Etrigan

Etrigan the Demon is one of DC Comics' most distinctive and enduring supernatural powerhouses, born from the legendary imagination of Jack Kirby. First appearing in The Demon #1 in 1972, Etrigan is a rhyming demon from Hell who has been mystically bound to the mortal Jason Blood since the fall of Camelot, when the wizard Merlin forged their fates together. That debut issue is a cornerstone of the Bronze Age and a prized find for any serious DC collector, representing Kirby's return to the publisher and his signature cosmic-meets-mythology storytelling at its most ambitious.

Over the decades Etrigan has evolved far beyond his horror-tinged origins, becoming a complex antihero whose moral compass spins somewhere between selfless heroism and gleeful chaos. His speaking in rhyming couplets — a trait that became a defining characteristic after Alan Moore leaned into it during his legendary run — gives the character an unforgettable voice unlike anything else in comics. Moore's contributions in the early 1980s helped cement Etrigan as a character with serious literary weight, and those issues remain highly sought after. Matt Wagner's subsequent work further deepened the mythology, exploring the demon's rank in Hell's hierarchy and the tortured duality of his bond with Jason Blood.

Etrigan has been a key player in some of DC's most ambitious team-up and event books. His role in the Demon Knights series, which explored the medieval roots of his partnership with Jason Blood alongside characters like Madame Xanadu and Vandal Savage, is one of the New 52's most celebrated runs. He has fought alongside Justice League Dark, clashed with the forces of heaven and hell in crossover events, and even briefly rose to claim power within Hell's own hierarchy — storylines that pushed the character into genuinely epic territory and produced some visually spectacular comics.

For collectors, Etrigan represents an incredible value proposition. The Demon #1 is a high-priority Bronze Age key, and early issues of every subsequent Etrigan solo series carry demand among both DC devotees and horror-comics fans. His appearances in team books like Justice League Dark and Demon Knights are accessible entry points that regularly appreciate as newer readers discover the character. With a supernatural powerset that rivals nearly anyone in the DC universe — hellfire breath, sorcery, immortality, and raw demonic strength — and a history stretching from Camelot to the present day, Etrigan's comics offer depth, spectacle, and genuine collectible staying power.