| Hellhound | |
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Real Name |
Hellhound |
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First Appearance |
World Mythology |
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Created by |
Unknown |
Origin[]
Cerberus from Ibis the Invincible #4.
A hellhound is a mythological hound that embodies a guardian or a servant of hell, the devil, or the underworld. Hellhounds occur in mythologies around the world, with the best-known examples being Cerberus from Greek mythology, Garmr from Norse mythology, the black dogs of English folklore, and the fairy hounds of Celtic mythology. Physical characteristics vary, but they are commonly black, anomalously overgrown, supernaturally strong, and often have red eyes or are accompanied by flames.
While considered a bad omen, the hellhound has often helped many as well. The supernatural dog was said to warn people of danger and protect them when they needed it. The dog is often very loyal to those who call upon one and is said to be very watchful. While the creatures are often known as evil, they are not as evil as one would suggest. For example, the Welsh "Cwn Annwn" (Hounds of the Welsh Underworld) were actually believed to be benign. However, encountering them was still considered a sign of imminent death.
They often get assigned to guard the entrances to the world of the dead, such as graveyards and burial grounds or undertake other duties related to the afterlife or the supernatural.
Hellhounds not only are guards for cemeteries but they are often seen as helper dogs for those who are about to pass. But they also can show up to said loved ones and sort of inform them or a loved ones passing.
Public Domain Appearances[]
All published appearances of hellhounds from before January 1, 1930 are in the public domain in the US.
Some notable appearances are listed below:
Public Domain Literary Appearances[]
- Iliad
- Odyssey
- Theogony
- Women of Trachis
- Oedipus at Colonus
- Aeneid
- Georgics
- Hercules Furens
- Prose Edda
- Poetic Edda:
- Grímnismál
- Völuspá
- Baldrs draumar
- Faust, Part One (1808)
- The Hound of the Baskervilles (1901)
Public Domain Comic Appearances[]
- Ibis the Invincible #4: Ibis fought the sorceress Morgan Le Fay who summoned Cerberus to battle the magician.
- Four Color Comics #692: In the story titled Undercover Agent, the Little People encountered Cerberus, Charon, and Pluto.
- Eerie #7: The text story titled the Hounds of Hell tells of a man in New Zealand called Belter commands special abilities like being able to see in the dark. As a price for that he is haunted by ghostly apparitions every night.
- Nightmare #19: features a frontispiece The Hell Hounds of the Baskervilles.
- Chilling Tales #15: Features an 8 page story titled The Hounds of Hell.
Notes[]
- In the Pokémon franchise, the two Pokémon Houndour and Houndoom are based on the hellhound.