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Quote1 Since the dawn of humanity, dead souls have collected in the netherworlds. Generations upon generations... now awakened! AND IN THE THRALL OF THE CHAOS KING! Quote2
Daimon Hellstrom[src]

History

Early Life[]

The Hell-Lords had long desired to sire a child with a human woman for use as a gateway to gain further power. A demon calling himself Satan took human form and established the trappings of a mortal life for himself near Fire Lake, Massachusetts. Keeping his true identity a secret, he married a young woman, Victoria Wingate. Daimon was born to the "Hellstrom's" a year later with a strange pentagram-shaped birthmark on his chest. His sister, Satana, was born when Daimon was three.[citation needed]

When Hellstrom was a young adolescent, Victoria interrupted a ritual sacrifice "Satan" had staged in their basement involving the participation of Satana. Traumatized to the point of hysteria, Victoria was institutionalized.[11] She eventually regained enough of her sanity to write a full diary describing her life with the demon before she died. Hellstrom and his sister meanwhile were placed in separate orphanages, and "Satan" disappeared to his netherworld domain, where he eventually brought Satana.[citation needed]

Learning the Truth[]

Hellstrom ultimately entered a monastery, hoping to become a priest. Shortly before being ordained, however, Hellstrom received legal notification of his inheritance of his father's house, where he found his mother's diary and learned the truth about his birth. At that point, "Satan," aware of his son's new knowledge, directed him telepathically through the house's secret basement interdimensional passageway to the demon's netherworld domain, or "Hell." Hellstrom's father beseeched his son to disregard his mother's diary's warnings and serve him in Hell. However, when "Satan" transported Hellstrom back to Earth, Hellstrom decided to dedicate himself to fighting his father's evil. He immediately returned to Hell in an attempt to battle "Satan". Although he failed to defeat "Satan" outright, Hellstrom managed to pit many of "Satan's" slaves against their master as well as to steal the satanic trident of "Satan" and a demon-drawn chariot before returning to Earth.[11] Hellstrom also discovered the powers of the Darksoul that he had inherited from his father. He declared himself the Son of Satan, and for the next several years battled many manifestations of demonic evil on Earth as well as other realms.

Daimon Hellstrom (Earth-616) from Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Horror 2005 Vol 1 1 0002

Son of Satan

As a Hero[]

During this period, the Son of Satan maintained his civilian identity of occult expert Daimon Hellstrom and was a visiting specialist professor at a St. Louis college. Hellstrom battled many adversaries of his father, and he even battled his sister, Satana, who had become a succubus. On several occasions, Hellstrom aided other heroes in occult battle, including the Ghost Rider.[12] He became affiliated with the hero team Defenders in their battles with demonic possessions and threats,[13] eventually becoming a member. During his Defenders membership, Daimon Hellstrom met and fell in love with his teammate Hellcat.[14]

It was during this period, too, that he finally confronted his father and defeated him. Shortly afterward, the Son of Satan declared himself triumphant over his father and his father's influence.[15] Then, the Miracle Man, a superhumanly powered criminal who had masqueraded as a monk, stole the Darksoul from Hellstrom in battle. The Miracle Man himself was subsequently defeated and the Darksoul was sent into a snake. Daimon Hellstrom was finally liberated from his partial possession by demonic evil, and, with much of his powers gone, he retired his costumed identity of the Son of Satan.

Daimon Hellstrom thereupon married Hellcat and the couple left the Defenders, moving to San Francisco.[16] He and his wife soon earned a reputation as supernatural investigators based there. Hellstrom continued to publish regularly in scholarly occult journals and became considered a leading demonologist. Daimon Hellstrom created a costumed identity of Hellstorm when battling supernatural menaces in public in order to preserve Daimon Hellstrom's professional reputation. In this capacity, they helped several superheroes in mystical problems, notably the Avengers West Coast branch.[17]

Over time, however, Hellstrom grew increasingly weak, due to the separation from his Darksoul, until he lay near death. In desperation, Hellcat used an ancient, dark spell book in order to summon Hellstrom's father. She asked him to restore Hellstrom's Darksoul, provoking the demon by saying "Satan" needed Hellstrom as someone to test himself against. "Satan" agreed, restoring Hellstrom's Darksoul although Hellcat was driven insane at the sight of it. Hellstrom said he was grateful for his wife's actions, but if the situations were reversed, he would have left her to die. Hellcat, due to her insanity, eventually died by calling upon the entity Deathurge.[18]

