u/Particular_Gap_8141

Have AT LEAST one other DC character, but I’m in a silly goofy mood so the club can include anyone from any media. 

What are they reading? This can be actual titles or just describe the kinds of books, genres and concepts, you think they’d like.

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[ Art by Nicola Scott and Annette Kwok | Letters by Troy Peteri from Cheetah and Cheshire Rob the Justice League #2 (2025) by Greg Rucka ] 

Have any of you been reading the new The Deadman series by W. Maxwell Prince and Martín Morazzo? It’s been in my pulls and I’m loving it so far. It’s the same creative team as Ice Cream Man and Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum (2025) and it has a similar “feel” and tone as those books. I’m really enjoying how they’re utilizing the ideas of Samsara, it’s fun.

The latest issue informed us that Boston Brand will be heading to Hell, therefore interacting with some Hell connected character(s?). It makes me wonder if our favorite Demon will be reclaiming his classic "Virgil" role as Hell's premier escort through the underworld! Many may already have noticed the rhyming theme of the solicit for the upcoming issue #3 too.

If he does appear, this will be the first time we’ve checked in on him since the events of DCKO where Superman used his Omega King energy to make an “Everybody wins” rewrite. It seems as if everyone who took part in the trial is getting some of their vision for the world realized in some way, the vision that the Heart of Apokolips revealed to them. So, I’m really curious if this will touch on any of what that means for him yet or if we’ll have to wait until his solo title finally comes out. 

What do you think, let me know your theories!

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[ Art by Martín Morazzo and Chris O'Halloran | Letters by Good Old Neon from The Deadman #2 (2026) by W. Maxwell Prince ]

In this scene from Legion of Superheroes (1999) Live Wire (aka Lightning Lad) and Ultra Boy play some kind of futuristic holo-game where Etrigan is a playable character. I think this is a fun, clever, way to have a character cameo without having to include their literal selves within the main plot. 

This got me thinking about actual games which feature Etrigan and Jason. Etrigan is a playable character in the Mobile DC Legends, Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham and Lego DC Super-villains, as part of a DLC Justice League Dark pack. Both characters are summonable in Scribblenauts Unmasked. Etrigan is also a boss-fight in DCU Online, but with no Jason appearance which feels like a missed opportunity to make a multi-bar/cutscene boss situation. He is also an NPC in Injustice, but at least there the absence of Jason is made sense of in the tie-in comic where we see that he is killed by the Spectre. 

I was shocked, SHOCKED, to find out how underutilized their switch-out mechanic is. Not terribly shocked at how underutilized Jason is for spell casting and combat, but that's unfortunate too. There's literally no game that uses this aspect of them which... why? 

I could easily see Jason being a "red mage" type character, having both combat skills plus spell casting (the combat skills are also what helps differentiate his versatility and skillset from Constantine, as two characters who are both acquired magic users) Etrigan could easily function as a boosted mode, that should probably be limited anyway since the whole idea of why Jason tries to only summon Etrigan sparingly is because Etrigan will use his time free to cause chaos. Having the Jason dynamic feels like it also helps prevent Etrigan from just becoming the generic "Hulk Smash!" character. 

Granted, Jason and Etrigan, even within the comics, sort of have two health bars which could be seen as very OP. But I think the comics already provide a contingency on this: where the caveat is that they must make that switch before whomever is currently tapped in gets KO'd otherwise it's game over. There's a whole strategic aspect to their duality that could be employed in game mechanics.

Anyway, thoughts on Etrigan and Jason as translated into videogames? Am I asking for too much here? It's a totally fair opinion if you just want Etrigan to smash, btw! My point isn't to disparage that but just disappointed the lore isn't capitalized on more within a medium which could do more with it.

