Etrigan the Demon

Current Events

After he and his teammates on the Demon Knights successfully defend the town of Little Spring from the forces of the Questing Queen, the team moves on while Madame Xanadu explains the relationship between herself and Etrigan and Jason Blood.

Origin

Merlin & Etrigan the Demon

There are two different origins for how Etrigan and Jason Blood became bound to each other. The original telling, which appeared in the Demon's first issue, showed that Jason and Etrigan were the same creature. Jason Blood was simply created by Merlin to act as a living prison for Etrigan and had no knowledge of his demonic half. The second origin had Jason Blood and Etrigan as two separate creatures living during the time of Arthur and his knights, the same time period as the original. Etrigan's role was the same as in his first appearance, a servant of Merlin's summoned to help defend Camelot, and Jason was depicted as a Druid.

Creation

Etrigan was created by Jack Kirby on September, 1972 in The Demon #1.

Character Evolution

Bronze Age

Demon (Bronze Age)

True to his nature, Etrigan is of two natures - human and demon. When he first was created he despised his life calling it a cures, but as time went on he found a sense of stability. This is why he is neither good nor evil he follows his own morals which guide him to save others. He has emerged as a hero who can be called in times of peril to fight injustice. When left to it's own devices, separated from Jason Blood, Etrigan is shown to be sadistic to an extreme, he murders humans without hesitation, and even has been shown biting an innocent bystanders arm off, This calls a lot of Etrigan's heroism into question, since it is clear he is only "good" if Jason Blood is influencing his actions.

Post-Flashpoint / Earth 0

Demon (Earth 0)

Etrigan and Madame Xanadu find themself in the path of the Questing Queen.

Major Story Arcs

Bronze Age:

Green Arrow's Resurrection

For further details: Quiver

Green Arrow

After Green Arrow's resurrection, he and Batman sought out Jason Blood (the alter ego of the demon) for his occult knowledge, to try to find out how Oliver was resurrected. They soon learned that Oliver was a hollow (a soulless husk of a human). He was made into a hollow by the Spectre (Hal Jordan) out of pure guilt. Blood then tried to kill Oliver, due to the risk of being possessed due to his being a hollow. So he called upon the Demon's powers and they fought. The Demon was defeated by being shot in the mouth with a fire extinguishing arrow shot by Green Lantern.

Reign in Hell

For further details: Reign in Hell

Demon vs Blue Devil

Etrigan participated in the war for control of Hell, working for Neron. He fought Blue Devil, and stole his humanity. He was depowered by Satanus' spell. Because he was fully demonic at the time, Blue Devil also became human. Etrigan, now in possession of his demonic side, restored it to Blue Devil. Etrigan later appeared fully powered in the Solomon Grundy miniseries.

Blackest Night

For further details: Blackest Night

Etrigan had chosen not to take part in the fight against the Black Lanterns, but was forced to after he was possessed by Deadman. Etrigan fought against the possession after a while during a fight between the Black Lanterns and Batman (Dick Grayson), Red Robin, and Deadman. He then flies off saying that this was not his fight. Etrigan is immune to the heart ripping of the Black Lanterns.

Batman: Dark Knight

Etrigan and Batman

Jason Blood was at his Gotham Penthouse when he felt a disturbance in the balance between Heaven and Hell. He immediately transforms into Etrigan and begins to track down this supernatural threat that is lurking in the dank alleys of Gotham City. Etrigan finally comes across a group of vagrants who proclaim some demon has been picking off their fellow indigents. Etrigan observes the area for any signs of truth to these stories but the only thing he could pick up on was Killer Croc's scent. Etrigan figures Croc has been devouring Gotham's unfortunates but then he comes under attack by Ragman.

Ragman has become possessed by Blaze because she wants to see if Etrigan is worthy of returning to Hell as her consort. The battle between these demonic forces ends in the sewers because Blaze intervenes. Blaze tells Etrigan that she is pleased with his performance and she offers him the chance to regain his hellish status in the underworld. Without hesitation, Etrigan agrees to Blaze's request even though Jason pleaded with Etrigan in not accepting Blaze's proposal.

Powers and Abilities

"The Rhyme"

Current:

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!”

Original:

“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!!"

Shortest Version:

"Gone, Gone the form of man!

Arise the Demon, Etrigan!"

Demonic Powers

Superhuman strength- Literally punched superman out of earths orbit

Hellfire Projection- He can project hellfire out of his body although he usually only projects it out of his mouth or hands.

Superhuman Durability- He is resistant to most forms of injury

Sorcery- He is able to cast spells although he usually does not have the patience.

Healing- He is able to heal from almost all injuries.

Immortality- He is immortal and due to his durability and healing factor he is extremely hard to kill.

Abilities

Occult knowledge

Above Average Combatant

Weakness

Demonic laws

Iron

Jason Blood

Sorcery, Telepathy, Limited Precognition

Other Versions

Flashpoint

Flashpoint

Etrigan appears in DC's huge event Flashpoint during the summer of 2011. In Flashpoint Etrigan is part of the resistance that rose up in London after the Amazons took over the city. Grifter leads the resistance into the epic final battle between the Amazons and Atlanteans be they are killed during the fighting.

Other Media

Television

New Batman Adventures

On the New Batman Adventures Jason Blood is a friend of Bruce Wayne. Batman calls upon him to help him fight Klarion, Klarion separates Jason and Etrigan and mind controls Etrigan. In the Justice League episode A Knight of Shadows Jason betrayed Camelot to Morgaine Le Feye, however she poisoned him. As punishment he was bonded with the demon Etrigan. About 700 years later, Morgaine tried to turn Gotham City into Mordred's kingdom. He later appeared in the Justice League Unlimited episode Kid Stuff. He is also one of the magical people affected by Felix Faust's takeover of the underworld. He later appeared on Batman Brave and the Bold. In his first appearance he was under Morgaine's mind control and fought Batman and Green Arrow. In his second appearance, Batman went back in time to clear his name when he was framed for crimes Jim Craddock committed.

Batman the Brave and the Bold

Etrigan The Demon appears a few times in the series helping Batman. He first appears in the episode Day of the Dark Knight.

Video Games

DC Universe Online

He will appear in DC Universe Online.