Origin and First Appearance of Superheroes and Villains Beginning With H

Hades

Hades is an Olympian God and ruler of the Underworld.

He is often an antagonist and enemy of Wonder Woman, but the two have partnered on occasion.

Halflife

After killing the entire population on her home planet, Halflife was summoned by Graviton to help him conquer Earth.

After Graviton and Halflife's partnership ends in battle, she is imprisoned in the Vault.

Halflife has the ability to age any living being just by touching them.

Hank Henshaw

Hank Henshaw was a NASA astronaut whose spacecraft crashed, resulting in his and his crew's bodies to be exposed to high levels of radiation.

As a result of the radiation exposure, Henshaw's body slowly deteriorates.

Despite Superman and Lex Luthor's best efforts, Henshaw dies, but somehow transfers his consciousness to the LexCorp super computer. 

Using his new technologically enabled mind, Henshaw develops a robotic body. Later, after Superman's death, he becomes Cyborg Superman.

Harlequin

The original Harlequin was Molly Mayne, a petty criminal who longed for the attention of Alan Scott (Green Lantern).

Molly Mayne had a crush on Alan Scott, aka Green Lantern, but he didn't know she existed. Solution? Embark on a life of crime to attract his attention, in a harlequin suit, no less.

She did manage to attract GL's attention, but remained only a usually not-very-evil foe for many years, until after the death of Alan Scott's first wife. Molly, ultimately, got her wish.

Later, Duela Dent assumes the alias Harlequin.

Over the years, four different people have been Harlequin, each one wearing a clown-themed costume.

Harley Quinn

Harley Quinn is a Gotham City villain with close ties to the Joker and Poison Ivy.

Over the years, her backstory has remained a mystery, but it has been revealed that she was once a practicing psychologist.

Harley Quinn has had a mostly romantic relationship with the Joker, and she has helped him in several of his devious schemes. However, the two often have a falling out.

On a number of occasions, she has helped Batman, and has saved him from death on at least one occasion.

See the value of first appearances of more Batman villains here.

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Harry Osborn

Harry Osborn is the son of genius Norman Osborn (the original Green Goblin).

For years, Harry and Peter Parker were the best of friends, until Norman is seemingly killed by Spider-Man.

Harry swears vengeance on Spider-Man and dons his father's Green Goblin persona.

Later, Harry discovers that his best friend is actually Spider-Man, but Peter refuses to fight his friend.

Eventually, Harry suffers a concussion and forgets his Green Goblin persona and the real identity of Spider-Man.

However, this is only temporary, and the Green Goblin continues to live on in both Norman and Harry Osborn.

Hate-Monger

Hate-Monger is a super villain who has the ability to cause hatred and violence in anyone by using his "Hate Ray."

Originally beginning as an Adolf Hitler clone, Hate-Monger has the ability to transfer his conscious into another clone.

Later, other people take up the Hate-Monger identity. Hatred, it seems, never goes out of style...

Hath-Set

Hath-Set is an Egyptian priest who has been reincarnated several times throughout history.

He was one of Hawkman's first enemies when he was reincarnated as the evil Dr. Hastor.

Later, he is reincarnated as Hector Hall, and then again as Helene Astar.

Each time, Hath-Set is killed, but returns again.

Hawkeye

First Appearance, Hawkeye

Tales of Suspense #57, Marvel Comics, 1964

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Clint Barton was an expert archer making a living by exhibiting his skills in a state fair.

Inspired by seeing Iron Man rescue some people from a ride gone haywire, he decided to become Hawkeye, a superhero with trick arrows that augmented his otherworldly archery skill.

Fooled and beguiled by the Black Widow, he falls into a life of evil, but his better nature wins out when the Widow's brainwashing is revealed.

Hawkeye joined the Avengers, and for a time became Goliath when Hank Pym's body could no longer handle the growth serum that made him Giant Man.

He lost the Widow to Daredevil and went back to being Hawkeye, and has been in and out of the Avengers ever since.

Hawkman

The Golden Age Hawkman, unlike the Silver Age alien Hawkman from the planet Thanagar, was simply mild-mannered Egyptologist and museum curator Carter Hall, who one day realizes that he is the reincarnation of the ancient Egyptian Prince Khufu.

He also discovers something called "the ninth metal", which allows him to fly. Hall builds himself some wings to help control his flight, a hawk mask to conceal his identity, and armed with ancient weapons from the museum, embarks on a crime-fighting career.

By coincidence, his fiancée turns out to be the reincarnation of Khufu's one-time bride, and so Carter gives her some ninth metal, wings, and a costume, and gets himself a sidekick (Hawkgirl) and a wife at the same time!

Haunt

Haunt is the character of a comic book series by the same name.

Starting in 2009, there are now over 30 issues.

Haunt (the character) was created when Kurt, a murdered secret agent's spirit merges with his brother Daniel's body.

