Top Notch Comics 9 - Black Hood's Rare First Appearance

One of publisher MLJ's pre-Archie superheroes, the Black Hood first appeared in Top-Notch Comics #9, cover-dated October 1940. Title editor Harry Shorten created the character with writer Abner Sundell and artist Al Camy. The Black Hood's real name is Kip Burland, a former police officer framed for grand larceny by a costumed supervillain known as the Skull. After being shot and left for dead by the Skull's henchmen, Burland is saved and taken in by an old hermit who turns out to be a former sheriff himself. With the hermit's help, Burland trains his body and mind to become the world's greatest crime fighter, using a costume to assume the identity of the Black Hood. One of the most successful early superheroes published by MLJ, the company that would subsequently become best known for Archie, Top-Notch Comics #9 has long been known as a tough comic to get among knowledgeable collectors.

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Although Top Notch Comics editor Harry Shorten is said to be the creator of the Black Hood, fellow MLJ writer/editor Abner Sundell wrote the first Black Hood story for Top-Notch Comics #9. The character was arguably MLJ's biggest superhero success of the Golden Age and soon spawned a pulp title, a short-lived radio show, and his own comic book series. The character even survived the decline of the superhero era as WWII ended. 

All of this makes the Black Hood one of the most fascinating superheroes of the Golden Age, and his first appearance in Top Notch Comics #9 is worthy of the attention of any serious comic book collector.