CHURCH of the DARK FATHER

Membership: Ruth Cummins, Gloria Hefford

Purpose: Worship of Satan

Affiliations: worshipped Satan;
    Satana

Enemies: Darkos Edge, Harry Gotham, Kthara

Base of Operations: Los Angeles, California

First Appearance: Vampire Tales#3 (February, 1974)

History: The exact origins of the Church of the Dark Father are unknown. It is a Satanic Cult, though many of the members joined it on a lark, actually seeking a different source of peace and love and rebelling against modern society. A number of these members believed that Satan was not the enemy of mankind, but rather its redeemer: that Satan was good and kind, and that he wanted wanted them to love him and love each other.

(Vampira Tales#3 (fb)) - "Satan" appeared to Ruth Cummins in a dream, touching her shoulder and telling her, "One day you will serve me. Your life will leave you--and be yours forever." Upon her shoulder was permanently left the mark of Satan.

(Vampire Tales#3) - On the streets of Los Angeles, Ruth Cummins and a small group of the Church preached the benefits of Satanism. Politician Harry Gotham confronted and spoke out against them, whipping the crowd into a frenzy against them. Satana appeared between the groups and dispersed the crowd, despite the harangue of Gotham. Ruth invited Satana back to her apartment, and the two revealed they each possessed the mark of Satan. 
    That night, Darkos Edge and his agent, assassins sent by Gotham, broke into Ruth's apartment to kill Satana. Unaware that Satana would be able to handle their assault, Ruth leapt to her defense and took a blow to the head that killed her. Satana slew Edge's agent and then drank the soul of both Edge and Gotham.

(Marvel Spotlight I#24 (fb) - BTS) - Gloria Hefford's mother died at some point in her youth. A girl bored with college and the straight-and-narrow life, she wanted something more, something...better. Her quest led her to Los Angeles, to Satan.

(Haunt of Horror#2/6) - As part of the Church, Gloria became roommates with Gloria, whom she believed to be just another Satanist.

(Marvel Spotlight I#24) - Gloria, thought to prove herself a witch, a demon sorceress, by conjuring a demon from Hell. Ignoring the advice of the elders of the Church and unaware of the consequences, Gloria invoked the Triad (Y'Garon, Y'Grianth, Y'Bsalloth) in the process of acting out a spell. She summoned the demon Kthara, Mother of Demons, who possessed her, consuming her soul. Another member of the Church attempted to rush to Gloria's rescue, but Kthara took his soul as well.
    Gloria's father, Lewis, sent a letter to Daimon Hellstrom, knowing him to be an expert in the occult and  seeking his help in rescuing Gloria. Satana was attracted to these events as well, and she destroyed Gloria's mortal form when she summoned hte Basilisk to slay Kthara.

COMMENTS: Created by Gerry Conway and Esteban Maroto.

    Anton Devine's Church of Lucifer actually served as a network for occult groups, so if the Church of the Dark Father is still around, it could be affiliated with him. A number of other Satanic Cults are listed in the clarifications, any of which may or may not be affiliated with the Church of the Dark Father.

CLARIFICATIONS:
No KNOWN connection to:

• "DARK CHURCH" - organization of Darkos Edge--[Vampire Tales#3]
• DARK CHURCH - see CHURCH of SATAN--Tomb of Dracula I#45
• CHURCH of ASGARD (Lloyd Cullen, Willie Lawson (Loki), Lars +Trent Skoglund)
      - established after Thor had Asgardians begin to be directly involved with earth and solve problems
      CHURCH of THOR, CULT of THOR--Thor II#54
• CHURCH of the DAMNED - see CHURCH of SATAN--Tomb of Dracula I#45
• CHURCH of HUMANITY (General Vicar, Prefects, Supreme Pontiff, false pope)
      - empowered and directed Mr. Clean, destroyed X-Ranch, sought to bring about false Rapture to topple the Catholic Church
      --[Uncanny X-Men#395], (named) 397, (seen) 399
• CHURCH of the IDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT 2099 - --Punisher 2099# ?
• CHURCH of LUCIFER (A’ishah, Anton Devine) - network for occult groups, currently based out Fire Lake
      --Hellstorm#13
• CHURCH of SATAN (Anton Lupeski, Domini ) - demonic cult, taken over by Dracula as a source of followers, actual church destroyed by Dracula after the death of Janus
      -Dark Church, Cult of Satan, Church of the Damned--Tomb of Dracula I#45
• CHURCH of the SAVED (Byron Gresham, Rev (Sammy Smith), Vickie White, Homer, Keena, Louis) - religious cult, relocated to Smithtown, Dutch Guiana shortly before dissolving
      --Punisher II#4
• CHURCH of THOR 2099 (father Jennifer D'Angelo, pilgrim Mosely Wilson, odinson Moco Buchanon) --
• CHURCH of YINSEN (Tiger Mynn, Yinsen/sentient Iron Man armor) - framed Sun Tao, stole SKIN from Crew Askew
      -SONS of YINSEN--Iron Man III#46
• other Churches

Ruth Cummins has no known connection to:

• Diane Cummings - wife of Bob O'Bryan, hostess for "It’s Amazing", former actress
      --Tales of Suspense I#20
• CUMMINGS, JOHN - encountered and thwarted the 2-D Men
      --Tales of Suspense I#33

SATAN. Satana was unable to confirm the involvement of her father with the Ruth or the Church of the Dark Father, so it is unclear whether this represents Marduk Kurios on one of the many other demons who has taken the name of Satan.

Appearances:
Vampire Tales#3 (February, 1974) - Gerry Conway (writer), Esteban Maroto (artist), Roy Thomas (editor)
Haunt of Horror#2 (July, 1974) - Gerry Conway (writer), Enrique Romero (artist), Roy Thomas (editor)
Marvel Spotlight I#24 (October, 1975) - Chris Claremont (writer), Sal Buscema (pencils), John Romita & Bob McLeod (inks), Len Wein (editor)

First Posted: 09/26/2003
Last updated: 09/04/2011

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™  and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
If you like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com

Special Thanks to www.g-mart.com for hosting the Appendix, Master List, etc.!

Back to Groups