FATHER DARKLYTE

Real Name: Unrevealed

Identity/Class: Human(?) magic user

Occupation: Cult leader

Group Membership: Legion of Nihilists (pawns)

Affiliations: Trog, a griffin, an angel (creations); <Cockroach Conspiracy>

Enemies: Byron Hyatt, Katherine Reynolds, Son of Satan (Hellstorm/Daimon Hellstrom)

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: The Cold in the midst of Flame, The Air in the midst of Vacuum, The Absurd in the midst of Causality, The Cause in the midst of the Absurd

Base of Operations: A cavern on the outskirts of St. Louis, Missouri

Appearances: Marvel Spotlight I#23 (August, 1975)

Powers: Father Darklyte siphoned the souls of others into his lantern. He used this energy to create a variety of life-like beings which served his will. He created an immense primitive man (Trog), a griffin, duplicates of Katherine Reynolds, and an angel (which turned out to be a demon). He was immune to many forms of destruction, and he could teleport. He was a nihilist: He believed in nothing, and sought to prove that nothing had any meaning. He was more than willing to sacrifice any and all of his followers for his cause. He spouted mostly contradictions, ie. "I come to bring you soothing agitation..to impart to you the wisdom of ignorance, bring you light from the dark side of the moon, or perhaps simply to kill you."

He commanded the Legion of Nihilists, a group of people in ancient Roman (?) warrior garb, armed with swords.

His lantern was full of insects: the significance of this is unknown (see comments). In addition, his power may have merely illusion.

Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 152 lbs.
Eyes: White
Hair: White

History: Father Darklyte's origins are unknown, as are the source and nature of his abilities. He came to develop a group of followers, the Legion of Nihilists, who worshipped him.

(MarvSpot#23)-Father Darklyte ambushed the Son of Satan in his house, made a few non-sensical comments and then created and sent Trog after him. When the Son of Satan destroyed Trog, Darklyte made a few more comments before fading away into nothingness. Darklyte next attacked the Son of Satan by sending a griffin after him. The griffin attacked and apparently killed Katherine Reynolds. It then carried the Son of Satan into the air, but Hellstrom released the full force of his darksoul and broke the griffin's neck. Darklyte then created eight new forms for Katherine, and then vanished once again. Hellstrom then used his soulfire to destroy the duplicates, apparently leaving one the real one standing. However, they then saw Katherine's original body, still lying on the ground, dead. Believing Katherine to be truly reincarnated, Hellstrom incinerated her original body.

Hellstrom traced Darklyte's energies to a cavern where he was leading a ritual of his followers, the Legion of Nihilists. After seeing Darklyte kill one of the Legion to re-power his lantern, Hellstrom attacked the group. Darklyte created and sent an angelic figure after him, but it turned into a demon as he killed it with a blast of soulfire. He turned his soulfire on Darklyte, who merely laughed it off. Enraged, Hellstrom again released the full power of darksoul, and unleashed a blast of flame that engulfed the entire cavern, slaying all of the Legion, except one woman who shielded herself behind Hellstrom. Father Darklyte's now-empty robe collapsed to the ground, and his lantern shattered, releasing a group of insects.

Comments: Created by Steve Gerber, Mike Friedrich, and Sal Buscema.

I think Darklyte may be part of the Cockroach Conspiracy.

This story is classic, seventies Gerber at his best.

Father Darklyte has an entry in Marvel Legacy: The 1970's Handbook.