(Demon III #20 (fb)) - Merlin served King Arthur as his wizard. Merlin discovered the Region Beyond dimension, and under King Arthur's direction sentenced a number of supernatural creatures and monsters into exile there for menacing England. Arthur's Grail Quest ended when Sir Lancelot discovered the Holy Grail and ascended to Heaven. Sir Percival, who was also on the quest, was left behind, and felt without a purpose in life. Merlin visited Percival, telling him that there had been escapees from the Region and asked if Percival would guard the Region for the glory of King Arthur. Percival readily accepted, and Merlin sent him there and created the Golden Knight from the essence of Percival's purity to guard the Region's sole exit. What Merlin didn't mention to Percival is that his task would never end, and he would serve as the gatekeeper of the Beyond Region forever.

(Demon III #19 (fb)) - Belial introduced Merlin to Hell, and Merlin demonstrated his power over his half-brother Etrigan by using the Book of Eternity to cast a spell that caged Etrigan. Etrigan demanded Belial punish his brother Scapegoat too, giving Merlin and Belial an idea. Belial hated Scapegoat for being soft and refusing to strand with him against Etrigan Even Hell needed cleansing, so all of demonkind confessed their sins to Scapegoat, and he was to bear all of their sins on himself. Merlin then exiled Scapegoat to the Beyond Region.

(Demon III #1) - Jason woke up in Hell suffering from amnesia, and as he stumbled around he was attacked by a giant stone demon, but the demon's companion recognized Jason as Etrigan's host and told him he'd best leave Jason alone. Merlin cast a spell to bring Randu and Glenda to his magically protected sanctuary in Hell, and told them he didn't have the strength to bring Jason with them. Merlin was pleased with himself for foiling Asteroth's plans to rule Hell, but Glenda cursed him for leaving Jason behind, demanding he take responsibility for his brother Etrigan and free Jason of his curse. She struck Merlin, infuriating him, and he cast a spell teleporting her and Randu back to Gotham City, no longer willing to tolerate their presence, but promised to help

(Demon III #3-6) - Merlin couldn't locate Etrigan anywhere in Hell with his spells, and cursed having lost the philosopher's stone which served as his connection to his half-brother. In desperation he summoned Belial, who was initially in a rage about being summoned. Merlin warned him that Etrigan being loose in Hell threatened Hell's precarious peace, but Belial scoffed, saying that since he was his brother's keeper it was up to him to find Etrigan, and left. Etrigan later approached Belial, forging a pact so that the two of them could rule Hell together by deposing Lucifer and Beelzebub from the triumvirate of Hell. Merlin, still convinced Etrigan wanted power in Hell tried to warn Lucifer, who said he was being tedious and that he didn't reject the idea of more changes in Hell's hierarchy. Merlin then pleaded with Beelzebub to act, but the demon lord felt Etrigan and his plans were of no consequence. Jason, with his friend Harry, who'd been turned into a seat cushion and condemned to Hell, sought out Merlin's sanctuary and told him about Etrigan's plans to team with Belial to take down Lucifer and Beelzebub. Merlin told Jason he'd help him return to Earth, but first they had to stop Etrigan. Jason started to nod off and Etrigan was gleeful that Merlin foolishly allowed him into his sanctuary. Merlin made a concoction to keep Jason awake, but Etrigan commanded Jason to throw it down and drink a demon's brew Ran Va Daath made him to put him to sleep. Etrigan gleefully scorched Merlin with hellfire and beat him to a pulp, but told Harry he wouldn't hurt him because he found his jokes hilarious. Etrigan conquered Beelzebub's domain, and Lucifer handed him the city of Dis and control of Hell, curious as to what he'd do with it.

(Demon III #7) - Etrigan prepared for his coronation at Masak Madvil, chaining up Beelzebub, Lucifer and Merlin, and placing Jason Blood and Harry Matthews on a slab of stone. He was given the Crown of Horns, signifying his rule. He promised his subjects Hell would shatter Earth and then lay siege to Heaven. Belial said he was proud of his son for joining him in the triumvirate, but Etrigan corrected him, saying he'd promised the third slot to Abaddon, knowing that if Lucifer had fought back Belial would have fought to keep the status quo. Etrigan also never got over his father allowing Merlin mastery over him. He assaulted his father, forced him to yield, and then ripped out his heart. Etrigan then ripped off Beelzebub's wings and cast him into the pit of Hell, then threw his father in too. Lucifer refused to throw himself into the pit, saying he was severely disappointed in Etrigan. His end goal of making war with Heaven was a fool's errand, and he'd expected better, but knew Etrigan was a youth as far as immortals went, and lacked true wisdom. Etrigan tried to attack him, but Lucifer broke his shackles and glided off. The chefs of Hell presented Etrigan with his feast, Caligula, who'd been stuffed for 2,000 years with the blood of sinners, but Etrigan told them he had one more pressing manner to attend to. He tortured Merlin, demanding he break his connection to Blood. Merlin seemingly agreed and cast a spell. Etrigan immediately started torturing Jason, but Merlin whispered to him that he was still Etrigan's jailer. Jason grabbed the Crown of Horns from Etrigan and used its' magic to incapacitate him before speaking the words that retuned Etrigan to him. Merlin's spell took effect, sending Jason back to Earth, and he was pleased at still being a skilled deceiver. Right before he vanished from Hell Jason managed to grab Harry to take him home.