Together, they work towards finding Kurt's murderer. 

Headlok

When Griffin went missing, Headlok found him wondering deliriously in the mountains.

Using his psionic powers, Headlok manipulates Griffin into fighting the West Coast Avengers for him.

Headlok is swiftly defeated by the Thing, but appears several times in later comics.

Heat Wave

As a kid, Mick Rory was obsessed with fire, going so far as setting his family's home ablaze, as well as a room with a school child trapped inside.

Rory decided to take his obsession to the next level, and built a flamethrower in order to fuel his criminal ways. 

After battling the Flash several times, Rory turned good, eventually joining the FBI. However, this didn't last long, and he fell back into old habits.

Hector Hammond

Hector was just another petty criminal when he stumbled upon meteor fragments in the woods.

Taking advantage of the meteor's radiation, he increases his intellect and gains psionic abilities. 

Hector has been an enduring antagonist of Green Lantern and the Justice League of America, going as far as erasing the world's memories of the superheroes.

Because Hector's head is so large as a result of the radiation exposure, he has to strap himself into a chair and can barely walk.

Heggra

Queen Heggra is the mother of the diabolical Darkseid.

She was once the supreme ruler of Apokolips after her husband, Yuga Khan, was sent to the Source Wall at the edge of the universe.

Hellboy

Hellboy is a demon with a heart of gold named Anung un Rama, who was first summoned to earth by a scientist working for the Nazis, who are hoping to use him to change the tide of the war.

He gets his nickname, "Hellboy," after they get a look at him and realize that he is not 'the devil,' but rather a red-skinned demon with a huge right hand made of stone.

He ends up joining the Axis and journeys to America, where he ends up fighting occult threats for the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense.

His powers include super-strength and endurance, tremendous longevity, a connection to the supernatural, and his invulnerable Right Hand of Doom.

Technically his first appearance was on the cover of an Italian-only comic called Dime Press #4.

Hellgrammite

Entomologist Roderick Rose subjects himself to a mutagenic experiment, turning himself into a giant humanoid insect, resembling a grasshopper.

Through his experiment, Rose gains superhuman strength, an armor-like exoskeleton, and the ability to turn others into bug-like drones.

Not to be confused with Ant-Man (aka Henry Pym). Yeah, right...

Henry Pym (Pre-Ant Man)

Ant-Man was the first superhero incarnation of Dr. Henry Pym, scientist, who would later be known as Giant Man and Yellowjacket, among other hero identities.

At first, Henry Pym is simply a scientist who develops a shrinking serum. He tests it on himself, and gets trapped in ant hill, where he must use his wits and cunning to escape.

He destroys his remaining serum, vowing never to use it again, but later decides to use it for good as Ant Man, complete with red-and-purple tights and a cybernetic helmet that allowed him to control ants.

He later married the Wasp, Janet Van Dyne, and has been changed many times through reboots and retcons.

Hercules

Thor represented the Norse pantheon of gods, but eventually Marvel Comics brought out a representative of the Greek pantheon to interact with him.

Hercules was the actual demigod from mythology (originally Herakles), and had all the powers attributed to him in the myths and more: super-strength, speed, and endurance, great skill in combat, and immortality.

At first, he was portrayed as Thor's rival for Jane Foster's affections, but the two later became great friends.

Hercules was a part of the short-lived 1970s super-team The Champions, and is still active.

High Evoluntionary

Herbert Wyndham, AKA High Evolutionary, is a genius geneticist and possibly the smartest human in the Marvel Universe.

Through his research and genetic experiments, he has greatly increased his intelligence, as well as developed a cybernetic exoskeleton.

Following a series of experiments, High Evolutionary creates a machine that can manipulate genetics, changing the attributes of the thing inside.

He has used his machine to turn animals into animal-human hybrids he calls "New Men."

High Evolutionary uses his powers mostly for good, and has helped a number of super heroes and mutants over the years.

Hit Girl

Big things come in small packages!

Since the time Mindy McCready could walk, she has been trained by her father, Big Daddy, to fight. 

With the martial arts skills of Bruce Lee and the mouth of Howard Stern, all in the body of an eleven-year old girl, Hit Girl is one of the most lethal super heroes on the Kick-Ass team.

H.I.V.E.

The Hierarchy of International Vengeance and Extermination (H.I.V.E.) is a group of super villains, whose goal is to eliminate Superman and the Teen Titans.

Although membership has changed over time, the group has mainly consisted of the H.I.V.E. Mistress, Otto Muller, Talia al Ghul, Deathstroke, Ravager, and Adeline Kane.

See more key issues of Action Comics here.

Hobgoblin

Over the years, Hobgoblin has been embodied by several characters, most notably Roderick Kingsley, Ned Leeds, and Jason Macendale.

After becoming obsessed with the Green Goblin, Kingsley seeks out his hideouts to uncover the villain's secrets.

