Mephisto (short for Mephistopheles) is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics' universe. He is an extradimensional demon of unknown origin. He has often claimed to be, or been mistaken for, Biblical Satan or another legendary devil. Mephisto first appeared in Silver Surfer volume 1 #3 (1968), by Stan Lee and Sal Buscema. He has since come into conflict with numerous superheroes and mystical heroes. Mephisto has a demonic son named Blackheart and a daughter named Mephista. Blackheart once slew Mephisto and took control of his "Hell," although Mephisto was later returned to life.

Mephisto has claimed to have been created by the omnipotent being that eventually became the Infinity Gems, although Doctor Strange Annual #3 (1993) claimed that Mephisto and a number of other major demons were created from the essence of another primordial demon. He has sponsored a number of Satanic cults and Faustian deals over the centuries. He is the patron of the "Techno-Wizards" of Mys-Tech. In the 1970s, he assumed the guise of "Satan" and created the Ghost Rider by bonding the demon Zarathos to motorcyclist Johnny Blaze. In the 1980s, he became aware of the presence of the omnipotent Beyonder on the Earth, and attempted to corrupt or kill that being; he ultimately failed, and the Beyonder survived his apparent death at the hands of the Silver Surfer.

Mephisto starred in a miniseries, Mephisto Versus..., in which he battled the superhero groups the Fantastic Four, X-Factor, X-Men and The Avengers, one each issue.

Mephisto had been in a fight with Reed and Sue Richards of the Fantastic Four when his soul was fragmented by their son, Franklin Richards. Two of the fragments were subsequently drawn into the body of the Scarlet Witch, who had unknowingly summoned the soul fragments in an attempt to use magic to conceive children with her husband, the android Vision. Mephisto's fragmented soul became a pair of infant twins who were ultimately absorbed back into Mephisto's essence.

Mephisto was briefly partnered with Thanos while the latter held the Infinity Gauntlet, but ultimately fought Thanos alongside a number of other cosmic entities.

In the Hellcat miniseries, Daimon Hellstrom claimed Mephisto, Satannish and Dormammu as relatives, although this claim was later refuted in the Marvel Encyclopedia: Marvel Knights.

Quotations

• "The greatest joy in doing evil is to be rewarded by the sight of those who suffer its consequence!"

-- Mephisto, The Silver Surfer #3

External links

• Marvel Directory - Mephisto
• Profile of Mephisto