History: (Spectre III #25) - <150 AD> Lucifer assembled the lords of Hell, showing them the work of Spectre, the Wrath of God, and said his mission of bloody vengeance was nudging humans to stay on the straight and narrow out of fear. He told the lords they'd each get a chance to destroy Specter, with whoever succeeded being elevated in Hell's hierarchy. Belial took the direct route, serving as the court wizard of the despot Chadhandra, and fighting the Spectre when he came to kill the sultan. Sepctre was victorious, and Belial returned to Hell.

(Demon III #2 (fb), 19 (fb)) - The demon archduke Belial went to war with the serpent queen Ran va Daath, and in a cataclysmic battle every last one of their demon soldiers was slain. They prepared to fight to the death in one-on-one combat when Cupid appeared and shot them with his arrows of love. They made love, and while Belial slept afterwards Daath tried to devour him, but he fought her off, and they ended up living together in Belial's castle. Their son Etrigan was born, and his first act was to bite off the delivering doctor's hand and then spew hellfire in his father's face. Etrigan was cruel, even as an infant, and even for Hell, although he was confident he would never be punished because of his father's lofty position. Belial met with Lucifer to discuss demonic plans, and Belial brought his son along. Etrigan stole the Crown of Horns, who was the symbol of power of the rulership of Hell, but his young body could not handle the power. Lucifer removed the Crown from him, and told Belial that Etrigan seemed very promising, but he needed to learn harsh discipline, because even in Hell there were rules. Belial beat and tortured Etrigan, but found that his young son loved pain. He blamed Ran va Daath for always giving in to her son's wants and being a bad influence, so he cast her out to live in exile in Masak Mavdil. Etrigan was furious, and promised to make his father pay, but Belial scoffed at him, reminding him how much greater his power was than Etrigan's.

(Demon III #19 (fb)) - A century later Etrigan finally found an opportunity to humiliate his father. He met a minor Middle Eastern goddess who was a goat spirit, and cast a spell to make her appear as a ravishing woman. Belial quickly seduced her after meeting her, but was shocked and disgust when his son, a small humanoid goat, was born. Etrigan removed his spell, showing Belial he'd made love to a goat and gloated. Belial vowed that his little Scapegoat would henceforth rule over his older brother and make his life miserable. As Scapegoat grew he found a deep love and respect for Etrigan, although the feelings were not reciprocated. He defied Belial, saying he didn't have it in him to harm his beloved brother or rule over him, earning Belial's scorn and disappointment.

(Demon II #3 (fb, BTS) - The demon Belial’s son Etrigan became a scourge of Hell, and a witch of Ur prophesized that her future child could control him. Belial mated with her, and their offspring was Merlin. Merlin’s mortal and demonic heritage would allow him to bend Etrigan to his will.

(Demon III #19 (fb)) - Belial introduced Merlin to Hell, and Merlin demonstrated his power over his half-brother by using the Book of Eternity to cast a spell that caged Etrigan. Etrigan demanded Belial punish Scapegoat too, giving Merlin and Belial an idea. Even Hell needed cleansing, so all of demonkind confessed their sins to Scapegoat, and he was to bear all of their sins on himself. Merlin then exiled Scapegoat to the Beyond Region.

(Demon II #3) - Glenda sought a way to separate Jason Blood from Etrigan, and after Glenda noticed the resemblance of Belial in a medieval woodcarving to Demon they concluded that there was a connection. They stole the Book of Belial, a tome praising the atrocities of the arch-duke, from the British Museum. Belial didn’t like his property being disturbed and dispatched Bile Demons to kidnap Glenda to Hell. Jason and his friend Harry Matthews summoned Belial, and forced him to answer questions using the philosopher’s stone that Belial had created during Merlin’s conception. Belial revealed that Etrigan and Merlin were his children, and that as long as Merlin was alive Etrigan was his slave. Jason’s control over Belial weakened, and the demon returned Glenda, but took Harry back to Hell, where he skinned him and made him into a seat cushion.

(Hellblazer #3) - John Constantine tricked the soulbroker Blathoxi into believing that the market in UK souls would crash because the left were set to win the election. Blathoxi commanded Belial to sell their stocks and invest heavily in Moslem and Christian souls. Maggie Thatcher won the election, and Blathoxi realized he'd been tricked, but refused to admit it.

(Demon III #2 (fb)) - Belial was elevated to become a member of the triumvirate that ruled Hell, joining Lucifer and Beelzebub.

