Desmond Drew is a comic book character who first appeared in Strange Tales #173 (April 1974) as the villainous Black Talon. He was created by writer Len Wein and artist Gene Colan and was one of the many supernatural foes of Brother Voodoo, a Haitian hero who debuted in the same issue.

Desmond Drew was a wealthy and influential man who posed as a voodoo priest and led a cult called the Cult of the Dark Lord. He wore a costume that resembled a chicken, with razor-sharp talons on his gloves and boots and an upside-down cross on his chest. He claimed to be a living Loa, a voodoo spirit and used his charisma and money to manipulate his followers into committing human sacrifices and other crimes.

However, Desmond Drew was not a true voodoo practitioner but a fraud who relied on the mystic powers of his mother, Mama Limbo, a blind houngan (voodoo priestess) who served a dark entity known as the Dark Lord. Mama Limbo used her magic to create illusions, zombies, and other supernatural effects to support her son’s claims and further their agenda.

Desmond Drew’s schemes were exposed and foiled by Brother Voodoo, a heroic houngan who had inherited the mantle of Lord of the Loa from his deceased twin brother. Brother Voodoo confronted Desmond Drew and Mama Limbo at their mansion, where they had kidnapped a young woman named Loralee Tate for a ritual sacrifice. Brother Voodoo used his magic and martial arts skills to fight off Desmond Drew’s cultists and zombies and eventually faced Desmond Drew himself.

Desmond Drew tried to stab Brother Voodoo with his ceremonial dagger, but Brother Voodoo dodged the attack and knocked him out with a punch. Brother Voodoo freed Loralee Tate and confronted Mama Limbo, who revealed she was the true power behind Desmond Drew and had made a pact with the Dark Lord to grant her son immortality in exchange for souls. She also revealed that she had killed her husband, Desmond Drew’s father, when he tried to stop her.

Mama Limbo summoned the Dark Lord, who appeared as a giant shadowy figure with glowing eyes and horns. The Dark Lord demanded that Mama Limbo give him Desmond Drew’s soul as payment for her failure, but she refused and tried to bargain with him. The Dark Lord was enraged by her defiance and killed her with a blast of dark energy. He then turned his attention to Desmond Drew, who had regained consciousness and was terrified by what he saw.

Desmond Drew begged Brother Voodoo for help, but Brother Voodoo refused to intervene, saying he had brought this upon himself. The Dark Lord grabbed Desmond Drew with his clawed hand and dragged him into the shadows, presumably killing him as well.

Desmond Drew’s death was confirmed in Zombie #6 (May 1974), where Brother Voodoo encountered Simon Garth, the Zombie, who Mama Limbo’s magic had resurrected before she died. Simon Garth had escaped Mama Limbo’s mansion and wandered into a cemetery, where he found Desmond Drew’s grave. The grave was marked with an upside-down cross and the words, “Here lies Desmond Drew – Black Talon – May he rot in Hell.”

Desmond Drew has not appeared in any comic book stories since then. Still, he has been mentioned or referenced in several handbooks and guides that provide information on Marvel’s characters and history. He has also been featured in some trading cards and action figures.

Desmond Drew is one of the many examples of how Marvel Comics explored the themes of horror, magic, and occultism in the 1970s, creating characters that blended superhero tropes with darker elements. He is among the few black villains in Marvel’s history, although his portrayal may be problematic or stereotypical by modern standards.