Today in JSA History: First Appearance of Eddie Bloomberg also known as Kid Devil and Red Devil
Eddie Bloomberg, also known as Kid Devil and later Red Devil, first appeared in The Fury of Firestorm #24, released on June 6, 1984. However, he didn’t become Kid Devil until Blue Devil #14, published on July 3, 1985. He was created by Alan Kupperberg, Dan Mishkin, and Gary Cohn.
Eddie began as a gopher at his Aunt Marla’s film company. Marla Bloom was a close friend of Blue Devil (Daniel Cassidy) and the producer of the film that gave Dan his heroic name. Eddie idolized Blue Devil and, one night, snuck into Dan’s workshop to create his own super-suit, incorporating Blue Devil’s tech. Thus, Kid Devil was born, and much to Dan’s dismay, as he had no interest in having a sidekick.
After the Blue Devil series ended, Aunt Marla died as an unintended consequence of Blue Devil’s deal with the demon Neron during the Underworld Unleashed event. Eddie then faded into the background for a while, making a notable appearance in Young Justice #49-51 with a new costume.
Following Infinite Crisis, Eddie received a magical candle from Zachary Zatara. When lit, it transported him to Neron, who offered Eddie a deal: in exchange for his soul, he would be transformed into a true demon with enhanced powers and a new look. However, there was a catch: Eddie would only lose his soul if, by his 20th birthday, he no longer trusted Blue Devil. Before Eddie returned to Earth, Neron revealed that Blue Devil was responsible for Marla’s death.
Shaken but empowered, Eddie joined the Teen Titans, confronted Blue Devil about the truth. He loses trust in his former idol and he changed his superhero name to Red Devil.
After Flashpoint, Eddie resurfaced in Raven: Daughter of Darkness as a member of Night Force. In Heroes in Crisis, he was seemingly killed by a mysterious force that caused the Flash to lose control of his powers. However, it was later revealed in The Flash that the real Eddie had been replaced by a clone, thanks to the time-traveling Gold Beetle.
While Eddie has never officially worked with the Justice Society of America, his connection to Blue Devil firmly places him in the realm of legacy characters. He’s also had strong ties to the Teen Titans and the magical side of the DC Universe. Personally, I’d love to see him pop up in a Young Justice Society story.
