Mephisto

You know, if "The Mouse" ever wants to get rid of Katana, Nashville, and revert Brooklyn back to a hip, swinging, loincloth chasing single... they have my number.

Mephisto is an extra-dimensional demon who rules a fiery pocket dimension that he calls "Hell" or "Hades" although it is neither the Hell of the Christian religion nor the Hades ruled by Hades, the Olympian god of the dead. Mephisto calls his extra-dimensional realm "hell" in order to exploit Earth human beings' belief in a single being of absolute evil, who is often referred to as Satan, who rules such a realm. Mephisto resembles the traditional visual conception of the devil. (It is not known whether this is Mephisto's true appearance, or one that he has adopted in order to resemble the devil). He also allows himself to be called names that human beings give to their conceptions of devils, such as Mephisto, a shortened form of Mephistopheles, the name given to the devil in the Faust legends and of a possible fallen angel.

He enjoys making deals for souls... and marriages.

History

Mephisto's true origin has been lost to time, many stories claim to tell the true origin.

Esteban Corazón de Ablo was a court alchemist in 9th century Saragossa. Isolated and obsessive, he made a pact with Mephisto, trading his soul for longer life as he sought the secret of immortality.

In "present day", Diablo invoked Mephisto to undo the Grey Gargoyle's petrification of humans and gargoyles. ("Both Alike In Dignity...")

Appearances

• "Both Alike In Dignity..." (Mentioned Only)

Production Background

Inspired by Mephistopheles of the Faust legend, he was introduced into Marvel comics by writer Stan Lee and penciler John Buscema, Mephisto debuted in Silver Surfer #3 (cover dated Dec. 1968), and was established as a perennial foe for the cosmic hero. Mephisto went on to become a foe for the Norse god Thor in Thor #180–181 (Sept.–Oct. 1970), Astonishing Tales #8 (Oct. 1971) and Thor #204–205 (Oct.–Nov. 1972). He was later revealed to be the being to whom Johnny Blaze had sold his soul to and thus had been cursed to become the Ghost Rider, in a retcon that placed him in the role originally played by Satan. This was later retconned back to Satan,[volume & issue needed] though Mephisto's influence is still felt in the 1990s by the Danny Ketch Ghost Rider.

He was also used as a plot device to erase Spider-Man's marriage to Mary Jane Watson in a story ordered by editorial and marketing.

See Also

• Mephisto at Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia