Mephisto (comics)

Mephisto
Mephisto, as seen on the variant cover for The Amazing Spider-Man #545 (Jan. 2008). Art by Marko Djurdjevic.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	The Silver Surfer #3 (Dec. 1968)
Created by	Stan Lee (writer) John Buscema (artist)
In-story information
Full name	Mephisto
Species	Demon
Team affiliations	Six-Fingered Hand Legion Accursed
Notable aliases	Satan, Lucifer, The Devil, Mephistopheles
Abilities	Superhuman physical attributes and intelligence Immortality Magic

Mephisto is a fictional character, a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in The Silver Surfer #3 (Dec. 1968) and was introduced in the Marvel universe by Stan Lee and John Buscema, based on Mephistopheles – a demon character from the Faust legend, who often went by Mephisto as a nickname.

Debuting in the Silver Age of comic books, the character has appeared in over four decades of Marvel continuity. The character has also appeared in associated Marvel merchandise including animated television series, feature film, toys, trading cards, and video games.

Inspired by the Mephisto of the Faust legend, he was introduced into Marvel comics by writer Stan Lee and penciler John Buscema, Mephisto debuted in The Silver Surfer #3 (cover-dated Dec. 1968), and was established as a perennial foe for the cosmic hero, also appearing in Silver Surfer #8–9 (Sept.–Oct. 1969) and #16–17 (May – June 1970). Author Mike Conroy has described Mephisto as "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 went on to become a foe for the Norse god superhero Thor in Thor #180–181 (Sept.- Oct. 1970), Astonishing Tales #8 (Oct. 1971) and Thor #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, in a retroactive continuity that placed him in the role originally played by Satan. This was later retconned back to Satan, though Mephisto's influence is still felt in the 1990s by the Danny Ketch Ghost Rider.