Darkoth
| Darkoth | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Fantastic Four #142 (Jan. 1974) |
| Created by | Gerry Conway (writer) Rich Buckler (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Desmond Pitt |
| Team affiliations | NASA United States Air Force |
| Notable aliases | Death Demon |
| Abilities |
|
Darkoth (Desmond Pitt) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared in Fantastic Four #142 (January 1974), and was created by Gerry Conway and Rich Buckler.
Fictional character biography
Desmond Pitt is a former Air Force pilot and friend of Ben Grimm who originates from St. Louis, Missouri.[1] After discovering that Doctor Doom and his agents have infiltrated a solar shuttle project he is assigned to, Pitt goes undercover to investigate them. However, Doom learns of his plans and kidnaps him before mutating him into a demonic form dubbed Darkoth. Doom brainwashes Darkoth into believing that he was always a demon, but he eventually regains his memories and helps the Fantastic Four stop Doom's Vibro-Bomb.[2]
Darkoth is later enhanced by Diablo, who recruits him to attack Doom. Darkoth stows away aboard a space shuttle piloted by the Thing. His plan is to redirect the solar generators at Doom. However, Darkoth betrays Diablo when he learns the Thing would also be hurt. Darkoth is apparently killed in a solar generator explosion in orbit.[3]
However, Darkoth is rescued by Mephisto and becomes his pawn. He is killed in a battle with Thor and transported to Otherplace.[4] There, he kills Belasco's servant S'ym and obtains the Soulsword, gaining control of Otherplace.[5]
During the "King in Black" event, Darkoth bonds with the Bedlam symbiote and gains the ability to summon Hellnir, a copy of Mjolnir that generates hellfire rather than electricity. He battles Thor before being rendered comatose and placed in Asgard's care.[1][6][7][8]
Powers and abilities
Darkoth possesses superhuman physical abilities, a prehensile tail, and antennae that can generate concussive energy blasts. He later gains the additional abilities of intangibility and shapeshifting after respectively being enhanced by Diablo and resurrected in Otherplace.
Pitt was a skilled pilot and had earned a degree in aeronautical engineering, and was an Air Force Academy graduate with extensive piloting experience and military training.
References
- ^ a b Dodge, John (October 8, 2022). "An Obscure Marvel Villain Just Became Heir to a Dark Throne". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
- ^ Fantastic Four #142-143
- ^ Fantastic Four #193-194
- ^ Thor #325
- ^ Excalibur #38-39
- ^ Johnston, Rich (March 1, 2023). "Venom #17 Joins Up The Dots With Thor, Darkoth The Death Demon & FCBD". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
- ^ McGuire, Liam (October 17, 2022). "Marvel Reveals Mjolnir's Twisted Opposite, The "Devil's Hammer"". Screen Rant. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
- ^ Zachary, Brandon (September 29, 2022). "Marvel's Newest Version of Mjolnir is (Literally) Straight From Hell". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
External links
- Rapsheet: Darkoth profile
- Darkoth at ImmortalThor.net
- Darkoth at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe