After 54 Years, DC Unveils Jaw-Dropping New Design For Classic Hero

Published Oct 8, 2026, 9:12 PM EDT

TJ Mills is an editor on ScreenRant's Comic team, where she combines her lifelong passion for DC with her analytical background as a former Intelligence Analyst. Since joining ScreenRant in 2023, she has specialized in covering major DC storylines, character evolutions, and industry developments. 

DC Comics is in the thick of a new Golden Era, starting with the launch of its Absolute Universe back in October 2024, which has resulted in multiple best-selling titles, and now with DC’s latest main-universe initiative, NEXT LEVEL. NEXT LEVEL is the second stage of DC’s ALL IN chapter, introducing revamped storylines alongside the launch of several new titles. One of these new titles has just debuted, unveiling a radical new redesign for a classic hero.

DC has seen a slew of new 2026 title releases in recent months, from Deathstroke: The Terminator, Lobo, Teen Titans, Zatanna, Jonah Hex and the Shadow of Death, and more. This week saw the debut of several new titles, including The Demon. Brought to life by the creative duo of writer and artist James Harren and colorist Dave Stewart, this new series has ushered in a new era for Etrigan the Demon and Jason Blood.

Created by the legendary Jack Kirby, Etrigan the Demon and Jason Blood first debuted in 1972's The Demon #1 and has since become one of DC Comics' most recognizable supernatural creations. The character has carved out an impressive legacy in the pages of DC Comics, earning multiple solo titles, including his original The Demon series, which ran from 1972 to 1974, followed by a revival of the same name that ran from 1990 to 1995.

The anti-hero also notably starred in the miniseries The Demon: Driven Out from 2003 to 2004 and the 17-issue Blood of the Demon from 2005 to 2006. Now, for the first time in 20 years, Etrigan has claimed his latest solo title with James Harren's The Demon.

Everything You Need To Know About The Demon, From Plot To Our Review

Main Cover by James Harren for The Demon #1 (2026)

At 36 pages and priced at $4.99, The Demon #1 has already proven itself to be an exceptional start to what will hopefully be a long-running series. What is particularly unique about this series is that Jason Blood is a broken man whose mind has long since been shattered by his near-endless march through life and the torment caused by sharing his soul with Etrigan the Demon. Harren does an exceptional job of portraying Blood’s shattered mental state, presenting readers with a spectacularly intriguing and eccentric character.

The world is infested with a darkness it cannot see. Beasts from Hell feast on humanity's soul. Enter: Jason Blood. A man alive too long. Witness to centuries of Hell's victories. A wanderer with a shattered mind and a split soul. Following the mute face — a lost wizard — tortured by a voice from Hell, can Jason Blood protect our world and save his soul? Will the Demon Etrigan rise again? Superstar writer/artist James Harren creates a brand-new epic starring the mightiest demon of them all!

While the plot is solid, it’s the characterization that truly elevates the narrative. Anytime Blood opens his mouth, fans will find themselves grinning ear-to-ear due to the dialogue’s inherent quirkiness. Harren truly outdid himself when it comes to the character’s dialogue, and this is a major part of what makes this interpretation of Blood pop.

One of Screen Rant’s personal favorite snippets of dialogue from the character comes from an encounter between Blood and a demon: “You there. You've grown fat on a soul that does not belong to you. I am Jason Blood. I come with many gifts. Such as the Pinus coulteri. Fallen from the mightiest pine in Europe. Grown out of the grave of Pope Bernard, the hidden-slayer of the vampire cult of Milan. Have at thee.”

DC Confirms Wild New Design For Jason Blood

Comic Page Comes from James Harren's The Demon #1 (2026)

In addition to the 10/10 writing in this comic, the awe-inspiring art elevates this debut issue from great to amazing. Harren’s art adds to the overall atmosphere of the issue and is one of the best things about the entire comic, with Stewart’s coloring serving as the perfect complement. If DC fans pick up this issue for no other reason, it should be for the art, which is nothing short of masterful.

That said, this unique art style also gives us a completely new look for Jason Blood. The design is both wild and whimsical, but even more impressive is how Blood’s outward appearance reflects his precarious mental state. The character is drawn in a way that is incredibly eccentric, including his hermit-esque attire, a wooden mask that covers his eyes, and notably wild red hair and facial hair streaked with white.

Our favorite part of this design is the wild white curl of hair that protrudes from the top of his head as if it were a wonky antenna. The look is very reminiscent of Dr. Seuss, with Blood feeling like a mixture between a Who and the Lorax, and this is meant as the utmost compliment to Harren and his artistic choices for this comic.

What DC Fans Saying About 2026's The Demon

Cover B Daniel Warren Johnson Variant for The Demon #1 (2026)

While the first issue has earned Screen Rant’s stamp of approval, the fan reception for this comic has been just as positive. This is primarily demonstrated on League of Comic Geeks, where fans can rate and leave reviews for the issue. Thus far, the comic has received 920 ratings, averaging out to a solid 4.1 stars out of 5, which equates to a “very positive” ranking on the site.

The reviews are just as complimentary of the art style, with this being a consistent point of praise throughout most of them. Most fans consider this a solid start for the series, noting that Harren manages to both respect the lore and mythos first established by Kirby while building upon them in new ways that are relatable to modern-day audiences. So, the consensus is clear: this is a FANTASTIC start to what promises to be one of DC’s best ongoing titles.

So, if you haven’t checked out DC’s new The Demon comic, don’t walk, run to this comic. You won’t regret it.