Mephisto - Mephisto Makes a Deal - Brandon Whaley

The layout of this page would be six panels. The top of the page would have three vertical panels, below that would be two square panels, and the final panel would be a horizontal panel across the bottom of the page. It would need to be drawn in almost a classic 70s style to get the feel I'm going for.

Panel 1:

We see Mephisto, in all of his glory, sitting upon a throne surrounded by scantily-clad women, some of which are feeding him grapes and fanning him. All around debauchery basically.

Text Box: I can give you all that you desire...

Panel 2:

Mephisto standing on a cliff overlooking a vast and prosperous nation. His arms are outstretched to the city immediately below, and two of the girls from the previous panel are there with him, although much more properly dressed this time in robes and such.

Text Box: All this and more can be yours...

Panel 3:

The women are draping strings of precious gems upon Mephisto, and one is placing a crown inset with gems upon his head.

Text Box: Wealth, power, women...all of your pathetic heart's desires...

Panel 4:

Close-up on Mephisto's face.

Mephisto: "...if only you submit yourself and everything you believe in...to me."

Mephisto: Useless, human desires! Mephisto has no use for such things! I desire only souls!

Panel 5:

We see Mephisto from behind, but something is different. He is standing in what looks to be a meeting room. He is not the haughty, proud Mephisto we know. He stands slumped, and his head is hung in what appears to be shame.

Mephisto: This is why I...begrudgingly come to you. You're known for making the impossible happen.

Panel 6:

We see the (classic) Avengers standing on the other side of the room. They all have shocked expressions on their faces, the most shocked of them belonging to Steve Rogers. Mephisto has taken a knee in front of Captain America and almost has a pleading look on his face.

Mephisto: Make them stop! They won't leave me be! I need your help, Avengers!

Mephisto - Ambrose Burnside - Max Barnard

Premise: Sideburns were inspired by Ambrose Everett Burnside's facial hair. Mephisto has bitchin' sideburns. That is all.

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Page One - Eight Panels


1-- Ambrose Burnside, sitting in a dark room, with a circle of candles in front of him. He has a FULL BEARD, scraggly and long.

SPEECH BUBBLE/AMBROSE BURNSIDE - Gloria Satanas, et Belial et Spiritui maloso...*

TEXT BOX/EDITOR'S NOTE - "Glory Be To Satan And Belial, & To The Evil Spirits" - Don't Practice Satanism, kids! - Max "Mephistopheles" Barnard


2-- Mephisto appears in a puff of smoke before Burnside, in a dressing gown, toothbrush in mouth, small amount of foam dripping from the corner of said mouth. He also has bitchin' sideburns.

SPEECH BUBBLE/MEPHISTO - What do YOU want? It's very late and as you can see, I'm a VERY busy man.


3-- Close-up on Ambrose Burnside's face, looking towards the reader with an ar
ched eyebrow and a quizzical expression on his FULLY BEARDED face.

SPEECH BUBBLE/AMBROSE BURNSIDE - Ah... *Harumph* Yes... I would like to strike a deal with you. I wish to be President of the United Sta-... What ARE those devilishly handsome facial adornments?


4-- Mephisto is stroking his sideburns foppishly.

SPEECH BUBBLE/MEPHISTO - Oh, these old things? I don't have a name for them yet. Hey, I tell you what, you give me your soul, I'll give you political power AND these 'facial adornments'. Whaddaya say, pal? You can even name them after yourself!


5-- Ambrose Burnside is kneeling at Mephisto's feet, begging.

SPEECH BUBBLE/AMBROSE BURNSIDE - I SIMPLY MUST! TAKE MY SOUL, IT IS YOURS! JUST GRANT ME WHAT I NEED!

SPEECH BUBBLE/MEPHISTO - You want it, you got it!


6-- Mephisto has swiped down, removing only the elements of Burnside's facial hair necessary to produce his famed facial stylings. Burnside has a horrified look on his face.

SPEECH BUBBLE/MEPHISTO - YOU JUST MIGHT NOT LIKE WHAT YOU GET!


7-- Mephisto is looming over Burnside, who is looking understandably confused over his incomplete sideburns.

SPEECH BUBBLE/AMBROSE BURNSIDE - This isn't right! I wanted what you had!

SPEECH BUBBLE/MEPHISTO - Now now, there are limits to my powers. You may only have that facial hair, for eternity. Also you're only the Governor of Rhode Island. Thanks for the soul though!


8-- Mephisto disappears in a plume of smoke, whilst Ambrose Burnside is still kneeling, shoulders slumped on the floor.

SFX - FWOOSHHHH

SPEECH BUBBLE/AMBROSE BURNSIDE - What have I done? What... Have I GIVEN UP?

