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Religion: African primal-indigenous religion (shaman) 
Name: Hephaestus
Classification:
supporting character
clergy/religious leader
Publisher(s): 
First Appearance: Black Axe #7 (Oct. 1993): "Afrikaa at War!"
NOTE: This is our current best assessment of the first appearance of this character, but this has been flagged in our database as uncertain.
Creators: Simon Jowett, Edmund Perryman, Rodney Ramos
Super? (Has Super Powers/Special Abilities/Technology): Yes
Number of Appearances: 1
Ally: Black Axe
Gender: male
"Hephaestus Four," the super-computer which Black Axe relies on to heal him was apparently named after an actual medicine man known as Hephaestus. That's the impression I get from the available information. This would need to be verified with further examination of the Black Axe comics, however.
The story in which Hephaestus was supposedly mentioned was titled "Afrikaa at War!" (in Black Axe #7) and includes African characters and settings. One might guess from this that "Hephaestus" the medicine man is an African traditional religion medicine man. The name "Hephaestus" refers, of course, to the Greco-Roman god of fire (also known as "Vulcan"), and thus seems like a strange name for an African or Native American medicine man. Perhaps "Hephaestus," was a medicine man from some other religious/cultural background.
Black Axe #7 (Oct. 1993): "Afrikaa at War!" (mentioned)
Suggested links for further research about this character and the character's religious affiliation:
- http://www.marvunapp.com/master/hemhez.htm
- http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix3/blackaxe.htm
- http://comicbookdb.com/issue.php?ID=86678
- https://www.comics.org/issue/265589/