A fictional character created in 1919 by American pulp writer Johnston McCulley, appearing in works set in the Pueblo of Los Angeles in Alta California. He is typically portrayed as a dashing masked vigilante who defends the commoners and Indigenous peoples of California against corrupt, tyrannical officials and other villains. His signature all-black costume includes a black cape, a hat known as a sombrero cordobés, and an eye mask covering the upper half of his face.
Often considered the original American superhero, his antics would inspire both Superman and Batman.
