Comic Title: Arak/Son of Thunder #23
Publisher: DC (DC Comics Inc.)
Address: 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: July 1983
On Sale Date: April 7, 1983 Newsstand Date April 7, 1983
Source: House Ad, All-Star Squadron #22, Page 32

Newsstand Date April 7, 1983
Source: Comic Reader, #210

Newsstand Date April 7, 1983
Source: DC Coming Attractions, #77

Shipping Date March 15, 1983
Source: Comic Reader, #210

Newsstand Date April 7, 1983
Source: Amazing Heroes, #22

Shipping Date March 15, 1983
Source: Amazing Heroes, #22

Shipping Date March 15, 1983
Source: Comics Journal, #80

Copyright Date March 15, 1983
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1983
DC publication dates beyond April 1981 listed by the LoC
represent shipping dates NOT newsstand sale dates

Shipping Date March 15, 1983
Source: DC Coming Attractions, #77

Frequency: Monthly
Cover Price: $0.60
Page Count: 32
Editor: Roy Thomas

Title: "In the Belly of Baphomet"
Pages: 23

Feature(s):
Arak

Writer: Roy Thomas
Plotter: Danette Thomas
Penciller: Adrian Gonzales
Inker: Alfredo P. Alcala
Letterer: David Cody Weiss
Colorist: Adrienne Roy

Feature Character(s)

• Arak (last appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #22; next appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #24)

Supporting Character(s)

• Malagigi (last appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #22; next appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #24)
• Valda (last appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #22; next appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #24)
• Satyricus (last appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #22; next appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #24)
• Brunello (last appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #22; next appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #24)

Villain(s)

• Angelica (last appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #22; next appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #24)
• Haakon (last appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #22; next appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #24)
• Baphomet (revealed to be the demon Belphagor; last appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #5; no further appearances)
• Xadox and Death-Hawk (tartars; both die in this story; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Johannes (last appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #22; next appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #24)

Comments:
This story is continued from Arak/Son of Thunder #22 and continues in Arak/Son of Thunder #24.

Synopsis:
Arak and Malagigi join Johannes as he takes a trip to hell to find the demon Baphomet. Johannes intends to answer a riddle which will release the Gog army and allow him to retake White Cathay from Angelica's rule. A tartar wizard and archer follow them intending to thwart their mission. Arak kills the archer, and the demon kills the tartar wizard.

Johannes, Arak, and Malagigi are then captured by the demon. Johannes answers the riddle correctly and is allowed to leave. However, Arak and Malagigi remain with Baphomet who plans to eat them. Malagigi offers to answers another riddle which will release another army known as the Magog. It will also release the demon from his own imprisonment. However, Baphomet knocks the wizard unconscious.

Back in White Cathay, Angelica and Valda battle each other until Haakon breaks up the fight. Satyricus recovers Angelica's ring of invisibility and meets Brunello, the dwarf who wants the ring as payment for freeing Satyricus, Arak, and Valda from Angelica's prison. Once her battle with Valda concludes, Angelica follows Johannes into hell.

Arak answers the riddle in Malagigi's absence. The demon keeps his bargain by releasing the Magog and not killing them, but he refuses to allow Arak to leave hell. He leaves with Arak stranded in hell with Angelica.