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This is the Black Hood. I am the man who shot the adulterer at Pop's. I killed the child predator in Greendale. I shot the drug and sex addicted teenagers at Lovers' Lane. Riverdale is not innocent. It's a town of hypocrites, degenerates, and criminals. My wrath is the price of your lies, your secrets, your sins. I will not stop. I cannot be stopped. I am the wolf. You are the flock. This is the bloodletting. You will hear from me again.
— The Black Hood's letter to the town.[src]

The Black Hood was an anonymous character and one of the main antagonists of the second season of The CW's Riverdale. He carried out the shooting of Fred Andrews in Pop's Chock'lit Shoppe, the murder of Geraldine Grundy in Greendale, and the gun attack on Moose Mason and Midge Klump at Lover's Lane, among other heinous acts.

All of the Black Hood's victims are or at one point were residents on the north side of Riverdale, and/or have committed some sin, such as being a child predator, committed by Geraldine Grundy, sex and drugs, committed by Midge Klump and Moose Mason, adultery, committed by Fred Andrews, and drug dealing, committed by Robert Phillips. This caused Polly Cooper to leave town out of fear of being the Black Hood's next target, due to being an unwed mother pregnant with her own cousin's children.

In a letter he sent to Betty Cooper, he admitted to her that he attended the 75th Anniversary Jubilee and that Betty's speech inspired him to commit these crimes.

Initially, the Black Hood was believed to be Joseph Svenson. He was shot and killed by Sheriff Keller. However, the Black Hood's terror was not over. During "Carrie: The Musical," after several threatening messages were sent to Kevin Keller, the body of Midge Klump was discovered during the performance, stabbed and crucified. Later, Hal Cooper unveiled himself as the real Black Hood and that Joseph was merely his pawn. However, there was still another Black Hood on the loose after having attacked the town hall while Hal was there with his family. During that incident, the Black Hood attempted to shoot Fred Andrews. After failing to kill him at the mayoral debate, the Black Hood struck again. This time at the Andrews house. Tall Boy was revealed to be the copycat Black Hood, who was hired by Hiram Lodge.

Shortly after being confront by Betty, Hal reveals that he is in fact the first and true Black Hood and that his father was the Riverdale Reaper. Hal simply blackmailed Joseph Svenson into doing his bidding. Hal became the Black Hood because Riverdale was a town of sinners who needed to die. Betty's speech at the 75th Anniversary Jubilee, where she says that the town must do better, reminded him of a promise he made to his mother, that Riverdale would do better. So, Hal picked up his father's sword, so to speak and continued the work that he and Hal's grandfather started — the purging of sin.

Much later, after Hal's arrest and subsequent escape from prison, it is finally revealed that Penelope Blossom is the true mastermind behind the Black Hood.

Throughout Riverdale[]

Physical Appearance[]

The Black Hood was a tall man who appeared to be 5'10" tall per Archie's testimony to the Sheriff. He has green eyes as Archie described to the cops. He also wore a black hood, hence his nickname.

Suspects[]

Editor's Note: The list of suspects detailed below are of characters who have been suspected within the show of being the Black Hood. It should in no way list characters who fans have deemed as being potential suspects.

Killer[]

Accomplices[]

Eliminated[]

Victims[]

  • Pop Tate - Threatened at gunpoint by Hal. (survived)
  • Archie Andrews - Threatened at gunpoint three times and attempted to have him buried alive by Hal, Joseph Svenson, and Tall Boy. (survived)
  • Fred Andrews - Shot in the stomach once by Hal, and the second time by Tall Boy. (survived)
  • Geraldine Grundy - Strangled with cello bow by Hal. (deceased)
  • Moose Mason - Multiple shots in the chest and stomach by Hal. (survived)
  • Midge Klump - Shot at but was missed; later was impaled with several sharp objects against a wall by Hal. (deceased)
  • Robert Phillips - Shot by Hal. (deceased)
  • Betty Cooper - Threatened at gunpoint by Joseph Svenson; later was shot at the Mayoral debate by Tall Boy, but missed. (survived)
  • Joseph Svenson - Hal mutilated and cut off his finger and forced him to dress up as the Black Hood and attack Betty and Archie. (deceased)
  • Chic - Chased by Hal and possibly attacked. (survived)
  • Citizens of Riverdale - Tall Boy attempted to shoot several of them. (survived)
  • Hermione Lodge - Tall Boy attempted to shoot her at the town hall. (survived)
  • Cheryl Blossom - Hal chased Cheryl through Thistlehouse with an axe, but failed to kill her after she struck him with an arrow. (survived)
  • Steven Masters - Throat slit by Hal. (deceased)
  • Alice Smith - Strangled with his bare hands after Hal revealed himself. (survived)
  • 3 Riverdale High Students - Murdered during the Prom. (deceased)

Appearances[]

Season 1[]

Season 2[]

Season 3[]

Season 4[]

Season 5[]

Season 6[]

Trivia[]

  • The Black Hood is based on the comic book character of the same name created by MLJ/Archie Comics. He is an ex-cop turned vigilante. Black Hood is known for wearing a black hood with eyes holes cut-out and mainly kills people whom he believes are criminals or are involved in criminal activity somehow [1]. This man is not Hal Cooper, but Matthew Burland.
    • The general look of the costume is based on the Thomas Burland version from 1979 in which the character's costume consists of the black mask that serves as a family heirloom worn by ancestors under the same moniker, although the mouth and chin are exposed in that version.[2]
  • According to Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Riverdale's Black Hood share some similarities with real-life Zodiac Killer, an anonymous criminal active in northern California in the late 1960s and early 1970s that has never been caught. Both killers targeted and shot couples on lovers lane, used different weaponry, and sent letters and ciphered messages to the press.[1]

Gallery[]

See also: Category:Images of Black Hood

References[]

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