Publication History
Mephisto debuted in Silver Surfer No. 3 (Dec. 1968), and was established as a perennial foe for the cosmic hero, also appearing in Silver Surfer No. 8 – 9 (Sep. – Oct. 1969) and No. 16 – 17 (May – Jun. 1970).
Writer Mike Conroy stated
| “ | Mephisto was the tempter who could offer the endlessly soul-tormented Silver Surfer the world, even dangling the Surfer's off-limits long-distance lover in front of him. As always the case with Lee's heroes, the Surfer's goodness and nobility won out, but Mephisto was only stymied, not defeated, and the pattern was set. | ” |
Mephisto also becomes a foe for the Thunder God Thor, appearing in Thor No. 180 – 181 (Sep. – Oct. 1970), Astonishing Tales No. 8 (Oct. 1971) and reappearing again in Thor with issues No. 204 – 205 (Oct. – Nov. 1972). He was later revealed to be the being to whom Johnny Blaze had sold his soul and had been cursed to become the Ghost Rider by, a retcon placing him in the role originally played by Satan during Johnny Blaze's first series. This was later retconned back to Satan, though Mephisto's influence is still felt in the 1990s by the Danny Ketch Ghost Rider.
Other notable appearances included posing as Satan in Marvel Spotlight No. 5 (Aug. 1972); tormenting the titular superhero team in Fantastic Four No. 155 – 157 (Feb. – Apr. 1975) and Thor No. 310 (Aug. 1981) and No. 325 (Nov. 1982). Mephisto also guest starred in two limited series: Vision and the Scarlet Witch vol. 2, No. 1 – 12 (Oct. 1985 – Sep. 1986) and Secret Wars II No. 1 – 9 (July 1985 – March 1986), before starring in the self-titled limited series Mephisto vs. No. 1 – 4 (April – July 1987), battling several of Marvel's super teams.
Mephisto continued to torment the Scarlet Witch in Avengers West Coast No. 51 – 52 (Nov. – Dec. 1989); created a new adversary for the Marvel heroes in Daredevil No. 270 (Sep. 1989); and appeared in the graphic novel Triumph and Torment: Dr. Strange and Dr. Doom (1989). Additionally, he was featured prominently in the One More Day storyline in The Amazing Spider-Man #544; Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #24; Sensational Spider-Man (vol. 2) No. 41 and Amazing Spider-Man No. 545 (Oct. 2007 – Jan. 2008).
In 2009, Mephisto was ranked as IGN's 48th Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time.
Read more about this topic: Mephisto (comics)
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