AVARRISH

Real Name: Avarrish

Identity/Class: Demon (Class Two)

Occupation: Demon

Group Membership: Six-Fingered Hand

Affiliations: Gargoyle (Isaac Christians), Hellcat, demon legions, Dorothy Walker;
    used as pawns by Mephisto, Satan, Satannish,
Thog (manipulators)

Enemies: Defenders (Clea, Devil-Slayer, Dr. Strange, Gargoyle, Hellcat, Hulk, Namor, Nighthawk, Silver Surfer, Son of Satan (now Hellstorm), Valkyrie), Ghost Rider (John Blaze/Zarathos)

Known Relatives: none

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: A realm of Hell;
    formerly mobile across the USA, especially Detroit, Michigan

First Appearance: Defenders I#96 (June, 1981)

Powers/Abilities: Avarrish has powerful psychic powers, enabling it to possess and control others. He could grant superhuman powers to her hosts, including physical transformation, firing energy blasts, etc.

History: Avarrish and the other demons of the Six-Fingered Hand would be considered Class Two demons by the standards of the OHotMU, meaning that they are originated from or are closely associated with Earth, but that they come from a much later time period than the Elder Gods. Next to nothing else is known of his past.

(Defenders I#99 (fb) - BTS) - Some of the major demons of Hell--Mephisto, Satan, Satannish, and Thog--decided that by forcing Strange to continue teleporting about the globe, they could shatter the barriers between Hell and Earth and merge the two realms. To this end, Mephisto took the form of the lesser demon Maya, and gathered five other lesser demons-Avarrish, Fashima, Hyppokri, Puishannt, and Unnthinnk--to his side. The major demons told the lesser demons portions of their plan, and led them to believe that they would gain worlds to rule. Maya and the six demons named their coalition the Six-Fingered Hand.

(Defenders I#95(fb)) - Dorothy Walker, dying of cancer, made a deal with Avarrish, who promised eternal youth and a cure for her disease, in exchange for Avarrish taking the soul of her daughter, Patsy Walker, aka Hellcat.

(Defenders I#93) - Avarrish possessed Patsy Walker, while she was filled with anger and hatred over her mother's recent death.

(Defenders I#94 (fb)-BTS) - Isaac Christians, the mayor of Christianboro, saw his town slipping away and made a deal with the demon Avarrish. Avarrish transformed Christians into the Gargoyle, and Christians then would help Avarrish capture and fully possess Patsy Walker. In return, Avarrish promised prosperity to the town.

(Defenders I#94) - The Gargoyle abducted Patsy, and using the townspeople to channel his power, Avarrish completed his possession, transforming Patsy into a demonic form. Dr. Strange teleported the Defenders to Christianboro, where they struggled against Avarrish's legions, and then the Avarrish-possessed Hellcat, ultimately dispelling his influence from the town.

(Defenders I#96 - BTS) - Avarrish's influence caused Hellcat to burst into laughter at the death of Felix Palmer at the hands of Fashima.

(Defenders I#97 - BTS) - Avarrish's influence caused Hellcat to curse Dr. Strange when he requested that he examine her with the Eye of Agamotto.

(Defenders I#98) - Unnthinnk further damaged the fabric of reality, leaving the nexus in the Man-Thing's swamp in an open position. Strange led the others to probe the nexus, and found themselves pulled into a realm of Hell, where they were confronted by the full membership of the Six-Fingered Hand.

(Defenders I#99, 100) - The Defenders fought against the Six-Fingered Hand and their demon legions, who were much more powerful in their home dimension. The struggle went back and forth, until suddenly five of the six members began to dwindle in size and power, leaving only Maya standing tall. Maya revealed himself as Mephisto, who siphoned the accrued power of the lesser demons into himself and his other three allies. Satan, Satannish, and Thog revealed themselves, and showed the Defenders that their demon legions were pouring through open portals all over the Earth.
    The major demons revealed the merger of Hell and Earth was not yet permanent, and challenged the Defenders to a series of duels: Each of the major demons transported himself, their legions, and a few of the Defenders to a scene similar to a period of one of the Earth's wars. The Defenders were challenged to "find the light in the darkness." The Defenders would seem to grasp the hidden meaning and "find the light" and then the major demon would blow everything up. Ultimately, all were reunited and brought before the four demons again, who revealed that their battles had exhausted enough time that the merger between the realms was nearly complete. However, Daimon Hellstrom, the Son of Satan, found "the light in the darkness" by deciding to stay by his father, Satan's, side. In exchange, Satan reversed the merger and sent the Defenders back to Earth.

(Journey Into Mystery I#627 (fb)) - Avarrish attended the Devil's Advocacy to talk about the Serpent (Cul)'s actions on Earth.

Comments: Created by J. M. DeMatteis, Don Perlin, and Joe Sinnott.

    Aside from Maya/Mephisto, Avarrish seemed to be the most powerful and the leader of the group. He also apparently recognized Maya (or at least his power) for what he truly was, as Maya cowed him with a single glare following a rebellious outburst.

    Avarrish was one of those demons who was kind enough to hide his naughty bits behind a pair of tighty-whities. He must have learned it from Thog.

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
No known connection to:

Satan (presumably Marduk Kurios in this case)


images:
Defenders I#96, p23, panel 1
    p2, panel 1 (Asmodeus Jones)
        panel 4 (Felix)


Defenders I#93-100 (March - October 1981) - J.M. DeMatteis (writer), Don Perlin (pencils), Joe Sinnott, Al Milgrom (#93-95, 100), Frank Giacoia (#93, 95, 100), Sal Trapani (#96-97, 100) & Jack Abel (#97-98, 100) (inks), Al Milgrom (editor)
Journey Into Mystery I#627 (November, 2011) - Kieron Gillen (writer), Richard Elson (art), Ralph Macchio (senior editor)


Last updated: 08/16/12

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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