TEXT BOX/AFTERWORD - Sideburns still became popular thanks to Burnside, eventually adapting to Mephisto's style. But what Ambrose had to give up to release this trend into the world was something far beyond what any human should lose: his ETERNAL SOUL!

TEXT BOX - Fin.

Mephisto - The Devil Doesn't Play Chess - Matt Duarte

Mephisto in "The Devil Doesn't Play Chess" by Matt Duarte

This page is to be set in six panels (the most infernal of numbers, of course), two columns and three rows. It is set in a very recent past, set after the events of Heaven's On Fire and Second Coming. The person narrating is Mephisto, and the caption should be in a red catpion box, with old scripture-type of font.

Panel 1

A close up of Mephisto, who is looking straight at the readers, with his stare deeply focused and his hands touching each other in front of his face, with his fingers touching only at the tips. Behind his hands, we can see a Machiavellian smile.

CAPTION (top of the panel): Some people have called chess the devil's past-time. I remember the man who invented chess, and the deal he made with me.

CAPTION (bottom of the panel): I prefer my games to be a little older. Backgammon, for example.

Panel 2

Mephisto is sitting in a round table, in one of the darkest corners of hell. Also sitting at the table are Loki, Hela, Pluto, Lucifer and Nightmare.

CAPTION (top of the panel): In chess, with enough practice and time, one can easily predict the adversaries movements and tactics.

CAPTION (bottom of the panel): In backgammon, luck is thrown into the mixture.

Panel 3

Mephisto is floating in the middle of a room, standing looking at Mary Jane and Peter Parker embracing, moments before they decide to make a deal with him.

CAPTION (top of the panel): Luck is totally impartial, it damns and benefits everyone on an equal basis.

CAPTION (bottom of the panel): Sometimes it gives you small rewards.

Panel 4

Zadkiel is battling the Ghost Riders, and moments away from being defeated.

CAPTION (top of the panel): Luck can raise the stakes considerably, and make the game all the more interesting.

CAPTION (bottom of the panel): Which makes it all the more spectacular when an adversary fails in their gamble.

Panel 5

Nightcrawler laying down in the ground, dead, with a robotic arm sticking out of his chest.

CAPTION (top of the panel): And, sometimes luck means that a tactically important piece is removed from the game.

CAPTION (bottom of the panel): It forces the players to realign and readjust strategies.

Panel 6

Mephisto is standing in front of a pentagram, though we can only see his outline with candles all around it, lit up. Inside it, we can see the same image as Panel 5, with Nightcrawler dying.

CAPTION (top of the panel): Well, well, well... the righteous wielder of the Soulsword has gotten himself killed in some insignificant mortal power struggle.

CAPTION (bottom of the panel): The plan to undo all of creation can finally move forward.

The End?

Mephisto - 4th Wall - Rol Hirst

Panel One.

Classic John Buscema Mephisto sits on a red throne, surrounded by demons. He's staring directly at us over steepled fingers, a slight smile curling one corner of his mouth.

MEPHISTO: No introductions are necessary.

MEPHISTO: If you've been reading these stories as long as I think you have, you know my name.

Panel Two.

He changes to mad, tentacle-faced John Romita Jr. Mephisto, a huge face leaning into the panel with tiny chains of tortured demons burning in the background.

MEPHISTO: You'll believe me too, when I say... I know you. All you are in this world.. all your sins... all your desires.

MEPHISTO: I'm here today to offer you a trade - one for the other. But it's not the deal you think it is.

Panel Three.

Main panel. Suddenly he's a far more human Mephisto in a scarlet business suit, sitting at a desk with a briefcase open in front of him. He's Business-Mephisto... you thought the other two were bad! He's staring into the briefcase as he rearranges some papers, talking without looking at us. Behind him, everyday office furniture.

MEPHISTO: It's a little game I sometimes play, when there aren't any superheroes, gods or galactic heralds to torment.

MEPHISTO: The one you desire most in this world. I don't even care enough to ascertain whether it's your spouse, your lover, or some secret fancy you've never confessed to anyone.

MEPHISTO: On the stroke of midnight, they will know your mind. Every dark secret. Every grubby corner. Every shameful thought you've ever withheld. Unless...

Panel Four.

He pushes an airline ticket towards us across the desk. His smile now is almost benevolent. He's offering us an out, after all.

MEPHISTO: Unless you take this ticket. Pack a bag, catch a taxi to the airport, get on a plane to far, far away... where you'll never see them again.

Panel Five.

Having closed his briefcase, he stands to leave. This meeting is over. He smiles a genuine farewell.

MEPHISTO: It's a straightforward offer. A simple decision. I'll leave you to make up your mind. Till midnight, then...

Mephisto - Deal Breaker - Simon McDonald

1. Establishing shot: we're looking at a dilapidated apartment block; a den of drugs and junkies, walls tainted with various gang tags.

SFX

Blam!

Blam!