Hellstrom once more began battling his father and demonic agents. Hellstrom gathered around him several agents of his own, including the villainous Nekra, Gabriel the Devil-Hunter, and the Gargoyle. During this time, Hellstrom's friend Jaine Cutter had remained by his side, hoping that her presence would "bring out the best" in him, and the two formed a type of romantic relationship. He also made a deal with the witch LaVoisin, impregnating her to learn about his father, including his true name.

In Charge[]

Using this information, Daimon was able to slay his father. Hellstrom was given the 'Black Halo' and lordship of Hell. He claimed doing so would maintain the balance between Heaven and Hell, so neither could take control of the workings of the Universe and humanity could control their own destiny. He learned that LaVoisin gave birth to a son, whom he realized was the resurrected Marduk Kurios.

Turning Over a New Leaf?[]

Selene wished to create a demonic version of the world-conquering Hellfire Club. She began associating with Blackheart. Blackheart and the Queen clashed with the Fantastic Four, Margali Szardos, Hellstorm, and a mysterious new figure called the Mechamage. The Hellfire Club was defeated in that encounter, and Blackheart was mystically bound into the Club's basement. Hellstrom then joined the Hellfire Club as its new White King as the means to balance the forces of good and evil in the Club's Inner Circle. Hellstrom, Szardos, Alyssa Moy and the Mechamage agreed to remain together to defend the Earth against other demonic threats, calling themselves the Shadow Hunters.[19] However, Hellstorm later claimed that the formation of the Shadow Hunters was a ruse to placate the Fantastic Four as they parted company.[20]

Hellcat's Return[]

Hellcat's soul had ended up in the realm of the demon Mephisto, fighting an eternal battle in the so-called Arena of Tainted Souls, alongside fallen hero Mockingbird. The two discovered sketchy details about a plot that Hellstrom was developing. Mockingbird was able to send a warning to her husband, the hero Hawkeye, during a brief resurrection, and Hawkeye and his team the Thunderbolts confronted Hellstrom and then used their sorcerous connections to go to Hell in order to rescue Mockingbird. They were tricked, however, by Hellstrom, and the Thunderbolts rescued Hellcat instead, restoring her body to Earth as Hellstrom had planned.[20]

Dormammu's Plan[]

The extra dimensional sorcerer Dormammu later tried a direct invasion to invade and take over the regions of Hell, beginning with the realm of Mephisto. Mephisto joined with fellow rulers of Hell, Satannish the Supreme and ostensibly Hellstrom, to oppose Dormammu, but was ultimately betrayed by Satannish, who revealed his true origins as a "stalking horse" for Dormammu.

Dormammu and Satannish nearly succeeded in annexing Mephisto's realm, but the hero Hellcat, who had stumbled onto the plot, managed to bring together Hellstrom and the death-gods Pluto and Hela and ultimately defeat Dormammu. As it is now known, the several incarnations of Hell are shaped by the subconscious thoughts (and fears) of those who would dwell within them. This loophole allowed Hela, Pluto, Hellstorm, and Mephisto to temporarily change the nature of Satannish and Mephisto's dimensions, ruled at the time by Satannish and Dormammu respectively, to frozen wastelands. This neutralized the power of Dormammu's Faltinian Flames rendering him too weak to fight. He fled to the Dark Dimension with Nicholas Scratch in tow.

Satannish, alone and demoralized at the rout of his master, was easily destroyed by a blast of mystical energy (in the back) from Mephisto as he reclaimed his world. During these events Dormammu had revealed, his supposed ace in the hole -- that Satannish was, in fact, a demon of his own creation and was the demon who had fathered Hellstorm.[21] This was later exposed as a falsehood which Daimon had played along with in order to drive his former wife away for her own protection.

Hellstorm used this claim to assume control over Satannish's realm, and inherit Dormammu's right to rule as designated by the powerful "Flames of Faltine." However, without either Satannish or Dormammu backing Daimon, Mephisto was able to gain control of the vast majority of "Hell."

