Created by writer Bruce Jones and artist Brent Anderson, the character first appeared in Ka-Zar the Savage #11 (February 1982).

[4] Belasco debuted in Ka-Zar the Savage #11 (February 1982), created by Bruce Jones and Brent Anderson.

Allegedly, Belasco was a sorcerer in 13th Century Florence, Italy who used his knowledge of alchemy and the black arts to contact the Elder Gods (actually extra-dimensional demonic entities).

To this end, he kidnapped Bice "Beatrice" dei Portinari, beloved of Dante, to give birth to the first of this new race.

He embarked onto the island, closely pursued by Dante, and took Beatrice into a network of underground passages designed to resemble Hell.

Dante found them just in time to witness Beatrice dying in childbirth and, enraged, he attacked Belasco.

During the battle, a pipe was accidentally struck, releasing an unknown liquid that placed Belasco in suspended animation.

However, Shanna's mate Ka-Zar appears and hurls the locket into the volcano, sealing away the Elder Gods and apparently destroying Belasco.

Due to the warping of space and time in Limbo, there are two alternate but equally valid outcomes to the rescue attempt.

He forcibly shapes part of her soul into the first Bloodstone, giving her great potential for power and allowing him to hold sway over her so that she willingly creates a second.

[18] Later, Belasco and the fear-demon D'Spayre competed to corrupt Cable, the son of Madelyne Pryor, who had been the ally of S'ym and N'astirh during "Inferno".

[volume & issue needed] Now Magik is the new ruler of Limbo, served by S'ym and N'astirh and in search of her soul.

[volume & issue needed] During the "Dark Web" storyline, Belasco saves Mary Jane Watson and Black Cat from some demons.

He would like to make use of Black Cat to obtain his misplaced Soulsword from the Screaming Tower where they will have competition from the Thief Army, the Heven's Devils, the HYDRA Expedition Force Agares, and S'ym.

His demonic form apparently also possesses augmented physical strength, as he was effortlessly able to overpower Ka-Zar with his one good arm, and pick him up by his throat using his tail.

In the futuristic Universe X maxi-series by Jim Krueger and Alex Ross, Belasco is Nightcrawler of the X-Men, who had become amnesiac and was displaced in time.