Marvel Rivals Welcomes The Hood, a Character with a Unique Gun Transformation Ability

Fans have been anticipating The Hood’s arrival in Marvel Rivals, and now it’s officially confirmed. As part of the upcoming season 9.5, Parker Robins is set to join the hero shooter’s roster later this week.

The Hood serves as a Vanguard, akin to a tank in Marvel Rivals, combining magical prowess with street-level skills into a formidable character. Gameplay-wise, he shares similarities with Overwatch’s Reaper, but with the unique twist of transforming into a massive gun-headed demon. He will also feature team-up abilities alongside Cloak & Dagger, Jubilee, and Magik.

In Marvel Rivals, The Hood is voiced by Damian Priest, known from WWE SmackDown.

NetEase describes his gameplay as follows:

Parker unleashes relentless frontal cover fire with his twin pistols. With his mystical cloak, he channels the chaotic energy of Oblivion, creating protective shields for his allies while launching dark magic orbs that morph into barriers, draining the strength of incoming enemy attacks. For his Ultimate Ability, The Hood embraces the darkness, entering Full Demon State and transforming into a fully-realized Gun Demon. In this form, he fires high-impact piercing rounds that can penetrate shields and enemies alike, all while emanating dark energy that provides bonus health to nearby teammates!

The Hood’s introduction has been highly anticipated. He first appeared earlier this year in Marvel Rivals Infinity Comic #43, which delved into his backstory. Following a troubling encounter with the Kingpin, Parker’s once-heroic outlook began to shift. His signature red cloak was also spotted in the Lower Manhattan map, and after being featured on a Season 8 gallery card, he finally made his debut in the season 9 announcement trailer.

MCU enthusiasts might recognize The Hood from his role in the Disney Plus series Ironheart, where he was portrayed by Anthony Ramos. Created by writer Brian K. Vaughan in 2002, The Hood started as a petty criminal who stole items that granted him powers for personal gain. His origins reflect elements of both Spider-Man and Daredevil, presenting him as a dark counterpart to those heroes. Throughout his comic history, he has been embroiled in crime wars with figures like the Kingpin, but he also emerged as an unexpected cosmic threat in Brian Michael Bendis’s acclaimed second volume of the 2010 Avengers series.

Marvel Rivals Season 9.5: The Mystery of Thebes launches on August 7, featuring The Hood.