Merlin in comics

DC Comics

Merlin made his comic book debut in New Comics #3, later renamed Adventure Comics, dated February 1936, drawn by Rafael Astarita, as part of a six-issue adaptation of "The Tale of Sir Gareth of Orkney." This appearance placed him among DC Comics' earliest recurring characters, arriving shortly after Doctor Occult and before Slam Bradley and Superman. In a Superboy story, Merlin is depicted as a scientist from the time of King Arthur who looks like Mister Mxyzptlk and has the ability of Second Sight.

The contemporary version of Merlin first appears in The Demon #1 from September 1972, where he calls upon the demon Etrigan to oppose Morgaine le Fey. A different viewpoint on these events is provided in Madame Xanadu (vol. 2) #1, an August 2008 Vertigo title. The Demon (vol. 2) #1, from April 1987, reveals Merlin as Etrigan's half-demon brother, a relationship that has been maintained in later stories. Their father Belial had Merlin trained in sorcery so he could control his older brother Etrigan.

Merlin then traveled across the mortal world studying many magical traditions, eventually gaining enough power to bind Etrigan to the druid Iason, later known as Jason Blood. Merlin used Etrigan to defend Camelot against Morgaine le Fey, her demon forces, and her son Mordred. Before the attack, Merlin subdued his other brother Scapegoat and the Thing-That-Cannot-Die, sending them to the Region Beyond, and assigned Sir Percival to guard that realm.

Etrigan defeated Morgaine and her demons, while Arthur killed Mordred. The Phantom Stranger caused Camelot's fall by arranging for Merlin to be ensorcelled by his student Nimue Inwudu, also known as Madame Xanadu. Merlin later broke free and has since appeared in other DC Comics stories as an immortal figure.

Marvel Comics

In Marvel Comics, the name Merlin has been used by several different characters. The original is the legendary wizard from 6th century Britain, born in Carmarthen, Wales. He was a mighty sorcerer who taught, advised, and protected King Arthur of Camelot. Merlin warned Arthur that his son Mordred would bring down Camelot, but Mordred was saved before Arthur could kill him and grew up in secret.

Merlin also taught magic to Morgan le Fay, though she later betrayed him and became one of Arthur's worst enemies. He arranged for a boy named Percy to be trained in every form of combat, and when Percy became an adult, Merlin gave him the Ebony Blade, making him the first Black Knight. After Percy died, Merlin cast a spell so that future successors would carry on his role. A being called Merlyn later appears in Excalibur, ruling the Holy Republic of Fae in Otherworld as the Great Hierophant.

This Merlyn is shown to be allied with Morgan le Fay and Clan Akkaba, and shares their hatred of mutants. Other impostors have claimed the name. One was a 10,000-year-old savage who gained immortality and eternal youth from part of the same Bloodgem that Ulysses Bloodstone later owned. This false Merlin was revived in modern times after his coffin was discovered.

He claimed to be a mutant with powers like mind control, creating illusions, firing force bolts, levitating objects, teleporting, generating force fields, and changing his appearance. Another fake Merlin was a Dire Wraith sent by Immortus to fight the Avengers, with no link to the real wizard. The entity known as Merlyn also insists he is the true Merlin and seems to be a combination of all the different Merlins across the Marvel multiverse. Peter Hunter, the British hero called Albion and a member of the Knights of Pendragon, is said to be the current reincarnation of Merlin.

Other notable appearances

Merlin pops up now and then in Charles Forbell's 1929 comic strip Cuddles, an American Flapper at King Arthur's Court. He plays a key role in Matt Wagner's Mage series as the World Mage, first appearing as a paraplegic old man named Wally Ut in Mage: The Hero Discovered. The wizard also stars in his own comic, Merlin, by Robin Wood and Enrique Alcatena. Additionally, he serves as one of the titular knights in The Seven Deadly Sins, embodying the sin of Gluttony.