Gabriel the Devil Hunter
Encyclopedia
Gabriel the Devil Hunter is a fictional
character in the Marvel Universe
who appeared as an exorcist
in several of Marvel's occult
titles.
and Billy Graham
.
The character subsequently appears in Haunt of Horror #3-5 (September 1974-January 1975), Monsters Unleashed #11 (April 1975), Fantastic Four #222-223 (September-October 1980), Marvel Comics Presents #106 (1992), Hellstorm: Prince of Lies #1-2 (April-May 1993), #5 (August 1993), #7-10 (October 1993-January 1994), #12-14 (March-May 1994), #18 (September 1994), and #20-21 (November-December 1994).
Gabriel received an entry in The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Horror #1 (2005).
who returned home one day to discover his pregnant wife Andrea murdered, although, puzzlingly, all the doors and windows were locked from the inside, and she appeared to be holding the murder weapon in her own hand. To cope with his grief, Gabriel joined a seminary
and eventually took holy orders as a priest. Gabriel was possessed by a demon named Catherine, who compelled him to rip out his right eye, set fire to his holy sacraments, and burn his own house down. Gabriel grabbed a red hot metal cross and held it to his naked chest, searing the shape of the cross into his flesh and driving the demon from his body. Gabriel later met with the mysterious woman Desadia, and the two embarked on the career of professional exorcists. Desadia eventually became Gabriel's wife.
Gabriel often worked for ordinary people, but he also occasionally assisted superhumans as well, such as Red Wolf
. Gabriel maintained an office on the 13th floor of New York City
's Empire State Building
.
Gabriel learned of Franklin Richards
' possession by Nicholas Scratch
and went to the Baxter Building
to perform the exorcism. He forced Scratch to reveal himself, and accompanied Agatha Harkness
, Franklin, and the Fantastic Four
to New Salem, keeping Scratch subdued on the trip. The group was captured by Salem's Seven
, whose power was augmented by Scratch. Gabriel and Agatha Harkness were able to forge the Fantastic Four's love for Franklin into a weapon, and drove Scratch out.
Gabriel left before the Fantastic Four could thank him, and continued to be plagued by demons. He retired for a time, and earned a meager living by writing occult "news" stories for the tabloid World Gossip Weekly and performing mock exorcisms for people interested in the occult. It was revealed that Desadia had been killed by the powers of evil. Gabriel helped Daimon Hellstrom
foil the designs of a Daimon Hellstrom impostor performing human sacrifices in San Francisco. During this sequence of events, Gabriel was also able to overcome his crippling depression.
Gabriel later came into conflict Daimon Hellstrom
again, and he spiraled back into depression and alcoholism, and was on the verge of suicide. He was contacted by the Asura, the assassins of Heaven, and was convinced to work for them as a killer of demons. He later acquired a "Breathing Gun", a firearm capable of killing demons.
A final confrontation with Hellstrom left Gabriel irretrievably insane, only capable of babbling incoherently. Hellstrom left him in the care of the Gargoyle.
Gabriel himself, either in spite of his abilities or because of them, was constantly plagued by demons attempting to possess
him.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
character in the Marvel Universe
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
who appeared as an exorcist
Exorcist
In some religions an exorcist is a person who is believed to be able to cast out the devil or other demons. A priest, a nun, a monk, a healer, a shaman or other specially prepared or instructed person can be an exorcist...
in several of Marvel's occult
Occult
The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus , referring to "knowledge of the hidden". In the medical sense it is used to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e.g...
titles.
Publication history
Gabriel first appeared in Haunt of Horror #2 (July 1974), and was created by Doug MoenchDoug Moench
Douglas Moench , better known as Doug Moench, is an American comic book writer notable for his Batman work and as the creator of Black Mask, Moon Knight and Deathlok.-Biography:...
and Billy Graham
Billy Graham (comics)
Billy Graham was an African-American comic-book artist best known for his work on the Marvel Comics series Luke Cage, Hero for Hire, and Jungle Action feature, "Black Panther", considered the first modern black superhero....
.
The character subsequently appears in Haunt of Horror #3-5 (September 1974-January 1975), Monsters Unleashed #11 (April 1975), Fantastic Four #222-223 (September-October 1980), Marvel Comics Presents #106 (1992), Hellstorm: Prince of Lies #1-2 (April-May 1993), #5 (August 1993), #7-10 (October 1993-January 1994), #12-14 (March-May 1994), #18 (September 1994), and #20-21 (November-December 1994).
Gabriel received an entry in The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Horror #1 (2005).
Fictional character biography
Gabriel was a teacher at Columbia UniversityColumbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
who returned home one day to discover his pregnant wife Andrea murdered, although, puzzlingly, all the doors and windows were locked from the inside, and she appeared to be holding the murder weapon in her own hand. To cope with his grief, Gabriel joined a seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
and eventually took holy orders as a priest. Gabriel was possessed by a demon named Catherine, who compelled him to rip out his right eye, set fire to his holy sacraments, and burn his own house down. Gabriel grabbed a red hot metal cross and held it to his naked chest, searing the shape of the cross into his flesh and driving the demon from his body. Gabriel later met with the mysterious woman Desadia, and the two embarked on the career of professional exorcists. Desadia eventually became Gabriel's wife.
