History: (Claw the Unconquered #1 (fb), 9 (fb)) - The multiverse consisted of eight positive planes ruled by Gods of Elder Light, and seven negative planes ruled by the Shadow-Gods. Pytharia was a world caught in between light and dark, and was the key to the multiverse’s equilibrium. If one side won Pytharia they would control the entire multiverse. An unnamed man performed a magical experiment to aid his world Pytharia, which was on the cusp of being either a world of light or shadow. His experiment failed, and a demon tried to possess him. He exorcised it, but this right hand became that of the demon. Throughout the ages all his male descendants also had the mark of the demon. His descendant Valcan was born with this curse, and after his parents were killed by King Occulas he was taken to the realm of the Gods of Elder Light, who prepared him to be their champion against the Shadow-Gods. They gave him a gauntlet to combat his hand's demonic influence and the magic sword Moonthorn. The Shadow-Gods could not let this stand and cast a spell returning Valcan to Pytharia and robbing him of his memory and Moonthorn. Nonetheless he became a force of equilibrium, keeping the Shadow-Gods from conquering Pytharia.

(Claw The Unconquered #1) - Claw came to the throne-city of Ichar, still seeking clues to his past and a direction for his future. He sensed the men of the city feared him and the women lusted after him. He was drinking at a tavern when a servant girl realized he was the man with the demon hand her master Tarmag was looking for. Tarmag and his men ambushed Claw and tried to assassinate him, but were no match for Claw’s swordsmanship. Tarmag escaped Claw, and reported to King Occulas, who’d put a price on Claw’s head. Occulas thanked him for his intel, but said he needed his silence as well and had his guardsman Zedon stab him in the back. Miftung said they’d need sorcery to kill Claw and presented Zedon with a gemstone named the Eye of Kann. After Zedon left Miftung noted that Zedon had grown too ambitious as of late and promised his master the Eye of Kann would not only finish off Claw, but Zedon as well. Zedon had Tarmag’s servant girl lure Claw into the Temple of Kann, promising him a safe place to hide out. Zedon appeared and used the Eye to summon the dark god Kann, but to appear on the material plane Kann had to drain Zedon’s lifeforce. Claw took a support rod from the temple and jammed it down Kann’s giant maw, killing the god. Claw realized Occulas wanted him dead and fled into the wilderness. He allowed the servant girl to come with him, but abandoned her when she tried to stab him in the back.

(Claw The Unconquered #2) - Claw slept in the wilderness, but woke to see the outlaw Gofflak standing over him with a blade. Claw disarmed Gofflak, who apologized and begged for his life, saying the bounty on claw was just too tempting. They were attacked by hell-hounds, but salvation came when a rope dropped from the sky and they climbed up it. They found themselves in the floating city of K’Dasha-Deen, and were greeted by the city’s high priestess Myrallya, who invited them to a feast. Claw was suspicious, but he was also hungry. During the banquet Myrallya explained that to maintain the spell that kept her city aloft and gave immortality to her and her fellow Golden Ones she needed to occasionally sacrifice a god. Gods were in short supply, so she told Claw she had to sacrifice him. Claw and Gofflak fought off her guards, but had to surrender when she sicced a pack of hell-hounds on them. In their prison cell Claw said he couldn’t explain to Gofflak why he was a suitable replacement for a god, seeing as he had no memory of his life aside from the past few weeks. Claw was aware, however, that he was a man of important destiny. He used a bed in the jailcell to smash through the cell’s wall and fled, but a pack of hell-hounds chased Claw and Gofflak into an enormous coliseum. Myrallya told Claw it was time for his sacrifice, and he would be killed by a beast impervious to both steel and sorcery, so she advised he allow himself to die swiftly. A two-headed horned beast emerged from a pit in the coliseum, and Claw found he could not injure the monster. He lured it into striking, and one of the heads lashed out at him, but he dodged, causing the beast’s horn to get stuck in the coliseum wall. He taunted the other head, and leapt aside when it struck, impaling it’s stuck head. The beast’s death undid its’ magic, and Myrallya and the Golden Ones crumbled to dust. Claw and Gofflak climbed back down the sky-rope, and they were just in time to witness K’Dasha-Deen crumble and fall to pieces. With the battle won Gofflak tried to stab Claw from behind, but his demon hand grabbed Gofflak and plunged his own dagger into his chest. Claw stared unbelieving at his hand, which had acted of its’ own accord.

