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!!
— Jason Blood
Created by
Jack Kirby and appearing for the first time in
The Demon #1 (August, 1972), Etrigan has played many smaller roles in several DC comics from
The Sandman to
Wonder Woman, with occasional stories and miniseries wholly to himself (such as in anthology series
Wednesday Comics), and a number of ongoings, including Kirby's original series, a fifty-nine issue run, not counting annuals, during
The Nineties, and
John Byrne's
Blood of the Demon.
Etrigan is a yellow skinned and red eyed demon who was summoned by Merlin to aid Camelot against the forces of Morgaine le Fay, who later became a recurring opponent in the series. After the fall of Camelot, Merlin sent Etrigan to roam the earth in the disguise of a man.
Depending on the Writer, Etrigan is either bonded to one of
King Arthur's noblemen or the human Jason Blood was merely created by Merlin's spell. In the present, Jason Blood is well versed in the skill of magic and has helped other superheroes in several occasions. Etrigan's habit of speaking in verses is a later addition, introduced by
Len Wein in
DC Comics Presents #66, but really established and explained by
Alan Moore. This also makes him fall under almost every rhyme Trope there is.
Etrigan's powers include superhuman strength, regenerative powers, and several mystic abilities such as telepathy, precognition and hellfire.
Etrigan has also appeared in various animated adaptations of DC comics, being played by Billy Zane in
Batman: The Animated Series, Michael T. Weiss in
Justice League, and
Dee Bradley Baker in
Batman The Brave And The Bold.
His latest ongoing,
Demon Knights, sees Etrigan in
Dark Age Europe, leading a team against a barbarian horde.
Tropes associated with Etrigan include:
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