NetEase Games has officially confirmed that The Hood will join the roster of its hero shooter, Marvel Rivals, as part of the upcoming season 9.5 update on August 7. Players may have anticipated his arrival, as the character's backstory was explored in Marvel Rivals Infinity Comic #43 earlier this year.
The Hood is classified as a Vanguard, the game's designation for a tank-like character, who combines magical abilities with street-level combat. His gameplay appears to draw comparisons to Overwatch's Reaper, with the added visual of transforming into a giant, gun-headed demon. He will also feature team-up abilities with other Marvel Rivals characters, including Cloak & Dagger, Jubilee, and Magik.
In his gameplay description, NetEase Games states that The Hood utilizes twin pistols for frontal cover fire. His mystical cloak allows him to channel energy from Oblivion, manifesting protective shields for allies and hurling dark magic orbs that damage enemies and impede their fire. The Hood's Ultimate Ability, "Full Demon State," transforms him into a Gun Demon. In this form, he unleashes high-impact piercing rounds capable of penetrating shields and enemies, while radiating dark energy that provides bonus health to nearby teammates.
The character's in-game voice actor is Damian Priest, known from WWE SmackDown. His appearance in Marvel Rivals connects to his portrayal by Anthony Ramos in the Disney Plus series Ironheart. First created by writer Brian K. Vaughan in 2002, The Hood began as a petty criminal who acquired powers through enchanted items. His comic history often involves crime wars with figures like Kingpin, and he has even posed a cosmic threat in the Avengers series. MCPractices at Polygon is a General Assignment Reporter and covers video games. He has been writing about games for Polygon since 2015. He previously worked at IGN and GameSpot. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in English.