Gabriel often worked for ordinary people, but he also occasionally assisted superhumans as well, such as Red Wolf
Red Wolf (comics)
Red Wolf is the name of a number of fictional characters in Marvel Comics' shared universe, the Marvel Universe.-Johnny Wakeley:Johnny Wakeley was the adopted name of a Cheyenne man who was raised from childhood by a white couple in the late 19th century. His adoptive parents were killed by Native...
. Gabriel maintained an office on the 13th floor of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's Empire State Building
Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is a 102-story landmark skyscraper and American cultural icon in New York City at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street. It has a roof height of 1,250 feet , and with its antenna spire included, it stands a total of 1,454 ft high. Its name is derived...
.
Gabriel learned of Franklin Richards
Franklin Richards
Franklin Richards is a fictional comic book character appearing in books published by Marvel Comics, usually as a supporting character in Fantastic Four.Franklin is an Omega-Level mutant with vast psionic and reality-manipulating powers...
' possession by Nicholas Scratch
Nicholas Scratch
Nicholas Scratch is a fictional wizard in the Marvel Comics universe. He is predominantly a foe of the Fantastic Four. The name "Nicholas Scratch" is an amalgam of colloquial names for the Devil: "Old Nick" and "Old Scratch" or "Mr...
and went to the Baxter Building
Baxter Building
The Baxter Building is a fictitious 35-story office building in Manhattan whose five upper floors house the Fantastic Four's headquarters in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:...
to perform the exorcism. He forced Scratch to reveal himself, and accompanied Agatha Harkness
Agatha Harkness
Agatha Harkness is a fictional character, a powerful witch in the Marvel Comics universe. Supposedly, she was one of the original witches from the Salem Witch Trials in Salem, Massachusetts. She somehow survived and later became a significant figure in Marvel continuity, protecting Franklin...
, Franklin, and the Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group debuted in The Fantastic Four #1 , which helped to usher in a new level of realism in the medium...
to New Salem, keeping Scratch subdued on the trip. The group was captured by Salem's Seven
Salem's Seven
Salem's Seven was a team of magical supervillains in the Marvel Comics universe. They were foes of the Scarlet Witch and the Fantastic Four. All seven were the children of Nicholas Scratch and the grandchildren of Agatha Harkness...
, whose power was augmented by Scratch. Gabriel and Agatha Harkness were able to forge the Fantastic Four's love for Franklin into a weapon, and drove Scratch out.
Gabriel left before the Fantastic Four could thank him, and continued to be plagued by demons. He retired for a time, and earned a meager living by writing occult "news" stories for the tabloid World Gossip Weekly and performing mock exorcisms for people interested in the occult. It was revealed that Desadia had been killed by the powers of evil. Gabriel helped Daimon Hellstrom
Daimon Hellstrom
Daimon Hellstrom, also known as the Son of Satan and Hellstorm, is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe.-Publication history:He first appeared in Ghost Rider Daimon Hellstrom, also known as the Son of Satan and Hellstorm, is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics...
foil the designs of a Daimon Hellstrom impostor performing human sacrifices in San Francisco. During this sequence of events, Gabriel was also able to overcome his crippling depression.
Gabriel later came into conflict Daimon Hellstrom
Daimon Hellstrom
Daimon Hellstrom, also known as the Son of Satan and Hellstorm, is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe.-Publication history:He first appeared in Ghost Rider Daimon Hellstrom, also known as the Son of Satan and Hellstorm, is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics...
again, and he spiraled back into depression and alcoholism, and was on the verge of suicide. He was contacted by the Asura, the assassins of Heaven, and was convinced to work for them as a killer of demons. He later acquired a "Breathing Gun", a firearm capable of killing demons.
A final confrontation with Hellstrom left Gabriel irretrievably insane, only capable of babbling incoherently. Hellstrom left him in the care of the Gargoyle.
Powers, abilities, and equipment
Gabriel is a trained exorcist, and if he failed to completely exorcise a demon, he was still able to suppress it, to minimize the harm it would cause its host. He had a cross-shaped scar burned into his chest, which he frequently used against the demons he fought. For a period of time he was also assisted during exorcisms by the spirit of his dead wife Andrea. While employed by the Asura, Gabriel owned a "Breathing Gun", a firearm that was able to harm or even kill demons.Gabriel himself, either in spite of his abilities or because of them, was constantly plagued by demons attempting to possess
Demonic possession
Demonic possession is held by many belief systems to be the control of an individual by a malevolent supernatural being. Descriptions of demonic possessions often include erased memories or personalities, convulsions, “fits” and fainting as if one were dying...
him.