I just wanna give a HUGE shout-out to Guts from the Fwoosh; without him kindly taking some comparison pics for me, this custom never would have happened.

So around Black Friday, Amazon was having good deals on Marvel Legends. I've so far used the Shatterstar and Dazzler figures is other customs, which got me wondering what I could use the Sunfire body for. I was trying to think of mostly red characters whom I didn't think Hasbro would ever make. I recalled about 10 years ago when I passed on the Mephisto Marvel Select figure; it was too tall and under-articulated for what I wanted (not to mention a little bulkier than I picture the character; I think he should be rather thin, just as John Buscema drew him). It was then clear that I needed to make the Lord of Lies himself for my collection.

As luck would have it, a seller on eBay was selling casts of the Marvel Select Mephisto head for a decent price, but before I grabbed one I wanted to be sure it'd look right on the Sunfire body. That's where Guts came in, showing me how perfect it would look. I thought the head looked small on the original body, but without one in person to study, I couldn't be sure. Once it was confirmed the head would work, I was in business.

Recipe:
Head: Cast
Body: Sunfire (Warlock Series)
Hands: Morbius (Absorbing Man Series)
Loin Cloths: Baron Zemo (Mandroid Series)
Cape: DCUC Dr. Impossible
Magic effects: Scarlet Witch (All-Father Series)

I wanted a very classic looking Mephisto (something the Marvel Select figure wasn't), so I began reading tons of John Buscema-drawn Mephisto comics, from his first Silver Surfer appearances to his 1980's mini-series. With the inspiration in mind, I recalled having leftover loin cloths from the modern Baron Zemo figure, promptly removing them from his belt. I ordered a Dr. Impossible cape, which was perfect and already a dark red. I wanted very expressive hands, and what hands could be better than my left over Morbius hands from my Black Tom Cassidy custom? They even had the sharp fingernails.

I sculpted the gloves and boots on with Milliput, as well as the rope-belt around his waist. I wanted the hands easily removable so I could add the magic effects I recently got from the Scarlet Witch I got to make Crimson Cowl, so I shaved down the peg with my Dremel. I used my X-acto to slice off Dr. Impossible's cape clasps, sculpting wrinkled fabric with more Milliput in their place.

I painted the Sunfire body a red, and I mixed some hot pink and white until I got the perfect skin color I had in mind. I painted his eyes yellow with black outlines and I painted his teeth white (he has a good dental plan). I painted his hair red and dry brushed it with black. I then dry-brushed his face with a little red to better bring out the wrinkles of his forehead and such. I then drybrushed his body with a burgundy-ish brown to better bring out the details of the sculpt that was already there, as well as the work I did with Milliput. I glued on his loin cloth pieces with Krazy Glue and then Modpodged him with a matte finish, save for that of his hair so it had a bit of a greasy sheen to it.

I can't quite figure out how to modify the cape so the hair fits with the collar of the cape yet (I'm not sure if heating and bending it would work or not, but didn't want to ruin it), but by turning it to the side, it gives him a more menacing look and pose, I think.

I'm thinking I may have him tormenting the new Mary Jane figure and Spider-Man on my Spider-Verse shelf, but Mephisto's one of those characters who could go on any shelf (he sure gets around in the Marvel Universe). This custom was so much fun to make, a real labor of love, and I'm very proud to finally have him finished and in my collection.