(Demon III #34, 35) - Etrigan, promising to save Harry Matthews soul, recovered Merlin’s Eternity Book and arrived in Hell with Harry and Lobo, and they were soon joined by Morax on their quest to find Belial’s secret sanctum where Harry’s soul was located. Merlin, having made a deal with Belial to destroy his half-brother, watched their progress through a magical flame. They arrived at Belial’s secret sanctum and demanded to be let in. Etrigan wanted to know why his father was so down in the dumps, and Belial reminded his son that he’d ripped his heart out. Belial hardly even had an appetite for evil anymore. Ran va Daath had the heart, but it was stolen and being kept in the Impenetrable Fortress of Flynn. Belial introduced Etrigan’s group to MacAwfully Cutekin, who he claimed was his nephew, a proto-demon who’d been the one to locate his heart. Cutekin was actually Merlin in disguise, not ready to have Etrigan know about his dealings with Belial. Etrigan asked for Harry’s soul back, and Belial led them to his soul room, where the billions of souls he’d collected over the eons were watched over by Ca’rrion, keeper of souls. Belial uncorked Harry’s soul, allowing Harry to see it was safe and sound before putting it back in the bottle. Belial said he’d give them Harry’s soul if they retrieved his heart, and Etrigan agreed. While they talked Lobo and Morax ganged up on MacAwfully Cutekin, pulling him aside and dismembering him with hook and mallet because they despised his cloying cuteness. Belial asked Etrigan why he was helping a mortal, and his son said he was trying to be the good guy of Hell. Belial was disgusted with the thought, and said he hoped it was just a phase. Belial sent Etrigan and his crew off, and told them he’d look after Harry, introducing him to Katarina de la Kush, another soul he’d turned into a pillow. They had an instant attraction, but were unable to start kissing because they were immobile. After they left Belial, not trusting Etrigan one bit, sent his Skull Squad to shadow his son. Belial discovered Cutekin’s remains and used his magic to reassemble him. Merlin dropped his disguise and, enraged at the abuse he’d suffered, vowed to kill Etrigan and all his friends. As a fun diversion Etrigan drove his hotrod through the River Styx Races, killing most of the racers. Etrigan, Lobo and Morax were now being followed by the surviving racers, the Skull Squad, Morax’s Torment Squads, and the Nomads of the Wasteland, who were plundering in the wake of Etrigan’s destruction.

(Demon III #38, 39) - Etrigan and company returned from the Impenetrable Fortress with the Thing-That-Cannot-Die, who was the one who’d stolen Belial’s heart. The Thing got hungry and ate the heart, so Etrigan performed a spell from the Eternity Book to make a new one for Belial. Belial placed the new heart in his chest and grumbled about the loss of his old one, he said it was serviceable enough. Belial reunited Harry with his soul, but Harry remained a seat cushion, and Belial admitted he lied when he said having his soul back would revert Harry to normal. Harry fumed while Belial, Etrigan, Lobo and Morax all laughed at him. Etrigan revealed the real reason he’d agreed to save Harry’s soul. He’d found a spell in the Eternity Book that would let a prince of Hell rule as overlord for one day a year if he returned a human soul without asking for a reward. Etrigan completed the spell over Belial’s objections, but the magic was booby trapped, and once the spell was finished Etrigan found himself on fire, and was soon burned down to his bones. Merlin revealed himself and bragged that he’d put that spell in the Eternity Book as a trap for his hated half-brother. Merlin and Belial gloated about Etrigan’s death, infuriating the Thing because he liked Jason Blood. He scorched off Merlin’s beard with his flame breathe and engaged him in a brief magical duel before being stepped on by Belial. Morax and Lobo decided to finish what the Thing started and attacked. They were winning the battle when Etrigan appeared, revealing that he cast a spell earlier to create a magical duplicate, having a suspicion that the Eternity Book spell was cursed. Merlin looked around for his Eternity Book, but the Thing had devoured it. After brutalizing Belial and Merlin Etrigan ripped Belial’s heart out again, and placed Merlin inside his chest cavity. He then sealed the wound with hellfire and buried Belial in a deep grave.

