Reign in Hell

Reign in Hell
Cover of Reign in Hell #1 (September 2008).
Art by Michael Atiyeh.
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
Schedule Monthly
Format Limited series
Genre Superhero, horror, fantasy
Publication date September 2008 – April 2009
No. of issues 8, plus DC Universe Special: Reign in Hell #1 (August 2008)
Main character(s) Blaze
Satanus
Neron
Creative team
Written by Keith Giffen
Penciller(s) Thomas Derenick
Inker(s) Bill Sienkiewicz
Letterer(s) Steve Wands
Colorist(s) Michael Atiyeh
Collected editions
Reign in Hell ISBN 978-1-4012-2313-7

Reign in Hell is a 2008-2009 comic book miniseries written by Keith Giffen, pencilled by Thomas Derenick, inked by Bill Sienkiewicz, and published by DC Comics.[1] The title is a reference to a line spoken by Lucifer in John Milton's Paradise Lost: "Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven".

Plot

During the events of the Reign in Hell miniseries, Hell is thrown into a massive conflict as Neron and his generals are confronted with a rebellion led by Blaze and Satanus, the rulers of Purgatory. Neron soon discovered that the rebel demons were offering the damned hope and redemption, which has never happened before, and that this was a powerful spur. Realizing what would happen if the damned ever rose up against him, Neron has his consort Lilith, the "mother of all earthborn fiends", summon all vampires, werewolves, ghouls and infernally powered humans to Hell.

This unrest in the infernal realms attracts the attention of Earth's magical superheroes, who are concerned about the outcome and the possible repercussions of the war. Many of them descend into Hell and take sides in the conflict (all for reasons of their own), including Giovanni "John" Zatara, Zatanna Zatara, Jason Blood/Etrigan the Demon, Randu Singh, Doctor Fate V (Kent V. Nelson), Ragman III (Rory Regan), Creeper II (Jack Ryder), Detective Chimp, Andrew Bennett, Acheron, Zauriel, Enchantress, Deadman, Phantom Stranger, Sargon the Sorcerer II (David John Sargent), Ibis the Invincible II (Daniel Kasim "Danny" Khalifa), Nightmaster, Nightshade II (Eve Eden), Midnight Rider, Warlock's Daughter, Black Alice, Blue Devil, Kid Devil and Linda Danvers. In the miniseries' backup story, Doctor Richard Occult, aided by the Yellow Peri, also descends into Hell, but separately from the others and with his own ulterior motive-to free the soul of his beloved, Rose Psychic, from damnation.

Lobo, who is confined to the Labyrinth, Hell's only prison, is freed as a result of the titanic battle between Etrigan and Blue Devil, a battle which results in Etrigan's temporary death at Blue Devil's hands.[2] Lobo then tears apart the soul of Zatara (Zatanna's father), which forces Zatanna to destroy his soul rather than to consign him to an eternity of pain and torment[3](later, in the 16-issue miniseries Zatanna (vol. 2) (July 2010-October 2011), Zatara is shown to have been saved from destruction by a demon who owes him a favor).

Satanus finally reveals that he used the war as a cover in order to spread a modified viral version of DMN, the anagogic drug that changes humans into monsters and that he had used once before in order to destabilize Metropolis and confound Superman. This version of DMN is airborne and, when combined with the magic word 'Shazam', it transforms Neron and all of Hell's demons into soulless humans, all except Lilith who was not a true demon. It also causes all of the demonic entities that Neron has consumed over the millennia to be cast out of him. Satanus then beheads Neron and takes over as Hell's ruler.[4] The damned then turn their rage upon the now human and powerless demons, slaughtering them wholesale and damning themselves anew.

Blaze later takes advantage of her brother's momentary weakness during a moment when he allows Black Alice to touch him and sample his powers; this action shatters Alice's psyche and allows Blaze to drain Satanus' power and take the throne for herself.[5] Near the end of the miniseries, the Unspoken Principium of Hell is revealed by Doctor Occult to be 'You can leave whenever you want'.[4]

Canonicity

The miniseries is known to have many internal continuity errors that make its place in mainstream DC Universe canon questionable.

Collected editions

The miniseries was later collected in a trade paperback (DC Comics, October 2009, 256 pp. ( ISBN 978-1401223137)).

References

  1. ↑ Cowsill, Alan; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "2000s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 334. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. DC's version of Hell erupted into all-out war when the rulers of Purgatory, Blaze and Satanus, invaded Neron's infernal domain. Written by Keith Giffen with art by Tom Derenick and Bill Sienkiewicz.
  2. ↑ Reign in Hell #2-5 (October 2008 - January 2009)
  3. ↑ Reign in Hell #5 (January 2009)
  4. 1 2 Reign in Hell #7 (March 2009)
  5. ↑ Reign in Hell #8 (April 2009)
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