Azazel (DC Comics)
Encyclopedia
Azazel is a fictional demon
published by DC Comics
. He debuted in The Sandman
#4 (April 1989), and was created by Neil Gaiman
and Sam Kieth
. A different version of Azazel fought Madame Xanadu
in The Unexpected
#190 (March/April 1979) created by Cary Burkett and Juan Ortiz
, which was technically a reprint from Cancelled Comic Cavalcade #1.
. He is part of the triumvirate
(along with Beelzebub
and Lucifer
) that rules Hell
.
Azazel returns in the graphic novel Season of Mists
. After Lucifer Morningstar abdicated Hell, he left the key to the gates of hell to Dream
. Azazel is one of the supernatural beings who petitions Dream for the key, and the right to rule Hell. Azazel offers to return to Dream his ex-lover Nada (Dream had condemned her to hell after she refused to be his queen) in exchange for the key.
Dream is tempted by the offer, but refuses after receiving instructions from a higher order (implicitly, God) to give the key to the angels Remiel and Duma
so they may rule Hell. Azazel then threatens to consume Nada, forcing Dream to enter Azazel in order to save her. The overconfident Azazel forgets that he is in Dream's realm, and is easily defeated by Morpheus. Dream imprisons Azazel in a small bottle.
The bottle (and Azazel) are seen briefly in The Kindly Ones
, inside a box full of other objects collected by Dream.
Azazel was not a character in Sandman only, but was part of the hierarchy of Hell being canon in the entire DC Universe
at the time. Azazel has also been seen or referred to in DC titles such as Swamp Thing
, Hellblazer
, The Spectre
and The Demon. In Secret Origins
#48 (1990), he and the Triumvirate are even featured in the origin story of the humoristic Stanley and His Monster
. The box with Azazel in a bottle is later glimpsed in JLA
#23 (1998).
Demon
call - 1347 531 7769 for more infoIn Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an "unclean spirit" which may cause demonic possession, to be addressed with an act of exorcism...
published by DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
. He debuted in The Sandman
Sandman (DC Comics)
Sandman is the name of seven fictional characters, superheroes appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. All are connected in one way or the other, though there are three largely dissimilar concepts, with two or three persons having served in each role various times...
#4 (April 1989), and was created by Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman
Neil Richard Gaiman born 10 November 1960)is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films. His notable works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book...
and Sam Kieth
Sam Kieth
Sam Kieth is a New York Times best-selling American comic book writer and illustrator, best known as the creator of The Maxx and Zero Girl.-Comics career:...
. A different version of Azazel fought Madame Xanadu
Madame Xanadu
Madame Xanadu is a fictional character, a comic book mystic published by DC Comics. The character is identified with Nimue, the sorceress from Arthurian mythology made popular by Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur.-Publication history:...
in The Unexpected
The Unexpected
The Unexpected was a DC Comics horror comic book, a continuation of Tales of the Unexpected. It ran 117 issues, #105-222, from 1968 to 1982.-Publication history:...
#190 (March/April 1979) created by Cary Burkett and Juan Ortiz
Juan Ortiz
Juan Ortiz may refer to:*Juan Laurentino Ortiz , Argentine poet*Juan Manuel Ortiz , Spanish footballer*Juan Ortiz de Zárate Juan Ortiz may refer to:*Juan Laurentino Ortiz (Argentine poet) (1896–1978), Argentine poet*Juan Manuel Ortiz (born 1982), Spanish footballer*Juan Ortiz de Zárate Juan...
, which was technically a reprint from Cancelled Comic Cavalcade #1.
Fictional character biography
Azazel is first seen in Preludes and NocturnesThe Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes
Preludes & Nocturnes is the first trade paperback collection of the comic book series The Sandman, published by DC Comics. It collects issues #1-8...
. He is part of the triumvirate
Triumvirate
A triumvirate is a political regime dominated by three powerful individuals, each a triumvir . The arrangement can be formal or informal, and though the three are usually equal on paper, in reality this is rarely the case...
(along with Beelzebub
Beelzebub
Beelzebub -Religious meaning:Ba‘al Zəbûb is variously understood to mean "lord of flies", or "lord of the dwelling". Originally the name of a Philistine god, Beelzebub is also identified in the New Testament as Satan, the "prince of the demons". In Arabic the name is retained as Ba‘al dhubaab /...
and Lucifer
Lucifer (DC Comics)
Lucifer is a DC Comics character that starred in an eponymous comic book published under the Vertigo imprint, whose entire run was written by Mike Carey...
