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In Demon Knights, hell’s coolest demon gets resuscitated by sci-fi and fantasy wizard Paul Cornell as part of DC Comics’ ongoing reboot campaign.

Reboot wizard Paul Cornell has created two of DC's finest New 52 comics in Stormwatch and Demon Knights.
Image courtesy Paul Cornell

Created by Jack Kirby and gainfully employed across the DC Universe by Neil Gaiman, Alan Moore and many more, Etrigan shows up again in Demon Knights No. 1, exclusively previewed in the gallery above. The issue materializes Wednesday in comics shops worldwide and is already sold out at the distributor, according to Cornell’s official site.

Deservedly so, given that the writer’s gifts for wit and suspense are proudly on display in the comic’s debut issue. With arresting art from Diogenes Neves and Oclair Roberts, as well as monstrous covers from the talented Tony S. Daniel, Cornell’s Demon Knights injects the Dark Ages with a postmodern sensibility.

From its self-aware satire and uncanny body horror to its clever inclusion of Vertigo’s highly readable sorceress Madame Xanadu, Demon Knights has perfectly positioned Etrigan for the 21st-century fantasy addicts that have made HBO’s adaptation of George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones a crossover phenomenon.

Demon Knights Issues No. 2 and No. 3, non-exclusively previewed above, arrive in October and November. But don’t forget to check out Wired.com’s exclusive cover reveal of issue No. 4, due in December, at far right in the gallery.

We’ll talk with Cornell next month about Demon Knights and his other New 52 reboot, the superhuman thriller Stormwatch, as well as his continuing work on the massive mythology of Doctor Who. For now, let us know in the comments section below your thoughts on the evolution of Etrigan, and if you think the demon has what it takes to vault to the upper echelon of DC’s hero roster.

Images courtesy DC Comics