Jacob Karns

Jacob Karns was a powerful ghost and the basis of the Hookman legend.

History

Early life

Jacob Karns was a preacher who previously lost his right hand in an accident and had it replaced it with a silver hook.

In 1862, Karns became angry over the red light district in town on the Nine Mile Road and one night, he killed 13 prostitutes as stated in some old arrest records, "Some of the deceased were found in their bed, sheets soaked with blood. Others suspended upside down from the limbs of trees as a warning against sins of the flesh." He was arrested and then executed.

It appears Jacob Karns' spirit feeds off repressed emotions. In 1932, a clergyman was arrested for murder and in 1967, a seminarian killed some hippies. In the current case, Lori Sorensen's feelings about her boyfriend, roommate and adulterous father incite Karns to attack them.

Season 1

Dean Winchester finds Karns' bones at the Old North Cemetery in an unmarked grave he identifies as his because it has the hook's cross symbol on it. This fails to stop Karns, and the boys realize the spirit is still around because the silver that made up Jacob's hook had been remolded into items in the church. Jacob is dispatched when all of these, the last being a silver necklace Lori wears, are melted.

Powers and Abilities

As a ghost, the Hookman possessed standard ghost powers, however he was stronger than most regular ghosts.

Super Strength - The Hook Man was very strong and could deal out devastating blows. He was able to casually knock Sam through the air with a single swipe.
Invisibility - Standard ghost power.
Telekinesis - A capable telekinetic, he was able to drag Lori invisibly after he injured Sam.
Teleportation - Able to move over a vast area, capable of going anywhere Lori went.
Resilience - Possibly because he was a former preacher, the Hookman could walk on holy ground, something lesser spirits were unable to do. It also took two shots of salt to get rid of him, one only weakened him, all other ghosts needed only one.

Weakness

Salt - Since he is a spirit, salt can be used to slow him down. Rock salt fired out of shotguns can also slow the Hookman down.
Salting and Burning of Remains - Salting and burning his bones along with destroying his hook can destroy the Hookman.
Sympathetic Objects: Jacob's power lies in his hook, the murder weapon he uses to kill victims. If all the material that formerly composed the hook are destroyed, so is he.

Appearances

Season 1
- Hook Man
Season 5
- The Real Ghostbusters (impersonation and mentioned)

Trivia

Jacob's face was never entirely shown in the scenes he appeared in, being mostly obscured in darkness.