(Demon III #16) - The meaner spirited residents of Beyond Region found the Thing great sport to hunt, both because he was hard to catch and because he never died. Lord Wotan sicced one of his hunters and his monstrous hounds on the Thing who fled and stumbled upon Etrigan. Etrigan was a demon soul-bonded to the mortal Jason Blood, but a spell cast by his enemy Klarion banished him to the Beyond Region and switched Jason's consciousness into Etrigan's body and vice verse. Etrigan struck the Thing and then raged about being trapped in mortal form, although he found the fact that he could feel pain delicious. He killed the hounds bare-handed, but when Wotan's hunter wrapped a whip around his neck and dragged him behind his steed Etrigan was forced to change into his demonic form commanded by Jason. Jason instinctively burned the hunter alive with hellfire, but regretted it instantly. The Thing filled him in on where he was, saying the Beyond Region was a place of exile for bad things, and that escape was not permitted. Jason felt his demonic body's hunger pangs and approached a tavern. He rebuffed a two-headed philosopher, the Milligans, who tried to sell their services, and when they persisted knocked them out. Over a feast the Thing told him about his past, having been exiled by Merlin, and said there was tale of a cave where one could exit the Region if one was virtuous. The Milligans recovered, telling the other patrons that he recognized Etrigan from Merlin's Eternity Book, but mistook him for his father Belial. Belial's son Lord Scapegoat had banished them to the Region, and they wanted revenge. The patrons stabbed the Thing, causing him to bleed out, and overpowered Etrigan, chained him up, and tossed him into a pit.

(Demon III #17, 18) - Klarion was on Paradise Island looking to cause mischief, and witnessed Circe slay Wonder Woman. Her soul was headed to the Halls of the Dead, but Klarion cast a spell diverting her soul to the Beyond Region. She arrived in the same pit where Etrigan was being held, and tormented by a harpy named Banshee. Banshee attacked Wonder Woman, and the sight of blood inflamed Jason's demonic body, allowing him to break his bonds. He made quick work of Banshee and forced a bloody kiss on Wonder Woman. Fearing the control his demonic body had on his mind he transformed back into his human form with Etrigan in charge. Etrigan and Wonder Woman talked, realizing Klarion had left them both stranded in the Region, and Etrigan told her about the gate out of the dimension. He asked her to take his arm and lend him some of her virtue so they could escape together, but she knew that something wasn't right about him. The Thing made his way into the pit from a side entrance, and blew Etrigan's cover by calling him a fiend. Etrigan responded by attacking him, saying he'd see if there was a way to keep the Thing dead for good. Woman stayed his hand, and used her lasso of truth on him, finding that Etrigan possessed not a single redeeming thought or motivation, so she knocked him out and chained him up again. With Thing's help she reached the exit from the Beyond Region, and she asked Thing if he had the virtue to leave as well. Thing found that he could not, admitted there was no virtue in lying, and confessed he was exiled to the Region for committing very bad acts. Before she left Wonder Woman told him to not give up, and fan the flames of goodness he felt inside himself to find redemption. but the Thing found he still didn't possess the virtue necessary to leave himself. The tavern patrons were confused when they saw a human in their pit, and had a man named Doc torture him, demanding to know where Belial was, until Etrigan passed out from the physical trauma. The patrons took him on the road to hand over to Scapegoat, but were ambushed by Wotan, who killed Doc with a hail of arrows, demanding retribution for his slain hounds. Wotan smelled Merlin's magic on Etrigan, and demanded he tell him his connection to the wizard. He shot Etrigan with arrows, but he pleaded that he was an innocent mortal, so Wotan told him to run, promising that his Wild Hunt would get him to talk. In desperation Etrigan turned into his demonic form controlled by Blood and fled. Wotan recognized Merlin's half-brother and was determined to torture him to death The Thing came across the fleeing Jason and offered to guide him through the Beyond Region's undergrowth, although Wotan managed to throw his spear that never missed its mark and wound Jason. Wotan's pursuit was hampered by traps the Thing set, but he was undeterred. The Thing told Jason how he'd helped Wonder Woman escape the Beyond Region, and was inspired by her to continue on his path of virtue that would allow freedom from the Region. He was finally virtuous enough to see the golden thread that led out of the Region, so he and Jason followed it, but Thing was shocked that it led to the castle of Lord Scapegoat. Scapegoat greeted them, and when Wotan and the Wild Hunt caught up he demanded they leave his guest alone. Wotan complained, but feared Scapegoat's power, so he fled. Jason didn't recognize Scapegoat, and the Lord though he jested, revealing himself as Etrigan's half-brother.