(Demon III #51, 0) - Merlin woke in Hell, trapped in his father's innards. He freed himself only to find his magical powers gone, putting him in a state of deep despair. The demon of Hell left him unmolested, seeing that being powerless was torment enough for him. He witnessed the horrible conception of Etrigan's on Golgotha, and learned that Etrigan planned on loosing his offspring on Earth. Merlin escaped Hell, determined to regain his power and warn Jason Blood about Etrigan's scheming. Merlin arrived in Gotham City, and was beset by thugs in an ally. He sicced his magical hound Nero on them. GCPD officers Deborah Tiegel and Jenny French were on duty, and responded when they saw blood coming from the alley. A tidalwave of blood washed over them, but Merlin was already gone. Merlin broke into Jason's apartment, and when Jason and the Thing-That-Cannot-Die confronted him Nero tried to kill the Thing, but was impaled upon magic spike, one of the many protective spells placed on Jason's apartment. Merlin grieved the loss of his companion, saying it wasn't Nero's fault because he was bred to hunt vermin and demons, and the Thing was greatly offended by his remarks. Jason was curious as to why hi magical defenses hadn't alerted him to Merlin' presence, and he realized Merlin had lot hi powers after hi hair was burned off. Jason and the Thing laughed at him, angering the once mighty wizard. He warned them about the birth of Etrigan's son, and Jason feared Etrigan would sic Golgotha on Glenda and her unborn child as a way to get at Jason. Merlin offered his help, but Jason was skeptical, knowing Merlin only helped other when it benefited his own plots and scheme. Jason admitted that Etrigan had shook him by making him realize his memories of the past thousand years were very incomplete, and demanded Merlin show him the truth if he wanted to work with him. Merlin agreed, but warned Jason he might regret the knowledge. Jason drank Merlin's elixir, and his memories of his bloody and atrocious past with Etrigan came flooding back to him. The Thing-That-Cannot-Die was angry, accusing Merlin of poisoning his friend, but Merlin reminded him he'd only done as Jason had wished. Jason, still reeling, and realizing there was no salvation for him, told Merlin the only reason he still lived was because he wanted his help in killing Etrigan.

(Demon III #52, 53) - Jason hired the Hitman, to keep an eye on Merlin, who he still absolutely didn't trust, and told him to put a bullet in his head if he tried anything funny. Merlin was furious, but knew he didn't have a say in the matter. Merlin told Jason he couldn't kill Etrigan unless he killed himself, and he knew Jason didn't like the idea of his soul ending up in Hell, and suggested they focus on stopping whatever plans Etrigan had. Jason had no alternative but to release Etrigan so Merlin could figure out what he was up to. Etrigan greeted Merlin and Hitman, claiming he meant them no harm, even if the wards in Jason's apartment weren't in place to protect them. Etrigan went to the hospital where Glenda had just given birth to a daughter, ate the delivery doctor's arm, and kidnapped the babe, leaving Glenda furious and in tears. Etrigan brought her to the desecrated church where the Marlons had summoned Brandor, placed her under a protective ward a well a a more complicated spell, and allowed Jason to reemerge. He called Merlin and Hitman, who went to meet him. Jason was confronted by one of the WWI British soldiers Etrigan massacred, who led him into a place between the border of life and death. The entire regiment Etrigan killed was there, and revealed they were in the Demon's thrall. Merlin and Hitman arrived at the cemetery, and Merlin found Glenda's child, only to discover that Etrigan had placed a spell on her that would bind her soul to his son Golgotha when he brought him up from Hell. The dead soldiers wanted their pound of flesh, but Hitman located Jason with his special vision and held them off with a hail of gunfire. The soldiers followed them to the church, with Hitman keeping them at bay as bet he could. Glenda checked herself out of the hospital, stole a GCPD officer's gun, and threatened Harry and the Thing until they revealed where Jason was. Glenda was ready to shoot Blood to put an end to Etrigan once and for all. Etrigan entered Merlin's mind, promising to restore his precious powers if he betrayed Jason, and Merlin agreed to follow his orders. He placed Glenda's daughter in a pentagram to summon Golgotha so he could be bound to her. He warned Jason not to remove her lest Golgotha be unfettered on Earth. Merlin tried to kill Hitman with a mystic blast for daring to threaten him, but his magic fizzled out, and he realized Etrigan had betrayed him. Hitman shot him through the head, and he vanished, because he'd long ago placed a spell on himself that would only be activated upon his death. With no regard for himself Jason removed the child from the pentagram and bonded his soul with Golgotha. Etrigan was forced to share Jason's mind and soul, but because there wasn't enough room Golgotha turned on his own father.

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