ELSPETH CROMWELL
Real Name: Elspeth Cromwell
Identity/Class: Human magic user
Occupation: Exorcist
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Alma Chalmers, the Knights of Hades, Mephisto
Enemies: Mephisto, Franklin Richards, Reed Richards, Susan Storm
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Mobile
First Appearance: (pictured) Fantastic Four I#274
(January, 1985)
(actually appeared) Fantastic Four I#276 (March, 1985)
Powers/Abilities: A student of the black arts, Elspeth Cromwell was able to manipulate light, darkness and electricity, as well as open a pit of demons. She was able to burst through Susan Storm's invisible shield with no problem whatsoever, and could order a cadre of undead knights to do her bidding, although they didn't always do as they were told.
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 136 lbs.
History: (Fantastic Four I#276 (fb) - BTS) - On her way to becoming a famous exorcist, Elspeth Cromwell exiled herself from the rest of the human race. During that time, she studied black magic as a way to combat the forces of evil, and as her fame grew, so did her confidence in those skills.
(Fantastic Four I#274 - BTS) - While Reed and Sue of the Fantastic Four attempted to live a more normal life in the small town of Belle Porte, Connecticut, their careless use of their powers began to frighten their neighbor, Alma Chambers. Terrified that her neighbors were possessed by demons, Ms. Chambers got into contact with the famous exorcist, Elspeth Cromwell.
(Fantastic Four I#276) - Confronting Reed and Sue, Cromwell startled them with her powers, before sending Sue down to the pit. As Reed reached for his wife, a demon broke his arm, but Sue managed to escape. Elspeth unleashed a group of undead knights, but instead of attacking Sue and Reed, they began to rampage over the town. Reed tried to convince Cromwell that the black magic she was using had corrupted her, and that the Knights were truly evil things, but Cromwell believed she was still in control. Confronting one of the Knights, Cromwell was slapped across the face, and suddenly the demons' true master made himself known... Mephisto!
(Fantastic Four I#277) - As Sue, Reed, and Franklin Richards' souls were sent to Mephisto's Hell dimension, Cromwell's body lay beside theirs. After the Richards family, with a little help from Dr. Strange, defeated Mephisto, they all returned to their physical bodies on Earth, but Cromwell didn't wake with the rest. Alma Chambers asked Dr. Strange if he could rescue her, but Strange told her there was nothing he could do -- Elspeth had received her final judgment.
Comments: Created by John Byrne
Elspeth Cromwell was a fairly well-known exorcist, as she was shown on the cover of OCCULT magazine in Fantastic Four I#274, and even Dr. Strange knew of her name.
Profile by: Zerostar
CLARIFICATIONS:
Elspeth Cromwell has no known connection to...
The Knights of Hades have no known connection to...
The Knights of Hades
A group of demon knights held within Mephisto's Hell, the
Knights of Hades were unleashed by Elspeth Cromwell, who intended for them
to attack Reed and Sue Richards. The Knights simply went on a rampage instead,
before Mephisto made his presence known. It's presumed they were brought
back to his Hell dimension along with the Richards family and Elspeth
Cromwell.
--Fantastic Four I#276
Images:
Elspeth - Fantastic Four I#276; page 14, panel 3
The Knights - Fantastic Four I#276; page 18, panel 2
Appearances:
Fantastic Four I#276-277 (March-April, 1985) - John Byrne (writer/pencils), Jerry Ordway (inks), Michael Carlin (editor)
First Posted: 03/18/2004
Last updated: 09/25/2013
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel
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