When the demon Olivier attacked the other realms, Daimon and Doctor Strange observed Frank Castle (who had been temporarily empowered by Angels as repentance for his family's death) defeat the demon.

Equinox[]

Daimon was drawn to New Orleans after hurricane Katrina devastated the city as he sensed that demons had also been drawn to the destruction and death. Daimon quickly learned that demons weren't the only ones in New Orleans, the Egyptian goddess Isis had also arrived and given birth to her son Horus again as part of her eternal search for her dead husband Osiris whom she believed was returning with the equinox. The demons, and Daimon's father, had not come to New Orleans just because of Katrina but also to ensure Osiris' return under Satan's direction so Satan would have greater control of Hell.[22]

Not wanting his father, nor Isis, to gain power from Osiris' resurrection Daimon was able to use his prophetic dreams to track down the lost fourteenth piece of Osiris before the others. Satan was aware of this though and ensured that he got to the body parts hiding place as he had planned. After securing the last piece he reattached it to Osiris' body and waited for him to be reborn, at which point he cut Osiris' throat and let him die again to avoid being used by his father and because he knew Isis' search and story couldn't be allowed to end.[8]

Heaven's on Fire[]

Daimon investigated a massacre at Project Blackheart, learning they were devoted Satanists who had been attempting to develop the ideal Anti-Christ to serve Lucifer. The Angel Zadkiel, who had taken over Heaven, had his followers on Earth attempt to kill all these children but one of the Blackheart children, Anton Satan, was able to escape. Daimon pledged to hunt this boy down and kill him.[23]

He was able to track the boy down to Wall Street where he had been working as an investment banker, and found him already under siege by Zadkiel's minions. He was stopped from killing Anton by his former lover, the occult terrorist Jaine Cutter, who had been protecting Anton so as to keep the occult balance. While the two argued Anton was able to escape them and his pursuers. Daimon was then saved by the Ghost Rider Johnny Blaze who he reluctantly teamed up with alongside Jaine, Sara the Caretaker and Blaze's brother Danny Ketch who had caught Anton.[24]

Daimon remained adamant that Anton should be killed instead of delivered to his father but was talked down by Jaine who pointed out that they needed to turn him over, so as to learn a way into Heaven from Satan. Zadkiel had moved a gateway to Hell from one of Satan's safehouses to Jasper County where they had to face off against Scarecrow and Madcap, members of the Ghost Rider Assassination League hired by Zadkiel to stop them and to kill Blaze and Ketch. During the ensuing fight Jaine was almost tricked into killing Daimon through Madcap's powers but broke free. After switching targets, Daimon and Jaine were able to take down Scarecrow and Madcap. Soon after this fight they discovered Anton Master Pandemonium's portal to Hell to send an invasion force through to Heaven using a portal contained within Sara, though she was quickly able to close it.[25] Rather than attempting to join in the fight against Zadkiel and Anton, Daimon and Jaine spent their time kissing.[26]

The Search for the Sorcerer Supreme[]

After Doctor Strange gave up his position as Sorcerer Supreme, Hellstrom was involved in the search for the next one. Brother Voodoo became the new Sorcerer Supreme, but eventually died protecting Earth from Agamotto.[27]

The Fearless[]

After the demonic invasion in Las Vegas was averted, Daimon - who had discovered the Descent (the day when a Hell-Lord would become more powerful and the ones they marked would become a demon as well as their heirs) was real after seeing Agent Venom, Red Hulk, X-23, and the new Ghost Rider's Hell-Marks[28][29] - betrayed the Avengers and joined forces with Sin in her plot to raze the world using the hammers of the Worthy.[30]

The Revenge of Daniel Drumm[]

He was killed by Victoria Hand, who was being possessed by the spirit of Brother Voodoo's brother in revenge for the death of his brother. However, his spirit didn't die as he appeared along the Ancient One when Doctor Strange regained his mantle as Sorcerer Supreme, telling Strange and the New Avengers that he would come back soon.[31]

Mania[]