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[ Art by Tom McCraw, Scott Kolins and Ray Kryssing | Letters by Pat Brosseau from Legion of Superheroes #119 (1999) by Tom Peyer ]

Wow, divine taste and infernal drip. Blood really said, yes I am forced to serve Merlin and house this demon, but there’s one thing I still have total control over: I can absolutely serve cunt 😤😎

I’m begging DC to bring back that coat with the fur collar for Jason ❤️‍🔥 Even though the black turtleneck and tan jacket is his iconic wear (and I love it) I also like times when we see him rock some interesting pattern or material. I get the impression that a man of his vintage, who has had to update his wardrobe for the times so often, and famously has a whole gallery of his various lewks through the centuries, would greatly appreciate the artistry of fashion. 

Also I included that image with the red sunglasses, which is from JLA #69 (2002) cover, because that also looks cool af and I was kind of disappointed they never use that in the actual story (good story for Jason though!) 

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Images from Left to Right:

[ Art by Jack Kirby and Mike Royer from The Demon  #6 (1973) by Jack Kirby ]

[ Cover Art by Doug Mahnke & Tom Nguyen from JLA #69 (2002) by Joe Kelly ]

[ Art by Michael Golden & Jerry Serpe | Letters by Jean Simek from The Batman Family #17 (1978) by Bob Rozakis ]

[ Art by Jorge Corona and Sara Stern from DC’s Terrors Through Time #1 “Blood Lost and Found” (2022) by Matthew Levine ]

Would you want to see Klarion still act as a direct antagonist for Jason Blood and Etrigan? What elements do you think would be absolutely essential for the story to feel satisfactory to you? Or would you prefer they never interact again? There's no wrong opinions, I'm genuinely curious on everyone's thoughts!

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[ Art by Jack Kirby and Mike Royer | Letters by Mike Royer from The Demon #14 (1973) by Jack Kirby ]

GET THE LOOK:

Style profile: Academic, Eclectic/boho Maximalist

Essential pieces: 

• Massive Library of mysterious tomes, spell books and esoteric history
• Various haunted gargoyles and global antiquities
• Skulls of strange demonic beasts of questionable provenance
• Portraiture proving you’ve been dripped out for literal centuries
• Fully stocked liquor bar
• Comfy seating complete with wise-cracking, cigar smoking, best friend throw pillow

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Image 1: [ Art by Norm Breyfogle, Josef Rubinstein and Noelle Giddings | Letters by John Costanza from Anarky #1 (1997) by Alan Grant ]

Image 2: [ Art by Rich Hedden, Tom McWeeney, and Robbie Busch | Letters by Clem Robins from The Demon #30 (1992) by Alan Grant ]

Image 3: [ Art by Javier Fernández and Marcelo Maiolo | Letters by Steve Wands from Batman and Robin #22 (2025) by Phillip Kennedy Johnson ]

Image 4: [ Art by Pop Mhan, Albert Thibert, Jake Crippen and Nick Dragotta | Letters by Janice Chiang from The Demon: Driven Out #3 (2004) by Joshua Dysart ]

Image 5: [ Art by Val Semeiks, Denis Rodier and Robbie Busch | Letters by Todd Klein from The Demon #8 (1991) by Alan Grant ]

Image 6 & 7: [ Art by Jack Kirby and Mike Royer | Letters by Mike Royer from The Demon #1 (1972) by Jack Kirby ]

This story made me think about Raven and dancing.

I’m actually surprised this isn’t explored more often as something she does with her free time. I feel like it makes so much sense for her to dance, as a form of expression or even communication, as an empath. Maybe it could be an additional thing she could do, to decompress, as an addition or alternative to meditation?

This is something Wolfman kind of touches on in NTT #35 (1987) where Raven moves into her first apartment and it’s on Broadway so she can hear the theatrical productions around her and they have some influence on her emotions and therefore her empathic power. I love that she even says that she has made some friends with dancers! 

I thought this story, “The Dead Can Dance” (ok, was this title a reference to the band because I can definitely see that vibe here), was really quite touching, though this is a random spirit, and the prom aspect feels a bit like the movie Casper. I'd love to see more contexts for her dancing and using that for emotional connection.

