Cover Date: October 1973; On Sale Date: July 1973
Writer: Gary Friedrich; Artist: Herb Trimpe; Inker: Frank Chiaremonte; Letterer: John Costanza; Colorist: John Severin; Editor: Roy Thomas; Cover Artist: Herb Trimpe
Locked in a cabin at the Indian reservation, a manic Daimon
Hellstrom pounds on the door to his prison, promising that he can save
the life of Linda Littletrees. Despite the fact that Hellstrom had told
them not to release him until morning, no matter how much he pleaded,
Sam Silvercloud and Snake Dance open the door and free the man, only to
Daimon transformed into the Son of Satan! Garbed in a red cape, golden
trident in hand and a pentagram tattooed on his chest, the demon spawn
tells the Indians that while by day he is the meek Hellstrom, by night
he becomes his father's son, whose elemental trident can produce blasts
of searing hellfire. Hellstrom demands to know Linda's whereabouts, sure
that she has been possessed by his father. When the two men refuse to
tell him, the Son of Satan raises his trident in the air, causing a
ferocious thunderstorm. From the clouds, a mystical chariot descends,
drawn by two demonic horses. Daimon jumps aboard the chariot and leaves
the Indians, determined to find Linda Littletrees.
Meanwhile, in the remote desert, Roxanne Simpson
finds herself at the mercy of Big Daddy Dawson and his biker gang after
the disappearance of Linda and the Ghost Rider. Before the men can
injure the young girl, the Son of Satan appears, demanding to know where
Linda and Blaze have gone. Hellstrom quickly defeats the bikers,
causing them to run away without Dawson, whom the devil scion has
blasted with his trident. Daimon then attacks Roxanne, demanding to know
where his father has gone. She tells him that the Witch Woman
disappeared with the Ghost Rider, though she doesn't know where they
went. Hellstrom knows, however, and departs, abandoning Roxanne once
again to the desert.
The Son of Satan makes his way to a desert plateau
in the desert, in which is a cavern that doubles as a gateway to Hell
itself. He descends into the netherrealm, and when he reaches his
father's throne room, finds Satan and his two captives, Linda
Littletrees and Johnny Blaze. Not pleased at seeing his son, Satan
commands his demon hordes to destroy him, but Hellstrom fights on,
destroying the demons with his power. He makes his way to a bridge high
above the floor, a bridge that supports the weight of the entire roof of
Hell. Daimon threatens to destroy the bridge, thus destroying Hell,
unless Satan allows him, Linda, and Blaze safe passage back to Earth.
Satan agrees, realizing he has no choice, and Daimon takes the two
captives back to Earth. Realizing that the sun is about to come up, and
with it a reversion back to his normal self, Daimon sets down his
chariot in the desert and leaves Blaze and the unconscious Linda,
despite the fact that the two would most likely die. Daimon flies away,
stating that their lives are of little consequence to him.
