identify the debut issue and a run of early stories, but do not provide a sufficiently detailed issue-by-issue description to characterize every installment.
Comic-book series · 1956
Robin Hood Tales
Robin Hood Tales began at Quality Comics in 1956 and continued under National Periodical Publications, later known as DC Comics, from issue #7 in 1957. The title gave the outlaw a dedicated comic-book series and maintained the character across a publisher transition. The available publication list records DC’s issues as #7–14, published from 1957 to 1958.
Comic-book appearances · 1942
DC anthology and crossover appearances
Robin Hood appeared in DC anthology and adventure comics, where time travel connected his medieval world to characters such as Green Arrow, Speedy, Batman, Wonder Woman, Rip Hunter, Lois Lane, and Superman. The stories generally used the outlaw as a historical ally or as the center of a rescue, framing, or Sherwood Forest adventure rather than establishing a separate ongoing superhero team.
Limited comic-book series · 1991
Outlaws: The Legend of the Man Called Hood
This 1991 series reimagined Robin Hood in a post-apocalyptic future rather than the usual medieval setting. The alternate premise adapted the outlaw legend to a harsher speculative environment. It is a distinct reinterpretation and should not be treated as the same continuity as the classic Robert Fitzooth stories.
Comic-book appearance · 2002
Fables appearance
Robin Hood and his band appear in Fables #4, a Vertigo Comics story that brings together folk heroes. Their appearance belongs to that series’ separate narrative framework and is not a continuation of the original medieval DC adventures.

Controversies

2025
SEC investigates Robinhood over order-flow disclosures
In 2025, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission was reported to be investigating whether Robinhood breached its obligations to investors by failing to disclose that it profited from passing customer orders to market makers. According to the source, the allegations have not been determined. The report concerns the disclosure of order-flow practices rather than any finding of wrongdoing. No outcome of the investigation was stated.
Source
2021
Robinhood Reports Customer Data Breach
In November 2021, Robinhood reported a data breach that occurred after the company was hacked. According to the company's account, the email addresses of approximately 5 million investors were exposed, along with the full names of another 2 million customers. The incident was reported as a customer data breach affecting personal information held by the investing platform.
Source
2021
Robinhood discloses security breach affecting customer information
Robinhood disclosed that it suffered a security breach in which hackers accessed personal information for roughly 7 million users. The company stated that it believed Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and debit card numbers were not exposed. The disclosure described the incident as a security breach affecting customer information and did not provide further details in the summarized account.
Source
2021
Robinhood sues to overturn Massachusetts fiduciary rule
Robinhood filed suit in a Massachusetts court seeking to overturn the state's fiduciary rule and end a case involving one of its subsidiaries. Robinhood argued that the rule is invalid under state and federal law.
Source
2021
Ice Cube sues Robinhood over photo use
Ice Cube filed a lawsuit against Robinhood, claiming the financial service company used his photo in an advertisement in its news service. Robinhood said the image was licensed and used for non-commercial, editorial purposes in connection with a blog article.
Source
2021
Robinhood CEO apologizes to Congress over trading restrictions
At a congressional hearing on the trading restrictions, Robinhood CEO Vladimir Tenev apologized for what happened and said the company would improve. Robinhood had restricted purchases of certain stocks during market volatility.
Source
2021
Robinhood CEO apologizes to customers during congressional hearing
During a congressional hearing about trading restrictions affecting GameStop and other stocks, Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev apologized to customers and said the company was working to prevent a recurrence.
Source
2021
Robinhood describes changes after Alex Kearns’ death
In a statement after Alex Kearns’ death, Robinhood said it was improving educational materials and adding live support staff, among other changes.
Source
2021
Kearns family sues Robinhood
Alex Kearns' parents filed a lawsuit against Robinhood alleging wrongful death and unfair business practices in connection with his suicide. The allegations are claims in the lawsuit, not a court determination.
Source 1 Source 2
2021
Florida residents sue Robinhood over trading restrictions
A Tampa Bay law firm filed a $5 million lawsuit on behalf of a Sarasota resident and two other people in Florida and California, alleging that Robinhood improperly stopped investors from trading GameStop shares during the prior week's surge.
Source

Recent events

2002
Robin Hood appears in Fables[1]Robin Hood (DC Comics)en.wikipedia.org
Product launch
Robin Hood and other folk heroes appear in Fables issue 4, a Vertigo Comics story involving legendary figures fleeing to the mundane world.
1991
Outlaws reimagines the Robin Hood legend[1]Robin Hood (DC Comics)en.wikipedia.org
Product launch · Product generation
Michael Jan Friedman and Luke McDonnell launch an eight-issue miniseries that relocates the Robin Hood concept to a post-apocalyptic future.
1957
DC takes over Robin Hood Tales[1]Robin Hood (DC Comics)en.wikipedia.org
M&A · Product generation
National Periodical Publications, the predecessor of modern DC Comics, begins publishing Robin Hood Tales with issue 7 after the series changes publishers.
1956
Robin Hood Tales begins publication[1]Robin Hood (DC Comics)en.wikipedia.org
Product launch
Quality Comics launches Robin Hood Tales, a series devoted to the legendary character and his adventures.
1938
Robin Hood debuts in New Adventure Comics[1]Robin Hood (DC Comics)en.wikipedia.org
Other
The DC Comics version of Robin Hood makes its first known appearance in New Adventure Comics volume 1, issue 23.

Sources72 sources

Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/robin-hood · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled