Has Mephisto got a deal for you…
Mephisto: “Out of the Forbes 100 Richest list, I’ve made a deal with a hundred of them, plus fourteen kings, three Popes, and also a Beatle. Ringo.”
Ironheart “The Past is the Past” (Season 1, Episode 6)
A talk show host hypes up her audience and gives you a cue to enter. You hear the cheers and see the applauding fans of The Morning Star Report. Sitting down after a quick handshake, the two of you discuss your upcoming novel, a modern update of Faust. It’s expected to hit the bestseller lists like a truck, like your last four original novels.
“But then, they aren’t original, are they?”
The host cues a group of other authors. They enter coldly, glaring at you. The accusations fly. Ripoff characters. Stolen manuscripts. Plagiarism. The author of a modern Faust adaptation found dead. The host picks apart your defenses as the audience brays for blood. You can see him sitting with them, that grinning bastard who offered you stories. His laughter is loud, almost louder than the sound of tearing metal above you. You see a spotlight falling and-
Shouldn’t that have hurt? And why’s it so cold? You look down at the red puddle that was you. It bursts into flames as Mephisto applauds. That was a fantastic finale, but he’s ready to see your falling action.
Mephisto is one of Marvel’s biggest threats. He’s the devil or powerful enough that no other demons deny his claims. So who is he? How had he tempted heroes? How do you beat the devil? Let’s find out.
Scene Select
The Devil, You Say?: Mephisto’s Backstory
Mephisto: “Many are the good men who can resist murder, theft, and cruelty. But a touch of greed? A bit of laziness? These are the seeds of ruination that can bring down the best of men!”
Daredevil #278 (1990)
Mephisto debuted in Silver Surfer #3 in 1968. He was created by Stan Lee and John Buscema, who borrowed Faust’s demon Mephistopheles to play the ultimate schemer of the Marvel Universe
No one is sure where Mephisto comes from, but the Archangel Uriel calls him brother. Mephisto rules over a hellish dimension filled with souls that made deals with him and constantly seeks more slaves. Many appearances by Satan and similar demons in Marvel Comics were retroactively assumed to be him.
Mephisto created the Spirit of Vengeance curse in the Stone Age, convincing a caveman to become the first Ghost Rider in exchange for revenge on a monster that slaughtered his village. Hundreds more followed that first Rider, though Johnny Blaze became the biggest thorn in Mephisto’s side after rebelling against him.
The Silver Surfer was the first hero to fight Mephisto. The demon often tempted him with the ability a return to his lover and other rewards, hoping to corrupt his soul. Mephisto always failed because the Surfer was too noble to submit and too powerful to defeat. He stopped after Galactus personally stepped in to defend his former Herald.
One More Day: Mephisto’s History
[Mephisto has offered to save Aunt May for a price]
Spider-Man: One More Day
Mephisto: “I want that which gives you joy, that which sustains you in your moments of greatest despair, the source of your strength, your happiness, your dreams, your hope. I want your love. I want your marriage.”
It would be faster to list who Mephisto hasn’t screwed with. He unmade Scarlet Witch’s children after learning they’d been born from his stolen magic. Doctor Doom battled him for years to free his mother’s soul. Mephisto acted as a seneschal while Thanos had the Infinity Gauntlet and surprised himself by talking Thanos into wiping out half of the universe to impress Death.
Spider-Man was Mephisto’s greatest victory. While Aunt May was dying from a gunshot wound, Mephisto offered to heal her in exchange for Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson’s marriage. They agreed, allowing him to retcon large swathes of history. Worst of all, he lured them while disguised as “Mayday” Parker, their daughter who will never be born or become Spider-Girl because of the deal.
Mephisto has always dangled the memory of the deal just outside of Peter’s perception to torment him, and with good reason. Over drinks with Doctor Strange, Mephisto revealed that he had seen prophecies of a future where he takes over the world. Spider-Man is the one who ends his regime. But as always, the devil lied. It’s Spider-Girl who would finally defeat him, so Mephisto can’t risk her existence.
Give the Devil His Due: Mephisto’s Powers and Personality
[Mephisto’s hellfire clashes against Galactus’s Power Cosmic]
Silver Surfer: Judgement Day
Mephisto: “I am Mephisto! Only one has the power to defy me! And next to Him, you are less than a smoldering cinder in the furnace of the damned!”
Mephisto is a Demon Lord whose power is tied to his section of Hell. He can cast spells, conjure hellfire, commands legions of demons, and becomes almost invincible in his domain. The only exception is The One Below All. Mephisto also isn’t suicidal enough to challenge The One Above All’s Hulk form.
Deals are Mephisto’s bread and butter. He can’t force someone to accept, but he can manipulate them into believing they don’t have a choice. Escape usually requires another deal or a soul becoming redeemed and worthy of Heaven, harming Mephisto if he tries to keep them. Several grimoires of instructions on making deals with Mephisto can be summed up in one word: “don’t.”
Mephisto’s the devil. That tells you all you need to know about him. He’s sadistic, arrogant, treacherous, manipulative, and ruining souls is his idea of a good time. Mephisto occasionally shows a dorky side and can be superficially charming, but he’s just biding his time to make sure your fall hurts.
The Actors Who Play Him
Peter Fonda – Ghost Rider
Ciaran Hinds – Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance
Sacha Baron Cohen – Ironheart
Didya Get All That
Mephisto is one hell of a problem in the Marvel universe.
Jared Bounacos has written for Movie Rewind since 2016.
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