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Mephisto (Marvel Comics)

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This article is about the Marvel Comics character. For other uses, see Mephistopheles.
Mephisto
Mephisto, as seen on the variant cover for Amazing Spider-Man #545. Art by Marko Djurdjevic.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceSilver Surfer #3 (Dec. 1968)
Created byStan Lee
John Buscema
In-story information
Alter egoMephistopheles
Team affiliationsSix-Fingered Hand
Notable aliasesSatan, Mephistopheles, Lucifer, Beelzebub
AbilitiesSuperhuman strength, speed, stamina, durability, agility, and reflexes
Immortality
Telepathy and Telekinesis
Magical energy manipulation for almost any purpose

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.

Publication history

Mephisto is a demon and is the ruler of an extra-dimensional land of the dead, sometimes called "Hell" or "Hades." Mephisto is commonly mistaken for (and sometimes poses as) the biblical version of Satan. It is believed [1] that Mephisto and many other "Hell Lords" were created from the primeval concentration of evil energy that remained of the Elder Gods when they were consumed by, and eventually expelled out of the entity Atum millions of years ago. [2]

Both the Silver Surfer [3] and the Thunder God Thor [4] become perennial foes for Mephisto, who detests the fact that they are shining examples of what mankind could one day become.

Mephisto 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 [5] creating the Ghost Rider by bonding the demon Zarathos to Johnny Blaze.[6] As "Satan", Mephisto plagues Blaze for years. He is responsible for capturing the souls of Mister Fantastic (whose intelligence was also stolen by Mephisto), the Invisible Woman, and Franklin Richards due to a botched summoning by an exorcist. [7] Mephisto creates Blackheart, a demonic entity that plagues many of Earth's heroes, [8] 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, later drives the Scarlet Witch insane. [9] Mephisto also tries to destroy the Avenger Hawkeye when he enters Hell to try and save the soul of his deceased wife, Mockingbird. Hawkeye rescues Patsy Walker, but fails to see Mockingbird. [10] 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. [11]

In 2009, Mephisto was ranked as IGN's 48th Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time.[12]

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, [13] projecting illusions, [14] manipulating memories, [15] altering time, [16] and is highly resistant to injury. [17]

The character has been shown to be energized by sources of evil in the human realm, such as the alien Dire Wraiths.[18] Like other demons, Mephisto is symbiotically linked to his own realm, and the character is able to transform the structure at will[19] and threaten entire solar systems. [20] If Mephisto's physical form is destroyed, the character will regenerate and reform in his domain.[21]

Mephisto is known for acquring souls, but cannot subjugate the will of another being without his victim's deliberate permission. This is usually some form of pact.[22]

In other media

Television

Mephisto makes a cameo appearance in Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends and was due to appear in the second season of the Silver Surfer animated series, with the demonic nature toned down and made acceptable for children.[23] He makes a cameo at the end of episode 21, Down To Earth, Part 3. [24]

Film

Actor Peter Fonda plays Mephisto ("Mephistopheles")—in human form—in the 2007 film Ghost Rider.

Video games

References

  1. ^ Dr. Strange vol. 3, #8 (Oct. 1988)
  2. ^ Thor Annual #10 (1982)
  3. ^ Silver Surfer #3 (Dec. 1968); #8 - 9 (Sep. - Oct. 1969) and #16 - 17 (May - Jun. 1970) and Fantastic Four #155 - 157 (Feb. - Apr. 1975)
  4. ^ Thor #180 - 181 (Sep. - Oct. 1970); #204 - 205 (Oct. - Nov. 1972); #310 (vol. 1, Aug. 1981) and #325 (Nov. 1982)
  5. ^ Astonishing Tales #8 (Oct. 1971) and Triumph and Torment: Dr. Strange and Dr. Doom (1989)
  6. ^ Marvel Spotlight #5 (Aug. 1972)
  7. ^ Fantastic Four #277 (Apr. 1985)
  8. ^ First appears in Daredevil #270 (Sep. 1989)
  9. ^ Vision and the Scarlet Witch #1 - 12 (1985 - 1986) + Avengers West Coast #51 - 52 (Nov. - Dec. 1989)
  10. ^ Thunderbolts Annual (2000)
  11. ^ One More Day — Amazing Spider-Man #544; Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #24; The Sensational Spider-Man #41 and Amazing Spider-Man #545 (all 2007)
  12. ^ Mephisto is number 48 , IGN.
  13. ^ Thor #310 (Aug. 1981) and Daredevil #279 (Apr. 1990)
  14. ^ Thor #310 (Aug. 1981)
  15. ^ Silver Surfer vol. 3, #1 (Jul. 1987)
  16. ^ Amazing Spider-Man #545 (Jan. 2008)
  17. ^ Infinity Gauntlet #5 (Nov. 1991)
  18. ^ Fantastic Four #277 (Apr. 1985)
  19. ^ Silver Surfer #3 (Oct. 1968)
  20. ^ The Silver Surfer: Judgment Day (1988)
  21. ^ Mephisto vs. Fantastic Four #1 (Apr. 1987)
  22. ^ Triumph and Torment: Dr. Strange and Dr. Doom (1989)
  23. ^ Interview with Larry Brody
  24. ^ Silver Surfer Script 21
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