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Demon, The:

Alan Grant Era (1989-1993)

With the Demon’s appearances in the 1980s, he was given, in 1989, a six-chapter serial in Action Comics Weekly, late in that title’s tenure as an anthology. Alan Grant wrote those stories, which didn’t end on a cliffhanger but also didn’t resolve their plotlines. When DC launched an ongoing Demon series in 1990, it would be written by Alan Grant.

This was the character’s first ongoing since Jack Kirby’s original 1972-1973 series. The new series would outlast the original by a wide margin, however. Grant remained on the title for over three years.

Grant’s take on the Demon differed from the more recent, serious take of writers like Alan Moore and Matt Wagner. Grant returned the character to Kirby’s bombastic sensibilities, although now with copious doses of black humor and silly wordplay. His version of The Demon was a wild, offbeat title. While never a best-seller, it is fondly remembered by fans of the character and survived his tenure, something no previous writer of The Demon could boast.

Early Issues

The Demon Vol. 3 #1

“Lost Souls” -- 32 pages

  • written by Alan Grant; pencils by Val Semeiks; inks by Denis Rodier

first issue; cover by Val Semeiks and Denis Rodier; published by DC Comics; $1.50; cover-dated July 1990

The Demon Vol. 3 #2

“Into the Abyss” -- 24 pages

  • written by Alan Grant; pencils by Val Semeiks; inks by Denis Rodier

cover by Val Semeiks and Denis Rodier; published by DC Comics; $1.50; cover-dated Aug 1990
The Demon Vol. 3 #3

“Sins of the Fathers” -- 24 pages

  • written by Alan Grant; pencils by Val Semeiks; inks by Denis Rodier
  • Batman appears

cover by Val Semeiks and Denis Rodier; published by DC Comics; $1.50; cover-dated Sept 1990
The Demon Vol. 3 #4

“In Loving Memory” -- 24 pages

  • written by Alan Grant; pencils by Val Semeiks; inks by Denis Rodier

cover by Val Semeiks and Denis Rodier; published by DC Comics; $1.50; cover-dated Oct 1990
The Demon Vol. 3 #5

“The Scheme of Things” -- 24 pages

  • written by Alan Grant; pencils by Val Semeiks; inks by Denis Roderi

cover by Val Semeiks; published by DC Comics; $1.50; cover-dated Nov 1990
The Demon Vol. 3 #6

“Song of the Demon” -- 24 pages

  • written by Alan Grant; pencils by Val Semeiks; inks by Denis Rodier

cover by Val Semeiks and Denis Rodier; published by DC Comics; $1.50; cover-dated Dec 1990
The Demon Vol. 3 #7

“The Demon King” -- 25 pages

  • written by Alan Grant; pencils by Val Semeiks; inks by Denis Rodier

cover by Denis Rodier; published by DC Comics; $1.50; cover-dated Jan 1991
The Demon Vol. 3 #8

“Home is the Hero” -- 24 pages

  • written by Alan Grant; pencils by Val Semeiks; inks by Denis Rodier

cover by Val Semeiks and Denis Rodier; published by DC Comics; $1.50; cover-dated Feb 1991

Apocalypse Now

The Demon Vol. 3 #9

“Apocalypse Now! 1 — Signs and Portents” -- 24 pages

  • written by Alan Grant; pencils by Val Semeiks; inks by Denis Rodier

cover by Val Semeiks and Denis Rodier; published by DC Comics; $1.50; cover-dated Mar 1991
The Demon Vol. 3 #10

“Apocalypse Now Part 2: Secret Origins” -- 24 pages

  • written by Alan Grant; pencils by Val Semeiks; inks by Denis Roder
  • Phantom Stranger appears

cover by Val Semeiks and Denis Rodier; published by DC Comics; $1.50; cover-dated Apr 1991
The Demon Vol. 3 #11

“Apocalypse Now Part 3: Stranger than Fiction” -- 24 pages

  • written by Alan Grant; pencils by Val Semeiks; inks by Denis Rodier
  • the Phantom Stranger appears
  • Lobo arrives

cover by Denis Rodier; published by DC Comics; $1.50; cover-dated May 1991
The Demon Vol. 3 #12

“Apocalypse Now Part 4: Behold a Pale Rider” -- 24 pages

  • written by Alan Grant; pencils by Val Semeiks; inks by Denis Rodier
  • Lobo appears

cover by Simon Bisley; published by DC Comics; $1.50; cover-dated June 1991
The Demon Vol. 3 #13

