DIABLO

Real Name: Diablo

Identity/Class: Extradimensional (Fifth Dimension)

Occupation: Would-be conqueror of Earth

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Other members of his race

Enemies: Ulysses Bloodstone (unidentified in story)

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: "Demon From the Fifth Dimension" (in story title)

Base of Operations: The Fifth Dimension;
    formerly the mountains outside of Veracruz, Mexico

First Appearance: Tales of Suspense I#9/1 (May, 1960)

Powers/Abilities: Diablo's body was composed of a smoke-like substance which rendered him immune to conventional forms of harm, and he could use his body to suffocate opponents by surrounding them with smoke. He could also travel through space, power himself through "the elements," and communicate using telepathy.

History: (Tales of Suspense I#9/1 (fb)) - Centuries ago, Diablo set out from the Fifth Dimension to find a new world for his people to conquer, promising them that when he returned, it would be time to invade. Diablo journeyed through space for centuries until he came to Earth, and landed in Mexico. He spent "ages" gathering his strength from the elements and monitoring humanity. Local Aztecs became aware of Diablo, and believed him to be a demon.

(Tales of Suspense I#9/1) - Diablo was sought out by Ulysses Bloodstone who had heard rumors of the creature's existence, and Diablo demonstrated his powers to Ulysses, boasting how easily Earth would fall before him and his people. However, Ulysses, thinking quickly, used his cigarette lighter to create a flame, generating smoke. He then snuffed it out, causing Diablo to believe that humans could create beings like him and destroy them. Diablo fled back to the Fifth Dimension to call off their invasion.

Comments: Created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers.

Considering Diablo was telepathic, he made a poor showing for himself. Why didn't he think to scan the man's mind to see if it was a hoax or not?

It's strange that a creature from an alien dimension would call himself "Diablo," the Spanish word for "devil" (or demon). Stranger still that he should arrive on Earth in a part of the globe where Spanish is spoken.

A duplicate of Diablo was used by Xemnu against the Hulk in Incredible Hulk Annual#5.

This story was reprinted in Strange Tales Annual#1, and again in Monsters on the Prowl#30.

As with many 1950's and 1960's Marvel monster stories, this story is not confirmed as part of Earth-616 continuity, but there's nothing to exclude it either. --Leave it in unless something rules it out!--Snood.
    Actually, with Diablo being referenced in the Incredible Hulk Annual#5, I think this story definitely IS continuity until proven otherwise.

In Marvel Monsters: From the Files of Ulysses Bloodstone and the Monster Hunters, the entry on Diablo confirmed that the unnamed adventurer was actually Ulysses Bloodstone.
--John Kaminski

by Prime Eternal

CLARIFICATIONS:
Diablo should not be confused with:

• Diablo, Esteban Diablo, the sinister alchemist, @ Fantastic Four I#30
• Diablo, the heroic bear, @ Tex Morgan#8
• Diablo the Volcano Man, of Earth-Amalgam, @ Challengers of the Fantastic#1
• Big Nick Diablo, gangster, encountered Dracula in 1926, @ Dracula Lives#8

Non-Marvel Copyright info
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