Thoughts on Raven healing spirits and/or taking a dancing class?

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[ Art by Javier Fernandez and Trish Mulvihill | Letters by Carlos M. Mangual from Young Monsters in Love “The Dead Can Dance” (2018) by Collin Kelly & Jackson Lanzing ]

[ Art by Pat Broderick, Romeo Tanghal and Adrienne Roy | Letters by Albert T. De Guzman from New Teen Titans #35 (1987) by Marv Wolfman ]

Teekl is only very rarely shown with a collar, so, imo, it ends up feeling like a very pointed choice, narratively, when creative teams choose to do so. Am I over thinking it? Do you think it’s simply an artistic preference or do you agree? What are your thoughts on this?

I get the impression that a commonality between all these times Teekl has a collar is that Klarion’s magic status is being elevated and he is depicted at his most powerful in some way. Which is interesting, like the collar symbolizes his “taming” and mastering his magic. And since familiars help empower and protect, and therefore are also a vulnerability, it feels in character for him to want to hide Teekl, in plain sight, in the disguise of an unassuming, non-magic, cat.

Half of these depictions also portray him allied with a hero. Do you think the collar signals the “domesticity” of heroism?

Or... maybe it’s just a cute collar lol

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Top Left: [Young Justice (2021) Season 4, ep. 13 “Kaerb Ym Traeh!”]

Top Right: [Art by Danny Earls and Nick Filardi from Superman: Father of Tomorrow #2 (2026) by Kenny Porter]

Bottom Left: [Art by Pop Mhan and Lovern Kindzierski  from Raven: Daughter of Darkness #8 (2018) by Marv Wolfman]

Bottom Right: [Art by Bruno Redondo, Xermánico and Rex Lokus | Letters by Wes Abbott from Injustice Gods Among Us Year Three Chapter Four (2014) by Tom Taylor]

In this issue of Supergirl, Jason Blood and Etrigan are drawn to Las Vegas when a demonic cult tries to sever the bond between them without their consent. Later (In issue #67) the cult successfully bonds Etrigan to a demon named Buzz who has been posing as a human. Etrigan nearly gets married, by Elvis (naturally), to Supergirl (!) before a demonic mother, dressed as a nun (naturally), intervenes.

This is a bit of an underrated little arc for Jason and Etrigan, very fun to see them in Vegas but it still gets into the psychological bond between the two. It’s interesting that instead of just wreaking havoc Etrigan is like, uh no, I’m going to gamble! when in Las Vegas! I suppose part of that is also because Buzz is positioned as more of a sympathetic/redeemable demon (and maybe a play on Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer? Apparently Peter David was a fan of the show!) 

This arc starts in #66 and ends in #68 (as far as Jason and Etrigan are involved) 

[ Art by Diego Barreto, Robin Riggs and Gene D’angelo | Letters by Bill Oakley from Supergirl #66 and #67 (2002) by Peter David ]

R.I.P. to arguably the weirdest, most random, pure hearted little guy in DC comics. I guess he could die after all, as he was shot in the line of duty in John Byrne’s Wonder Woman #130 (1997) run. Whatever happened there... it’s a tragedy. He’s sleeping with the fishes now, or whatever the hell goblins do.

Context: Jason Blood senses the whereabouts of the Pandora Pits that Ra's Al Ghul and Circe have plans for. He takes a magical photo and sends it to Batman, but then is caught by the League of Assassins. Ra's and Circe offer Etrigan to join their Trinity but Etrigan refuses as he serves no one. Circe and Ra's cut him, sending some of his demon blood into the pit, and the Pandora Pit drags Etrigan in. This somehow splits him from Jason and transforms him into a giant demon so he immediately attacks the Greek coast.

Have you read this issue? Literally can't go wrong with a Kaiju version of Etrigan, I love to see it.  What do you think of when Etrigan has wings? Do you prefer that or do you think it’s better when he just flys like Superman? 

