- "You can't save her."
- —Nergal to John Constantine before taking Astra Logue to Hell[src]
Nergal is a powerful demon who was summoned by John Constantine in a botch attempt to defeat another demon possessing Astra Logue, only for Nergal to drag Astra into Hell, damning her for all eternity. As a result, Nergal was also able to damn John's soul so it would be dragged into Hell upon his eventual death, which John tries to prevent by atoning for his sin.
Biography
Astra Logue was possessed by a demon, causing John Constantine to conjure up Nergal from Hell intending to compel him to drag the lesser demon back to Hell and save Astra. Instead, Nergal violently dragged Astra to Hell where she was subsequently damned for eternal suffering. This led to John suffering immense guilt and often having nightmares of the event. Ritchie Simpson, who was present for the event, also frequently endured nightmares and blamed John for Nergal's actions.
Nergal sent Furcifer to kill the psychic Liv Aberdine but John was able to exorcise him. Before doing so, John told Furficer to tell Nergal that he was coming for him and Astra.[1]
Powers and abilities
Powers
- Demonic physiology: As Nergal is most likely a high-ranking demon, he has authority over powerful demons, like when he sent Furcifer to kill Liv Aberdine.
- Telekinesis: When John Constantine had a dream of Nergal, he dragged Astra Logue to hell by waving his hand at her.
- Reality Warping: Nergal has the ability to warp reality to his will and change it.
- Immobilization: Nergal has the ability to stop people in place, as shown when he froze John and Chas Chandler at Newcastle.
- Immortality: As a demon, Nergal is most probably immortal.
Appearances
Constantine
- "Non Est Asylum" (flashbacks)
- "Rage of Caliban" (flashbacks)
DC's Legends of Tomorrow
Season 4
- "Terms of Service" (flashbacks)
Season 5
- "A Head of Her Time" (flashbacks)
Behind the scenes
- In the DC comics, Nergal was also a demon responsible for Astra Logue's death and condemnation to Hell.
- Nergal is also the name of a most respected Mesopotamian deity that represents a certain phase of sunlight. Ironically, the demon Nergal is a villain instead of a heroic god. In the comics, it's said that he was once similar to his mythological namesake but became corrupt over time.