Like Spawn, Cogliostro is a former assassin and agent of Hell, who died and was resurrected with his powers during the medieval times. Having lived in secrecy, he has managed to prevent Hell from taking over the Earth since then, but has grown old and is looking for somebody to take his place when Spawn is created by the Violator. Conflicted by Spawn's enraged and ignorant nature, Cogliostro is unsure of whether to take Spawn under his wing, or to kill him before he decides to completely ally himself with Malebolgia. Eventually he comes to mentor Spawn and teach him how to use his new powers and assists him in preventing the apocalypse!