) that rules Hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
.
Azazel returns in the graphic novel Season of Mists
The Sandman: Season of Mists
Season of Mists is the fourth collection of issues in the DC Comics series, The Sandman.It was written by Neil Gaiman; illustrated by Kelley Jones, Mike Dringenberg, Malcolm Jones III, Matt Wagner, Dick Giordano, George Pratt, and P...
. After Lucifer Morningstar abdicated Hell, he left the key to the gates of hell to Dream
Dream (comics)
Dream is the fictional protagonist of DC Comics' Vertigo comic book series The Sandman, written by Neil Gaiman. One of the seven Endless, inconceivably powerful beings older and greater than gods, Dream is both lord and personification of all dreams and stories, all that is not in reality...
. Azazel is one of the supernatural beings who petitions Dream for the key, and the right to rule Hell. Azazel offers to return to Dream his ex-lover Nada (Dream had condemned her to hell after she refused to be his queen) in exchange for the key.
Dream is tempted by the offer, but refuses after receiving instructions from a higher order (implicitly, God) to give the key to the angels Remiel and Duma
Duma (DC Comics)
Duma is a fallen angel in the DC Vertigo series The Sandman, created by the British author Neil Gaiman. His name means "silence", and he is based on an angel from Jewish mythology.-Outside the Sandman mythos:...
so they may rule Hell. Azazel then threatens to consume Nada, forcing Dream to enter Azazel in order to save her. The overconfident Azazel forgets that he is in Dream's realm, and is easily defeated by Morpheus. Dream imprisons Azazel in a small bottle.
The bottle (and Azazel) are seen briefly in The Kindly Ones
The Sandman: The Kindly Ones
The Kindly Ones is the ninth collection of issues in the DC Comics series, The Sandman. Written by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Marc Hempel, Richard Case, D'Israeli, Teddy Kristiansen, Glyn Dillon, Charles Vess, Dean Ormston and Kevin Nowlan, coloured by Danny Vozzo, and lettered by Todd Klein.The...
, inside a box full of other objects collected by Dream.
Azazel was not a character in Sandman only, but was part of the hierarchy of Hell being canon in the entire DC Universe
DC Universe
The DC Universe is the shared universe where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. The fictional characters Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are well-known superheroes from this universe. Note that in context, "DC Universe" is usually used to refer to the main DC continuity...
at the time. Azazel has also been seen or referred to in DC titles such as Swamp Thing
Swamp Thing
Swamp Thing, a fictional character, is a plant elemental in the created by Len Wein and Berni Wrightson. He first appeared in House of Secrets #92 in a stand-alone horror story set in the early 20th century . The Swamp Thing then returned in his own series, set in the contemporary world and in...
, Hellblazer
Hellblazer
Hellblazer is a contemporary horror comic book series, originally published by DC Comics, and subsequently by the Vertigo imprint since March 1993, the month the imprint was introduced, where it remains to this day...
, The Spectre
Spectre (comics)
The Spectre is a fictional character and superhero who has appeared in numerous comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in a next issue ad in More Fun Comics #51 and received his first story the following month, #52...
and The Demon. In Secret Origins
Secret Origins
Secret Origins is the title of three American comic book series published by DC Comics.The title began in 1961 and for one issue, all reprints. The title Secret Origins of Super Heroes went onto a second series, also reprints, which ran for seven issues from 1973-1974...
#48 (1990), he and the Triumvirate are even featured in the origin story of the humoristic Stanley and His Monster
Stanley and His Monster
Stanley and His Monster was an American comic-book humor feature and later series from DC Comics, about a boy who has a monster as his companion instead of a dog. Created by writer Arnold Drake and artist Winslow Mortimer as a backup feature the funny-animal comic The Fox and the Crow #95 Stanley...
. The box with Azazel in a bottle is later glimpsed in JLA
JLA (comic book)
JLA was a monthly comic book published by DC Comics from January 1997 to April 2006 featuring the Justice League.-Publication history:The low sales of the various Justice League spinoff books by the mid-1990s prompted DC to revamp the League as a single team on a single title...
#23 (1998).