It’s official:Mephistohas joined the MCU. Mephisto has long been teased to be entering the Marvel Cinematic Universe, having been namedropped or hinted at in TV shows like Agatha: All Along, butfinally, the MCU introduces MephistoinIronheart,as played by Sacha Baron Cohen. Now, the possibilities are endless for how his stories are adapted to the screen.
Mephisto originally made his Marvel debut in 1968, meaning there are close to 57 years' worth of storylines featuringMarvel’s equivalent to Satan. As Marvel cherry-picks through Mephisto’s best stories in deciding which ones to bring into live-action form, now is the perfect time for readers to get acquainted with who Mephisto is. By hedging through Mephisto’s best moments and stories, it becomes all the more evident why he has a case for being Marvel’s most diabolical threat.
10Mephisto’s Debut Sets the Tone For His Character
He Humbles a Cosmic Hero in the Silver Surfer
Silver Surfer#3 by Stan Lee and John Buscema marks the first Marvel appearance of Mephisto. In his on-panel comic book debut, Mephisto hopes to destroy the one figure of pure goodness walking on a planet filled with humanity whose hatred he wishes to exploit. When he can’t corrupt Silver Surfer with temptations, he tries to crush him both physically and emotionally, the latter by kidnappinghis tragic lover, Shalla-Bal. This moment effectively establishes a Satanic facsimile that fits within Marvel’s mythos. Initially, he’s meant to be a part of Silver Surfer’s rogue’s gallery, but eventually weaves toward other heroes.
9Proves Pivotal in Ghost Rider’s Origin Story
Changes Johnny Blaze’s Life Forever
If Mephisto is a staple of anyone’s rogue’s gallery, it’s Ghost Rider. Johnny Blaze’s origin story wouldn’t exist without Mephisto’s meddling, as the fiendish Prince of Liars tricks Johnny and double-crosses him in a deal gone awry, forever cursing him to the flame of the Ghost Rider. As a result, Johnny remains in constant conflict with Mephisto. It shows that not only is Mephisto capable of trying to corrupt other heroes, but succeeds in doing so, creating one ofMarvel’s most notable anti-heroes. In claiming Johnny’s soul, this also gives Mephisto one of his many surprising wins as a supervillain.
The Year 2099 Yields The Results That Mephisto Wants
Sooner or later, Mephisto always gets what he wants, as far as he’s concerned. Looking at the year of 2099 as seen inAnnihilation 2099#4, he’s proven right in a dark depiction of Marvel’s distant future. It is then that the Silver Surfer of that era works as a Herald of Mephisto rather than Galactus in an origin story that’seven darker than the original. He may have had to have waited several years for it, but Mephisto finally collects on the temptations he first attempted to wager when he made his debut against Silver Surfer decades prior.
7Mephisto is the Devil on Thanos' Shoulder
Mephisto Plays an Underrated and Overlooked Part in One of Marvel’s Biggest Storylines
The Infinity Gauntlet is often praised as one of the most important Marvel storylines, and manages to be one ofThanos' best comic stories. The Infinity Gauntlet is why Thanos is positioned so highly in the Marvel supervillain hierarchy today, but no one talks about how important of a role Mephisto plays in the story.
Thanos may have taken the glory and the praise for his role as lead antagonist, but Mephisto set everything in motion.
Playing the ultimate puppet master, he’s constantly in Thanos' ear, advising him on how to use his power, all in an attempt to eventually betray Thanos and take the Gauntlet from him. Although he fails, the chaos that takes place in the series is largely a result of Mephisto whispering sweet nothings in Thanos' ear, watching the battle lines unfold in front of him. Thanos may have taken the glory and the praise for his role as lead antagonist, but Mephisto set everything in motion.
6Mephisto Nearly Kills Franklin Richards
Doctor Doom and The Fantastic Four Make an Enemy Out of Mephisto
Fantastic Four Annual#20 by Steve Englehart and Paul Neary showcases one of Reed Richards and Doctor Doom’s showdowns, but also how far Mephisto’s meddling can go against the heroes. Doctor Doom had challenged Mephisto annually in an attempt to rescue his mother from Mephisto’s Hell dimension, but this time, through kidnapping, has the one thing Mephisto may want to exchange for: Franklin Richards. The boy’s power intrigued Mephisto, so Doom was willing to sacrifice him to save his mom. Had Franklin’s power not been so immense to overwhelm Mephisto, the devil would have killed him, proving his evil had no limitations, not even children.
