Machine Man and The Demon

 

Kirby was as great at designing monstrous creatures as he was at designing futuristic mechanics.  A story that combined both really gave him a chance to show off his talents.

Iron Man 2020 and The Demon

 

I'm going to have to go back and read the Machine Man mini series that featured Arno Stark, the Iron Man of 2020.  Not only to revisit the gorgeous Barry Windsor-Smith artwork, but to see how closely the future depicted  resembles the 2020's that have actually come to pass.

The Demon and Two-Gun Kid

 

Time for another All-Kirby classic!  In addition to his superhero and monster comics, Jack Kirby also made quite an impression with his western heroes.  

Calvin and Hobbes meet The Demon

Sure, Calvin could have a dark side, but his heart was always in the right place.  Let's hope that Etrigan keeps an eye on him.

 

Deathlok and The Demon

These are two characters that I really want to see on the big screen.  Deathlok's appearance on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was low rent and underwhelming, he realy needs a proper chance to shine. Etrigan has never even had a chance at live action.  I bet James Gunn could have a lot of fun with him.

 

Justice League of America and Samurai Jack (And More!)

 

For this Anniversary Issue, I thought that I would present the kind of Saturday morning line-up that would have made my head spin.  With shows line these and some Peanut Butter Cap'n Crunch, I would have been all set.  Here are some closer looks at the stories in this issue:

Crusaders of Camelot

 

This is a team concept that I have had rattling around in my brain for a while, and I am glad that I finally got around to putting it together.  It would be cool to see the adventures of a superhero team from the Middle Ages.

The Demon and The Invaders

 

They say that war is Hell, after all - so why wouldn't Jack Kirby's demonic creation get caught up in an Invaders mission?

This cover required a bit of prep work before I could add Etrigan into the mix.  Here's a look at the behind the scenes progress:

Conan and The Demon / Kraven Vs. The Huntress

 

Time for another double dose of action. I always liked a good back up story in the comics of my youth.  Sometimes they were even better than the main feature.  "Whatever Happened to...?" in DC Comics Presents was always a treat and I was a fan f the Nemesis serial in The Brave and The Bold as well.

The Beast and The Demon

 

Jack Kirby's time on the X-Men was before Hank got all blue and furry, so It was always a treat to see him illustrate the eloquent mutant in that form.  Kirby excelled at inhuman-looking characters after all, which is why Etrigan is one of my favorite DC characters that he worked on.

Cloak & Dagger and The Demon

 

Was Alan Moore the first writer to present Etrigan speaking in rhyme?  I'm not sure I remember any other writer doing that with the character before seeing it in the pages of Swamp Thing.  Whoever came up with it, it's a brilliant technique to make The Demon unique, even among occult characters. It makes him a little trickier to write for, but the storytelling effects are worth the extra effort.

The Demon Vs. Mephisto

 

After having his appearance rumored for years, it seems like Mephisto is finally about to join the MCU.  My only concern is the reports that he will be portrayed by Sasha Baron Cohen.  While he has played a few serious roles, mostly he is known for his broad comedy.  I really don't want Mephisto to be another wisecracking MCU villain.

This cover required some splash page extension and word balloon removal before I could add Etrigan into it.  Here's a behind-the scenes look at the process:

Doctor Doom Vs. The Demon in "Hell Hunt!"

 

The strongest character designs are those that even look impressive from the back.  Jack Kirby was such a master at creating costumes and armor that his creations looked great at any angle.  

Doctor Doom and The Demon first crossed paths way back in STF #739...

Demon and Power Man & Iron Fist

 

Power Man and Iron Fist outfits from the 70's and 80's may seem silly and dated to some, but since those were the looks they had when I was discovering comics, I'll always like them.  I hope that when the Heroes for Hire show up in the MCU, they'll at least have a nod to their classic appearances.  They looked fine on the Neflix shows, but I think they could have been a little more comics accurate.

Black Knight and Shining Knight in: "All Roads Lead To Mordor!"

 

With all the talk of superhero multiverses lately, the rest of the world is just catching up to the cool crossover possibilities that visitors to this blog have been aware of for a decade plus! Here's another concept that might be cool to explore in the screen - the medieval heroes of Marvel and DC in the world of The Lord of the Rings!  Well, I'd be interested in checking it out anyway!

These two Knights first crossed paths way back in STF #138...

The Hulk and The Demon

It was pointed out in a recent comment section that I had not yet paired Etrigan up with The Hulk.  I was surprised that I never  had put them together, and agreed that they were overdue for a meeting.  Something tells me that they would actually get along pretty well, as they both truly enjoy letting loose against hordes of enemies.  Pity whoever got in their way!

Fantastic Four and The Demon

 

The Demon felt a lot like a Marvel character to me, so it's not hard to imagine a story like this taking place in the first few years of The Fantastic Four.  It would have been a thing of beauty to see Kirby illustrate and co-plot such a tale with Stan Lee providing dialogue for Etrigan!

Conan Vs. the Demon

 

There had been some talk about Arnold Schwarzenegger returning for another Conan movie, but I haven't heard anything about that in a while.  Perhaps Arnold is having second thoughts after his return to the Terminator franchise met with less than optimal results.  Maybe they are still trying to figure out the best way to present the story of a seventy-something barbarian.  It will be interesting to see if anything comes of these plans.

The Demon and The Black Panther

Hopefully we will hear some more concrete details on the Black Panther sequel soon.  Rumors persist that we will see Wakanda facing off against Atlantis with the introduction of Namor, The Sub-Mariner.  Then there are the reports that Ororo Munroe, Storm, will make her debut in the film as well.  One issue that I had with he first film was that T'Challa was a little overshadowed in his own movie, hopefully the sequel will still feature the title character front and center.

The Demon and Brother Voodoo in: "Resurrection... or Deception?"

After years of false starts, it looks like we are finally going to get a live action Justice League Dark, now to be a JJ Abrams-produced series on HBO Max.  I was happy to hear that The Demon is expected to be one of the team members.  It will be very interested to see how he is handled.  Will the same actor portray both Jason Blood and Etrigan?  Will he keep his colorful look from the comics?  And, most of all, will he speak in rhyme?

These two previously met in STF #2246...