DARKOTH

First Appearance:  Fantastic Four #142
Origin Issue:  Fantastic Four #193

Real Name:  Desmond Pitt
Aliases:  The Death Demon

Height:  (in human form) 6' 2", (as Darkoth) 6' 6"
Weight:  (in human form) 225 lbs, (as Darkoth) 305 lbs
Eyes:  (in human form) Brown, (as Darkoth) Blue
Hair:  Bald
Distinguishing Features:  Purple skin, prehensile reptilian tail, small wings on his feet, fangs, antennae

Occupation:  Agent of Mephisto, (former) United States Air Force Major, agent of Doctor Doom
Citizenship:  United States of America
Place of Creation/Birth:  St Louis, Missouri
Place of Death:  Somewhere in near Earth orbit

Known Relatives:  Unnamed wife (deceased), unnamed son
Known Allies:  Fantastic Four, Thor
Known Enemies:  Doctor Doom, Diablo, Mephisto

Intelligence:  Normal
Strength:  Superhuman Class 50
Speed:  Enhanced human
Stamina:  Superhuman
Durability:  Metahuman
Agility:  Superhuman
Reflexes:  Enhanced human
Fighting Skills:  Military training
Special Skills/Abilities:  Pilot
Superhuman physical powers:  Superhuman strength, flight, intangibility, prehensile tail which can be used as a bludgeon or whip, fatigue-causing energy projected from "firehorn" antennae
Superhuman Mental Powers:  None
Special Limitations:  None
Source of Superhuman Powers:  Bioengineering and cybernetic implantation by Doctor Doom, alchemical potions by Diablo.  Possible further mystical enhancements by Mephisto after his death.
Personal Weaponry:  Poisoned steel talons

Origin:  Desmond Pitt was a military pilot and buddy of Ben Grimm.  After Pitt's plane crashed and he was apparently killed, his body was recovered by Dr Doom, who rebuilt him to resemble a Balkan demon.  As Darkoth the Death-Demon, the amnesiac Pitt served Doom against the Fantastic Four.  When his true identity was revealed to him, Darkoth betrayed Doom and sacrificed himself.  Darkoth's nearly-dead corpse was found by Diablo, who resurrected him to use against Doom.  This brought them into conflict with the Thing, and Darkoth again sacrificed his own life to stop Diablo and Doom, revealing his own true identity and clearing his name in the process.  Darkoth was rescued again from the verge of death, this time by Mephisto, who used Pitt's orphaned son to force Darkoth to attack Thor.  Darkoth rebelled, dying yet again, while Thor saw to the adoption of the child.  In death, Darkoth found himself drawn to Limbo/Otherplace, the source of the Promethium which Doom had originally used to rebuild him.  There, he came into conflict with Dr Doom, the Avengers, and Excalibur, temporarily gained control of the Soul Sword, and became guardian of the dimension.

Significant Issues: 

• Fantastic Four #142-143:  attacked the Thing, lured him into underground fortress of Doctor Doom, taken captive, betrayed Doom and allied self with Fantastic Four, helped thwart Doom's Vibro-Bomb
• Fantastic Four #193-194:  recruited by Diablo as pawn to attack Doom, stole aboard space shuttle piloted by the Thing to redirect solar generators at Doom, betrayed Diablo when he learned the Thing would also be hurt, apparently killed in solar generator explosion
• Thor #325:  resurrection by Mephisto.  His orphaned son was used so he would do Mephisto's bidding, against Thor.  Thor defeated him and helped him escape Mephisto's power.  Thor arranged for his son to be adopted by Brenda and Tom Barclay

Appearances:

Excalibur #38-39
Fantastic Four #142-144, 193-194
Thor #325