(Claw The Unconquered #3) - Claw came across a woman sinking in quicksand and surrounded by hostile lizard men. His instinct was to help, but he hesitated when he remembered every time he’d shown compassion to someone they’d tried to kill him. In the end he couldn’t leave her to her fate and waded into battle with the lizard men, who retreated when he sliced their leader to pieces. He used a vine to pull the woman free, who turned out to be a centaur named Elathia. She had heard of Claw and wanted to hire him, because she was planning to plunder the tomb of a sorcerer at the Wall of Weeping Mists. The lizard men were only the first of many obstacles she knew they’d encounter on the way to the tomb. She offered Claw half the plunder, but he was little interested in gold or magic. Elathia told him the tomb held great knowledge as well, convincing Claw to join her since he was still desperate for any clue to his own past. The camped for the night and were attacked by fanged slugs, which Claw slaughtered after a brief pitched fight. He was angered that Elathia didn’t try to help him, and she sheepishly replied that she’d never killed before. Claw suspected there was more to her seeking the sorcerer’s tomb then she was letting on, and because he’d earned her trust she told him her story. She lived a peaceful existence with her fellow centaurs until a wizard revealed that she was actually a born a human and under the curse of an evil, now dead sorcerer. He told her the only way to restore her humanity was to gain Kyriach, a mystic spear from the sorcerer’s tomb. Elathia came to see centaurs as beasts and badly wanted to be human. By the time her story was finished they’d reached the Wall of Weeping Mists, and Claw climbed his way up to the tomb. He tried to take Kyriach, which floated above the sorcerer’s sarcophagus, but his feet turned to stone. He realized the source of the spell afflicting him was a gem, which he shattered. He retrieved the magic spear and handed it over to Elathia who thanked him before trying to stab him with it. She revealed that she’d lied to Claw, the magician promised to cast a spell to return her humanity if she killed claw with the Kyriach, whose point drained the lifeforce of anything it touched. Claw’s gauntleted demon hand shot out of its’ own accord, grabbing the spear and draining it of its’ magic. Elathia couldn’t bear to thinkl of being robbed at her chance for becoming human and tried to trample Claw, but he fatally wounded her by piercing her side with the spear. She died thankful that death would restore her to her natural form, and Claw was puzzled that she remained a centauress when she died. Miftung was the magician than enlisted her to kill Claw, and lying to her came naturally to him. Occulas and Miftung watched the events unfold in Miftung’s scrying glass, and Occulas said it was time to use his methods to destroy Claw.

(Claw the Unconquered #4) - Claw stopped at the trading post of Kall-Ryn-Dassa when he was attacked by villagers looking to collect a bounty set by the evil King Occulas. Ghilkyn, a prince from another dimension, couldn't stand an unfair fight, and helped Claw fight them off until their numbers swelled, and they were forced to retreat. On their way to another village they saw a young woman named Cybilyth who was bound and about to be executed by the village priest for witchcraft. They saved her, but a portal opened and discharged the demon N'Hglthss. The true culprit of the witchcraft was King Occulas' mage Miftung, who was opening portals to the netherworld to summon demons to destroy Claw. Claw and Ghilkyn found their swords had little effect against the giant, who was still dazed from dimensional travel. Claw stuck a speak in the demon's foot, and when he tried to walk he toppled over. The demon would recover, and Cybilyth directed them to the cave of the sorcerer Asvitar, The Burning Man , who once had contact with the Elder Gods, and had great knowledge of the occult. Asvitar told them of the magic sword Moonthorn, the only weapon capable of slaying the demon. It was Claw's by right, but his enemies hid it in the nether void, and split the Grimstone, which opened the void, into three pieces. Claw didn't think the quest worth it, as he had little love for the world, and wasn't even sure he was of the same race as the people he was expected to save. When N'Hglthss awoke and started killing villagers he couldn't stand idly by, attacked the monster, and managed to make him flee. Claw told his new friends he was ready to seek the Grimstone, the world might bring him grief, but it was the only one he had, and he hoped the sword would shed light on his own unknown origins.

