The Skull was a criminal who framed New York police officer Kip Burland for a crime. Kip was let go from the force, but attempted to clear his name by finding the Skull. Burland finds the Skull after searching for some time and attempts to thwart a robbery of a fur store but ended up being shot eight times and left for dead in the woods by the Skull and his thugs. Burland however is saved by the Hermit, who was a sheriff in the old west also made an outlaw by the Skull. The Hemrit trains Kip to become the the Black Hood, to clear his name and stop the Skull.