“Apocalypse Now Part 5: Brothers in Arms” -- 24 pages

  • written by Alan Grant; pencils by Val Semeiks; inks by Denis Rodier
  • Lobo appears

cover by Val Semeiks and Denis Rodier; published by DC Comics; $1.50; cover-dated July 1991
The Demon Vol. 3 #14

“Apocalypse Now Part 6: The End is Nigh(ish)” -- 22 pages

  • written by Alan Grant; pencils by Val Semeiks; inks by Bob Smith
  • Lobo appears
  • the Phantom Stranger appears

cover by Val Semeiks and Bob Smith; published by DC Comics; $1.50; cover-dated Aug 1991
The Demon Vol. 3 #15

“Boom! (Apocalypse Now!, Part 7)” -- 24 pages

  • written by Alan Grant; pencils by Val Semeiks; inks by Bob Smith
  • Lobo appears
  • the Phantom Stranger appears

cover by Val Semeiks; published by DC Comics; $1.50; cover-dated Sept 1991

The Region Beyond

The Demon Vol. 3 #16

“Beyond the Pale” -- 24 pages

  • written by Alan Grant; pencils by Val Semeiks; inks by Bob Smith

cover by Val Semeiks and Bob Smith; published by DC Comics; $1.50; cover-dated Oct 1991
The Demon Vol. 3 #17

“The Region Beyond, Part II: Beyond Redemption” -- 25 pages

  • written by Alan Grant; pencils by Val Semeiks; inks by Bob Smith
  • Wonder Woman appears
  • after Wonder Woman dies, she ends up in Hell with Jason Blood

marked War of the Gods chapter 22; cover by Denis Rodier; published by DC Comics; $1.50; cover-dated Nov 1991
The Demon Vol. 3 #18

“The Region Beyond Part 3: Brother Beyond” -- 24 pages

  • written by Alan Grant; pencils by Val Semeiks; inks by Randy Elliott

cover by Val Semeiks and Randy Elliott; published by DC Comics; $1.50; cover-dated Dec 1991
The Demon Vol. 3 #19

“The Region Beyond Part 4: Beyond Love Story” -- 32 pages

  • written by Alan Grant; pencils by Val Semeiks; inks by Randy Elliott
  • retells the Demon’s origin

also includes a Demon / Lobo pull-out poster; cover by Val Semeiks and Bob Smith; published by DC Comics; $2.50; cover-dated Jan 1992
The Demon Vol. 3 #20

“The Region Beyond Part 5: Beyond Virtue” -- 24 pages

  • written by Alan Grant; pencils by Val Semeiks; inks by Bob Smith

cover by Val Semeiks and Bob Smith; published by DC Comics; $1.50; cover-dated Feb 1992

Shorts

The Demon Vol. 3 #21

“Labyrinth” -- 24 pages

  • written by Alan Grant; pencils by Val Semeiks; inks by John Beatty and Karl Kesel

cover by Val Semeiks and Karl Kesel; published by DC Comics; $1.50; cover-dated Mar 1992
The Demon Vol. 3 #22

“Witch War” -- 24 pages

  • written by Matt Wagner; art by Matt Wagner

cover by Matt Wagner; published by DC Comics; $1.50; cover-dated Apr 1992
The Demon Vol. 3 #23

“Buddies! (The Return of the Howler! Part 1) -- 24 pages

  • written by Alan Grant; pencils by Val Semeiks; inks by Bob Smith
  • Batman appears
  • Robin (Tim Drake) appears

cover by Val Semeiks and Karl Kesel; published by DC Comics; $1.50; cover-dated May 1992
The Demon Vol. 3 #24

“Return of the Howler, Part 2: His Keeper’s Brother” -- 24 pages

  • written by Alan Grant; pencils by Val Semeiks; inks by Bob Smith
  • Batman appears
  • Robin (Tim Drake) appears

cover by Val Semeiks and Karl Kesel; published by DC Comics; $1.50; cover-dated June 1992
The Demon Vol. 3 #25

“From Here to Eternity” -- 24 pages

  • script by Alan Grant; story by Keith Giffen; pencils by Keith Giffen and Val Semeiks; inks by Bob Smith

cover by Val Semeiks and Karl Kesel; published by DC Comics; $1.50; cover-dated July 1992
The Demon Annual #1

“Ex-Nihilo… Death!” -- 54 pages

  • written by Alan Grant; pencils by Joe Phillips and David Johnson; inks by John Dell
  • ties into Eclipso: The Darkness Within
  • Klarion becomes “eclipsed” and tries to kill Etrigan

cover by Joe Phillips; published by DC Comics; $3.00; cover-dated Aug 1992

Political Asylum

The Demon Vol. 3 #26

“Damage Control” -- 25 pages

  • written by Dwayne McDuffie; pencils by Val Semeiks; inks by Bob Smith

cover by Val Semeiks and Karl Kesel; published by DC Comics; $1.50; cover-dated Aug 1992
The Demon Vol. 3 #27

