Marvel’s Disney+ series Ironheart concluded its first season with a long-awaited introduction of Mephisto. Played by Sacha Baron Cohen, the character was first hinted at in the classic Disney+ series WandaVision. Marvel also teased the red devil’s presence in the critically acclaimed series Agatha All Along.
In Ironheart, Mephisto is the villain pulling the strings of The Hood, but he doesn’t appear physically until episode 6. Riri Williams has lost her AI, N.A.T.A.L.I.E., and is struggling to recover it. Mephisto preys on her intense desire for connection with her deceased best friend, but before we learn if Riri has truly made a deal with this devil, the show ends.
Cohen’s portrayal and the blending of magic, mysticism, and science deliver everything Marvel fans hoped for with this character’s debut.
But who is this all-powerful being?
If the Marvel Universe has a Satan, it’s Him.
Mephisto is crafted as a devil-like figure—red-skinned, with a black and red cape—someone you can strike a deal with, at the cost of your soul. He’s a cunning liar who dwells in a fiery hellish realm. Marvel describes him as: “Mephisto rules a fiery nether realm and loves impersonating the biblical Satan. Empowered by the souls of the damned, he often strikes deceptive bargains with the living, making him one of the most evil and untrustworthy beings in existence.”
He even once disguised himself as a serpent to deceive the Stone Age Avengers—what could be more devilish or demonic than a sneaky snake?
A Fly Swatter May Have Been His Achilles’ Heel
There are several origin stories for Mephisto. Some suggest he was “a maggot-laying fly” that landed on Earth’s Celestial as it was dying, granting him the ability to manipulate time and space. Others claim he was simply born from humanity’s darkest desires.
Tormenting souls and stealing them away is his favorite pastime.
What kind of demon would His Satanic Majesty (“Mephisto vs. The Avengers #4: His Satanic Majesty’s Request”) be if he didn’t devour souls and sow chaos? It’s only natural for someone who draws power from corrupt and potent souls to seek to steal them. Marvel depicts him as constantly tormenting the Avengers—especially targeting figures like Peter Parker (Spider-Man), Thor Odinson, and Norrin Radd (Silver Surfer), among others.
Can He Die, Though?
Technically, yes. But he rarely stays dead—humanity’s darkness and dark desires ensure his return time and time again.