Daimon Hellstrom (Earth-616) from Venom Vol 2 41 001

Some time after his frustrated attempt to turn the Venom symbiote into one of his Monsters of Evil,[32] Hellstrom, who was incarcerated at the Peak Maximum Security Prison in Virginia, revealed to Agent Venom that he didn't know if he was indeed the original Daimon Hellstrom as many copies of himself were created to explore every possible facet of the coming Descent. Hellstrom also revealed that Venom's hellmark had disappeared, freeing him from any infernal obligations.[33]

Avengers Undercover[]

Daimon Hellstrom later appeared as part of the Shadow Council's Masters of Evil, where he was part of Baron Helmut Zemo's inner circle.[34] Daimon Hellstrom was shown to live in Hellstrom Manor in Hell Town, Bagalia.[35]

Attributes

Power Grid[42]
:Category:Power Grid/Fighting Skills/Normal:Category:Power Grid/Energy Projection/Multiple Types:Category:Power Grid/Durability/Regenerative:Category:Power Grid/Speed/Normal:Category:Power Grid/Strength/Normal:Category:Power Grid/Intelligence/Learned

Powers

Cambion Physiology: As a ruler of a dimension of Hell and Son of Satan, Hellstrom wields vast magical abilities, as well as commands vast power in his own dimension, the full details and extent of which may yet to be revealed. Potentially, he can perform virtually any magical feat.

  • Superhuman Strength: Daimon possesses a great degree of superhuman strength. His strength is that above the normal human and Olympic-level trained athlete as he possesses the natural strength to of 10 men. His strength can also be augmented through his magical powers.[26]
  • Superhuman Durability: The tissues of Hellstrom's body are considerably tougher and more resistant to injury than the tissues of a human being.[citation needed] His body is virtually invulnerable to conventional injury.[citation needed] He is capable of withstanding great impact forces, high caliber bullets, exposure to temperature and pressure extremes, and powerful energy blasts without sustaining injury.[14]
  • Soulfire Manipulation & Pyrokinesis: One of his most common abilities in all of his incarnations is his ability to manipulate, generate, and discharge both earthly fire and soulfire for a variety of effects. The fire can usually be used to harm supernatural entities and the astral forms of others. He can also track others down using his fire, resurrect the deceased, as well as create constructs of his soulfire. On several occasions, he can use his hell/soul-based fire to perform exorcisms against powerful entities.[22]
    • Flight: Hellstrom can fly by projecting fire from his body.[14]
  • Elemental Manipulation: Both with and without his Trident, Daimon has been shown to control and influence natural elemental forces to varying degrees. He can also control and summon storms at will.[36]
  • Telepathy: Daimon can use his magical abilities, to "tear" into the thoughts from the minds of other sentient beings. He can also communicate with others mentally, cast psychic illusions, and attack other telepathically.[20] He can also use his powers to feel the aura of others, and at times see into the future, past or present.[22]
  • Telekinesis: Daimon also possesses potent telekinetic powers, which enables him to levitate, propel, and manipulate objects and matter with the energy of his thoughts.[22]
  • Teleportation: Through his Darksoul, Daimon Hellstrom is capable of teleporting himself and other individuals across vast distances. He can also use this ability to travel into other dimensions. Daimon can also create and open gateways and portals to transverse locations near-instantaneously.[citation needed]
  • Astral Projection: Daimon is a skilled astral projector, being able to project his soul self from his body and into the physical or spiritual planes of existence at will.[20]
  • Healing: On numerous occasions, Daimon has been shown to heal himself and others from their physical injuries.[citation needed]
  • Magical Awareness: Through his Darksoul, He possesses the ability to sense and interpret magical energies within this immediate vicinity.[citation needed]
  • Magical and Mystical Manipulation: As the Son of Satan and a ruler of a dimension of Hell, Hellstrom can manipulate, create and possessed supernatural powers and spells.[citation needed]
    • Netheranium Trident: Hellstrom wielded a trident made of Netheranium which can harness, amplify, and project magical energies.[citation needed]
    • Sleep Spell
  • Chronokinesis: Hellstrom is capable of traveling through and even manipulating time to a certain extent. He is able to travel into the past, and on another occasion manipulating temporal flow to manifest sunlight when battling a vampire.[citation needed]
  • Shapeshifting: Due to his Darksoul, and status as a supernatural Son of Satan, Daimon has been shown to alter and shape his physical form and appearance, similar to other demons. He can use this ability to sprout demonic wings in order to fly.[20]

Paraphernalia

Equipment

Hellstorm often wielded an asymmetric Netheranium Trident. Daimon also possesses a number of other magical artifacts including the Necromanteion, a magical scrying crystal, and the Grimorium Verum, an ancient arcane text.

