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The final film in the DCAMU,Justice League Dark: Apokolips Warbrought together many classic characters from the DC roster into the forefront to battle Darkseid. The film series which began withJustice League: The Flashpoint Paradoxsaw many characters that were not usually explored in the mainstream such as Constantine, Raven, and more.
One such character was Etrigan the Demon, who joined the Justice League in their battle against Darkseid. Etrigan the Demon is known for his magical powers and his bond with the immortal knight Jason Blood. The Demon is also known for his penchant for rhyming while speaking, which was done away withJustice League Dark: Apokolips War. Spoilers ahead.
Why Does Etriga the Demon Stop Rhyming InJustice League Dark: Apokolips War?
Etriga the Demon is a legendary character in the DC roster. First brought forth by Merlin, the latter fails at gathering the magical secrets of Etriga and bonds him with one of King Arthur’s knights named Jason Blood. He ends up becoming immortal, summoning the demon whenever he is in need, and allies himself with the Justice League at times.
Jason Blood always summons Etriga the Demon with a rhyme and the Demon is known to speak in rhymes as well. Etriga began speaking in rhymes after he received a promotion in hell. However, this quirk of the character was removed fromJustice League Dark: Apokolips War, which sees him go into a depression.
InJustice League Dark: Apokolips War, Etriga stops his practice of rhyming after the death of his human bond Jason Blood. The move reportedly caused many fans to not be happy with this creative direction as it was a prominent characteristic of the Demon. However, writer Ernie Altbacker mentioned toSciFi Nowthat he had a lot of fun working on ‘Emo Etrigan’,
“That was my kind of solution because I’m really a crappy Etrigan rhymer. If you’re not Alan Moore, maybe don’t try it. I had to do it in the first one and it was just hard. I still don’t know if it worked totally but people seemed to like it. And when am I ever going to get a chance to write an ’emo’ Etrigan – Emo-trigan right?!”
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Etrigan’s rhyming is such an irreplaceable part of his character that the lack of it seemed to be a blasphemous decision. However, the removal of the trait was closely associated with Jason Blood’s death, making it a reasonable creative direction.
Alan Moore’s Depiction Of Etrigan Redefined The Character
While the character of Etrigan the Demon was created by Jack Kirby, notably in a diner while ordering dinner, legendary writerAlan Mooregave a whole new depth to the Demon. Moore tackled the DC character in his run as the writer forThe Saga of the Swamp Thing,which sees the eponymous character go to Hell, the abode of Etrigan.
Though Etrigan always used rhyme to talk and the quirk was again an idea by Kirby, Moore reportedly built on the premise by famously having the Demon rhyme in iambic pentameter. According toAngel Fire, the practice was used by subsequent writers of Etrigan to use the same rhyming scheme in his appearances.
One of the most popular depictions of Etrigan’s prowess was in his appearance in Alan Moore’sSaga of the Swamp Thing. The comic sees Swamp Thing visit Hell and be shocked by the existence of such a place, wondering how could God create a place of suffering like this. Etrigan reportedly responds with,
“Think you God built this place, wishing man ill and not lusts uncontrolled or swords unsheathed? / Not God, my friend. The truth’s more hideous still: These halls were carved by men while yet they breathed. / God is no parent or policeman grim dispensing treats or punishments to all. / Each soul climbs or descends by its own whim. He mourns, but He cannot prevent their fall. / We suffer as we choose. Nothing’s amiss. All torments are deserved…”
Alan Moore’s depiction of Swamp Thing and Etrigan has been often recognized as a redefining part of the characters’ history.
Justice League Dark: Apokolips Waris streaming on Max.
Nishanth A
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2417
Nishanth A is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 2,000 articles published. He has been an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a scriptwriter at various corporations before that, working on educational content. With a Communications, English Literature, and Psychology triple major, Nishanth usually covers news and analyses on Star Trek, particularly Strange New Worlds and The Next Generation; Doctor Who, the DCU, and more.A Nolan fan, Nishanth spends his time exploring the filmographies of various directors with an auteurial style or can be found making short movies of his own. He has also contributed as a feature writer for Film Companion, focusing on the South division.
