Blackheart

Within Marvel's fictional cosmology Blackheart was created by Mephisto from "the evil energy that accumulated in Christ's Crown, New York." Portrayed as Mephisto's offspring or creation, he functions as an autonomous infernal agent who seeks rulership within Hell, at times opposing or attempting to supplant Mephisto. In some narratives his reaction to humanity (being impressed by human free will) brings him into conflict with Mephisto and results in punishment—examples include Mephisto transforming and banishing him to Earth as a diminished human in later storylines.

Depictions vary by medium and storyline. Comic and art versions present him as a powerful, mutable demon with designs that have included a gothic appearance, red eyes, and thorn-like tattoos on his upper body reminiscent of the brambles of Christ's Crown. Film portrayals (2007 Ghost Rider) emphasize a primarily human guise with pale skin and black hair while occasionally revealing demonic facial traces. Across sources his physical form and size are mutable rather than fixed.

Sources describe vast inherent supernatural powers: superhuman strength, speed, endurance of magical origin; telekinesis and telepathy; levitation and interdimensional teleportation; the ability to change size and physical form; sub-molecular self-healing; and generation of destructive energies such as concussive blasts of black energy. He can call forth armies from the pits of Hell and conducts political and manipulative actions on Earth, recruiting or corrupting agents and seeking to expand Hell's reach. He is described as having no soul, a trait that in the comics renders him invulnerable to the Ghost Rider's Penance Stare; the film adaptation likewise states he is without a soul and immune to holy objects and places.