Blaze and Satanus

Satanus

Satanus is a brother to the demon Blaze. Satanus resembles a traditional demon, with large horns that protrude from the front of his head and dark red skin. He wears a heavy Roman-style helmet which buries his face in shadow. Blaze and Satanus fight each other for possession of Blaze's domain, using Superman as a pawn. Satanus has an earthly identity and disguises himself as Colin Thornton, the publisher of Newstime magazine, who had previously hired Clark Kent as editor.^[1]

Blaze

Blaze is involved in the creation of Superman's enemies Silver Banshee and Skyhook. A red-skinned demoness with horns, she disguises herself as Metropolis nightclub owner Angelica Blaze in order to steal souls. Superman follows her to Hell to fight for the souls of Jimmy Olsen and Perry White's son Jerry (who in fact was the son of Perry's wife Alice and Lex Luthor). Superman manages to save Jimmy Olsen, but Blaze succeeds in killing Jerry White, whose selfless sacrifice saves his soul.^[2]

Satanus from Adventures of Superman #584 (November 2000).
Art by Mike S. Miller.

Day of Vengeance

Satanus reveals to Superman that he is Colin Thornton when the Spectre arrives in Metropolis as part of his mission to destroy all evil magic during the Day of Vengeance miniseries as part of Alexander Luthor Jr.'s plot.^[3]

Reign in Hell and afterward

Blaze and Satanus from DC Universe Special: Reign in Hell #1 (August 2008). Art by Ryan Sook.

Blaze and Satanus are major characters in the eight-issue Reign in Hell miniseries (September 2008-April 2009). In this story they have become the rulers of Purgatory and lead a rebellion against Hell by offering "hope to the hopeless", which has never happened before. They are opposed by Neron, other demons and the magical superheroes of the DCU.^[4]

Blaze contacts Mary Marvel, offering to restore her lost powers in exchange for killing Freddy Freeman so that she can have his powers. Mary appears to go along with it, seemingly poisoning Freddy; however, when Blaze arrives, Freddy gets up and fights her, eventually impaling her on an iron statue and using his lightning to send her back to Hell. Now Blaze seems to be interested in manipulating Osiris.^[5]

Satanus sends the Justice League to Hell, where the League thwarts Satanus' plans to get the nine pieces of Dante's mask. Satanus attempts to use the mask to become all-powerful, but is prevented by Plastic Man, who is possessed by the mask. The mask is then destroyed by the combined efforts of the League and Zauriel helps the League escape Hell.^[6]