Diablo (Marvel Comics)

Diablo (Esteban Corazón de Ablo) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is depicted as an evil alchemist, and an enemy of the Fantastic Four. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in ''Fantastic Four'' #30 (September 1964).

Publication history

Diablo was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in ''Fantastic Four'' #30 (September 1964).

In a 2013 interview with Chris Hardwick of Nerdist, creator Lee said that Diablo was his greatest regret because he could not remember the character aside from his name, who he is, and why he did what he did, saying, "When you create a character you should feel you know him".

Fictional character biography

Esteban Corazón de Ablo was a powerful alchemist in 9th century Saragossa, who sold his soul to the demon Mephisto to lengthen his life far beyond a human span.

Years later, Diablo set up a base in Transylvania where he made a pact with the Vampires.

The villagers had enough of him where they formed an angry mob and buried him under his castle. One century later, the Fantastic Four visit Transylvania on vacation, where Diablo convinces the Thing to free him and offers him a potion that will partially restore his human form. In exchange for the Thing's services, Diablo would give him another potion to fully transform him. The other members of the Fantastic Four learn of this, but are forced to leave the Thing behind when he chooses to remain with Diablo. Diablo sells his alchemic chemicals internationally, making him the richest man on the planet. Mister Fantastic discovered that Diablo's chemicals work only for a short while before failing. After this information is made public, the world turns on Diablo, but he has already built up an army of loyal followers and is prepared to conquer Earth. At the same time, the Thing reverts to his normal form and turns on Diablo, who seals him in a glass capsule. The Fantastic Four battle Diablo, who is buried under stone.''Fantastic Four'' #30 (September 1964). Mavel Comics.

Diablo later escapes using one of his potions and becomes a recurring enemy of the Fantastic Four.

In ''Secret Avengers'', Scorpio recruits Diablo into the Masters of Evil.

During the " One World Under Doom" storyline, Diablo was mentioned to have been among the prisoners that escaped during a mass-prison break at The Raft. He attempted to do experiments on the locals in the Yucatán Peninsula only to be confronted by the Superior Avengers who Kristoff Vernard had pulled from Chrono Signature Anno Doom +128. Their Onslaught used his mind abilities to do a five minute memory wipe on Diablo enabling them to detain him.

Powers and abilities

Diablo is a practitioner of the alchemic sciences, based upon reconstructing molecules by mystical means, and has obtained this knowledge through study. Thanks to his tutors, he was educated and is self-taught in these arcane arts. His youth and vitality have been lengthened, due to a longevity serum. He can affect his own body by changing the appearance to look like a different person or become "nerveless protoplasm", which protects him from certain forms of harm.

Equipment

Diablo employs a huge arsenal of alchemical weapons that he discovered or invented, and conceals within hidden pouches and pockets in his costume. But unknown to science, his concoctions are almost magical in nature. Although the range of his power is wide, these effects are temporary unless Diablo provides a second dose, with the exception of an elixir he used on Dragon Man. His mixtures include nerve gas pellets, freezing potions, and pills that make people susceptible to Diablo's hypnotic orders. He can also transmute non-organic matter, unleash explosive blasts, model surface features, give life to inanimate objects, and create beings formed from the elements of earth, fire, wind, and water called "elementals". Other concoctions utilize teleportation for quick escapes.

Other versions

Age of Apocalypse

An alternate universe variant of Diablo from Earth-295 appears in ''Age of Apocalypse''. This version is a warden at Apocalypse's prison in Mexico who is later killed by Nightcrawler.

Marvel Zombies

A zombified alternate universe variant of Diablo from Earth-2149 appears in ''Marvel Zombies 3''.

Ultimate Marvel

An alternate universe variant of Diablo from Earth-1610 appears in ''Ultimate Fantastic Four''. This version is Menendez Flores, a 15th-century Italian man who was imprisoned in an inescapable tower by fellow alchemist Andrea Vecchiato.''Ultimate Fantastic Four'' #39 (April 2007)

In other media

Television

* Diablo appears in a self-titled episode of ''Fantastic Four'' (1967), voiced by Regis Cordic. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
* Diablo appears in the '' Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes'' episode "Johnny Storm and the Potion of Fire", voiced by Trevor Devall.
* Diablo appears in '' Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers'', voiced by Tomohisa Aso in the Japanese version and Matthew Mercer in the English dub.

Video games

* Diablo appears in ''Fantastic Four'' (2005), voiced by André Sogliuzzo.
* Diablo appears in ''Marvel Contest of Champions''.

References

External links

Diablo
at Marvel.com

{{Jack Kirby

Comics characters introduced in 1964
Characters created by Jack Kirby
Characters created by Stan Lee
Fantastic Four characters
Fictional characters who use magic
Fictional Spanish people
Marvel Comics characters who use magic
Marvel Comics immortals
Marvel Comics male supervillains
Marvel Comics mutates