(Demon III #7) - After consolidating his control of Asteroth's domain Morax made Lurgo his head servant. Etrigan took down the triumvirate of Hell with the help of his mother Ran Va Daath, and his father Belial, a triumvirate member. Etrigan prepared for his coronation at Masak Madvil, chaining up Beelzebub, Lucifer and his half-brother Merlin, and placing his human host Jason Blood 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 and tossed it to Daath, telling her she could always brag that she'd stolen Belial's heart. Belial's army wanted to attack, but Morax, who quite liked Etrigan as Hell's new ruler, convinced them to stand down with a few swings of his mallet. Morax pledged his servitude, and Etrigan gratefully accepted. 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. Morax, Abaddon and Daath were perplexed, but decided to think about it later and enjoy their feast of Caligula first.

(Demon III #36 (fb)) - Ran va Daath took possession of Belial’s heart. During a heated debate between Daath, Morax and Abaddon the Thing-That-Cannot-Die, who’d recently found himself in Hell after escaping the Region Beyond, saw the heart and couldn’t help but steal such a juicy morsel for himself.

(Demon III #34, 35) - Lucifer abdicated, leaving Hell, and demons everywhere started bloody wars in an effort to grab power. Morax seized Castle Cuur on the Archeron, and had Lurgo plan his coronation. Lurgo arranged a gladiatorial battle between the demons Mycenae Mangler and Dorkkon The Damned, but the fight was nowhere near brutal enough for Morax, who leapt into the fray, decapitating Dorkkon and smashing the Mangler with his mallet. Morax punted Lurgo, demanding he find some proper entertainment, and Lurgo started to miss his old boss Asteroth. Etrigan, Lobo and Harry Matthews arrived in Hell in a demonic hotrod, telling Morax they were there to retrieve Harry’s soul from Belial. Morax offered to join them, though he was suspicious that Etrigan didn’t have other motives for returning to Hell, and took Lurgo aside, telling him to have Morax’s Torment Squads shadow them. They needed to cross the River Styx, and Charon objected to transporting their hotrod. Etrigan threatened him, but Charon was unimpressed, saying that he was immune to the Hell-Born, and none could keep him from his allotted task. Lobo started hitting him with his hook chain, to which Charon was not immune, and he agreed to take them and their transport across Styx. When Charon let them off he cursed them, telling them to never come back, and Lobo, not appreciating his attitude, tossed a frag grenade at him. They were beset by the demon Hyperaktiv and his cannibal brothers, but Lobo, Morax and Etrigan slaughtered them with relish, while Harry cheered from the sidelines, getting a vicarious thrill from the combat. Etrigan’s hotrod ran low on fuel, so the group stopped at a reststop, where Etrigan grabbed the attendant and shoved him in the fuel tank, saying that his car ran on souls. 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, having previously made a deal with Belial so he could destroy his half-brother. 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. 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 #36, 37) - Etrigan found the Fortress, a giant floating, spiked stone surrounded by legions of the dead who’d tried to penetrate it. Etrigan leapt towards it heedlessly, and was hit with a spell of deterrence that sent him into a lake of lava. A lava dragon swallowed Etrigan, who fried it from the inside out with hellfire. Etrigan spotted a catapult, and after testing it using some hapless nearby demons, he tied a rope around Lobo and launched him at the Fortress, reasoning that its’ spells of protection would only target the hell-born. Lobo found himself impaled on one of the Fortress’ spikes, and small hatches opened releasing demonic scorpions that stung him. Etrigan and Morax quickly climbed the rope, blasted the scorpions, and pulled Lobo, who’d passed out, from the spike. Etrigan took some of Lobo’s frag grenades, using them to blast open the Fortress’ hatches. Inside they were confronted by giant magically animated suits of armor, but easily dispatched them, their magical enchantments having weakened over the years. Etrigan followed the smell of his father’s heart into a series of cavers covered in spiderwebs. Flynn and his army were nothing but skeletons, having long ago perished because their Impenetrable Fortress was also inescapable. They found a throne room, and on the throne was the Thing-That-Cannot-Die, who Etrigan had met while trapped in the Beyond Region. He explained to Etrigan that after he’d fled the Beyond Region his escape caused a disturbance that made the Region unstable. The Thing escaped the Region, but was shunted into Hell. He was the one who’d stolen Belial’s heart from Ran va Daath, and called himself wicked but said he couldn’t exist. After getting trapped in the Fortress he got so hungry he ended up eating the heart. Etrigan was incredulous, but decided to search Merlin’s Eternity Book for a spell that could restore Belial’s heart. While Etrigan scanned the tome Morax decided to see if the Thing-That-Cannot-Die lived up to his name, and pounded him into a bloody heap with his mallet. Etrigan found the spell he was looking for, and the Thing told the frustrated Morax he could take a break. The angels Remiel and Duma, surveying their new domain, found the Impenetrable Fortress, and Remiel told Etrigan that whatever he was up to he had to stop immediately. Etrigan rejected their sovereignty of Hell, and attacked them. Morax joined the assault, and although Remiel did his best to assert his authority and make them relent they would not. The angels used their Heavenly light to strike down the demons, but the revived Lobo then attacked. Etrigan kept trying to bring out Remiel’s rage, and he succeeded in making the angel lose his cool. Remiel was prepared to kill Etrigan, but Duma staid his hand. Remiel felt sullied by the whole encounter and said he was taking his leave with Duma. The Thing pleaded his case that he’d been punished for ages by being exiled and tortured in the Region Beyond, and he was never meant to be in Hell, asking the angels to save him, but Remiel said he didn’t care about the Thing’s problems. The Thing shed a tear, bemoaning the fact that he was living a life he never wanted, a stranger in a strange land. Lobo got his crack at seeking if he could kill the Thing, and although he enjoyed the punishment the Thing could absorb he soon got angry that the Thing was indeed unkillable. Etrigan told his companions that the spell he’d found required the sacrifice of a thousand men to use their hearts to turn into a new demon heart. Etrigan was well aware of the different factions shadowing him, and told Morax and Lobo they were going to slaughter them all and harvest their hearts. Morax admitted that Lurgo and his men were among those following them, but Etrigan insisted they were expendable. Morax also pointed out how outnumbered they were, but both Lobo and Etrigan agreed that losing in battle was not even a consideration for them, and they leapt headlong into a surprise attack.

