Henry Hood was a 17th century English Witchfinder.
History
Between April 1645 and October 1646, Henry Hood was responsible for a series of persecutions and killings over 260 women, whether witches or not, by torture and hanging throughout England. By all accounts, Hood began an honest man before at some point fell into corruption, which ended his life. There are different accounts for Hood's death. One was that it was his greed that turned a mob against him. In another was that he was caught in the company of a witch, who turned out to be a rich man's wife. In the last, but common account that the devil came for Hood. Although each tale ended with Hood's eyes burnt out with copper coins, and was buried alive in an unmarked grave in a forest near Cottingley, where his unrest spirit haunts the woods.
When the gathering of witches in England happened he came across Hellboy and sought to kill three resurrected witches. He was repulsed by Hellboy who was taken by the witches and mocked by the devil-worshipers for his cursed fate.
After Hellboy escaped the Thrice-lands he came across a graveyard where he was approached by Hood. Rather than confront him the apparition demanded he "finish it" before dissolving into a pile of ash. Upon his sword the Witchfinder etched the name Igor Bromhead for Hellboy to find and slay.
Behind the Scenes
Henry Hood is likely based on the real-life 17th century English witch hunter Matthew Hopkins, who and his associates were responsible for more people being hanged for witchcraft than in the previous 100 years.
Trivia
- Sir Edward Grey was another Englishman that possessed the title of the Witchfinder, and he himself noted that he and Henry shared cursed fates due to their meddling with the supernatural.