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The Demon is a DC Comics superhero series created by prolific comic book writer-artist Jack Kirby. The title character, named Etrigan, is an actual demon from Hell who, despite his violent tendencies, usually finds himself allied to the forces of good, mainly because of the alliance between the heroic characters of the DC Universe and Jason Blood, a human to which Etrigan is bound. Etrigan resembles a squat, muscular human with orange (or yellow) skin, horns, red eyes, and ears resembling bat wings. Blood is a tall, thin, suave man with dark red hair and a lined face.
Etrigan was originally summoned by the wizard Merlin as part of a last-ditch defense of Camelot against the evil witch, Morgaine le Fay. When it became clear that the kingdom would fall regardless, Merlin sent the demon away and changed him into a human named Jason Blood to wait until he was summoned. One account retconned this, so that Blood was now an actual human, bonded involuntarily to the demon as his punishment for aiding Morgaine le Fay in overthrowing Camelot. The latest series co-written and penciled by John Byrne states that the Demon is a monster possessed with the soul of a human, that being Jason Blood, who existed only to bring out his true demon self when absolutely necessary.[1]
Centuries later, Jason was called to the crypt of Merlin and discovered a poem that could change him into Etrigan. Unfortunately, he was followed by the long-lived Morgaine who lusts for Merlin's secrets. That led to Etrigan's first major battle, and to the solidification of Morgaine as a major enemy. In addition, he later gained another enemy in Klarion the Witch Boy, a permanently prepubescent mage who creates trouble with his magic.
Some time after his first appearance, Etrigan began speaking entirely in rhyme (the quality of which varied considerably depending on who was writing him at the time). This was explained in Alan Moore's run on Swamp Thing as the result of a promotion, with the rhyming speech being a badge of his new rank in the infernal hierarchy. Len Wein introduced this new feature of Etrigan's dialogue in DC Comics Presents #66, with simple rhymed couplets, but Moore's use of more complex and eloquent rhyme and meter established it firmly as the character's trademark.
However, he is not strictly limited to rhyme, as evidenced in the miniseries, I Can't Believe it's Not the Justice League. Although the degree to which this series is canonical is questionable, Blue Devil, a fellow rhyming class demon, is later shown to be able to avoid rhyming but only through considerable effort.
The poem that releases Etrigan is:
“ Yarva Demonicus Etrigan.
Change, change the form of man.
Free the prince forever damned.
Free the might from fleshy mire.
Boil the blood in heart of fire.
Gone, gone the form of man,
Rise the demon Etrigan! ”
Jason Blood's first transformation into the Demon occurs when reading the inscription on the surface of a stone tomb:
“ Change! Change, O form of man!
Release the might from fleshy mire!
Boil the blood in heart of fire!
Gone! Gone! -- the form of man --
Rise, the Demon Etrigan!!"
(Demon no. 1 August/September 1972 p. 22)
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The reverse spell has several different wordings, all with the basic form "Gone, gone, O Etrigan! / Resume once more the form of man!"
Even among demons, Etrigan is considered to be extremely powerful. He has above superhuman strength (mystically enhanced) to the degree that he can stand against other powerhouses like Superman, Wonder Woman, and Lobo. He has a high degree of resistance to injury and can project hellfire from his body; usually from his mouth. He has a very high command of magic: other powers include mystically enhanced fangs and claws, enhanced senses, super speed, agility, telepathy, energy blasts and precognition. His healing factor can handle an incredible amount of damage, allowing him to recover from wounds that have removed large sections of his body. His powers can be extended by other magical devices, such as the Crown of Horns.
Etrigan is also provided with insight to religious aspects and other forbidden or secret knowledge.
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