(Claw the Unconquered #5) - Claw and Ghilkyn sought the first fragment of the Grimstone in Varcanum, and had to fight off monsters, including a Cyclops summoned by Miftung. The occult scholar Safa Ghul had the fragment, and in return for it he asked for the ruby eyes of a nearby occult oracle. Claw said he could just take the fragment by force, but Ghul showed him an alchemist brew that he could dissolve the Grimstone in if Claw tried. They found the Oracle's shrine, and a girl named Mlrssa claimed to be the Oracle's slave, and showed them a body drained of all life, saying that was the fate of invaders. They did not heed her, and found the Oracle, a statue of a dragon. Energy came from its ruby eyes, and it summoned a giant crustacean guardian. Claw maneuvered himself under the creature, so he could stab it in its' unprotected underbelly. Mlrssa said she was free now, and told Ghilkyn he deserved a reward. He gladly accepted her kiss, but the life began to drain from him, and Claw forced her from him. She revealed herself as a manifestation of the Oracle. Claw fought her off while Ghilkyn pried out the statue's eyes, destroying the Oracle's essence. Ghul was pleased with the transaction, but when he attempted to access the Oracle's knowledge by placing the rubies over his eyes the power destroyed him. Claw felt no sadness for the man's death, seeing his actions as pure hubris.

(Claw the Unconquered #6) - Claw and Ghilkyn rescued a girl from brigands on their way to Dhylka-Ryn, where the second Grimstone fragment was located,. The girl was named Pfylahna, and she was from Dhylka-Ryn, which was suffering from a curse. Her former friend Kurah Shan had discovered the Grimstone, and using its power summoned monsters and cast the village into eternal twilight for the way the villagers had persecuted him for his weakness in the past. Claw was interested in the Grimstone, not the reward of gold she offered, but begrudgingly agreed he could end the curse. Pfylahna's father was displeased with her champions, calling them a fop and a half-naked savage. Ghilkyn stopped Claw before he attacked the man. Claw and Ghilkyn entered Shan's mystically created temple, and fought monsters they'd dispatched in the past. Ghilkyn figured out that Shan had summoned them by reading the heroes fears, and they both found the willpower to stop being afraid; causing the monsters to vanish. They confronted Shan, who summoned black flames to destroy them. As death neared Claw went into a trance, removed his glove, and revealed his demonic hand. The hand summoned a portal that sucked up the flames, and Claw regained control of himself, although he stared at his hand in shock. Shan was afraid and fled, but ended up accessing his own fears of the villagers who tormented him, and his summoned fears killed him. Claw retrieved his Grimstone fragment, more determined than ever to learn his own origins. Pfylahna mourned her former friend, but her father didn't care, and Claw gladly punched him out before taking leave of the village.

(Claw the Unconquered #7) - Claw and Ghilkyn sought the last fragment in Karth, and while crossing the Lake of Hands, they were attacked by living seaweed conjured by Miftung. Occulas was displeased that the hero was getting closer to his goal, but nothing he had Miftung summon could stop him. Claw used lantern fuel to set the seaweed ablaze, but he heroes boat was also set on fire. They were rescued by Trefalion, and his people the Heshanoy, who took them aboard their boat, and led them to their magic undersea kingdom. The Heshanoy were a technologically advanced race, and created their kingdom to be isolated from the outside world. The final Grimstone fragment powered their kingdom, and the heroes tried to explain why it was absolutely necessary that they take it, but Trefalion would not hear of it. Claw was determined to know his origins, and the nature of his hand, so he was determined to take the fragment, even if it resulted in the deaths of the Heshanoy. Ghilkyn could not allow this, and dueled with his friend until a Heshanoy child asked them to stop fighting, and Claw realized how cruel it would be to destroy such a peaceful race.Miftung sent a sea creature to attack Claw, and the heroes destroyed it. The Heshanoy realized that violence was inescapable, and after taking the heroes to the surface Trefalion presented them with the fragment. He dove back to his kingdom, which perished undersea. They'd chosen death over living in a world of violence. The heroes pieced together the Grimstone and entered the void.

