Malebolgia was one of the most powerful rulers of Hell for, and reigned unopposed in the Eighth Circle of Hell for 70,000 years. In contemporary times, he struck a deceitful deal with Albert Simmons to make him the new Hellspawn. He was just one of several rulers of Hell forming an army in their upcoming Armageddon war against Heaven and God.
Biography[]
Malebolgia was responsible for the creation of the newest Hellspawn, Al Simmons. He was respected and feared as the most powerful of rulers, and thus the de facto great master of Hell. His powers include energy projection, matter manipulation, enormous physical strength, recuperative abilities, and abilities to transform and induce hallucinations. His position in the hierarchy of Hell gives him almost unlimited power while within the grounds of the Eighth Sphere. His mastery of Necroplasm gives him the exclusive ability to create Hellspawn, and during his rule, he created an army larger than anything Heaven could handle. He was the original main antagonist of the Spawn series and later reprises this role in some of the later issues.
Overview[]
Malebolgia saw promise in military assassin and tactician Al Simmons. Upon his death, he sent Al back to Earth as the new Hellspawn so he could meet his wife, Wanda Blake, once more. However, he changed the deal they both made, along with his words, to make Al's life hell. Malebolgia's plan was to make Al the new Hellspawn, an officer-in-training to serve in Hell's army when a war was waged against Heaven in the mighty battle of Armageddon.
Malebolgia's main officer was Violator, who was sent to train Al to use his hatred and anger in ways that would strengthen Hell's army with more soldiers. At first, all the Hellspawn are confused and quickly and irresponsibly use their powers to further kill their enemies. However, Spawn found an ally in Cogliostro, a former Hellspawn, who trained him to go against Malebolgia's wishes.
Malebolgia continues to watch the young Hellspawn via remote viewing through his mystical pool of blood and laughs at each new increase in his own power and murder committed by Spawn.