Roquefort Raider
11-11-2006, 12:43 PM
That one could easily have been titled "Essential Son of Satan", but strangely enough there is a good reason for the change (so it's not just a marketing cop-out, as I first thought): one third of this book is about Satan's daughter, Satana.
I really liked this book, even though I basically got it out of the ususal sense of nostagia that comes over me whenever comics from the 70s are available. I think some of the issues featured here are among Steve Gerber's best work as a writer.
I didn't much care for Daimon Hellstrom back then: he seemed never to actually do much; he talked a lot about symbolism and stuff, and he had a rotten temper. Oh, and he also never seemed to notice that a gorgeous blonde was trying to get him in the sack.
All things that I can better appreciate now. Hellstrom is not just another superhero, one whose secret origin would just happen to involve a connection with Hell (à la Spawn, for example). Being Satan's son is not an advantage for him: it is clearly shown to be a curse. His temper and aloofness are not for show: he is truly keeping emotions and people at a distance. That's something I find refreshing today. And his relative low level of proficiency in magic or fisticuffs make him more relatable than if he had been a demi-god or a superman.
There weren't that many stories in the original Son of Satan run, but most of them are quite interesting: there's an "Exorcist"-inspired story beautifully drawn by Gene Colan; an intriguing three-parter about the Tarot and its symbols; quite a few tidbits of Gerber-weirdness, and many theological issues whose presence in a 25 cents comic-book may surprise. (I am quite grateful to Marvel for reprinting a page that was censored back then, and on which we see Daimon crucified and uttering a most unforgiving version of Jesus' words).
Apart from Colan, we are given what I hold to be Jim Mooney's best work ever. (Yes! That Jim Mooney)! There is also an issue by the amazing Russ Heath, the ever-efficient Sal Buscema, good Herb Trimpe art, and a plethora of Filipino artists of great talent (not to mention the master, Esteban Maroto).
Somebody made a list of "Oddball" Essentials at Amazon; I think the title is appropriate, and up to now I have found many of these oddball volumes to be the most entertaining of the series (Iron Fist, Tomb of Dracula vol.4, Frankenstein and now this).
I really liked this book, even though I basically got it out of the ususal sense of nostagia that comes over me whenever comics from the 70s are available. I think some of the issues featured here are among Steve Gerber's best work as a writer.
I didn't much care for Daimon Hellstrom back then: he seemed never to actually do much; he talked a lot about symbolism and stuff, and he had a rotten temper. Oh, and he also never seemed to notice that a gorgeous blonde was trying to get him in the sack.
All things that I can better appreciate now. Hellstrom is not just another superhero, one whose secret origin would just happen to involve a connection with Hell (à la Spawn, for example). Being Satan's son is not an advantage for him: it is clearly shown to be a curse. His temper and aloofness are not for show: he is truly keeping emotions and people at a distance. That's something I find refreshing today. And his relative low level of proficiency in magic or fisticuffs make him more relatable than if he had been a demi-god or a superman.
There weren't that many stories in the original Son of Satan run, but most of them are quite interesting: there's an "Exorcist"-inspired story beautifully drawn by Gene Colan; an intriguing three-parter about the Tarot and its symbols; quite a few tidbits of Gerber-weirdness, and many theological issues whose presence in a 25 cents comic-book may surprise. (I am quite grateful to Marvel for reprinting a page that was censored back then, and on which we see Daimon crucified and uttering a most unforgiving version of Jesus' words).
Apart from Colan, we are given what I hold to be Jim Mooney's best work ever. (Yes! That Jim Mooney)! There is also an issue by the amazing Russ Heath, the ever-efficient Sal Buscema, good Herb Trimpe art, and a plethora of Filipino artists of great talent (not to mention the master, Esteban Maroto).
Somebody made a list of "Oddball" Essentials at Amazon; I think the title is appropriate, and up to now I have found many of these oddball volumes to be the most entertaining of the series (Iron Fist, Tomb of Dracula vol.4, Frankenstein and now this).