Long sentences with italics - and dashes in them - to quickly explain - who a character is- so a new reader does not feel lost - as they can enjoy the action contained within the issue forever!
My silliness aside, this is the blurb that introduced people to the adventures of Daimon Hellstrom, a literal Son of Satan. He's appeared on the blog before, in Defenders #94 (April 1981). First appearing in Ghost Rider #1 (September 1973), he was created by Roy Thomas and Gary Friedrich. I can't help but wonder if they were somewhat inspired by the interest in the occult in the 1970s. Would make sense.
After the Ghost Rider appearance, he would be spun off in the anthology title Marvel Spotlight for the next twelve issues: #12-24 (October 1973-October 1975). He turned out to be a popular character, and they spun him off into his solo series, the first issue we would look at here. The solo series lasted about eight issues. Despite this, he's remained active in the Marvel Universe, joining an incarnation of the Defenders (He was a favorite character of J.M. DeMatteis), and getting another solo series in the 1990s as Hellstorm, which lasted 21 issues. If you're a fan of Warren Ellis, track down that series. He wrote the last ten issues of it. He would also be a part of an incarnation of the Howling Commandoes, and I believe he's now going to join the Spirits of Vengeance.
I did consider looking at his first appearance, but I felt that should be saved for if I wanted to do something about Ghost Rider. I next considered Marvel Spotlight #12 (October 1973), as it was his first appearance on a comic cover, but I decided to postpone that one for next time as it's a continuation of the Ghost Rider storyline he was debuting in. So, I figured, why not start with the first issue of his solo series? And with that, let's take a look at the cover!
The cover, a Gil Kane piece, is pretty sweet. It's basic, but it looks really awesome. You got Daimon Hellstrom, the Son of Satan, riding on a chariot driven by three demonic horses with manes of fire. It has that feeling of a classical painting. This should have been painted. Also, it does give off the vibe of power and fury. Daimon Hellstrom is coming for his father, for their final confrontation! And one of them will survive. Geez, Satan, just give the twenty bucks you owe to Daimon already. Your team lost the game, handle it with some grace!
"The Homecoming!"
Writer: John Warner
Pencilers: Jim Mooney, Jim Starlin (First page)
Inker: Jim Mooney
Colorist: Diane Buscema
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Editor: Marv Wolfman
Editor in Chief: Marv Wolfman
The story begins with a Jim Starlin-drawn full-page spread of Daimon Hellstrom.
Daimon is riding his Hellhorse-driven chariot towards New England. Particularly, to his old family home there. A storm is raging outside, but he's really too consumed by thoughts of his past to notice. How does he end up not getting soaked riding such an open vehicle. Also, I can't help but wonder how hilarious it would be if he ended up needing a sandwich or something, and he parked that thing at a gas station or something. "I wish to purchase this sandwich, this soda, and do you carry oats for my demonic horses over there?"
He arrives at his old home, but notices something is up. A window is smashed, and the place is ransacked.
Everything's gone, including one of his most prized possessions: A diary belonging to his mother. Despite his being half-Devil, his mother loved him, and it was that that allowed him to defy his demonic half. Hellstrom is enraged, and his anger allows his demonic blood to overtake him briefly, making him blast a wall with his trident. He calms down, realizing that it might be just a bunch of vandals. But then he sees something that makes him realize that ordinary vandals didn't ransack his home.
He realizes his old man, Old Scratch himself, was behind the ransacking. And considering that Daimon isn't exactly the fondest of the old incarnation of evil, you can bet he takes it rather well. He bursts into his basement, and finds that the door to Hell is wide open. Yeah, Daimon Hellstrom keeps a door to Hell in his basement. But then again, that's kind of a standard thing among Satan's kids. Daimon approaches the door, but it shuts itself tight. It's not a problem for the future Hellstorm, though. He's able to find his own way to Hell.
He...goes to Hell somehow. I don't know. Maybe it's the trident, or he knew of a magical back door. He arrives in Hell, and a bunch of demons freak out, thinking he's someone else...I have no idea. But they realize it's Daimon, and they run to him. Daimon is not in the mood to deal with them, so he whacks and blasts at them with his trident. One of the demons begs Daimon to stop, saying he just wants to talk.
Daimon laughs at him, and the demons decide, "You know what, screw it. Let's beat him down." The demons pile on him, threatening to overwhelm the half-demonic anti-hero. However, a flash of light erupts, and Satan himself makes an appearance.
