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Justice League Dark’s demon Etrigan has just found out about Jason Blood’s fate, and it could be worse than death.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers from “Future State: Justice League Dark: Propheties Part 2” in Future State: Justice League # 2 by Ram V., Marcio Takaro, Marelo Maiolo and Rob Leigh, on sale now.
The future state of magic in the DC Universe has never been darker. It was stolen almost in its entirety by the ancient wizard Merlin, and left what few in the Justice League Dark remained to flee to a makeshift sanctuary to plan for his inevitable arrival.
Through it all, the demon Etrigan, one of the few to survive so far, refused to fight Merlin. In the past, Etrigan has shown no fear of the wizard who bound him to a mortal. But it was the fate of said mortal that Etrigan feared, and his worst fear might actually have been a nicer fate than what actually happened.
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After emerging from his hiding place (even on his own), Doctor Fate pulled Etrigan aside to tell him what had happened to Jason Blood. After Merlin’s arrival, he violently separated Etrigan from Jason Blood. What he had sewn centuries ago he tore easily. Merlin had taken Etrigan hostage, threatening to kill him if Etrigan used his demonic magic against the ancient wizard. And as Etrigan said, “Even demons suffer from a heart.” His time spent with Jason Blood had caused deep concern for his prison mate-turned-friend, and Etrigan couldn’t raise his hand against Merlin if it put Blood in danger.
But Doctor Fate crushed these noble notions in a few words. He explained that Etrigan’s fears had come true: Merlin had executed Jason Blood. Etrigan refused to believe this, perceiving it as fate’s cruel way of trying to bring Etrigan up and redirect that anger back to Merlin. Without proof, he would ignore the call to battle, even as Merlin’s forces moved closer. But a pep talk from his new host, Detective Chimp, convinced Etrigan he had to follow Jason’s example and choose to fight, even if it seemed hopeless.
Etrigan seemed to briefly turn the tide, absolutely destroying the Enchantress in a one-on-one fight, but he was interrupted by an angel’s sword, thrown by Merlin’s blood knight. Then, to Etrigan’s horror and disappointment, the knight unmasked himself to reveal himself to be Jason Blood. His time as Merlin’s captive had changed him, he seemed to have drunk the Kool-Aid, believing that having all the magic in the hands of one man would bring order to the wizarding world. With his new sights, Jason believed he and Etrigan had tried to fix things for centuries, only to fail again and again. Merlin was their best chance to bring peace.
Etrigan was disappointed, but still refused to give up his fight. He knew he would die, but it was still his choice. He would not accept senseless butchery for a man’s illusions of grandeur. Jason prepared for the final blow, before being stopped by Doctor Fate. He revealed the reason he had lied to Etrigan: to bring them to this moment, so he could offer Merlin a compromise. He would serve Merlin, in exchange for allowing Etrigan and the others to break free. Doctor Fate explained that Etrigan was the key to changing their future, asking Etrigan to hold onto the hope he had rediscovered. For it was the only thing that would save magic from the hands of a tyrant.
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