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Master Pandemonium

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Master Pandemonium
Master Pandemonium as depicted on the cover of The West Coast Avengers vol. 2 #9
(June 1986).
Art by Al Milgrom and by Joe Sinnott.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceThe West Coast Avengers vol. 2 #4
(January 1986)
Created bySteve Englehart
Al Milgrom
In-story information
Alter egoMartin Preston
SpeciesHuman mutate
Team affiliationsHellfire Club
Notable aliasesMaster Pandemonium
Master Mayhem
Abilities
  • Ability to summon demons and turn limbs into demons with fangs, claws, and wings
  • Knowledge of demon lore and certain rites of magic

Master Pandemonium (Martin Preston) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Steve Englehart and artist Al Milgrom, the character first appeared in The West Coast Avengers vol. 2 #4 (January 1986).

Publication history

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Martin Preston debuted in The West Coast Avengers vol. 2 #4 (January 1986), created by writer Steve Englehart and artist Al Milgrom.[1] He appeared in the Young Avengers Presents series.[2]

Fictional character biography

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Martin Preston was born in Rutland, Vermont. He was originally an actor who lost an arm in a car crash, and made a pact with Mephisto to regain his limb. Mephisto instead replaces Preston's other limbs with demonic grafts and gives him a hole in his chest in the shape of an inverted five-pointed star.

Master Pandemonium is told that his soul has been split into five fragments and battles the West Coast Avengers while seeking to reclaim the fragments.[3][4] Master Pandemonium then abducts and absorbs Thomas and William, the "children" of the Vision and the Scarlet Witch, who are actually two of the soul fragments he sought. He regains all five missing soul fragments, but collapses into a magical "black hole". Mephisto then appears and reveals that the fragments were actually portions of Mephisto's own soul, which was fractured during a confrontation with Franklin Richards.[5]

Master Pandemonium is imprisoned for a time within Mephisto's realm, until he is freed by the nexus being Lore. Master Pandemonium's appearance is changed to an inhuman form by the torments in suffered at the hands of the Rakasha. With the assistance of his newfound ally, Pandemonium seeks to capture the Scarlet Witch. He succeeds, but is betrayed by Lore, who attempts to sacrifice him and the Scarlet Witch. Pandemonium is seemingly obliterated in the ensuing battle with Lore.[6]

Young Avengers members Wiccan and Speed (the reincarnations of Scarlet Witch's children) encounter Master Pandemonium in their mother's former home in Leonia, New Jersey while searching for her. He has reverted to a more human look, and claims to be in hiding due to the belief his schemes had helped precipitate the Scarlet Witch's breakdown. After a brief battle, Wiccan and Speed determine that Pandemonium is not an active threat and leave peacefully.[7]

Master Pandemonium reappears in the Ghost Riders: Heaven's on Fire miniseries. Former Ghost Rider Danny Ketch attacks Master Pandemonium, intending to use his chest as a doorway to make a deal with Satan and defeat Zadkiel. Master Pandemonium recovers and attacks Caretaker.[8] Using the hole in Master Pandemonium's chest as a doorway to Hell, Kid Blackheart calls forth an army of demons to attack Heaven.[9] Kid Blackheart's army is stopped by an army of Ghost Riders, while Master Pandemonium and the remaining demons are defeated by Daimon Hellstrom and his former girlfriend Jaine Cutter.[10]

Master Pandemonium is recruited by Kade Kilgore to be a teacher at the Hellfire Club's Hellfire Academy, where he teaches Hell Literature.[11]

Powers and abilities

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Master Pandemonium possesses the power to summon demons and turn limbs into demons, having fangs, claws, and wings.[3] He also has a great knowledge of demonic lore and certain rites of magic.

Reception

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Darby Harn of Screen Rant called Martin Preston "one of the best Scarlet Witch comics characters."[12]

In other media

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Martin Preston / Master Pandemonium appears in M.O.D.O.K., voiced by Jordan Blum.[13] This version is the host of the morning talk show Morning with Master Pandemonium.[14]

References

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  1. ^ Rovin, Jeff (1987). The Encyclopedia of Super-Villains. New York: Facts on File. pp. 210–211. ISBN 0-8160-1356-X.[1]
  2. ^ Lealos, Shawn S. (January 23, 2021). "Before WandaVision: How Marvel's Strangest Demon Was Behind the Avengers' Kids". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  3. ^ a b West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #4 (January 1986)
  4. ^ West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #14-15 (November - December 1986)
  5. ^ Avengers West Coast #51-52 (November - December 1989)
  6. ^ Scarlet Witch #1-4 (January - April 1994)
  7. ^ Young Avengers Presents: Wiccan & Speed #3 (May 2008)
  8. ^ Ghost Riders: Heaven's on Fire #4 (January 2010)
  9. ^ Ghost Riders: Heaven's on Fire #5 (February 2010)
  10. ^ Ghost Riders: Heaven's on Fire #6 (March 2010)
  11. ^ Wolverine and the X-Men #20 (January 2013)
  12. ^ Harn, Darby (April 26, 2022). "10 Best Scarlet Witch Comics Characters Not In The MCU". Screen Rant. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  13. ^ Towner, Eric and Alex Kramer; Brett Cawley and Robert Maitia (writer) (May 21, 2021). "Beware from What Portal Comes!". MODOK. Season 1. Episode 3. Hulu.
  14. ^ Meisfjord, Tom (May 21, 2021). "Master Pandemonium From MODOK Episode 3 Explained". Looper. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
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