As can be clearly seen, Satan was chilling in his private lava pool with some cute succubi when he learned of the commotion. He asks if Daimon has finally come to stand by his side as father and son. The demons taunt Daimon by saying his mother is down here, too. Satan basically tells his demons to shut up and informs Daimon that he'll find the culprit down at Fire Lake, which is across the way from Tortureland. Hellish fun for the whole family. Satan then explains that he had nothing to do with the ransacking of Daimon's old family home.
Understandably, Daimon doesn't believe his dad, and tries to blast him. Instead of trying to convince Daimon he's telling the truth this time, he goes nuts and banishes Daimon from his realm. No wonder Daimon hates his guts. Satan then grumbles about his being able to break his insolent boy, but decides it's not the time or place. I personally think he just can't be bothered right now. He decides he'd rather take down his son through cunning, not intimidation while he heads back to his lava pool with the cute succubi.
A frustrated Daimon returns home, feeling like he has more questions than ever. He seals the door to Hell, when he hears a scream. The demonologist goes to investigate and finds some footprints.
Considering the comic, I would not be surprised if the source is one rather ugly creature. Daimon follows the footprints to a car outside, and sees something rather horrifying.
Paging Moarte, you got more material for Longbox of the Damned here, buddy. I have heard the phrase "tree-hugger" in the past, but this is ridiculous. The person merged with the tree screams for help, and the three tries to toss around Daimon. The merged man says that since Daimon can't save him, he might as well destroy Daimon. Gone villain rather quick there, huh pal? Daimon's had enough and blasts the man-tree in an attempt to exorcise it...because his trident has an exorcism beam. The man-tree vanishes, but the car is still there. Daimon is left wondering if the car is real.
A voice tells him that the car is an illusion, too. Daimon then finds himself back in his family home, and he sees his mother's diary on the ground. The demonologist wonders how it got there, as he would have seen it earlier. He picks it up and puts it in his belt. The scene shifts again, and the voice taunts him as it shifts the scene. Daimon gets a look at the perpetrator, who introduces himself as the Possessor.
Daimon has no idea what is going on, so he accepts the Possessor's offer to take a seat. Take seat right over there. Possessor states he has something that Daimon wants, and Daimon has something the Possessor wants. A duo of beautiful women appear and try to...comfort Damien. The demonic demonologist realizes they are Hell Sirens, and waves his trident, dispelling the Possessor's illusions.
Hellstrom has had enough of the Possessor's tricks. He then realizes that his mother's diary is still in his belt, which means it was real. The masked illusionist tells him that he knows Daimon is the Son of Satan. One can assume he learned this by reading the diary. Hellstrom demands that the Possessor tell him who he is by...blasting him in the face with hellfire from his trident. Because one is able to talk after getting their face fried.
But instead of getting a fried face, the Possessor just loses his face-concealing hood.
Again. Moarte, cover this on Longbox of the Damned. The demons stuck on the sides of the Possessor's head scream for Daimon to help them, including agreeing to be his servants. Daimon is horrified by this, and is convinced the Possessor is insane. Well, I can't imagine a man who would have demon faces on the sides of his head to be the picture of mental health. Hellstrom wonders how this happened, but the Possessor isn't talking.
He just taunts Daimon instead, saying that this all was just the beginning. He decides to take his leave, but not before saying that there is a battle coming, one that the Son of Satan will not be able to void. And not only will this battle spell doom for Hellstrom, but also subject him to, in his own words, "A curse far greater than that which you already bear!"
The scene next shifts to the rockscape of lovely Arizona. I went to Arizona once. Did you know there are forests there? Yeah. There are. We see a stereotypical Native American youth meditating. Stereotypical Native American kid has been fasting and meditating there for about a week, hoping to find some spiritual enlightenment. He's watched over by a stereotypical Native American shaman. He has senses that the stereotypical Native American kid has a great destiny. The stereotypical shaman hears a noise. He turns to check it out, but gets shot in the heart. He was to blame, he gave love a bad name. Stereotypical Native American kid looks up and sees the Possessor.
Stereotypical Native American kid is also clearly not very bright, as he thinks the Possessor is the spirit guide he has been waiting for. Kid, you don't see the demon faces on the side of the guy's head?! I'm going to assume the fasting is screwing with his brain.
This issue was...rather enjoyable for what it was, and a good choice for Halloween. The dialogue of the issue can be a bit silly, but it comes with the territory of the time. In fact, I kind of find it delightfully hammy in a way. As for the last scene...your mileage may vary. Jim Mooney does some very nice artwork. Jim Starlin's first page spread is neat, but the fingers on the gesturing hand seem a bit wonky to me. As I said, next time, we'll take a look at Daimon Hellstrom's first comic cover appearance...
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