u/Particular_Gap_8141

Even though Klarion's character wouldn't be called a Lord of Chaos until the Young Justice (2010) cartoon, and was only first officially designated in the comics as such in The Flash #786 (2022), I think The Demon Annual (1992) is where the thematic groundwork of that idea really took root. Looking at the art, I also wonder how much of Klarion's blue skinned revisualization was directly inspired by his possessed look in this book.

Originally Eclipso was actually an agent of the Lords of Chaos, as we can see here in The Phantom Stranger mini series from 1987 (though his actual first appearance was in House of Secrets #61 (1963). Phantom Stranger's book was just the first place we see him associated with the Lords of Chaos). He existed as a kind of Jekyll and Hyde type character: the physical manifestation of the darkness within solar energy scientist Bruce Gordon, released when Gordon scratches himself on the Black Diamond (also called the Heart of Darkness).

The Demon Annual actually retcons that origin for Eclipso, making it a lie that Bruce Gordon was being made to believe, and instead scales up Eclipso and ascends him to godhood. We learn from the character Xavier Nihilo that Eclipso is actually a God of Vengeance, and connects him to the biblical flood of Old Testament. In fact, Nihilo is basically a Noah figure with ark and all.

When Klarion and Teekl overhear the power that Eclipso's gem holds, they immediately set to acquiring it in the hopes of punishing Etrigan. Eclipso is summoned by Klarion's feelings of anger and betrayal towards Jason/Etrigan as soon as the gem is touched. Eclipso also, interestingly, makes their grudge his own leading to a, naturally, chaotic showdown between Etrigan and, the now possessed, Klarion and Teekl.

This annual is so good, imo. It never fails to amuse me that "cousin" Harry Matthews, alum of Klarion's gang, is almost always the one who thwarts Klarion, yet our witch boy stays fixated on Unc. Focused king, I respect that.

This annual kicked off the Eclipso: The Darkness Within event that spanned across a number of books at the time.

Since Eclipso went from a Chaos Agent to being Spectre adjacent, and Klarion went from a Witch boy to an official Lord of Chaos, how do you think an interaction between these two would change today? Or do you think Klarion and Teekl are still ending up possessed by that gem?

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[ Art by Joe Phillips, David Johnson, John Dell and Robbie Busch | Letters by Todd Klein from The Demon Annual (1992) Written by Alan Grant ]

[ Art by Mike Mignola, P. Craig Russell and Petra Scotese | Letters by John Workman from The Phantom Stranger #1, #4 (1987) Written by Paul Kupperberg ]

I will always defend this book because I think it’s doing a lot and has a lot of interesting ideas and fantastic art. The only truly fair criticism of this book, imo, is the way it separates Klarion from Teekl until the last issue. Teekl is the spice, the soul, that we cant compromise on in Klarion’s design!

Maybe that’s the point though? Maybe the book is showing us how important Teekl is to help anchor Klarion. 

I did feel it was important that, when still entombed in the jar, there’s a scene where Teekl’s eyes suddenly open and glare at Zell, who gets struck with fear and nearly falls. I’m not sure we’re meant to believe that Teekl approves.

Later we find out that Zell was actually bewitching Klarion. If we're meant to read Teekl's glare as foreshadowing, then Teekl's instincts were right all along and they were trying to protect him from being manipulated even while trapped in a stasis.

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[ Art by Frazer Irving | Letters by Pat Brosseau from Seven Soldiers: Klarion #3 (2005) by Grant Morrison ]

[ Art by Trevor McCarthy, Szymon Kudranski and Guy Major | Letters by Pat Brosseau from Klarion #6 and #2 (2014) by Ann Nocenti ]

"Some nasty business going on in this corner of hell. I'm not sure how I missed it before, and Uncle Jason certainly never mentioned it. But I have a feeling that this place has definite possibilities... If there is a chance for mischief, it would behoove Klarion the Witch Boy to set up the game board."

I think this is actually a fun aside that Perez included in the War of the Gods event. This scene occurs somewhere after issue #15 of The Demon (1991), when Klarion and Teekl leave Gotham having sent Jason/Etrigan to the Beyond Region, and decide to treat themselves to a vacation in Funland. In issue #17 we see the mischief in question play out.

I really like Klarion's sass towards Circe, "That hag seems too pleased with herself!" This scene really illustrates what a heavy hitter Klarion actually is that he can see Diana's soul flying around and can just redirect her spirit to the Beyond Region on a whim.

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[ Art by George Perez, Cynthia Martin and Gene D’angelo | Letters by Albert De Guzman from War of the Gods #1 (1991) Written by George Perez ]

[ Art by Val Semeiks, Bob Smith and Robbie Busch | Letters by Todd Klein from The Demon #17 (1991) by Alan Grant ]

The way she basically pivots to "Ok, but you’re still unemployed?!" Recovering from this emotional devastation by picking a fight with a demon is honestly the logical reaction.

Do you think Charity truly loves Klarion or does she live up to her name in a twisted way by willingly giving up her son for the dogma of Limbo Town?

Is he just more expendable to her because Beulah is the favorite?

Thoughts on Charity this Mother's Day?

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[Art by Frazer Irving | Letters by Pat Brosseau from Seven Soldiers: Klarion #4 (2005) by Grant Morrison ]

What dead, forgotten, or just underutilized villain, from any title, would you have Klarion release and command.

What's their powers or ability that they're using to help cause chaos?

Don't worry about the lore: If they’ve got a soul, they can be on the shelf. Who is Klarion bringing back to wreak havoc?

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[ Art by Rich Hedden (pencils) Tom McWeeney (inks) and Robbie Busch (colors) from The Demon #35 (1993) by Alan Grant ]

Both indoctrinated, silenced when they question, and eventually driven to rebellion against their enforced destinies.

Both are victims of generational debts they didn’t create and survivors of fathers (Mister Melmoth and Trigon) who treat their progeny as an exploitable resource to be trafficked for legacy and power. 

We’ve seen Klarion in Azarath before, in Raven’s solo book, but how would Limbo Town treat someone like Raven? Would they see her pacifism as a heresy to be burned out, or, as a society that theoretically prioritizes women’s magical knowledge, would they actually respect her power?

Thoughts?

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[ Art by Butch Guice and Chris Chuckry from Legends of the DC Universe #18 (1999) by Marv Wolfman ]

[Art by Frazer Irving from Seven Soldiers: Klarion (2005) by Grant Morrison ]

 

If Klarienne were a Sailor Scout which planet would she represent or which character would be her counterpart? 

Sailor Saturn? Human Luna? Someone Else?

ALSO! If Klarion had a favorite Sailor Moon character who would it be? Or maybe it’d be one of the villain characters?

If you think he wouldn’t like this show that’s valid too. What anime you think he’d prefer instead? Soul Eater, maybe?  

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[ Art by Luciano Vecchio and Enrica Eren Angiolini from Multiversity: Teen Justice #3 (2022) by Ivan Cohen an Danny Lore ]