(Demon III #38, 39) - Etrigan and company mowed down their opposition in a killing frenzy. Morax even killed his own men, but when he spotted Lurgo he told his loyal henchman to flee. Etrigan ripped the hearts from his dead enemies and completed the ritual to make Belial’s new heart. Etrigan and his men, now with Lurgo and the Thing in tow, jumped in his hotrod and sped back towards Belial’s sanctum. Morax worried that Belial would double-cross them, and Etrigan said he was prepared for that. He briefly exited the car to burn eldritch symbols into a boulder before resuming their trip. Etrigan presented his father with his new heart, and although Belial 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 the eldritch spell he cast earlier created 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. Etrigan took Harry and his new female pillow  friend Katarina de la Kush and told Morax he was leaving Hell with Lobo. Before they left Lobo popped Morax in the nose, saying he couldn’t stand his face.

(Demon III #43) - Etrigan threw a hottub party in the firepits of Hell to celebrate his new job as hitman of Hell with his friends Morax, Baytor, Lord Kakk, Bloodklott and Poppinjay, promising to use his newfound clout to kill any of their enemies. Etrigan hooked up with his ex Lady Smegma, and she was pleased to announce that she was pregnant. Etrigan was overjoyed, telling her they'd use their child to utterly destroy his human host Jason Blood.

(Demon III #55-58) - Etrigan, feeling utterly defeated after Jason Blood's victory over him, moped around Hell, not even bothering to rhyme. Morax, Poppinjay, Bloodklott, Baytor and Kakk approached him, telling him that Karrien Excalibris, the archangel of war had entered Hell with an army of angels, declaring himself the new ruler of Hell and demanding fealty from the demons. Etrigan said he didn't care, o his friends attacked him. Etrigan fought back savagely, and the violence reinvigorated him. He agreed to rally the denizens of Hell to fight back against Excalibris, giving a speech about how Hell was all about freedom and rejecting the rigid rules of Heaven. The assembled demons responded with cheers, willing to fight to the death to preserve their liberty. Etrigan and his army met Karrien in all out war, with Kakk's Hell soldiers Sleazy Co. and Poppinjay's Flying Tigers, a squadron of flying sharks inflicting many casualties. The angels shot Poppinay down, and he radioed to Etrigan that it had been a hoot to know him. The tide turned against Etrigan, and he was forced to retreat. Kakk told him the Crown of Thorns was lost somewhere in the city of Dis, and they could use it against Karrien unless he found it first, in which case he'd have an actual claim on Hell. Etrigan resolved to take on Karrien's army by himself, telling Kakk that if he perished he hoped to serve a a martyr to his men. Etrigan tore a number of angels to shreds before being captured and told Karrien God had not allowed him and his followers to storm Hell because He believed Karrien would be a proper ruler, but because he belonged in Hell for being a warmonger. Karrien told Etrigan he was going to die, but would not sully himself by doing it himself. He'd recruited Etrigan's old foes General von Raddel and Captain Scumm, who'd become demon lords after Etrigan sent them to Hell to have their way with him.  Raddel raved that once he returned to Earth he'd continue to spread Nazism and continue his Fourth Reich. Scumm felt comfortable that there'd be a place for sociopathic pirates in the new world order. Raddel ran over Etrigan, who was chained to a rock, with his Hellpanzer numerous times until Etrigan's left side was virtually destroyed, but Baytor and Bloodklott came looking for Etrigan and freed him. He knocked Scumm's head off with one punch while Baytor and Bloodklott dragged Raddel from his tank. He pleaded that all he ever wanted was peace, and that it was the political climate of Germany that turned him into a Nazi, but his plea fell deaf ear and Etrigan ran him over with his own tank. The angel Muriel wanted to withdraw his squadron, worried that Etrigan had a point about the angels being damned if they continued to blindly follow Karrien, so Karrien stabbed him with his flaming sword and warned the other angel against any treasonous ideas. Bloodklott informed Etrigan that Karrien was mounting an assault on Dis to reclaim the Crown of Thorns, so they drove the Hellpanzer to the battle. Bloodklott admitted he was ashamed of his poor rhyming and broke down crying. Etrigan assured him that his rhyme skills didn't matter because he was a brave and loyal comrade. Bloodklott mowed down a number of angels with the tank's firepower, and found himself rhyming properly. He rejoiced, but hi triumph was short lived a Karrien incinerated him with his flaming sword. Etrigan vowed to avenge him and make Dis his last stand. Morax fell in combat, beheaded by Karrien, goading Etrigan into single combat with Karrien, who mutilated him with his sword and tossed him into a pit. Etrigan had a vision of the spirits of Morax, Poppinjay and Bloodklott cheering him on, and they helped him find the Crown of Horns.

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