One of my pet peeves is the use of a comic-book scene as metaphor for a real-world situation, often a sign that the writer cannot think in more sophisticated terms.
However, I am about to do just that.
In an early issue of JOHN CONSTANTINE HELLBLAZER, we check in on the current whereabouts of the foul demon Nergal, who at Newcastle subjected Constantine to the early trauma that is close as he has to an origin story for a time in the early going seemed poised to become Constantine’s arch enemy, but who (by about thirty or forty issues in) was supplanted by The First of the Fallen.
Constantine defeated Nergal so decisively on a couple of those early occasions that the demon’s status in Hell was ruined, and so when we catch up with him, he is forced to exist as underling to another who delights in humiliating him.
At one point, Nergal’s new lord — whose name I forget right now; call him Ralph, for reasons that are about to be rendered obvious — summons him to analyze the substance of a recently devoured human being, and provides the sample by projectile-vomiting it in Nergal’s face.
The art clearly depicts Nergal’s helpless disgust and rage as he says, “Thank you, my Lord,” and gives his demon superior Ralph the analysis he wants.
We know enough about Nergal to understand that he does not like this. He would personally like to be hell’s figure of authority. But he has been reduced to the target of abuse, a vassal. Now Nergal must say,
“Thank you, my Lord,” and do what he’s been told.
I have always remembered that scene. What a comedown for a once-formidable villain. What torment! And what a dead giveaway that for all his grand talk, he was always just a weasel!
Donald Trump is Ralph, and Ted Cruz is Nergal.
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