'' (vol. 2) #2, art by
Amy Reeder. The first adaptation of Merlin first appeared in a
King Arthur-based comic book story in the
anthology comic book series entitled originally
New Comics (later re-titled
Adventure Comics) in issue #3 (Feb. 1936) by Rafael Astarita, kicking off a six-issue adaptation of "
The Tale of Sir Gareth of Orkney". He was also one of the earliest appearing recurring characters in a DC Comics title, appearing only slightly after
Doctor Occult and before
Slam Bradley and
Superman. In a
Superboy story, he appears as a scientist of
King Arthur's time who looks like
Mister Mxyzptlk, but also has the gift of Second Sight. The first modern version of Merlin is linked to his appearance in
The Demon #1 (Sept. 1972). In this series, Merlin summons the demon
Etrigan to combat
Morgaine le Fey, and appears in several more issues of the series. These events are shown from a different point of view in
Madame Xanadu (vol. 2) #1 (Aug. 2008), a
Vertigo Comics title. In
The Demon (vol. 2) #1 (April 1987), Merlin is established as Etrigan's half-demon brother and subsequent uses of the character have followed this backstory. Merlin's father
Belial had him trained in the arts of sorcery so that he could use his powers to control his older brother Etrigan. As a result, Merlin traveled far and wide on the
mortal plane, studying various schools of magic. Eventually he became learned enough to bind his brother, and was responsible for binding Etrigan to the
druid Iason, who would later be known as Jason Blood. Merlin employed Etrigan in the defense of
Camelot against his nemesis
Morgaine le Fey, her army of demons, and her son
Mordred. Before Morgaine's attack, Merlin subdued his other brother Scapegoat and the Thing-That-Cannot-Die, banishing them to the
Region Beyond, and set
Sir Percival to guard the Region Beyond and prevent its prisoners from escaping. Etrigan was able to defeat Morgaine le Fey and her demon army, and Arthur slew Mordred. But the
Phantom Stranger made sure that the fall of Camelot could not be prevented, by arranging Merlin's ensorcellment by his student
Nimue Inwudu (
Madame Xanadu). Merlin eventually escapes this fate and has appeared elsewhere in DC Comics, living an immortal existence throughout the centuries and aiding various heroes. In the pre-
Crisis DC Comics universe, Merlin possessed a magical crystal ball which he allowed the
Justice League of America to keep after they helped him to defeat a trio of evil sorcerers. This Merlin comes from the alternate world of Magic-Land, where scientific laws do not apply, but magic does. Merlin's crystal ball was used a short time later to communicate across dimensions with the
Justice Society of America of
Earth-Two. Both teams of heroes coordinated their efforts to defeat a group of villains known as the "Crime Champions". In the
Vertigo Comics miniseries
The Names of Magic,
Timothy Hunter encounters a version of Merlin trapped in an enchanted sleep in a cave in
Cornwall. Merlin explains that Tim is his creation, a spiritual successor to the title of "the Merlin" (a living conduit of magic). He created Tim with multiple contradictory origins to enhance his legend. Aspects of Merlin are trapped in a
forest in France, under a hill in
Wales, and on an island in an invisible house of glass. In the subsequent ongoing series
Hunter: The Age of Magic, Merlin's spirit manifests through Tim's owl, Yoyo, and becomes the boy's teacher, until his body is slain by the Brotherhood of the Cold Flame and his spirit passes on. As of the
Trials of Shazam maxiseries, the aspect of Merlin still free in the world now exhibits a visible demonic aspect and goes by his
Welsh name Myrddin. He has also revealed the existence of several half-demon children sired and tutored by him. These descendants refer to themselves collectively as the "Council of Merlin". His favored daughter Sabina, a
Creole witch, failed in her bid for the power of
Shazam, which would have made her his anchor to Earth, and was killed after being drawn into a portal in a battle with
Freddy Freeman. In
The New 52, Merlin makes his debut in
Demon Knights #1, again as the magician of King Arthur's court and is responsible for Etrigan and Jason Blood merging. Years later, he was killed by a daemonite-controlled disciple in the city of Alba Sarum. The Demon Knights bring Merlin's body to Avalon, resurrecting the magician, who then uses his mystical powers to help defeat the invading forces of
Lucifer and the Questing Queen. In the present, Merlin is called Adam One and is the leader of
Stormwatch. Merlin is later killed by aliens at the moment of creation, creating an alternate timeline where he never formed Stormwatch.
Other versions • An alternate version of Merlin appears in
Camelot 3000, where characters from Arthurian myth have no contact with DC superheroes in present day. This Merlin is an immortal who calls King Arthur from
Glastonbury Tor in the year 3000 to battle
Morgaine le Fay's invasion. • In the
Elseworlds story
Batman: Dark Knight of the Round Table, Merlin counsels a
Round Table consisting of analogs of the
Justice League of America. • An alternate timeline variant of Merlin appears in
Future State. This version is a conqueror who seeks to claim the world's magic. To this end, he separates Jason Blood from Etrigan and manipulates the former into serving him.
Merlin (DC Comics) in other media • Merlin appears in
The Adventures of Superboy episode "The Black Knight". • Merlin appears in
The Freedom Force, voiced by
Michael Bell. This version is a member of the titular team. • Merlin appears in a flashback in the
Justice League episode "A Knight of Shadows", voiced by
W. Morgan Sheppard. This version bound Jason Blood and Etrigan as punishment for the former betraying
Camelot to his secret lover
Morgaine le Fey. • Merlin appears in
Batman: The Brave and the Bold, voiced by
David McCallum. This version was previously Etrigan's master and worked with him to seal
Astaroth in the underworld. • Merlin appears in
Justice League Action, voiced by Dan Donohue in "Speed Demon" and by
Patrick Seitz in "Hat Trick". • Merlin appears in
Legends of Tomorrow as a disguise used by a time-travelling
Courtney Whitmore (portrayed by
Sarah Grey). • Merlin appears in
Justice League Dark, voiced by
JB Blanc. ==Marvel Comics==