Mephisto probably should've gone with that fiddle contest.

What's easier to follow, a good example, or that voice suggesting the darker, easy out? Okay, but what if the good example had a hammer, what then? From 1981, Thor #310, "The Maelstrom to Mephisto" Written by Doug Moench, pencils by Keith Pollard, inks by Joe Rosen.

A superhero confronting muggers is a pretty standard sight, even if said superhero shoots lightning at them; but Thor takes a different tack today, offering the muggers a choice. That is interrupted slightly by a police chase where Thor has to save some kids from an out-of-control car; but the choice remains: good or evil. Our mugger today chooses good, giving back the stolen money and apologizing. (There were at least three muggers before, but later the focus is only on one, presumably because it's easier to draw!) You could be uncharitable and say of course he does, since by then the cops were there as well, and it's not like the mugger had a chance against Thor either. Or, you could argue Thor is giving mankind help it doesn't deserve, like any given Republican Mephisto! In the battle for the souls of mankind, Mephisto felt that Thor had his thumb pressing down on the good side, and was crying foul. Invisibly, Mephisto then hits that block in New York City, whispering in people's ears, and compelling them to evil.

By the time Thor gets back into it, the situation has progressed to full-on street riot, then the street splits open and the mob is sucked into hell! Oh, ahem, "Hades." Mephisto confronts Thor, not because he especially needs or wants the souls of the mob; but because Thor's example to humanity cuts into the evil damned souls flowing into his realm. After some preliminary skirmishing, in which Mephisto can't gain the upper hand, he opts to kill the mob--but that's a feint, to get Thor to throw Mjolnir! The hammer is held by the mob; if it flew back to Thor it would tear them apart. Thor tries to fight his way to Mjolnir, but the sixty-second timer gets him again, and he turns back to Dr. Donald Blake! (EDIT: I forget all the rules, but technically I'm not sure that should've happened. I didn't think the timer worked in other realms; he didn't have to hold Mjolnir in Asgard, did he?)

Undaunted, Blake refuses to bow down, and instead offers his soul in place of the mob's; but Mephisto laughs, knowing he had him over a barrel. Except, in the trapped souls, the mugger from earlier sticks to his choice, and throws Blake his walking stick, returning him to Thor! Thor calls Mephisto on his cry of interference, since Mephisto interfered in man's destiny far more than he did; but also offers to stay and fight him, forever. Mephisto opts out of that one, and sends everyone back to earth, where the mugger and the mob resolve to clean up both the block and themselves...Y'know, there were some serious crimes committed during that little wilding, but everyone acts like lesson learned, so okay? Now, if you'll just sign this fiddle waiver...