First Appearance
In 1972, DC Comics, Jack Kirby’s new home, asked the King to create a horror comic, as they felt it would sell better than his flagging Fourth World comics. Kirby wasn’t thrilled but he came up with Etrigan the Demon nonetheless. Based on a mask worn by Prince Valiant in Hal Foster’s classic newspaper strip, a character who was an afterthought to Kirby would span decades as a pivotal part of DC’s mystical side, although the rhyming has been somewhat inconsistent.
Other than the rhyme when Jason Blood transforms into Etrigan, the 16-issue Kirby series lacks the speech cadence for which the character is well known.
Etrigan made his first appearance in the appropriately titled The Demon #1. There are 1,577 graded copies in the CGC census. In less than a year, the value of this book has taken a huge tumble. In July 2022, a 9.4 graded copy sold for a slashed $1,400. The most recent sale of a 9.4? A March 30 eBay auction in which it sold for $512, a drop of 59%. Drops have been seen in other grades, although not all are this extreme.
While the Demon is rarely the star of a series, he is one of the more important second-tier characters and he’s almost always around when anything magic or occult related happens in DC’s comics. That makes his first appearance in The Demon #1 a key issue and worth consideration as an investment at these low prices.
Matt Wagner Mini-Series
In 1986, DC brought Matt Wagner in to pen and pencil a Demon mini-series, again titled The Demon #1. Scarcely remembered by collectors nowadays, it is the first extended appearance where the character consistently rhymes.
There are only 29 graded copies in the CGC census, and none have sold so far in 2023. You’re likely going to have better luck searching for it in cheap boxes at comic shops and shows; although, with its black cover, it’s becoming harder to find copies in high grade due to languishing in those aforesaid boxes.
Second Ongoing Series
Etrigan’s second ongoing series started in 1990 with another comic titled The Demon #1. Written by Alan Grant and penciled by Val Semeiks, this was a weird series and the longest-lasting of any series starring Etrigan. Jason Blood’s friend, Harry Matthews, is turned into a pillow for most of the series, while Etrigan himself nearly secures the Republican nomination for President in 1992.
There aren’t many graded copies: just 50 in the CGC census. However, this edition of The Demon #1 does appear to be more valued by collectors than the Matt Wagner first issue. While the most recent sale of a 9.6 on March 20 for $125 is a bit of a drop from the $170 paid in July 2022, it’s not dollar bin fodder.
If you’re a big Etrigan fan, it’s worth considering for your collection. Just understand that it is in no way a key comic.
The Demon Throughout DC Comics
Due to his Gotham habitation, Jason Blood and/or Etrigan frequently shows up whenever Batman has to deal with something mystical. Batman and the Demon first meet in The Brave and the Bold #109.
There are 63 graded copies, and it’s a pretty inexpensive early Bronze Age DC comic, one that rarely comes up for sale. A 9.6 sold in December 2022 for $165. A 9.8 last sold in 2020 for $280.
Etrigan also made appearances in Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing issues and Neil Gaiman’s Sandman series, where the reason for his rhyming – a promotion in hell – was given. Of course, Etrigan is also a member of Justice League Dark, and that’s a likely place for him to appear in the DCU should the team make an appearance as is conjectured by many.
While it’s doubtful that the Demon will see his own DCU film or TV series, it wouldn’t be at all shocking for him to appear in properties more closely associated with DC’s dark side such as Swamp Thing.
Are you an Etrigan the Demon fan? Do you think he’ll be a part of the DCU? Let us know below.
