Jack Kirby was basically forced to create the Demon.
Seriously. "The King" of comics didn't even want to do a horror book. He was deep into his Fourth World saga—think New Gods and Darkseid—when DC Comics basically tapped him on the shoulder and said, "Hey, horror is selling. Give us a monster." Kirby, being the professional powerhouse he was, went to a Howard Johnson’s for a steak dinner, sat down, and sketched out the entire concept for Etrigan on the spot.
But here is the thing that trips up even the most hardcore comic nerds: Kirby didn't actually make him a "rhyming" demon. Not really.
If you go back and crack open The Demon #1 from 1972, you’ll see the iconic transformation poem: "Gone, gone the form of man, rise the demon Etrigan!" That’s classic. But once Etrigan actually showed up? He mostly just talked like a regular Kirby tough guy. He was loud, brash, and violent, but he wasn't exactly a poet. The "who created Etrigan the Demon rhyming" question actually has two answers: one for the body, and one for the voice.
The King and the Rhyme: Why Jack Kirby Left the Poetry Out
Kirby’s run on The Demon lasted only 16 issues. It was a weird, frantic, beautiful mess of Arthurian legend and 1970s occult vibes. Jason Blood, the immortal demonologist, was a tortured soul living in Gotham, hiding a literal monster under his skin. Kirby used rhyming for the magic—the spells and the summons—but Etrigan himself was a brawler.
The idea that every single sentence out of the demon's mouth had to rhyme didn't exist yet. Kirby’s Etrigan would yell things like, "You'll find the Demon's strength is more than a match for your puny spells!" No rhymes. No couplets. Just pure, unadulterated cosmic energy.
Honestly, the rhyming was almost an accident of history. After Kirby left the title, Etrigan kind of floated around the DC Universe as a guest star. He’d show up in Batman or Wonder Woman, usually just being a yellow-skinned engine of destruction. It wasn't until the mid-80s that a certain British writer decided that being a demon from Hell should sound a lot more... sophisticated. And annoying.
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Enter Alan Moore: The Man Who Actually Made Him Rhyme
If you’re looking for the person who truly "created" the rhyming version of Etrigan, you’re looking for Alan Moore.
In 1984, Moore was busy reinventing The Saga of the Swamp Thing. He wanted to use Etrigan, but he wanted him to feel alien. Dangerous. Old. He looked back at a single issue of DC Comics Presents #66, written by Len Wein, where Etrigan had briefly dabbled in rhyming. Moore took that tiny seed and turned it into an absolute law of the character.
In Swamp Thing #26, Moore didn't just make him rhyme; he made him speak in iambic pentameter.
Think about that for a second. Most comic writers struggle to hit a deadline. Moore was writing a horror comic where one of the lead characters had to follow the same rhythmic structure as a Shakespearean sonnet. It was a flex. But it did something incredible for the character's E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) in the eyes of the fans. It made Etrigan feel like an ancient, high-ranking official of the pit.
The Infernal Hierarchy: Why Does He Have to Do It?
Later writers, specifically Neil Gaiman in The Sandman, expanded on this. They turned the rhyming into a status symbol. In the hierarchy of Hell, the "Rhyming Caste" is a big deal. If you can rhyme, you’ve got rank. It’s basically the demonic version of having a corner office and a company car.
- Low-level demons: Grunt, scream, and talk like normal people.
- Rhyming demons: These are the nobles, the generals, and the elite.
- The Price: If Etrigan misses a rhyme or messes up his meter, he’s effectively demoting himself in front of his peers.
This added a layer of psychological tension that Kirby never intended. Now, when Etrigan fights, he isn't just trying to claw your face off; he's trying to do it while maintaining a perfect AABB rhyme scheme. It’s stressful.
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The Writers Who Hated (and Loved) the Rhymes
Once the rhyming became "canon," it became a nightmare for every writer who followed. Imagine having to write 22 pages of dialogue where every single bubble has to rhyme.
Garth Ennis, who wrote a legendary run on The Demon in the 90s, leaned into the absurdity of it. He made the rhymes darker, funnier, and more vulgar. He used the constraint to give Etrigan a wicked, biting sense of humor.
On the flip side, some creators couldn't stand it. John Byrne, a legendary creator in his own right, famously tried to "cure" Etrigan of the rhyming during his Blood of the Demon run. He thought it was a gimmick that got in the way of the story. Fans... did not agree. The rhyming returned pretty quickly because, frankly, an Etrigan who talks like a normal guy is just a yellow guy in a red cape. The rhyme is the soul of the character now.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Creation
The biggest misconception is that the "Rhyming Demon" was Kirby's vision. It wasn't. Kirby was about power and myth. The rhyming was a "software update" installed by the British Invasion of writers in the 80s.
Another weird fact? The visual design of Etrigan—the squat, muscular frame and the iconic mask-like face—was actually inspired by a 1930s Prince Valiant comic strip. Kirby saw a panel of a character in a demon mask and thought, "Yeah, I can do something with that."
How to Tell if You're Reading a "Good" Etrigan
If you're diving into the back issues, here is a quick cheat sheet to see how the "rhyming" evolution is going:
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- The Kirby Era: He's a monster who yells. Very little rhyming outside the transformation. Best for: Pure kinetic energy and "King" art.
- The Moore/Gaiman Era: He's a poet-prince. The rhymes are complex and meaningful. Best for: High-concept occult horror.
- The Ennis Era: He's a sarcastic jerk. The rhymes are fast, mean, and often hilarious. Best for: Action and black comedy.
- The Modern Era: It's a mix. Sometimes writers get lazy and just rhyme "fire" with "desire." Those are the ones to avoid.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators
If you're looking to explore Etrigan beyond the surface level, don't just stick to the main titles. His best rhyming often happens in guest spots. Look for his appearances in Justice League Dark or the Injustice comics.
For aspiring writers, trying to write an Etrigan scene is actually one of the best exercises for learning "economy of language." You have to say something important while being trapped in a rhythmic box. It forces you to find better words.
Basically, Etrigan is a collaborative masterpiece. Kirby gave him the fire, but Moore gave him the voice. Without both, he’d just be another forgotten monster from the 70s horror boom. Instead, he’s one of the most unique—and difficult to write—characters in the DC stable.
If you want to see the "rhyming" in its purest form, go find a copy of The Saga of the Swamp Thing #27. It's the gold standard. Read it out loud. You'll feel the rhythm that Kirby started (by accident) and Moore finished (on purpose).
Next time someone asks who created the rhyming demon, you can tell them the truth: Kirby built the engine, but the 80s gave it the tune.
Next Steps for Readers: Track down the DC Finest: The Demon omnibus releasing in 2026 to see the transition from Kirby's prose to the modern rhyming style in one volume. Alternatively, check out the Demon Knights series from the New 52 era for a version of Etrigan where the rhyming reflects his literal rank in the armies of Hell.