Deimos

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Powers and Abilities

As the God of Terror, Deimos was the master schemer, preferring to plot elaborate plans to destroy his enemies.

His serpentine hair was actually alive, each strand an emerald snake. These serpents’ venom could cause overwhelming terror in its victim.

Further attacks could be made using his mystical Helm of Serpents. It is made of four enchanted, poisonous snakes which attack simultaneously and inflict a deadly, torturous poison.

History

Born of the war-god Ares’ brief union with the goddess Aphrodite, Deimos and Phobos dwelt principally in the Netherworld. Nevertheless, they intended to aid their father in the destruction of the Earth, and thus of the hated Amazons, as well as the other Olympian Gods.

Deimos himself assumed the role of the god of terror in his father’s legions, terrifying soldiers on the battlefield.

Plotting to end wonders

At first, Phobos attempted to slay the Amazon princess Diana, who had been chosen by combat and the Gods to oppose Ares’ plans. That was done by bringing to life the creature called Decay. But the Amazon Princess destroyed Decay after a savage battle across Boston.

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As for Deimos, when his father declared war on mankind, he was his choice for manipulating key military leaders of the Soviet and American armies. Deimos controlled the minds of these nations’ leaders. He made them bring the planet to the brink of World War Three.

However, the Princess Diana, accompanied by four humans who had befriended her, brought the battle against Ares to the Netherworld itself. Here she confronted Deimos and Phobos, and a struggle to the death began.

Fight the lady

During the course of the battle, Deimos attempted to poison the Amazon with the venomous bite of his serpentine hair. This venom would fill the Princess Diana with blind, unreasoning fear. In the last seconds before she could succumb to the venom, Diana hurled her razor-sharp tiara at the gloating Deimos, and decapitated him.

The cowardly Phobos, fearing for his own life, fled into the darkness. He swore vengeance on the Amazon Princess.

Description

Deimos was a severe, bitter god. He wore a Greek warrior’s uniform endowed with a mantle of serpents.

Personality

Deimos was a cold, calculating god. He preferred behind-the-scenes manipulations to direct confrontation. In battle he would often attempt to intimidate his opponents by displaying the power of his serpents. He usually relied on the psychological power of the frightening venom to demoralize his opponents.

As befits the son of Ares he was an insidious, manipulative and cruel god. Like the serpents which were his motif, Deimos enjoyed worming his way into the psyche of his targets, twisting their minds into accords with his own. He enjoyed a macabre sense of pleasure over his manipulations.

Deimos has a running rivalry with Phobos. The two brothers regularly bickered and fought, although they generally set aside their feuding when enemies arose. Still, a skillful manipulator could always stoke the fires of their rivalry in combat sufficiently to escape or get in a surprise blow.

Compiled by Sébastien Andrivet (stats inspired by the Strangers in Paradise sourcebook, history from Who’s Who).

Source of Character: Wonder Woman comics (DCU) during the Pérez era.