DWELLER-IN-DARKNESS READING ORDER: Lord of Fear (1974-2012)

Despite a recent appearance (of sorts) in the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings film, the Dweller-in-Darkness is a relatively obscure character in the Marvel Universe. One of the demonic Fear Lords, the Dweller has a history shrouded in mystery and has rarely appeared. In fact, he's spent the last 20,000 trying to escape from mystical prison. Very slowly.

While he's never clashed with Shang-Chi in the comics (though I'm sure Marvel will incorporate that into a future storyline), he's been an enemy of Thor, Hercules, Doctor Strange, Clea, Daredevil and Loki. And he's essential the 'father' of the demon D'Spayre.

Reading his history probably won't take you long, but it's his appearance in Adventures of the X-Men #12 that should interest you the most as, despite taking place outside of regular continuity, the issue is the closest we've come to an origin story for the Dweller-in-Darkness and likely rings true of his Earth-616 counterpart.

MCG Notes:

• Issue listings in blue & black: The must-read Dweller-in-Darkness stories from this time period, along with any key related stories and often-forgotten tales that are worth a read.
• Issue listings in grey: Part of the Dweller-in-Darkness' chronology, cameo appearances or stories of note that non-essential or no longer considered 'required reading'.
• Chronology: Every appearance of the Dweller from this period is included in chronological order - mapping out his timeline rather than just the order the issues were released.
• Spoilers: The issue/story overviews may include spoilers, so be warned!

Daredevil #6 (1965)

Dweller-in-Darkness behind the scenes; first appearance of Mister Fear/Zoltan Drago and the Fellowship of Fear (Mister Fear, Eel & Ox); Zoltan Drago, unknowingly influenced by the Dweller-in-Darkness, creates the Mister Fear identity and spreads fear for his secret master; Mister Fear and his Fellowship of Fear are defeated by Daredevil.

Thor #229-230 (1974)

First appearance of 'He Who Dwells Below' (though he appears mostly in shadow, sending 'Shade Thralls' to work on his behalf) and Detective Ralph Blumkenn; Thor and Hercules return to Earth and investigate a series of suicides, with Hercules almost falling to the dark power of the creature behind them; Hercules rips up the streets, letting light into the tunnels where 'He Who Dwells Below' and his demons have been dragging their victims, forcing them to flee.

Doctor Strange #30 (1978)

First appearance of 'He Who Dwells in Shadow' as the Dweller-in-Darkness (appearing fully for the first time); Detective Blumkenn calls on Doctor Strange and Clea when sewer workers below New York go missing, with survivors claiming to have seen strange creatures; the fear generated by the attacks empowers the Dweller-in-Darkness and allows him to escape his mystically-induced slumber; Strange and Clea destroy the Dweller's shade thralls, keeping him trapped but making an enemy of him.

Doctor Strange #32-33, 35-37 (1978-1979)

The Dweller-in-Darkness sends new pawns - the Dream Weaver, Ludi and the Ningal - to despatch Doctor Strange and Clea; Strange initially believes Nightmare is to blame, but never learns his true foe is the Dweller-in-Darkness and is filled with self-doubt; the Dweller explains to D'Spayre that this was his true intention all along.

Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #31[2/2]-33[2/2] (1991)

First appearance of Nox; first appearance of the fear-themed demons who derive their power from fear as the Fear Lords; the Dweller-in-Darkness initiates a meeting of the Fear Lords reveals his origins; the Dweller was feeding on the fears caused by the war between Atlantis and Lemuria until he was mystically imprisoned 20,000 years ago by the sorceress Zhered-Na; the Dweller created D'Spayre from the fear generated by the sinking of Atlantis and sent bring about the death of Zhered-Na; the Dweller inspires the Fear Lord to join forces and cause the Great Fear to envelop the Earth.

Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #38-40 (1992)

The Straw Man turns against his fellow Fear Lords and gives Doctor Strange enough of a warning about their plans to bring about the Great Fear; D'Spayre reveals to Nightmare that the Dweller hopes most of the Fear Lords will die in battle with Strange causing Nightmare to battle the Dweller; the fear generated by the Great Fear turns to despair, empowering D'Spayre instead of the other Fear Lords, which had been D'Spayre's intention; D'Spayre destroys the Dweller-in-Darkness' body revealing it to be robotic and his true form to be a disembodied head; the Dweller escapes.

Journey into Mystery #633, 636 (2012)

Reunited with the Fear Lords, the Dweller-in-Darkness and the other plan to harvest the fear caused by the Serpent's attack on Earth; Loki and Leah tip the Fear Lords off to Nightmare's plan to take the fear for himself, leaving them to fight over the crown to become King of Fear rather than taking the power itself during SHATTERED HEROES.

Journey into Mystery #645 (2012)

Dweller-in-Darkness appears in flashback; Loki destroys the Crown of Fear, freeing the Fear Lords from Mephisto's control during EVERYTHING BURNS.

Secret Avengers #1 (2013)

Dweller-in-Darkness behind the scenes; a cult worshiping the Dweller-in-Darkness capture Hawkeye and use a parasite granted them by the Dweller to interrogate him; the Black Widow rescues Hawkeye during REVERIE / MARVEL NOW!

Notable versions of the Dweller-in-Darkness from around the multiverse:

EARTH-TRN566:

Adventures of the X-Men #4, 11-12 (1996)

In this universe (based on the animated X-Men series from the '90s), the Dweller-in-Darkness is one of Cthulhu's offspring; the Dweller's origins are revealed and tied in to the end of the universe that existed before the Marvel Universe, tying into Galactus' origins (this is potentially true across all realities); the Dweller fractures the M'Kraan Crystal in an attempt to destroy all reality, but Phoenix of the X-Men foils his plans by uniting the minds of everyone in the universe; the Dweller is them consumed by D'Spayre.

EARTH-9997:

Universe X #10 (2001)

Dweller-in-Darkness cameo; it's implied that the Dweller-in-Darkness and other demons may be mutated Deviants who have been led to believe themselves to be demons by either Mephisto or the Celestials.

EARTH-23291/EARTH-15513:

Secret Wars 2099 #5 (2015)

In the 2099 region of God Emperor Doom's Battleworld, Baron Mordo summons the Dweller-in-Darkness who easily defeats the Avengers of that reality; Giganto is ordered by the Sub-Mariner to attack the Dweller and causes him enough damage that it enables Strange to send him back to his own dimension during SECRET WARS. 

Doctor Strange: Lords of Fear (2018)

Includes...

Doctor Strange #31-33, 38-40

Thor #229-230

Marvel Masterworks: Doctor Strange vol.7 (2016)

Chamber of Chills #3-4

Doctor Strange #23-37