“Etrigan, He’s Our Man, If He Can’t Do It, No One Can!” -- 24 pages

  • written by Dwayne McDuffie; pencils by Val Semeiks; inks by Bob Smith and Denis Rodier

cover by Val Semeiks and Karl Kesel; published by DC Comics; $1.50; cover-dated Sept 1992
The Demon Vol. 3 #28

“Spin Control” -- 24 pages

  • written by Dwayne McDuffie; pencils by Val Semeiks; inks by Bob Smith
  • Superman appears

cover by Val Semeiks and Karl Kesel; published by DC Comics; $1.75; cover-dated Oct 1992
The Demon Vol. 3 #29

“Out of Control” -- 24 pages

  • written by Dwayne McDuffie; pencils by Val Semeiks; inks by Bob Smith and John Dell

cover by Val Semeiks and Karl Kesel; published by DC Comics; $1.75; cover-dated Nov 1992

It Happened One Night

The Demon Vol. 3 #30

“It Happened One Night” -- 24 pages

  • written by Alan Grant; pencils by Rich Hedden; inks by Tom McWeeney

cover by Denis Rodier; published by DC Comics; $1.75; cover-dated Dec 1992

The Eternity Quest

The Demon Vol. 3 #31

“The Eternity Quest, Part 1″ -- 24 pages

  • written by Alan Grant; pencils by Rich Hedden; inks by Tom McWeeney
  • Lobo appears

cover by Val Semeiks and Karl Kesel; published by DC Comics; $1.75; cover-dated Jan 1993
The Demon Vol. 3 #32

“The Eternity Quest, Part 2: The Garbage Man!” -- 24 pages

  • written by Alan Grant; pencils by Rich Hedden; inks by Tom McWeeney
  • Lobo appears

cover by Val Semeiks and Karl Kesel; published by DC Comics; $1.75; cover-dated Feb 1993
The Demon Vol. 3 #33

“The Eternity Quest, Part 3: The Fraggin’-A Team” -- 24 pages

  • written by Alan Grant; pencils by Rich Hedden; inks by Tom McWeeney
  • Lobo appears

cover by Val Semeiks and Karl Kesel; published by DC Comics; $1.75; cover-dated Mar 1993
The Demon Vol. 3 #34

“The Eternity Quest, Part 4: Big Fights in Hell!” -- 24 pages

  • written by Alan Grant; pencils by Rich Hedden; inks by Tom McWeeney
  • Lobo appears

cover by Denis Rodier; published by DC Comics; $1.75; cover-dated Apr 1993
The Demon Vol. 3 #35

“The Eternity Quest, Part 5: Don’t Mess with the Three (Four) Dudes!” -- 24 pages

  • written by Alan Grant; pencils by Rich Hedden; inks by Tom McWeeney
  • Lobo appears

cover by Denis Rodier; published by DC Comics; $1.75; cover-dated May 1993
The Demon Vol. 3 #36

“The Eternity Quest, Part 6: A Funny Thing Happened…” -- 24 pages

  • written by Alan Grant; pencils by Rich Hedden; inks by Tom McWeeney
  • Lobo appears

cover by Denis Rodier; published by DC Comics; $1.75; cover-dated June 1993
The Demon Vol. 3 #37

“The Eternity Quest, Part 7: Angel Falls!” -- 24 pages

  • written by Alan Grant; pencils by Rich Hedden; inks by Tom McWeeney
  • the Demon and Lobo battle Duma and Remiel, who assumed rulership of Hell in “Season of Mists”

cover by Denis Rodier; published by DC Comics; $1.75; cover-dated July 1993
The Demon Vol. 3 #38

“The Eternity Quest, Part 8: Anyone Who Had a Heart” -- 24 pages

  • written by Alan Grant; pencils by Rich Hedden; inks by Tom McWeeney
  • Lobo appears

cover by Val Semeiks and Karl Kesel; published by DC Comics; $1.75; cover-dated Aug 1993
The Demon Vol. 3 #39

“The Eternity Quest, Part 9: Funeral for a Friend” -- 24 pages

  • written by Alan Grant; pencils by Rich Hedden; inks by Tom McWeeney
  • Lobo appears

Alan Grant’s final issue; cover by Val Semeiks and James Pascoe; published by DC Comics; $1.75; cover-dated Sept 1993