CAPTION

Michael came to me with a problem.

2. Inside an apartment. It's a desolate abode, and like its exterior, shows signs of usage by none-too pleasant individuals. FRANK CASTLE - THE PUNISHER - is standing over the body of the man he has just executed; Michael Canter, a seventy-something year old fellow clad in a tweed jacket. The 9mm in Castle's hand is still smoking from the two shots.

CAPTION

I found a solution.

3. On Castle; emotionless.

CAPTION

Job done.

4. Castle's got one foot out the door, about to depart the scene of the crime.

 MICHAEL CANTER

(off-panel)

I told you, Frank - -

5.  On Castle; he's turned around, eyes wide. We don't know what he's looking at - - but it takes a lot to ruffle The Punisher.

MICHAEL CANTER

(off-panel)

- - I told you - -

- - the gun won't work - -

6. Now we see what Frank's looking at; Michael Canter is standing, the two gunshot wounds to his chest seemingly causing him no discomfort. And he's smiling - an evil, chilling smile that doesn't belong on this old man's face. Standing behind him - faded, semi-invisible, replicating Canter's smile - is MEPHISTO.

MICHAEL CANTER

He's not done with me, Frank.

It's only just begun.

Deal Breaker would take the form of a one-shot, focusing on this old bloke, Michael Canter, dealing with the consequences of a deal he made with Mephisto thirty years ago. In this page, Canter's come to Frank Castle for help after realizing the time has come to make good on his deal with the demon - - and he doesn't want to be a part of Mephisto's plans. He's already tried to kill himself – and he failed – so he's come to Frank, whose got quite an aptitude for it. The way I've plotted it in my little notebook, the key question that drives the story forward is: what deal did Canter make with Mephisto? And why's Mephisto even bothering with this guy, a nobody, a pensioner whose probably got a couple years left, max. Mephisto's taken on Thor, the X-Men - - where's old Mikey fit into the demon's plans?

Mephisto - One More Date - Ben Rosenthal

The following does not take place in any continuity, nor should it. Ever.

1. Mary Jane getting ready to head out on the town. Wearing an expensive flashy black dress, there is a knock at the door as Mary Jane is putting on her ear rings. She rises to answer it.

2. The panel is of the open door. We see the edging of the door frame, as well as the back of Mary Jane as she looks through the open door. Standing in the doorway is Mephisto. His hair is slicked back, holding a box of chocolates in one hand, wilted flowers in the other. Behind him is the long hallway of the apartment building in which Mary Jane lives. There is a shadowed figure walking up the hall in the distance.

MEPHISTO

Hellooooooooooooooooo Mary Jane.

MJ

Mephisto?

MEPHISTO

I was just in the neighbourhood, and thought I would swing by and see if you were up for going out and painting the town ‘red’.

MJ

Ah, thanks for the offer Mephisto, but I already have a date for tonight.

3. Same framing as before in this panel, however poking his head from the left hand side of the door frame is Peter Parker. Mephisto’s mouth is open in shock, his shoulders slumped slightly forward and the flowers drooping a little lower.

PETER

Hey MJ!

MEPHISTO

What?! Him? No, you two broke up! I broke you up!

4. Same framing as the panel before, however Peter has stepped into the door frame so that he and Mephisto are standing side by side. It is here we can see that Peter too holds a box of chocolates and a small bunch of flowers, obviously picked from the roadside. Peter is looking at Mephisto with a puzzled look on his face. Mephisto’s flowers are now ablaze.

PETER

What are you talking about J.J?

MEPHISTO

No Peter I am not J. Jonah Jameson. I am Mephisto, The King of Darkness.

PETER

...

MEPHISTO

The Prince of Lies?

PETER

...

MEPHISTO

Collector of Souls?

5. A wider framing of the previous panel. MJ can now be fully seen in the panel, with Peter still looking at Mephisto confused.

MJ

I thought you collected marriages now?

MEPHISTO

Pft, yeah right. I only use that one when I want to have a crack at someone’s wife. So far you two are the only ones to have bought it.

PETER

Listen Mister, I don’t know why you’re collecting shoes but I’m here to take MJ out on a date!

6. Same panel, but Mephisto is looking at Peter. There is another shadowed figure in the distant hall. Mephisto’s flowers are again wilted, with a slight tinge of smoke coming from them.

MEPHISTO

Shouldn’t you be at home making out with your Aunt or something?

MJ

Sorry tiger, but as I said I already have a date for tonight.

PETER

Who?

7. Again, the same panel. However towering behind Mephisto and Peter is the slick looking Norman Osborn. He is wearing his token green suit and white shirt (purple tie optional), holding a massive and impressive bouquet of roses. Peter is glancing up sideways at Norman with a look of shock and disgust. Mephisto’s flowers are in full bloom.

