If you're not familiar with Kirby's hellacious creation he is basically a medieval era Doctor Jekyll/Mr. Hyde equivalent who speaks in rhymes and is basically the Cat in the Hat of the DCU. He was summoned by Merlin of Arthurian lore and shares a body with Jason Blood one of Arthur's knights to contain the demon. Despite his destructive tendency he usually sides with the good guys to stop the semi-annual destruction of the universe. Other than that there's a bunch of magic mumbo jumbo that I can't do justice so you should just read all about it with pictures!
In his 4 issue run as fill in writer (Alan Grant was the regular writer at the time), the basic premise was this: The Demon runs for president. Yes, not against a fictional character either, or President Luthor. He was straight up running against George Bush Sr. during his re-election. And it is batshit insane and ridiculously fun. Just the way I like my comics.
The Demon is first summoned by accident from an expert pollster hired by the laughably named named Darrin W. Dingle III who is basically David Huddleston's character from The Big Lebowski. The pollster is tasked to find the perfect Republican candidate, someone who would make Pat Buchanon shake in his boots. The pollster enters his list of attributes that would make this Six Million Dollar Man equivalent of a Republican three times and low and behold! The Demon appears, unleashing medieval kickass and some efficiently dope rhymes.
He is convinced by Dingle to run for president after convincing him that he would have the nuclear capacity to bomb HELL. That's not a figure of speech, The Demon literally is motivated to take back Hell in any way possible, including dropping 19,000 nuclear weapons.
The rest of the story follows Etrigan blazing the campaign trail as he tries to become elected. His hijinks include writing an appropriately Dr. Suess-esque book titled "America RULES!", being endorsed by Guy Gardner, scorching a reporter to flames for questioning his rhyming ability, beating down on mobs of Neo Nazis, Klansmen, militant police AND Superman, being baptized, and crashing a Republican debate urging them to see things his way.
But my favorite hands down moment would have to be Etrigan appearing on 'Yo! MTV Raps'. (which is better than anything on MTV for the last 10 years)
Eventually though he is sabotaged by the 90's blowhard Superman, Jason Blood, and his backstabbing bitch of speech writer. But he does nearly reach the presidency, 'legitmately' enough, which kind of makes you wonder why Superman is involving himself with politics and being kind of an asshole. And the Demon does it all without ever failing to rhyme. How much fun would an ongoing 'Etrigan, The President' ongoing be? Geoff Johns, use your super revisionist pen and make this thing come true!
This is honestly one of the the most fun, hilarious, no holds barred, ideas crazy stories I have ever read. This is how comics are supposed to be: enjoyable, funny, and wildly inventive. If you are sane and reasonable and like fun comics (or even if you're off your rocker) this is a comic you should read.
Also there is a talking pillow that smokes cigars.
In my last post in this Dwayne McDuffie retrospective I'll take a look at arguably his best work and creation: the hilarious Damage Control.
Oh man oh man I have to pick this up! Etrigan should totally be the Ralph Nader of the DCU, running every four years just for the hell of it. I'd vote for him - electing him would probably be the easiest way for America to finally reassert its superiority as the greatest superpower. Just imagine Iran or North Korea's reaction: holy shit, these insane fuckers elected an actual DEMON as their president, just dear god leave them alone and let them do whatever the hell they want.
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