- "Look at you. Take a look at yourself you miserable git. That's right. Soak it in. Your big sacrifice; it was for nothing. But instead of rolling up your sleeves and taking it to that demon bastard, you're getting rat-ass drunk in a shed."
- —Neron to John Constantine[src]
Neron is a demon who is hunting John Constantine and is the former partner of Hank Heywood in Project Hades.
Biography
At some point, Neron acquired the deed to John Constantine's soul. Sometime later, Neron came after John to get his help in usurping the triumvirate ruling Hell. When John refused to help him, Neron began hunting him. However, he soon made a deal with John's boyfriend, Desmond, to bind his soul with him in exchange for sparing John's life. The deal was later made public to John when an attempt to send Neron to Hell resulted in sending Dez there as well.[1]
A few months later, Neron was playing golf with Hank Heywood while taking Desmond's form.[2] He was also present in Hank's Hemophilia fundraiser ball a few days after that. [3] Soon after, Neron got an alert that someone was changing Hank's password from inside the Time Bureau and called Hank to tell him about it while going into Hank's office and looking into it. When Hank returned to his office a few hours later, Neron was waiting there for him. After Hank asked him to part ways, as Hank had a change of heart after spending some time with his son, Neron killed Hank after telling the latter he was no longer needed, disappearing just in time to make Nora Darhk take the fall for the murder.[4]
Neron later appeared to a drunk and guilt-ridden John and taunted him about his past failures before revealing himself.[5]
Powers and abilities
Powers
- Demonic physiology: Neron is a powerful demon from Hell, whom John Constantine feared. His power is so great that even Fairy Godmother is more terrified of facing him than facing Hell.
- Telekinesis: Neron can move and otherwise exert force on objects and people with his mind. He was able to easily overpower Nora's use of her magic and send her flying with enough force to knock her out.[6] While inhabiting Ray Palmer, he willed for a nearby knife to fly into his hand, which he used to attack Nate.[7]
- Pact creation: As a demon Neron can pact deals with humans for their souls or what their heart desires the most. Thus being able to warp reality when a deal has been made and possess their body.
- Summoning: Neron was able to bring Gary's nipple back from hell as a gift for him, although it was cursed.
- Life-Force absorption: Neron used his powers to absorb the life force out of Hank, killing him.
- Corruption: Neron can corrupt human souls, making them significantly violent. Even from a large distance.
- Demonic possession: Whenever he is searching for a vessel, Neron bonds himself with their souls in order to possess them, including Desmond and Ray Palmer.
- Shapeshifting: Neron is able to take Desmond's form and shapeshift his body parts into his original look.[8]
- Telepathy: Neron has the ability to telepathically speak with people. His powers also allow him to cast illusions in minds of others.
- Illusion conjuration: Neron can cast illusions in minds of others, Such as appearing as John when the latter talked to him.
- Electromagnetic interference: When Neron attacked John he made all lights in his apartment go flickering.
Abilities
- Intimidation: John Constantine is terrified of Neron to the point of nearly "breaking" the timeline just to avoid facing him. Fairy Godmother declares that she would rather face Hell than "piss off" Neron.[9] Hank Heywood was also terrified of disappointing him (despite not knowing of his powers).[10]
- Manipulation: Neron is an expert in manipulation, using his intimidation and reputation to force his opponents to make the exact choices he desired them to make. He was able to manipulate Constantine into joining the Legends by warning him he was coming for him[11], which the demon later taunted him over.[12] Owed to his understanding of human motives, Neron is able to expertly take advantage of his enemies' vulnerabilities and doubts about their compatriots, alluring them to his side with promises that they would receive exactly what they wanted. Although he failed to do this with Nora Darhk, by reminding her how Constantine had essentially abandoned her following a failed exorcism[13], he succeeded in manipulating Gary Green into joining his side with the gift of his severed left nipple and constant reminders that his so-called allies only ever treated him as a doormat.[14] He also forced Ray Palmer into giving up his body for him willingly, by threatening to hurt his friends, and tormenting him by slowly taking over his body, all to manipulate him into doing what he wanted.[14]
Appearances
DC's Legends of Tomorrow
Season 4
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Behind the scenes
- In the main DC comics continuity, Neron is the Demon Lord of Hell, who has managed to gather enough souls to become the Devil and was first seen during the Underworld Unleashed storyline, where he made deals with superheroes and supervillains alike.
References
- ↑ "Hell No, Dolly!"
- ↑ "Legends of To-Meow-Meow"
- ↑ "Lucha de Apuestas"
- ↑ "The Getaway"
- ↑ "Séance & Sensibility"
- ↑ "The Eggplant, the Witch & the Wardrobe"
- ↑ "Egg MacGuffin"
- ↑ "Legends of To-Meow-Meow"
- ↑ "Witch Hunt"
- ↑ "Lucha de Apuestas"
- ↑ "The Virgin Gary"
- ↑ "The Eggplant, the Witch & the Wardrobe"
- ↑ "Daddy Darhkest"
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Egg MacGuffin"