(Claw the Unconquered #8) - Claw and Ghilkyn found themselves in the alien dimension of the 7th Void, dominated by craggy boulders floating in space. The dimension rejected Ghilkyn’s presence and he vanished, leaving a void behind in his place. From the void streamed four-armed beasts and they threatened to overwhelm Claw, but he fought ferociously, slaughtering dozens of his foes. A boulder with tendrils hanging from it floated by, and Claw thought the Void was a realm of madness, but was determined to make its’ madness work for him. He grabbed the tendrils and floated off, but the tendrils took a hold of him, dragging him to an enormous mouth in the center of the boulder. The sky-rock thought it’d secured a meal, but Claw hacked his way free with his sword. He landed on  a rock covered by a forest. In the distance was a spire with a doorway at the top, and Claw sought to reach it. The trees, the rocks and the animals all warned Claw to turn back, saying everything he saw was under the dominion of Mahan K’handa, but Claw resolutely plodded on. He reached the doorway, finding a lavish room with a sculpture holding up the Moonthorn. A protective spell kept Claw from taking it, and Mahan K’handa introduced himself to Claw. He served the Dark Gods, and was tasked with keeping Moonthorn away from Claw, and the protective spell he’d cast would only dissipate if he died. He made it clear his soul was at strake so he had no intention of failing, and summoned a horde of demons to attack Claw. Claw butchered them, but when he attacked Mahan he found that he was impervious to physical attacks. Claw noticed the glass vessel around his neck and shattered it. The vessel contained his soul, which was dragged away by the Dark Gods, and his protective spell dissipated. Claw took the Moonthorn, and the Shadow-God spoke to him, saying their fates were intertwined and they were destined to meet in battle. The Shadow-God advised Claw to simply yield, but Claw disregarded him.

(Claw the Unconquered #9) - Claw and Ghilkyn found themselves back in Pytharia, and Claw noted that his Grimstone was gone. Ghilkyn told him not to worry, reasoning that it vanished because it had served its’ purpose. They saw destruction and ruin all around them, and knew they must be close to the rampaging N’Hglthss. They were approached by a young woman, who asked them to save her father, who refused to leave his village even though N’Hglthss was destroying it, and when he wouldn’t listen to reason Claw physically dragged him to safety. Claw and Ghilkyn confronted N’Hglthss, and Claw crippled him with Moonthorn by severing his Achilles tendons. The demon flailed in pain, and Claw plunged Moonthorn into his chest, sending the demon back to the dimension from which he came. The Elder Gods of Light took Claw to their realm to reveal his full life story since the Shadow-Gods had robbed him of all his early memories. The Gods were pleased to tell him it was ti,me for him to claim his destiny as  their champion in their battle against the Shadow-Gods and their servants for control of the multiverse. Claw refused to be anyone’s pawn and shattered Moonthorn before taking his leave of the Elder Gods. Claw told Ghilkyn he’d learned from the Elder Gods that King Occulas had slain his father, so he vowed revenge, but had to go his own way, and hoped he’d see Ghilkyn again one day in this world or the next.