(Demon III #3, 4) - Jason and Etrigan were stranded in Hell after succeeding in stopping Asteroth from usurping control of Hell. Merlin, who'd promised Randu and Glenda he'd rescue Jason from Hell couldn't locate Etrigan anywhere in Hell with his spells, and cursed having lost the philosopher's stone which served as his connection to his half-brother. In desperation he summoned Belial, who was initially in a rage about being summoned. Merlin warned him that Etrigan being loose in Hell threatened Hell's precarious peace, but Belial scoffed, saying that since he was his brother's keeper it was up to him to find Etrigan, and left. Etrigan prodded Jason's mind, leading him to Belial's cave where he sat on a mountain of corpses and had tortured souls hanging from meathooks. Belial asked where Etrigan was, and when Jason replied that he didn't know what the demon was talking about Belial knew Etrigan was having his fun playing with Jason's mind. He waded off into a river of blood and told Jason to think on it. Jason found Harry Matthews, who Belial was still using as a cushion, and Harry tried to jog his memory, hoping he'd find a way to get them both out of Hell. More memories started coming back, but Etrigan wasn't ready for Jason to remember everything, so he put him to sleep. Etrigan emerged, and met up with his father. He offered to help Belial take down Lucifer and Beelzebub so they could rule Hell as father and son. Belial was pleased, but pointed out that he'd be risking everything while Etrigan had the most to gain. Etrigan raged that if Belial didn't join him he'd take down him and the rest of the triumvirate by himself. Belial was pleased with his fire and told Etrigan that he'd naturally help his son with his ambitions.

(Demon III #5, 6) - Etrigan's mother Ran Va Daath assembled the exiled demons of Masak Madvil, and Etrigan rallied them to his side, telling them he'd grant them release from the abyss if they fought at his side. Etrigan returned to Jason as he woke, and after Harry told him more of his own history he regained the rest nof his memory, including being at the Crusade that sacked Jerusalem and on the Santa Maria with Christopher Columbus. Realizing he was tied to Etrigan he felt helpless, but Harry reminded him it was his fault he was a seat cushion in Hell, and Jason agreed to take him to find Merlin so they could escape Hell together. They overheard Belial discussing his plans to lay back while Etrigan battled Lucifer and Beelzebub to see which way the winds blew. Etrigan and his army, including his mother Raan va Daath, marched on toward Beelzebub's domain, and Beelzebub commanded his soldiers to defend the castle to the last demon. Etrigan's army broke through, and Etrigan and Abaddon cast a spell that destroyed the wards protecting Beelzebub's castle. The army razed the domain and blasted Beelzebub with eldritch energy, putting him down. Belial, pleased with Etrigan's progress, had his forces meet Etrigan's on their way to Lucifer's seat of power in Dis in order to ally themselves with them. Daath, still furious at her exile to the pit of Hell thousands of years ago when Belial cast her aside for another, attacked her former love, but Etrigan separated them, convincing them to lat aside their animosity until they'd conquered Hell. They reached Dis and Lucifer opened the gates to them and surrendered. Etrigan was suspicious, but Lucifer told him he was ceded rule of Hell because he was curious about how it would turn out for him. Etrigan burned Dis and slaughtered the demons within for fun.

(Demon III #7) - Etrigan prepared for his coronation at Masak Madvil, the pit of Hell, chaining up Beelzebub, Lucifer and Merlin. He was given the Crown of Horns, signifying his rule. He promised his subjects Hell would shatter Earth and then lay siege to Heaven. Belial said he was proud of his son for joining him in the triumvirate, but Etrigan corrected him, saying he'd promised the third slot to Abaddon, the guardian of the pit of Hell, knowing that if Lucifer had fought back Belial would have fought to keep the status quo. Etrigan also never got over his father allowing Merlin mastery over him. He assaulted his father, forced him to yield, and then ripped out his heart and tossed it to Daath, telling her she could always brag that she'd stolen Belial's heart. Belial's army wanted to attack, but the demon Morax, who quite liked Etrigan as Hell's new ruler, convinced them to stand down with a few swings of his mallet. Morax pledged his servitude, and Etrigan gratefully accepted. Etrigan then ripped off Beelzebub's wings and cast him into the pit of Hell, then threw his father in too. Lucifer refused to throw himself into the pit, saying he was severely disappointed in Etrigan. His end goal of making war with Heaven was a fool's errand, and he'd expected better, but knew Etrigan was a youth as far as immortals went, and lacked true wisdom. Etrigan tried to attack him, but Lucifer broke his shackles and glided off.