Finally finding Green Goblin's equipment and secret serum, Kingsley uses it for himself to begin his own life of crime.

Unlike Green Goblin's serum, Kingsley has manipulated it to remove all the harmful side effects, becoming immensely strong and intelligent. 

Holiday

Holiday (or the Holiday Killer) was a Gotham City serial killer who kills Gotham City's mobsters and corrupt politicians, but only on holidays.

Throughout the Long Halloween storyline, several suspects are named, including Gilda Dent, Harvey Dent, and Alberto Falcone.

After killing dozens of people, it is finally revealed that Falcone was the person behind the holiday killings.

See more values for the first appearance of Batman characters in our article.

Hourman

Rex Tyler was a chemist who developed a drug so miraculous that he called it "Miraclo." For an hour after taking a dose, Rex had super-strength and speed, and so Hourman was born.

Also known as Hour-Man, the Hour-Man, and the Hourman, Rex Tyler fought crime as "The Man of the Hour" through WWII and beyond, eventually fading with the other Golden Age heroes until being revived in the 1960s, when his increasing tolerance to Miraclo's effects led to addiction.

Hulk Robot

Two college students created Hulk Robot as the mascot for their school.

However, cosmic energy created by the Eternals of Olympia causes the robot to activate, and the robot goes on a rampage throughout America.

Hulk Robot is finally stopped by the Eternals, but Doctor Doom finds the robot and brings it back to life to do his evil bidding.

Later, the Thing destroys Hulk Robot.

Human Bomb

The Human Bomb was Roy Lincoln, son of a scientist.

The two worked together on a special explosive called 27-QRX. When Nazi saboteurs broke in and killed his father, Roy swallowed the compound to stop the Nazis from getting it. Thus, he gained the power to cause explosions in anything he touched.

Calling himself the Human Bomb, he created a special containment suit and protective gloves, which he would remove to cause explosions that would defeat his enemies.

After he was acquired by DC, he became a member of the Freedom Fighters.

The Hulk

Doctor Bruce Banner, working in the desert in America's Southwest for the Government on a secret Gamma Ray bomb test, was caught out in the blast, trying to rescue Rick Jones, a carefree teenager who had no idea he was in a blast zone.

He protects Rick from the blast, but Bruce is fully exposed to its force, although not at ground zero. He survives, but whenever the sun sets, he turns into The Hulk, a green-skinned creature of huge stature and incredible strength, but mentally child-like and savage. (In issue #1, he was gray-skinned!)

Almost invulnerable, the Hulk can leap incredible distances and has strength unmatched in the Marvel Universe.

Later, Bruce would change into the Hulk whenever he experienced stress. At various times, the Hulk has also been able to retain Bruce Banner's intellect and consciousness while transformed.

The Hulk is still active today and has been rebooted and changed many times.

Human Torch

The original Human Torch, Jim Hammond, was an android that had been built by a scientist named Professor Horton.

The only problem was that the android's body would burst into flames every time it contacted oxygen. After a series of misadventures and no small amount of Frankenstein metaphor, the Golden Age torch leaves the professor behind and vows to stop crime and injustice.

He learns to control his powers and acquires a teenage sidekick named Toro, who is similarly flaming.

A very complex series of stories and retcons has the original Torch still hanging around, while also somehow having been transformed into the android Avenger, the Vision.

The time-travel paradoxes involved are difficult to unravel.

Humpty Dumpty

Humphry Dumpler had a knack for speaking in rhymes and attempting to repair items.

However, his inexplicable bad luck often results in serious disaster.

Because of this, and his egg-shaped head, he adopts the nickname Humpty Dumpty.

One night, Humpty attempts to fix the gears in a clock tower, but one of the hands falls off and kills dozens of people.

He is then incarcerated at Arkham Asylum.

Hush

Tommy Elliot was a childhood friend of Bruce Wayne's, until his greed for wealth and fame overtake him, leading to a psychotic rage and hatred of the Wayne family.

Eventually, Tommy kills his own mother.

Teaming up with the Riddler, Joker, and several other villains, Tommy adopts the name Hush, and begins plotting a way to kill Bruce Wayne.

HYDRA

HYDRA is a terrorist organization dedicated to world domination. 

Originally, HYDRA was led by Arnold Brown, but was soon taken over by Baron Wolfgang von Strucker and the Nazi Red Skull.

HYDRA uses advanced technology and super weapons to battle the X-Men, Spider-Man, and the Avengers.

HYDRA has several branches, including A.I.M. (Advanced Idea Mechanics) and the Secret Empire.

Hyperion

Hyperion is a member of the Squadron Sinister, an evil terrorist organization, and enemy of the Avengers. 

While with the Squadron Sinister, Hyperion's first act was to melt the polar ice caps with a laser cannon.

However, Hulk and the rest of Avengers easily defeat the villainous team.

Hyperion possesses superhuman strength, flight, and durability.