Demons Three

Demons Three
The Demons Three, from JLA #10, artist Mike Sekowsky
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics±
First appearance	Justice League of America #10, (March 1962)
Created by	Gardner Fox (writer) Mike Sekowsky (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Abnegazar, Rath, Ghast
Species	Demon
Place of origin	Hell
Abilities	mastery of maleficium

Abnegazar, Rath and Ghast are three fictional characters in the DC Universe who are collectively known as the Demons Three.

The Demons Three first appeared in Justice League of America #10 (March 1962), and were created by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky.

These brothers ruled the galaxy a billion years ago before being banished by beings known as the Timeless Ones. The Demons Three have tried to return time and again, summoned by Felix Faust and others, their attempts always foiled by the Justice League. Abnegazar was slain by Doctor Fate in Swamp Thing #50, but is currently being resurrected by his brothers. They have also been seen in the company of Neron.

Anyone can summon the power of the Demons Three by possessing (and utilizing) three artifacts: the Green Bell of Uthool, the Silver Wheel of Nyorlath and the Red Jar of Calythos which were created by the brothers for this purpose and could not be destroyed or moved from Earth, meaning the Timeless Ones created magical guardians for them. If one releases the incense from the jar and then spins the wheel while the bell resounds, a series of events is set in motion which, one hundred years later, frees the demons; but for that century, the one who freed them could possess all their awesome power. In JLA #10 Faust is able to make the JLA recover the items, and later in JLA #11 while the JLA are time-travelling to capture the Lord of Time who has escaped to the future, they discover the demons a century later. They are imprisoned, but Green Lantern helps Wonder Woman escape, and she uses his ring to free the others. Green Lantern disguises the JLA as each other so the Demons will be fooled, and the JLA are able to capture the demons and imprison them once more.

The Demons Three - with Abnegazar, after his rebirth, still just a big maggot - cooperated with Neron in an attempt to destroy the Justice League. While they were evidently less powerful than him, the Devil showed some veneration for their great age.

In the JLA/Avengers crossover, the Bell, Wheel and Jar are part of the twelve items of power sought by the heroes.