The Return of the Son of Satan

Just in time for Halloween, Marvel has released two interesting new series about one of their most weird and wonderful characters ever, the Son of Satan.

First, in their ongoing Essential series they’ve collected Marvel Horror – Volume 1, retelling the origins of Daimon Hellstorm, better known as Satan’s begrudged son, and his foxy sister Satana. The collection's primary focus is on Son of Satan’s 1973 series, written in part by one-time St. Louis native Steve Gerber (most famous for Howard the Duck). With Gerber’s connection to St. Louis, he sets many of Son of Satan’s earliest adventures in the gateway to the west… or for this comic perhaps we should call it the gateway to HELL.

Specifically in issues 15-24 of Marvel Spotlight, you can find Son of Satan breaking up the satanic cult of nihilists as they worship in Forest Park, battling his sinister father atop the Arch, and, believe it or not, dining at Cyrano’s Coffee House. Who says nothing ever interesting happens in St. Louis?

The second Son of Satan release is issue one a five-part 2006 limited series re-titled Hellstorm, which is being published by Marvel’s mature readers branch Max Comics. The story has an interesting back-drop of taking place in a post-Katrina New Orleans and juxtaposes Son of Satan’s story with the retelling of the Egyptian legend of Isis and Osiris.

I recommend both of these for comic readers interested in one of the more obscure characters in the Marvel universe, or those of you just looking for a really good Halloween custom. All you really need to do is draw a pentagram on your chest.

-Jon