Hell (DC Comics)

Hell (DC Comics)

Hell (also Gehenna, Hades, Hel, Jahannam, Sheol, Tartarus) is a fictional location, an infernal underworld utilized in titles published by DC Comics. It is the locational antithesis of the Silver City. The DC Comics location known as Hell is based heavily on its depiction in Abrahamic mythology. Aside from a brief appearance in DC Special Series #8 (1977) that was never referred to again, the DC Comics concept of Hell was first mentioned in Swamp Thing (vol. 2) #27 (July 1984), described by Alan Moore, and was first seen in Swamp Thing Annual #2 (January 1985), written by Moore and depicted by Steve Bissette and John Totleben.

The hierarchy of Hell, specifically the triumvirate of (Lucifer, Beelzebub, and Azazel), was first depicted in The Sandman #4 (April 1989), and was created by Neil Gaiman and Sam Kieth; in the story, Lucifer had been forced to accept the rule due to the disruption caused by the Darkness' attack in Swamp Thing. Hellblazer would add in the First of the Fallen, who predates Lucifer. In Who's Who in the DC Universe #11 (July 1991), the entry on "Hell's Hierarchy" included all the elements of Gaiman's version, plus John Constantine's archfoe Nergal, Agony and Ecstasy (from Hellblazer #12), Asteroth, Abaddon the Destroyer, Morax, and Superman's demonic foe Blaze, who, with Satanus, came to rule Hell in DC's 2008-2009 Reign in Hell limited series.