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| Diablo | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Diablo as depicted inSpider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider #3 (December 2018). Art byCarlos Pacheco andPaul Mounts. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Fantastic Four #30 (September 1964)[1] |
| Created by | Stan Lee (writer) Jack Kirby (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Esteban Corazón De Ablo |
| Species | Human mutate |
| Team affiliations | Legion Accursed Masters of Evil |
| Partnerships | Gilded Lily Dragon Man |
| Notable aliases | Esteban Diablo Esteban Corazón del Diablo Al Bidd |
| Abilities | |
Diablo (Esteban Corazón de Ablo) is asupervillain appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. The character is depicted as an evilalchemist, and anenemy of theFantastic Four. Created by writerStan Lee and artistJack Kirby, the character first appeared inFantastic Four #30 (September 1964).[2]
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Diablo was created by writerStan Lee and artistJack Kirby, and first appeared inFantastic Four #30 (September 1964).[3]
In a 2013 interview withChris Hardwick, creator Lee said that Diablo was his greatest regret because he could not remember the character aside from his name, who he is, and why he did what he did. He stated: "When you create a character you should feel you know him".[4]
Esteban Corazón de Ablo was a courtalchemist in 9th centurySaragossa. Isolated and obsessive, he made a pact withMephisto, trading his soul for longer life as he sought the secret ofimmortality.[5] Over the years, his mastery of alchemy advanced to the point where he could break the known laws of science, but it was not enough. Seeking even more power, he relocated his lab toTransylvania in the 19th century and formed an alliance withvampires, hoping to learn the secrets of the supernatural.[6]
The villagers, fearing Diablo, stormed the alchemist's castle and buried him alive. One century later, the Fantastic Four visit Transylvania on vacation; observing the group, Diablo convinces theThing to free him by creating an elixir that partially reverses his transformation. In exchange for the Thing's services, Diablo promises to make him fully human. The other members of the Fantastic Four learn of this, but are forced to leave the Thing behind when he chooses to remain with Diablo.[volume & issue needed]
After acclimating to the 20th century, Diablo reinvents himself as a private entrepreneur and quickly amasses great wealth by selling his creations.Mister Fantastic analyzes some of his chemicals and discovers that their effects were only temporary, which Diablo had deliberately concealed. After this information is made public, the world turns on Diablo, but he has already built up an army of loyal followers and prepares to conquer Earth. At the same time, the Thing reverts to his normal form and turns on Diablo, who seals him in an unbreakable glass capsule. The Fantastic Four battle Diablo, who is soon buried alive once again.[7] Diablo later escapes using one of his potions and returns to face the Fantastic Four on numerous occasions.[8]
It was later revealed that Diablo had a romantic relationship with the woman who became the criminalGilded Lily.[9] Diablo was freed from prison by Gilded Lily, though he turned against her and was defeated byAlpha Flight.[10] Diablo later attacked the Fantastic Four, again using elementals against them.[11] Diablo conquered the country of Tierra del Maiz, and in another clash with Alpha Flight, he was apparently killed.[12]
However, Diablo survived and reappeared again later. He was later responsible for the destruction of the Fantastic Four's headquarters, Pier 4. He aided the Fantastic Four in driving the chaos demonShuma-Gorath back to its home dimension.[13]
He was later seen inVieques, anisland–municipality ofPuerto Rico, where he helped Spider-Man and the Human Torch defeat a giant radioactivesea monster that was devouring the residents and tourists.[14]
DuringThe Gauntlet storyline, Diablo is present withElectro, Ana Kravinoff, Sasha Kravinoff, andAlyosha Kravinoff whenMattie Franklin is sacrificed as part of a ritual that resurrectsVladimir Kravinoff as a humanoid lion creature.[15]
During theOrigin of the Species storyline, Diablo is invited byDoctor Octopus to join his supervillain team, where he promises them that they will receive a reward in exchange for securing some specific items for him.[16] Ever sinceLily Hollister's baby was stolen by theChameleon, Spider-Man had been going on a rampage against any villains involved. The police recovered a web ball containingSpot, Diablo, andOverdrive.[17]
InSecret Avengers,Scorpio recruits Diablo into theMasters of Evil.[18]
During the "One World Under Doom" storyline, Diablo is among the prisoners who escape during a mass-prison break at theRaft. He attempts to experiment on the locals in theYucatán Peninsula, only to be confronted by the Superior Avengers.Onslaught briefly wipes Diablo's mind, enabling him to be detained.[19]
Diablo is a practitioner of the alchemic sciences, based upon reconstructing molecules by mystical means, and has obtained this knowledge through study. Thanks to his tutors, he was educated and is self-taught in these arcane arts. His youth and vitality have been lengthened, due to a longevity serum. He can affect his own body by changing the appearance to look like a different person or become "nerveless protoplasm", which protects him from certain forms of harm.
Diablo employs a huge arsenal of alchemical weapons that he discovered or invented, and conceals within hidden pouches and pockets in his costume. But unknown to science, his concoctions are almostmagical in nature. Although the range of his power is wide, these effects are temporary unless Diablo provides a second dose, with the exception of anelixir he used on Dragon Man.[7] His mixtures include nerve gas pellets, freezing potions, and pills that make people susceptible to Diablo'shypnotic orders. He can also transmute non-organic matter, unleash explosive blasts, model surface features, give life to inanimate objects, and create beings formed from the elements of earth, fire, wind, and water called "elementals".[20] Other concoctions utilize teleportation for quick escapes.
An alternate universe variant of Diablo from Earth-295 appears inAge of Apocalypse. This version is a warden atApocalypse's prison in Mexico who is later killed byNightcrawler.[21]
A zombified alternate universe variant of Diablo from Earth-2149 appears inMarvel Zombies 3.[22]
An alternate universe variant of Diablo fromEarth-1610 appears inUltimate Fantastic Four. This version isMenendez Flores, a 15th-century Italian man who was imprisoned in an inescapable tower by fellow alchemist Andrea Vecchiato.[23]
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