Mephisto (Marvel Comics): Difference between revisions
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==Publication history== |
==Publication history== |
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Mephisto [[debut]]ed in ''[[Silver Surfer]]'' #3 (Dec. 1968), and was established as a perennial foe for the cosmic hero, also appearing in ''Silver Surfer'' #3 (Dec. 1968); #8 - 9 (Sep. - Oct. 1969) and #16 - 17 (May - Jun. 1970 |
Mephisto [[debut]]ed in ''[[Silver Surfer]]'' #3 (Dec. 1968), and was established as a perennial foe for the cosmic hero, also appearing in ''Silver Surfer'' #3 (Dec. 1968); #8 - 9 (Sep. - Oct. 1969) and #16 - 17 (May - Jun. 1970). |
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Writer [[Mike Conroy]] stated {{cquote|Mephisto was the tempter who could offer the endlessly soul-tormented Silver Surfer the world, even dangling the Surfer's off-limits long-distance lover in front of him. As always the case with Lee's heroes, the Surfer's goodness and nobility won out, but Mephisto was only stymied, not defeated, and the pattern was set.<ref>Conroy, Mike. ''500 Comicbook Villains, Collins & Brown, 2004.</ref>}} |
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Mephisto also becomes a foe for the Thunder God [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]], appearing in ''Thor'' #180 - 181 (Sep. - Oct. 1970), ''[[Astonishing Tales]]'' #8 (Oct. 1971) and reappearing again in ''Thor'' with issues #204 - 205 (Oct. - Nov. 1972). |
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Other notable appearance included posing as [[Satan]] in ''[[Marvel Spotlight]]'' #5 (Aug. 1972); tormenting the titular superhero team in ''[[Fantastic Four]]'' #155 - 157 (Feb. - Apr. 1975) and ''Thor'' #310 (Aug. 1981) and #325 (Nov. 1982). Mephisto also guest starred in two [[limited series]]: ''[[Vision (Marvel Comics)|Vision]] and the [[Scarlet Witch]]'' vol. 2, #1 - 12 (Oct. 1985 - Sep. 1986) and ''[[Secret Wars II]]'' #1 - 9 (July 1985 - March 1986), before starring in the self-titled [[limited series]] ''Mephisto vs.'' #1 - 4 (April - July 1987), battling several of Marvel's super teams. |
Other notable appearance included posing as [[Satan]] in ''[[Marvel Spotlight]]'' #5 (Aug. 1972); tormenting the titular superhero team in ''[[Fantastic Four]]'' #155 - 157 (Feb. - Apr. 1975) and ''Thor'' #310 (Aug. 1981) and #325 (Nov. 1982). Mephisto also guest starred in two [[limited series]]: ''[[Vision (Marvel Comics)|Vision]] and the [[Scarlet Witch]]'' vol. 2, #1 - 12 (Oct. 1985 - Sep. 1986) and ''[[Secret Wars II]]'' #1 - 9 (July 1985 - March 1986), before starring in the self-titled [[limited series]] ''Mephisto vs.'' #1 - 4 (April - July 1987), battling several of Marvel's super teams. |
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Revision as of 04:49, 5 December 2009
| Mephisto | |
|---|---|
.png) Mephisto, as seen on the variant cover for Amazing Spider-Man #545. Art by Marko Djurdjevic. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Silver Surfer #3 (Dec. 1968) |
| Created by | Stan Lee John Buscema |
| In-story information | |
| Team affiliations | Six-Fingered Hand |
| Notable aliases | Satan |
| Abilities | Superhuman physical attributes and intelligence Immortality Magic |
Mephisto is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in Silver Surfer #3 (Dec. 1968) and was created by Stan Lee and John Buscema.
Debuting in the Silver Age of comic books, the character has appeared in over four decades of Marvel continuity. The character has also appeared in associated Marvel merchandise including animated television series; feature film; toys; trading cards and video games.
Publication history
Mephisto debuted in Silver Surfer #3 (Dec. 1968), and was established as a perennial foe for the cosmic hero, also appearing in Silver Surfer #3 (Dec. 1968); #8 - 9 (Sep. - Oct. 1969) and #16 - 17 (May - Jun. 1970).
Writer Mike Conroy stated
Mephisto was the tempter who could offer the endlessly soul-tormented Silver Surfer the world, even dangling the Surfer's off-limits long-distance lover in front of him. As always the case with Lee's heroes, the Surfer's goodness and nobility won out, but Mephisto was only stymied, not defeated, and the pattern was set.[1]
Mephisto also becomes a foe for the Thunder God Thor, appearing in Thor #180 - 181 (Sep. - Oct. 1970), Astonishing Tales #8 (Oct. 1971) and reappearing again in Thor with issues #204 - 205 (Oct. - Nov. 1972).
Other notable appearance included posing as Satan in Marvel Spotlight #5 (Aug. 1972); tormenting the titular superhero team in Fantastic Four #155 - 157 (Feb. - Apr. 1975) and Thor #310 (Aug. 1981) and #325 (Nov. 1982). Mephisto also guest starred in two limited series: Vision and the Scarlet Witch vol. 2, #1 - 12 (Oct. 1985 - Sep. 1986) and Secret Wars II #1 - 9 (July 1985 - March 1986), before starring in the self-titled limited series Mephisto vs. #1 - 4 (April - July 1987), battling several of Marvel's super teams.