(Demon III #19, 20) - Scapegoat brought Thing and Jason into his castle to recuperate, and Jason, not knowing their personal history, or wanting to reveal that he was merely controlling Etrigan's body, claimed he was suffering from amnesia. Scapegoat left for his morning session of being tortured, then dined with his guests and caught Jason up on Etrigan's early years and his relationship with his brother. Etrigan always despised his brother, and when he was put under Merlin's control he suggested a punishment for Scapegoat as well out of spite. Belial and Merlin made Scapegoat the receptacle for the sins of demonkind, and banished him to the Beyond Region, where he still felt compelled to have himself tortured for the sins of others. Thing and Jason asked him about the path of virtue that ran through his castle, and Scapegoat knew it existed, but said he and his brother were far too wicked to ever see it, and said Jason would be better off just enjoying being exiled because he could spend quality time with his brother who loved him deeply. While Scapegoat had his next scourging Thing located the golden threat and Jason followed him to the bowels of Scapegoat's castle, where they found the exit to the Beyond Region, guarded by the Golden Knight. Scapegoat noticed his guests were missing, and wondered if his brother truly loved him as he loved Etrigan. He correctly guessed they went to find the exit to the Beyond Region and went to find them. The Golden Knight used his Sword of Truth on Etrigan and the Thing, probing their hearts and minds to see if they were pure, and found only the Thing had attained the virtue needed to leave. Thing initially refused to leave Jason behind, but Jason told him to go and he'd figure his own way out. Jason tried to leap over the Knight, but was stopped by an invisible barrier. Thing, meanwhile followed a bridge into a room where Sir Percival of the Knights of the Round Table waited for him. Centuries ago Merlin had assigned him to guard the exit to the Beyond Region and created the Golden Knight from the essence of his purity. He gave Thing a spell and told him to cast it to open a portal out of the Region. Jason engaged the Golden Knight in combat, but was overmatched, and the Knight was about to run him through with a sword when the Thing emerged from Percival's room and begged the Knight to stay his hand. In desperation Jason turned back into Etrigan in his human form, and used Thing's distraction to push the Knight off the bridge he stood on. Thing warned him the Knight would return, and when Etrigan saw he had the spell to leave the Region he bashed the Thing's head in with a rock and took the scroll from him. Etrigan cast the spell just as Scapegoat arrived and the Golden Knight reformed. Scapegoat initially clashed with the Knight, but as the portal out of the Region closed he saw no reason to continue the fight. He realized his brother had tricked him and was probably laughing at him, but that was indeed the brother he grew up with and loved. Thing, now recovered, managed to follow Etrigan through the portal, which led to yet another portal. Etrigan told him to follow, but as Thing approached Etrigan approached and entered the final portal, closing it. Thing shed a tear, disappointed that his turn to good had not led to escape from his prison.

(Demon III #36 (fb)) - Lord Scapegoat was so devastated by his brother Etrigan leaving him, that he locked himself in his torture chamber, and told his torturer to flay him for eternity. Etrigan’s departure caused the Region Beyond to become unstable, and beings and aspects of the Region started disappearing from the realm. Wotan and the Wild Hunt stormed Scapegoat’s castle, although Scapegoat didn’t care, and confronted the Golden Knight. Wotan confronted the Golden Knight in combat, and during the confusion the Thing-That-Cannot-Die saw an opening and escaped the Region. The Thing was shunted into Hell, and witnessed a heated argument among Hell’s interim rulers Ran va Daath, Abaddon and Morax. Daath had possession of the heart of Belial, her former mate and Etrigan’s father. The Thing knew he was being wicked, but the heart was too tempting a morsel to ignore, so he stole it and fled into Hell’s wastelands. The Thing found the Impenetrable Fortress of Flynn and found a way inside, but was unable to escape.