(Claw The Unconquered #10) - Claw’s quest for vengeance took him to the wilderness of Pytharia, and King Occulas followed his progress through Miftung’s scrying glass. Miftung summoned a demon that threatened a woman, and Claw instinctively sprung into action. Claw was getting the best of the demon in combat when the woman struck him from behind and made herself a willing sacrifice for the beast. Claw didn’t know what to make of the situation, so he fled on his horse. He couldn’t help but feel that the gods were still manipulating him, but he couldn’t help but follow his conscience. Claw was caught in a storm, and found refuge in a city run by automatons ruled by Those Who Abide. Those Who Abide treated Claw to a kingly feast and he noted that the food they served was alive. They admitted to dabbling in necromancy, making Claw suspicious, but he still accepted their hospitality and tried to sleep, but was haunted by memories of his past. When he was ready to take his leave Those Who Abide revealed that they served the Shadow-Gods, and lived to find new forms of pleasure. They were the ones who made the woman claw met earlier sacrifice herself so they could feel what she experienced, and they wanted to experience Claw’s soul being devoured by a demon. They summoned a creature from the netherworld, and it overcame Claw, but when its’ tendrils knocked off Claw’s gauntlet his demon claw took control. Claw took Moonthorn and slashed the demon, forcing it to back away from him. The demon then went after Those Who Abide, swallowing them whole, and they despaired, knowing that because the Shadow-Gods gave them immortality they were in for an eternity of pain. Claw almost wished the demon had killed him so her would no longer question if he was a hero or a pawn.

(Claw The Unconquered #11) - Claw located Castle Darkmorn and Occulas dispatched his guardsmen to ambush him. They were no match for Claw’s swordsmanship, and he found the bloodshed to be cathartic. Occulas told Miftung to cast a spell to keep claw from reaching the castle, and Miftung refused, saying he was tired of being treated as an underling, and told Occulas to remember which one of them wielded real power. Occulas chewed him out, telling him his magic meant nothing compared to Occulas’ power because he was weak and a coward. Miftung acquiesced to his master, casting a spell that caused Darkmorn to rise into the sky. Claw managed to reach the castle as it began its’ flight and jumped aboard. He fought through the Hall of Candles, guarded by a wax golem, and made his way to Occulas’ throneroom. Occulas had Miftung cast a spell of transmutation, turning him into a powerful demonic entity. Occulas and Claw clashed fiercely, and Claw managed to stab him through the chest. Miftung’s spell was undone, and because the spell added Miftung’s lifeforce to Occulas’ the sword blow left him fatally wounded. Miftung told Claw he was not always an evil man, he’d been corrupted by Occulas’ abuse and he thanked Claw for ending his life. He cast a spell teleporting Claw to safety and told Occulas that since his lifeforce powered his spells, his death would undue them. Occulas panicked as Miftung passed on and Castle Darkmorn crashed to the ground. Claw observed the wreckage, and although he felt deprived of killing Occulas by his own hand he was at least pleased that his parents were avenged and the whole ordeal was behind him.

(Claw The Unconquered #12) - Claw wandered into a border skirmish between the provinces of Boske and Kyfirth. The Boskens mistook him for a Kyfithian mercenary and attacked him. Claw gladly waded into battle, slaughtering dozens and helping turn the tide of the battle, enabling the Kyfirthians to claim victory. One of the defeated Boskens held him at swordpoint, but said he couldn’t kill such a talented swordsman, especially after getting the drop on him, and said he hoped they’d clash again under more honorable circumstances. The Kyfithian mercenaries made it clear to Claw they weren’t letting him have a share of their plunder, and when one of them tried to attack claw from behind his demon hand reacted, fatally stabbing the man. The mercenaries were convinced the gauntlet Claw wore was the source of his power, and after inviting him into their camp they managed to steal it. Claw decided not to pursue them, believing his gauntlet was just one more thing that manipulated his life. Claw went to the Kyfithian mercenary camp, offering his service as a trainer, and proved his worth by defeating three trainees in battle. He maimed one of them, and the camp leader told him he shouldn’t have gotten so carried away. Claw was good as job as trainer, but when the maimed mercenary mouthed off to Claw his demon hand tried to pull his tongue out of his skull before he was pulled away. Claw realized that without the gauntlet his demonic, cruel nature was taking over, but he vowed to fight it through sheer willpower. Claw and his trainees were sent to battle a regiment of Boskens, but once the clash started Claw was overwhelmed with bloodlust and went into a berserker rage, killing friend and foe alike. The mercenary who’d earlier spared Claw’s life was the last one left alive, and surrendered to Claw, but his demon hand killed him. Claw realized he’d lost the fight against his demonic nature, so he chopped off his demon hand with a sword and cauterized the wound with fire. Claw wept realizing the horrors he’d perpetrated.