(Demon III #34, 35) - Lucifer abdicated, leaving Hell, and demons everywhere started bloody wars in an effort to grab power. Belial, vastly weakened without his heart, confined himself to his most secret sanctum. Etrigan, promising to save Harry Matthews soul, arrived in Hell with Harry and Lobo, and they were soon joined by Morax on their quest. Merlin, having made a deal with Belial to destroy his half-brother, watched their progress towards Belial’s sanctum through a magical flame. They arrived at Belial’s secret sanctum and demanded to be let in. Etrigan wanted to know why his father was so down in the dumps, and Belial reminded his son that he’d ripped his heart out. Belial hardly even had an appetite for evil anymore. Ran va Daath had the heart, but it was stolen and being kept in the Impenetrable Fortress of Flynn. Belial introduced Etrigan’s group to MacAwfully Cutekin, who he claimed was his nephew, a proto-demon who’d been the one to locate his heart. Cutekin was actually Merlin in disguise, not ready to have Etrigan know about his dealings with Belial. Etrigan asked for Harry’s soul back, and Belial led them to his soul room, where the billions of souls he’d collected over the eons were watched over by Ca’rrion, keeper of souls. Belial uncorked Harry’s soul, allowing Harry to see it was safe and sound before putting it back in the bottle. Belial said he’d give them Harry’s soul if they retrieved his heart, and Etrigan agreed. While they talked Lobo and Morax ganged up on MacAwfully Cutekin, pulling him aside and dismembering him with hook and mallet because they despised his cloying cuteness. Belial asked Etrigan why he was helping a mortal, and his son said he was trying to be the good guy of Hell. Belial was disgusted with the thought, and said he hoped it was just a phase. Belial sent Etrigan and his crew off, and told them he’d look after Harry, introducing him to Katarina de la Kush, another soul he’d turned into a pillow. They had an instant attraction, but were unable to start kissing because they were immobile. After they left Belial, not trusting Etrigan one bit, sent his Skull Squad to shadow his son. Belial discovered Cutekin’s remains and used his magic to reassemble him. Merlin dropped his disguise and, enraged at the abuse he’d suffered, vowed to kill Etrigan and all his friends. As a fun diversion Etrigan drove his hotrod through the River Styx Races, killing most of the racers. Etrigan, Lobo and Morax were now being followed by the surviving racers, the Skull Squad, Morax’s Torment Squads, and the Nomads of the Wasteland, who were plundering in the wake of Etrigan’s destruction.

(Demon III #38, 39) - Etrigan and company returned from the Impenetrable Fortress with the Thing-That-Cannot-Die, who was the one who’d stolen Belial’s heart. The Thing got hungry and ate the heart, so Etrigan performed a spell from the Eternity Book to make a new one for Belial. Belial placed the new heart in his chest and grumbled about the loss of his old one, he said it was serviceable enough. Belial reunited Harry with his soul, but Harry remained a seat cushion, and Belial admitted he lied when he said having his soul back would revert Harry to normal. Harry fumed while Belial, Etrigan, Lobo and Morax all laughed at him. Etrigan revealed the real reason he’d agreed to save Harry’s soul. He’d found a spell in the Eternity Book that would let a prince of Hell rule as overlord for one day a year if he returned a human soul without asking for a reward. Etrigan completed the spell over Belial’s objections, but the magic was booby trapped, and once the spell was finished Etrigan found himself on fire, and was soon burned down to his bones. Merlin revealed himself and bragged that he’d put that spell in the Eternity Book as a trap for his hated half-brother. Merlin and Belial gloated about Etrigan’s death, infuriating the Thing because he liked Jason Blood. He scorched off Merlin’s beard with his flame breathe and engaged him in a brief magical duel before being stepped on by Belial. Morax and Lobo decided to finish what the Thing started and attacked. They were winning the battle when Etrigan appeared, revealing that he cast a spell earlier to create a magical duplicate, having a suspicion that the Eternity Book spell was cursed. Merlin looked around for his Eternity Book, but the Thing had devoured it. After brutalizing Belial and Merlin Etrigan ripped Belial’s heart out again, and placed Merlin inside his chest cavity. He then sealed the wound with hellfire and buried Belial in a deep grave.

(Demon III #51) - Merlin woke in Hell, trapped in his father's innards. He freed himself only to find his magical powers gone, putting him in a state of deep despair.

Comments: Created by Matt Wagner

A pre-Crisis version of Belial appeared in Captain Marvel, Jr.

Belial received a profile in Who’s Who in the DC Universe #11 under the Hell’s Hierarchy entry.

Belial had a cameo in Demon III #0, 21, 29.