Weapons

Hellstorm's Trident: As the Son of Satan, and Hellstorm, Hellstrom has wielded a trident made of netheranium, a "psychosensitive" metal found only in "Satan's" extra dimensional realm. The trident is a medium through which magical energies can be amplified and projected. It is as yet unclear what the source of the magical energies that Hellstorm projects through his trident was during the period he didn't possess his Darksoul.

Transportation

Daimon once possessed a chariot pulled by three demonic horses: Hecate, Amon, and Set. After they were destroyed, he now rides a single demon horse named Iblis.[37]

Notes

  • The Son of Satan once used his powers to travel through time to ancient Atlantis. Since he did not travel through time more frequently, it must have been exceedingly difficult to accomplish.
  • Although Daimon is the direct son of Marduk, he also appears to have elements of other demons.
  • Daimon is no longer considered to be married to Patsy due to the clause of "'til death do us part."
  • Hellstrom is not known by the general public to have demonic parentage.
  • Upon discovering that Wiccan could see into alternate realities, Daimon flirted with him, revealing himself to be bisexual, to which a blushing Wiccan responded that he was engaged.[38]

Trivia

  • Following the resurgence of monsters in comic books in the early 1970s, Stan Lee pitched the idea of a book in the same vein as Tomb of Dracula, a series titled "Mark of Satan" which would've starred Satan himself, presumably acting against heroic figures. Roy Thomas was worried the public wouldn't accept a book starring Satan as the main character, even if he was a villain, and suggested instead the creation of the Son of Satan.[39]
  • Daimon's birthday falls on February 2nd.[40]

See Also

Links and References

References

  1. Marvel Zombies 4 #1
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Horror 2005 #1 ; Hellstrom's entry
  3. Hellstorm: Son of Satan #1
  4. Hellstorm: Prince of Lies #16
  5. Marvel Comics Presents (Vol. 2) #1
  6. Savage Avengers #12
  7. Hellstorm: Son of Satan #2
  8. 8.0 8.1 Hellstorm: Son of Satan #45
  9. New Avengers (Vol. 2) #31
  10. New Avengers (Vol. 2) #34
  11. 11.0 11.1 Marvel Spotlight #13
  12. Ghost Rider (Vol. 2) #1718
  13. Defenders #32
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 Defenders #92
  15. Defenders #105
  16. Defenders #125
  17. West Coast Avengers (Vol. 2) #1415
  18. Hellstorm: Prince of Lies #14
  19. Fantastic Four Annual #1999
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 Thunderbolts 2000 #1
  21. Hellcat #13
  22. 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 Hellstorm: Son of Satan #12
  23. Ghost Riders: Heaven's on Fire #1
  24. Ghost Riders: Heaven's on Fire #2
  25. Ghost Riders: Heaven's on Fire #45
  26. 26.0 26.1 Ghost Riders: Heaven's on Fire #6
  27. New Avengers (Vol. 2) #6
  28. Venom (Vol. 2) #14
  29. Venom (Vol. 2) #25
  30. Fear Itself: The Fearless #7
  31. New Avengers (Vol. 2) #3134
  32. Venom (Vol. 2) #2325
  33. Venom (Vol. 2) #41
  34. Avengers Undercover #1
  35. Avengers Undercover #5
  36. Marvel Spotlight #12
  37. Savage Avengers Annual #1
  38. Strikeforce #6
  39. Cronin, Brian (February 9, 2018) Comic Legends: Did Stan Lee Try to Have a Comic Book Starring Satan? CBR. Retrieved on February 10, 2018.
  40. Marvel Spotlight #15
  41. Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #5
  42. Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Vol 1 5
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