(Sandman II #52, 56) - During the reality storm caused by the death of Dream of the Endless Claw took refuge in the World’s End free house. He listened to the other refugees tell tales until the storm passed.

(Claw the Unconquered (Wildstorm) #1-3) - Claw served as a mercenary in the border wars between the empire of the Rothans and neighboring herder tribes. Claw faced a herder that was an old friend, and stabbed him to death as the herder cursed him. The elite Rothan command mocked the enemy, but Claw was having none of it. Claw prayed to his god Soth to remove the demonic hand that had grown back since he cut it off, but his plea fell on deaf ears. The sorceress Sorceress appeared to him, and told him his cursed hand was the key to all tomorrow's futures, and that they could rule the world together. Claw mentioned that he'd previously amputated his hand, and Satarina realized that it could exist on its own and regenerate. Seeing his self loathing, she told him to travel to the western wall and the Gate of Sorrows to relieve himself of his curse. Claw abandoned his regiment to find the well, but they soon caught up to him, and planned to murder him as a deserter. Satarina's hired help Vivardi, Mardak and Haxa helped him fend off the soldiers. Claw and his guards passed through the Dragka Forest when they were beset by the barbarian Heerda. They fought off the Heerda, but Claw was not pleased to see his allies eat them and drink their blood. That night Claw made love to Vivardi while her cousins assumed their wolf form and went hunting. The Knights of the Iron Circle learned that Claw approached the Well of Sorrows, and they knew of a prophecy stating that a man cursed by Rzahl such as Claw would cause the end times if he went to the well, so they determined to stop him. Claw and his guards hired a ferry to cross the River Rhonan. Vivardi asked Claw what he would do once he reached the western wall, and he said he would open a portal of shades, and demand his hand back from the demon who took it. He knew Satarina was trying to manipulate him, but he said he served no one except himself. Claw finally figured out that his guards were werewolves, and when Vivardi went out hunting he confronted her with a bow and arrow. He'd fashioned arrowheads of silver, a werewolf's one weakness.

(Claw the Unconquered (Wildstorm) #4-6) - Vivardi's cousins protected her, but Claw started maiming them with his arrows. Satarina appeared and demanded they stop fighting, as they were undoing her plans. She said they had no concept of the importance of their task, and told them they'd better settle their differences if they were to be prepared for the perils ahead. They reached the western wall, the site where humanity had finally defeated the shades that once ruled the world. The land was scorched, and history did not record how the shades were beaten. Satarina appeared and called them fools, they were her backup plan to summon the shades. The demon grown from when Claw severed his hand was now under her control, and destroying the monks that guarded the Gate of Sorrows. Satarina summoned demonic familiars to kill Claw. Vivardi pleaded for his life, but she said Claw was insolent, and his death would amuse her. Claw used his demonic hand to wound Satarina, and she fled. Claw was determined to see the quest through, and even though Satarina betrayed them, the cousins decided to stay with Claw. They found Claw's double prepared to open the gate of the shades, but he was battling Dara, a woman chosen to act as Soth's champion. Claw beheaded his double, but he soon recovered. The well of the martyrs opened and Rzahl's host was let loose. They devoured Dara and Claw's double, and Claw realized he was a fool to seek out the shades. Satarina appeared, and told Claw to open the way for the shades, who would surely make them gods. The shades had no such intention, and made Claw and Satarina into slaves as they descended upon the world to blight it.

Comments: Created by David Michelinie & Ernie Chan.

Claw the Unconquered received a profile in Who’s Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #5.

All characters mentioned or pictured are ™  and © DC Comics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Please visit The Official DC Comics Site at: http://www.batman.com