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Villains Beginning With 'D'

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Diablo (Esteban De Ablo)

Marvel villain
1st appeared
Fantastic Four #30 (1963)

Diablo began his life in the 9th Century, a powerful alchemist who sold his soul to the demon Mephisto in order to lengthen his life. Years passed and Diablo finally set up a base in Transylvania, but the local villagers apposed him and he was buried within a stone crypt beneath his castle. A century or so later, the Fantastic Four traveled to Transylvania on vacation, and they found the legend of Diablo waiting for them. That night, Diablo whispered to the Thing (an incredibly strong member of the Fantastic Four) to free him from his prison by destroying the stone crypt in which he was encased. Once free, Diablo offered the Thing a potion that would turn him halfway into human again, and in exchange for Ben's (the Things) services for a year, he would give him the other half of the potion that would finalize the change.

When the other members of the Fantastic Four arrived, they found that Ben was working for Diablo and fought with him to convince him to leave his service, but he refused, and the four were forced to leave without him. Diablo soon made himself famous to the world, and sold his alchemic chemicals across the globe, making him the richest man on the planet. Mister Fantastic was the first to discover, that although they worked discovered, Diablo's chemicals only worked for a short while before failing - shortly after the rest of the world was informed and turned on Diablo. But with his loyal army of followers he built up he was prepared to use his alchemic powers to conquer the planet.

The Fantastic Four discovered Diablo's true intentions and were intent on stopping him. At this same time, the potion he gave to the Thing also failed and so he turned on Diablo, but he was knocked out by Diablo's chemical pellets and sealed an unbreAKAble, glass capsule. The remaining three members of the Fantastic Four soon attacked Diablo's fortress, but only managed to get themselves caught, once again with his chemical pellets. They were all sealed in the capsules, but Ben quickly escaped when his breaks down. After revenge, he chased Diablo through his own castle until he eventually hides within the crypt that he was once sealed. The Thing smashed the sealing plug with both fists, causing the entire castle to come crumble down upon the crypt. The Fantastic Four were freed, and the Human Torch melted the stone into slag to harden Diablo's prison.

But Diablo eventually escaped the, stone prison with help from his potions, to avenge himself upon the Fantastic Four. He next traveled to North America and New York's State University, where he aided Professor Gilbert to animate his android creation, Dragon Man. He turned the Dragon Man against the Fantastic Four, but it eventually turned on him and drove both of them underneath a frozen lake, where he was lost for a time. Diablo was also later responsible for the destruction of their pen-ultimate headquarters, Pier 4.

SUMMARY

ARCH RIVAL :	The Fantastic Four.
STRENGTHS :	Diablo is an accomplished alchemist, and is able to use chemicals (often used as thrown pellets) to create many miraculous affects, such as invulnerable materials, fast-growing plants and paralysis gas. Amazingly, major governments have been repeatedly suckered by the Spaniard's promises, despite what should be a lousy reputation.
WEAKNESSES :	Diablo possesses no super-human powers therefore is no physical match against many a superhero.
WEAPONS :	Pellets of chemicals he hides in his gloves and throws.
QUOTE :