NORMAN

Mary Jane. Parker. Mephisto.

MEPHISTO

Hey Norm.

PETER

What? HIM! You’re going on a date with the devil himself?

MEPHISTO

You really need to start wearing your glasses again.

NORMAN

Now, now Peter. All of my sins are in the past. Mary Jane, shall we?

8. We are looking from the doorway, but this time Peter and Mephisto, who are still standing side by side, have their backs to us. Between the two we can see the distant figures of MJ and Norman walking away, arms linked. It looks as if MJ is laughing in her airheaded way at something Norman has just said.

PETER

So what do we do now JJ?

MEPHISTO

God I hate you Peter.

In the bottom right hand corner of the panel one of Mephisto’s flowers has a face on it, and is winking at the reader. Underneath it says “The End”.

Mephisto - Collision - Ryan K Lindsay

1. It’s all one big splash page, I want this to hearken back to the sort of openings Eisner did on The Spirit. There’s text up the top which is maybe 30% of the page, and then there’s the image which fills probably 60% of the page (and some text can overlap onto the image), and then the final line can be the last 10% or so at the bottom.

Text: Who is Mephisto?
*the first use of Mephisto should be large and old school, like an iconic logo for him.

Text: It’s a question scholars have laboured centuries trying to ponder, and it’s a problem that even Mephisto himself doesn’t bother to spend time analysing.

Text: All that matters is what Mephisto can do. The answer there is painfully easy. Anything. There is nothing outside of his wheelhouse, the only wall or barrier known is by delineating what he wants to do.

Text: Approaching the intersection of 51st St and 10th Ave we have a multitude of everyday people living their lives. A single mother, struggling to appreciate and understand her child’s tears, doesn’t look where she is going; a truck driver, carrying a payload he’d prefer not to have within his vehicle, lets his foot drop down just a little bit harder than usual just so he can be rid of such filth; a young boy walks along, not a care in the world; and a blind old alcoholic stands and waits, every care in the world has already had its way with him and left him a hollow shell of a man.

Text: No one could guess how these people will meet seconds into their future. And none of them will ever know why.

Image: We have a bird’s eye view of a usual New York intersection, it’s the aforementioned 51st and 10th, and we should see maybe one block more on each side, this isn’t extreme close up time for the intersection, the people should be small but clear enough to make out what we are seeing. I’m thinking a pretty good level of detail is going to be needed here, Seth Fisher style if you can. We want to see trash in the gutters, other characters standing around and adding depth. I want the mentioned characters all slowly converging on the intersection, though the old man is already there. The mother and child are coming from the top of the image, the truck from the bottom, the boy from the right, and the old man already standing on the right in front of the boy. The boy also needs to have red hair. And on the left side of the intersection I want to see a familiar man in a red coat with a high collar and black/red hair. We all know who he is, but we don’t get a great look at him. Have a dog barking at him from behind.

Image: Also, feel free to sneak some Easter eggs into the scene, perhaps a trenchcoated Travis Bickle, maybe even Sport standing nearby in the stoop of a building. A young soup nazi is working a mobile soup stand, like those hot dogs stands. You know, that sort of thing. Make the page come alive, the audience only gets one page, and one image, make them appreciate it.

Bottom Text: But one person knows why. And he’ll be the only one to ever know. You’d have to ask really nicely to find out why, and maybe even offer something, because when dealing with the black hole of Mephisto’s soul no light gets in or out for free.

Why Mephisto?

This guy is the ultimate Big Bad in the Marvel Universe. Now, before you object and cry “Thanos!” let me present my case. Mephisto is nigh-indestructible, and he's incredibly clever, which is unfortunate for his foes, as trickery seems to be the only way to thwart his plans.

Before Thanos burst onto the scene, Mephisto tormented the Silver Surfer to no end, all in pursuit of his soul. He even went so far as to capture his love, Shalla Bal, and take her to his underworld kingdom. Only with the help of Adam Warlock was the Surfer able to retrieve her.

Mephisto has also battled the likes of the Fantastic Four, X-Force, the X-Men, and the Avengers (all in one miniseries, in fact!) It took some clever bargaining (and a bit of intervention from Hela, the Norse goddess of her own underworld) to defeat him this time, and it was not even a true defeat, as we find it was his plan all along.

Let's not forget One More Day. Mephisto made Peter Parker a deal, and it truly turned his life upside-down in many ways. This, however, is nothing compared to the reaction from fans, fans that divided their allegiances down the middle over this series. Few comic book villains can say that they have actually affected our own universe the way Mephisto has!

So what tales of trickery and deceit lie in store for you here, dear reader? Well, the future is uncertain, but I'm sure our subject would allow you a brief glimpse. If you could just sign right here on this dotted line...

Or, you could just check back with us this week and have a bit of patience as we roll out some tales of evil, starring Mephisto!