(Demon III #36, 37) - Etrigan, Lobo and Morax went on a quest in Hell to save the soul of Harry Matthews. Belial had his soul, and agreed to give it back if the trio retrieved his heart, which his son Etrigan had previously ripped out. Belial sent them in the direction of the Impenetrable Fortress of Flynn, having learned that his heart had been stolen from his former mate Ran va Daath and taken there. Etrigan and company made there way into the Fortress and discovered the Thing in the throne room. He told Etrigan all about how he ended up there, but confessed that he’d gotten hungry once trapped inside the Fortress and consumed Belial’s 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. They rode to one of the gates exiting Hell, and Etrigan told Lobo he’d have to fight the gatekeeper, an enormous dog demon. Lobo was having a difficult time, so the Thing, having stowed away in Etrigan’s trunk, said he’d help finish the guardian if Etrigan took him out of Hell. Etrigan agreed, and because the Thing was cautious about trusting him, he cut his own hand and shook on a blood oath. The Thing helped Lobo, true to his word, but Etrigan broke his and left him behind. The Thing sobbed, being once again alone.

(Demon III #43, 44) - 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. The Thing-That-Cannot-Die snuck into Etrigan's cloak, hitchhiking with him back to the earthly realm, but was soon discovered. Demon shoved the Think into a microwave and cooked him for putting him in a bad mood, even though Thing protested that he only snuck back from Hell with Etrigan because he'd stranded him there in the first place.

(Demon III #49) - The Thing brought Harry his supply of whiskey and cigars, and Harry mocked Jason for spending hours staring out the window at the rain and brooding. Harry told Thing sarcasm was one of the few joys he had left, and once again told him about his breakup with Katarina de la Kush. PI Joseph D. Gunn followed Thing home from the liquor store and was spying on Jason's apartment. When Jason went down to his inner sanctum, Gunn pumped Harry for information about Jason, threatening to shoot him through the eyes if he didn't talk. Jason was using a scrying mirror to watch Glenda and Etrigan, preventing Etrigan from knowing he was being watched using masking wards. He knew Etrigan was up to something, and created a homunculus to go through a pentagram portal to Hell and follow him. Gunn burst in, demanding Jason use his magic to make him rich, and stepped on the pentagram, falling into Hell, and destroying the homunculus with an errant gunshot on the way. His curiosity made him spy on Etrigan, who'd arrived at Baytor's castle. Lady Smega gave birth, although the strain killed her. Etrigan couldn't care less, and held up his monstrous newborn Golgotha. The sight of Golgotha drove Gunn mad, and when Jason retrieved him from Hell, he refused to say what he'd witnessed, ran home, and shot himself in the head.

(Demon III #51, 0) - Merlin broke into Jason's apartment, and when Jason and the Thing-That-Cannot-Die confronted him his magical hound 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 #52-54) - Etrigan was ready to use Golgotha to make life Hell for Jason and Glenda. Blood knew Etrigan was up to something, and recruited Merlin and the Hitman to help Jason stop him. Harry returned home in time to see Blood released Etrigan, who greeted Harry, the Thing, 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 her and Jason's daughter, ate the delivery doctor's arm, and kidnapped the babe, leaving Glenda furious and in tears. Etrigan placed a spell on the child to bind her soul to Golgotha. He turned back into Jason, who called Marlin and Hitman for help. The WWI soldiers Etrigan had killed were at the church, and were in the thrall of the Demon, seeking their pound of flesh from Blood. Hitman and Merlin held off the dead soldiers while 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. Jason vomited blood and collapsed. Etrigan and Golgotha's battle raged from Jason's soul down into Hell and up to the gates of Heaven, with Golgotha having the clear advantage. Golgotha killed an angel, making Etrigan realize how powerful and unhinged his son was. They returned to Jason's soul, and once Golgotha was on the verge of killing his father Jason stepped in, offering to save Etrigan. Etrigan begged for his help, and Jason made him promise to stay away from Glenda and his child. To ensure the Demon kept his promise Jason took out his heart and hid it away. With Jason allowing him full control in his mind Etrigan roasted Golgotha with hellfire and clawed him into pieces. The dead soldiers closed in on Hitman, Glenda and her child, and Hitman considered using his gun to give them a quick death, but after Etrigan's submission to Jason they disappeared. Jason, now recovered, let Etrigan out after taunting him about how great it was to watch him beg. Etrigan fled into the night and Glenda had a feeling she'd never see him or Jason again. In a rage Etrigan tore Jason's apartment to the ground and left a note saying he'd find a way to get Jason back. Harry and the Thing survived the apartment's collapse, and Harry, tired of the chaos that surrounded Jason convinced the Thing to leave Gotham with him and go on a road trip to California.

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