Mephisto continued to torment the Scarlet Witch in Avengers West Coast #51 - 52 (Nov. - Dec. 1989); created a new adversary for the Marvel heroes in Daredevil #270 (Sep. 1989); appeared in the graphic novel Triumph and Torment: Dr. Strange and Dr. Doom (1989) and starred in the One More Day storyline in Amazing Spider-Man #544; Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #24; The Sensational Spider-Man #41 and Amazing Spider-Man #545 (Oct. 2007 - Jan. 2008).
In 2009, Mephisto was ranked as IGN's 48th Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time.[2]
Biography
Mephisto is a perennial villain in the Marvel Universe, and is responsible for a number of evil acts, including capturing and holding the soul of Cynthia von Doom — the mother of Doctor Doom — until Doctor Strange and Doom free her to ascend to heaven and [3] posing as Satan creates the Ghost Rider by bonding the demon Zarathos to Johnny Blaze.[4]
Mephisto is responsible for capturing the souls of heroes Mister Fantastic (whose intelligence was also stolen by Mephisto), the Invisible Woman, and Franklin Richards due to a botched summoning by an exorcist;[5] creates Blackheart, a demonic entity that plagues many of Earth's heroes;[6] and manipulates the sorcerer Master Pandemonium into gathering scattered fragments of his soul.
When the Scarlet Witch attempts to use magic to conceive children with her husband, the android Vision, she unknowingly summons two of the soul fragments which are born as her infant twins. The revelation of her children's origin, followed by their loss when reabsorbed into Mephisto, drives the Scarlet Witch insane.[7] Mephisto also tries to destroy the Avenger Hawkeye when he enters Hell to try and save the soul of his deceased wife, Mockingbird.[8]
Mephisto also heals May Parker in exchange for changing the personal timelines of Peter Parker (Spider-Man) and Mary Jane Watson so that they never married, claiming he did so because he hated their happiness.[9]
Powers and abilities
Mephisto is an immortal demonic entity possessing magical powers and abilities gained by manipulation of the forces of magic. Mephisto is capable of using his power for a variety of uses, including superhuman strength, shape and size shifting,[10] projecting illusions,[11] manipulating memories,[12] altering time,[13] and is highly resistant to injury.[14]
The character has been shown to be energized by sources of evil in the human realm, such as the alien Dire Wraiths.[5] Like other demons, Mephisto is symbiotically linked to, and considerably more powerful within, his own realm, and the character is able to transform the structure at will.[15] If Mephisto's physical form is destroyed, the character will regenerate and reform in his domain.[16]
Mephisto is known for acquiring souls, but cannot subjugate the will of another being without the victim's permission. This is usually some form of pact.[17]
In other media
Mephisto makes a cameo appearance the animated television series Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (1981 - 1983) and was due to appear in the proposed second season of the Silver Surfer) with the demonic nature toned down and made acceptable for children.[18].
Actor Peter Fonda plays Mephisto ("Mephistopheles") in human form in the 2007 feature film Ghost Rider.
Mephisto also appears in the video games Silver Surfer (1990); as a secret character in the game Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter (1998 - 1999) as a palette swap of Blackheart and the character's voice is heard in a bonus mission in the Fantastic Four. Mephisto also features in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance (2006) voiced by Fred Tatasciore and Ghost Rider (2007), voiced by Kirk Thornton.
Footnotes
- ^ Conroy, Mike. 500 Comicbook Villains, Collins & Brown, 2004.
- ^ Mephisto is number 48 , IGN.
- ^ Astonishing Tales #8 (Oct. 1971) and Triumph and Torment: Dr. Strange and Dr. Doom (1989)
- ^ Marvel Spotlight #5 (Aug. 1972)
- ^ a b Fantastic Four #277 (Apr. 1985)
- ^ Daredevil #270 (Sep. 1989)
- ^ Vision and the Scarlet Witch #1 - 12 (1985 - 1986); Avengers West Coast #51 - 52 (Nov. - Dec. 1989)
- ^ Thunderbolts Annual (2000)
- ^ One More Day — Amazing Spider-Man #544; Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #24; The Sensational Spider-Man #41 and Amazing Spider-Man #545 (Oct. 2007 - Jan. 2008)
- ^ Thor #310 (Aug. 1981) and Daredevil #279 (Apr. 1990)
- ^ Thor #310 (Aug. 1981)
- ^ Silver Surfer vol. 3, #1 (Jul. 1987)
- ^ Amazing Spider-Man #545 (Jan. 2008)
- ^ Infinity Gauntlet #5 (Nov. 1991)
- ^ Silver Surfer #3 (Oct. 1968)
- ^ Mephisto vs. Fantastic Four #1 (Apr. 1987)
- ^ Triumph and Torment: Dr. Strange and Dr. Doom (1989)
- ^ Interview with Larry Brody
External links
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