Jason has sent magical messages before, but I think this is the first we’ve seen magical pictures. Regardless, I'm eating it up. I love this scholarly sorcerer! We aren’t talking enough about his particular flair with magic, the way he often does these kinds of fun things. I feel like he loves spellcasting but doesn't talk about it much... Maybe he is afraid to become like Merlin, who is considered "THE Mage" and whose power is no doubt in part due to his demonic lineage. Do you think any part of him would be worried about getting too carried away with power especially having Etrigan, or do you think writers just sleep on that angle?

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[ Art by Guillem March and Tomeu Morey | Letters by Carlos M. Mangual from Trinity Annual #1 (2017) by Rob Williams ]

Ahh, to be a Beezlebub fly on the wall of this aunt and nephew’s Thanksgiving dinner...🍿🫀

Both Raven and Etrigan are ripping out Belial’s heart in images 2 and 3, btw, his design was just red during the New 52 era. 

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[ Art by Francis Manapul and Hi-Fi | Letters by Andworld Design from Justice League: No Justice #4 (2018) by Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV and Joshua Williamson ]

[ Art by Val Semeiks, Denis Rodier and Robbie Busch | Letters by Todd Klein from The Demon #7 (1990) by Alan Grant ]

[ Art by Tony Bedard, Eddy Barrows, Jesús Merino and Pete Pantazis | Letters by Dezi Sienty from Teen Titans #21 (2013) by Scott Lobdell ]

For a being like Etrigan, inner peace and good vibes are his version of Hell.

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[ Art and writing by Neal Adams | Letters by Clem Robins from Deadman #5 (2018)]

Ok, let’s review & discuss:

✅ Klarion is centuries old

✅ Limbo Town and its residents don’t experience time like Earth

✅ Limbo Town is stated to be below NYC, but even so it must be in some kind of interdimensional time pocket

✅ I don't think Klarion even knows, yet, that he is old af?

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[ Art by Frazer Irving | Letters by Pat Brosseau from Seven Soldiers: Klarion #1 (2005) by Grant Morrison ; Image on right from The New History of DC Universe #1 (2025) by Mark Waid ]

Superman: Father of Tomorrow is an Elseworlds, six issue, mini. This issue #2 releases June 24th!

[Art by Danny Earls and Nick Filardi, Written by Kenny Porter]

Superman: Father of Tomorrow is an Elseworlds, six issue mini. This issue #2 releases June 24th!

[Art by Danny Earls, Written by Kenny Porter]

I really like this scene from Cosmic Odyssey #4 (1988) wherein the big bad is the Anti-Life entity. Etrigan, along with Dr Fate, Darkseid, Orion and Highfather join together to create this protective Pentagram. I think it's interesting how Dr. Fate takes the "spirit" position and reinterprets the other elemental positions.

While the New Gods represent Source energies (or Anti-Life, itself, as is noted in Darkseid's case), and Fate represents intellectual order, Etrigan is chosen specifically because his magic is raw, primordial, and chaotic.

Seeing Etrigan being treated as equals in power with Fate and the New Gods really fits the mythical weight of his character.

I also like that this scene is touching on how a Lord of Order is destroying one reality to protect another. I love when DC reminds us that, within DC's cosmology, being a Lord of Order isn't without nuance or as simple as a clear uncomplicated "good."

The art here is just very cool, gives us the sense of scale and situational gravity of the moment and the imposing presence of the Anti-Life entity. It's delivering hard on the "cosmic" promise but still feels deeply magical.

Where would you rank this in terms of Etrigan's bigger moments?

This is up there, for me, with his role in the Brujería arc in Alan Moore's Saga of Swamp Thing #48—50 (1986).

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[ Art by Mike Mignola, Carlos Garzon and Steve Oliff | Letters by John Workman from Cosmic Odyssey #4 (1988) by Jim Starlin ]