The Invisible Hood

Many sources confuse the name of this hero with the name of the feature. In Smash Comics #1 it was titled “Hooded Justice” and it starred the Invisible Hood. In his first appearance, he did not have the power of invisibility. With the second issue, the title changed to “Invisible Justice,” though the hero himself was still—and always would be—called the “Invisible Hood.”

Kent Thurston was a former private detective whose costumed adventures began with a call from Inspector Bill Blake, seeking Kent’s knowledge of precious gems. Thurston investigated the case of a stolen Indian necklace, donning a red cloak and mask to become the Invisible Hood. He was also armed with a gas gun to help “convince” someone to cooperate. (Smash Comics #1)

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DC/Legacy

The Invisible Hood returned forty years later only to suffer a hasty end in Roy Thomas’ All-Star Squadron #32 (1984). In this wartime story, the Invisible Hood joined Uncle Sam as one of the first members of the Freedom Fighters. Their mission was to stop the Japanese en route to Pearl Harbor. They nearly succeeded, but a surprise attack supposedly left Thurston for dead. Somehow he survived and sired one or more children before his true end. The super-villain called the Mist claimed that he murdered the Invisible Hood. This fact was recorded by the Shade, whose journal recounted his conversation with the Mist: “As I recall, it was the Invisible Hood you killed. He’d semi-retired by then. Moved to Austin, Texas. And… um… wasn’t it ’74?”(Starman v.2 #2)

The original Invisible Hood had at least one grandson, Kent Thurston II. He and his friend Jenna Raleigh (the new Red Bee) were among heroes kept in reserve by Uncle Sam and called to action with the Freedom Fighters. (Uncle Sam & the FF #5)

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Notes

Art Pinajian had previously created a character for Comics Magazine Co. called "Thurston Hunt." for Detective Picture Stories #1 (Dec. 1936).