5Mephisto Condemns Las Vegas to Eternal Damnation
In the aftermath ofSecret Empire,Doctor Strange goes to Las Vegas to rebuild the city as it was decimated in a Hydra attack.His best efforts are interrupted by Las Vegas, as Marvel’s greatest sinner travels to Sin City to transform the landscape into Hotel Inferno. He admittedly felt his usual act was stale, and decided to claim Las Vegas as his next hot ticket to claim souls.
To ensure he goes unopposed, he possesses The Avengers to do his bidding as his own personal Ghost Riders. This sets upthe four-partDamnationevent, where Strange must assemble Blade, Moon Knight, Ghost Rider, Elsa Bloodstone, Iron Fist, and Doctor Voodoo to help in perhaps Mephisto’s most meticulous plot. It not only freshens up Mephisto’s character, but nearly helps him achieve his destiny in conquering the world in his image.
4Mephisto Becomes a Multiversal Threat to the Avengers
Slaughters Avengers Across Multiple Realities
Jason Aaron’sAvengers Assemblearc saw the multiversal Masters of Evil assembled by Mephisto managed to conquer countless universes. Several heroes start to fall in the ensuing battle, as Mephisto slaughters Avengers from alternate realities. He even takes the time to fend off a team of Prehistoric Avengers. This results in a cosmic finale that involves the likes of the Phoenix Force and Galcatus.Mephisto has always been a force to be reckoned with, but this time, he’s a threat to the entire whole of reality itself as a multiversal threat. He’s not just condemned to damnations or hellacious bargains.
3Mephisto Kills an Avenger, Mockingbird
The Devil Cements His Legacy as an Avengers-Level Threat
InAvengers West Coast#100, the team falls into the dark clutches of Mephisto after Mockingbird is taken hostage into his Hell dimension. They manage to use Scarlet Witch’s magic to travel there for a rescue mission. They succeed, but as they exit through a portal to Earth, Mephisto launches a defeaning blast at Hawkeye, who is saved by his lover andthe Avengers' best super-soldierin a noble sacrifice.By indirectly killing Mockingbird, Mephisto establishes himself as an Avengers-level threat worth taking seriously. Conquering Earth’s Mightiest Heroes isn’t easy, cementing Mephisto as someone capable of possibly ruling the Earth.
2Mephisto Deprives Scarlet Witch’s Children From Her
This Creates a Domino Effect for Multiple Classic Stories
Arcs like “Disassembled” and “House of M” have proven to be some of the most impactful and pivotal storylines in recent memory for the Marvel Universe.While the Scarlet Witch lies at the center of it all as an antagonist, it often goes overlooked the role that Mephisto played years prior to get Wanda Maximoff to her breaking point.
The conception of the Scarlet Witch’s children is complicated to say the least. After she married Vision, she absorbed mounds of magic to make herself pregnant, and unknowingly absorbed two parts of Mephisto’s soul in the process. InAvengers West Coast#52 returned to reclaim the whole of his soul, and in doing so, takes Wanda’s children from her. This created decades worth of trauma that inevitably comes to a head.
1"One More Day" Remains Mephisto’s Most Infamous Moment
Singlehandedly Changed Spider-Man’s Life for the Worst
“One More Day” may be the most controversial storyline to come out of theSpider-Manfranchise and Marvel at large. At the center of it all lies the Lord of Lies, Mephisto, who bargains with Peter Parker to wager his marriage to save Aunt May’s life.Mephisto was never a permanent fixture of Spider-Man’s lore or rogues gallery, but this one storyline created a bigger impact on Spider-Man than any other villain in his history. This one momentderailed Spider-Man foreverand tied him to this sinister puppet master. For once,Mephistowins, and Spider-Man still hasn’t gotten his payback.
