Baal in popular culture

The Canaanite god Baal in the Hebrew Bible is referenced in popular culture. Some influences in popular culture derive not from the Baal in the Hebrew Bible, but from Baal (demon) in 17th Century occult grimoires. Also Baal, through the New Testament Beelzebub, Lord of the Flies, is linked to Lucifer, or the Devil in popular culture.

Film and Television

• In the film The Rite, Father Lucas (Anthony Hopkins) is revealed to be possessed by the demon Baal. It is alluded that this is the case throughout the film as cats and frogs are often present around Father Lucas' home.
• In the film Hardware, the MARK-13 robot antagonist has the letters B.A.A.L. (Bioelectronic Artificially intelligent Autoindependent Lifeform) at the beginning of its serial number.
• In the Stargate SG-1 television series, Baal is an alien who poses as an ancient Canaanite god. He is the most recurring Goa'uld enemy on the show, appearing in the most number of seasons.
• In the anime Digimon Fusion, a character named "Baalmon" is part of the Bagra Army, and joins with Mikey Kudo after evolving into Beelzemon.
• In the Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal anime, the character Mr. Heartland briefly uses a card called "Number 1: Infection Baal Zebul"; the monster depicted in the card's art resembles a giant fly.

Literature

• Baal is a major character in Kevin Kauffmann's Forsaken Comedy trilogy.
• Baal (Bael) is a character in the form of a cat in the novel The Christians by Jim Yoakum.

Comics

• In xkcd, Baal is mentioned as "Ba'al the Annihilator" and "Ba'al, the Eater of Souls" in comic 1246 as well "Ba'al, the Soul Eater" in comics 1419 and 1638.
• In The Marvel Universe, Baal appears in the original Wolverine comic book series, issues #11-16, collectively called "The Gehenna Stone Affair." He is conceptualized as a demon who was worshipped by a cult of depraved sinners in Biblical times, before being destroyed by a divinely-guided warrior. A reincarnation of the original Baal has appeared in modern times and amassed a new cult of followers, who appear as cutthroat lowlifes who emulate vampires by wearing fake fangs and biting their victims, although they do not actually drink blood or possess any supernatural attributes. Baal is attempting to locate and reassemble the fragments of an ancient artifact known as the Gehenna Stone in order to regain his once mighty power, transform his followers into an army of actual vampires, and establish his reign over the earth.
• In Japanese manga Magi: Labyrinth of Magic, Baal is the djinn from the first ever dungeon. He is one of Sinbad's seven Djinn. He is a lightning Djinn representing Wrath and Heroes.

Video games

• Bael (another name of the demon Baal) appear in Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones as giant spiders.
• Bael (another name of the demon Baal) appear in Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow as a skinswap of the enemy Buer.
• Baal appears in the video game series Persona as a usable power.
• 2 Baal (Spelled as "Ba'al") appear as difficult downloadable bosses in Bravely Default.
• In Bravely Second, Magnolia Arch, a main character, is revealed to be a "Ba'al Buster".
• Baal also appears as a boss in many of the Disgaea games, as well as other NIS games, usually as an ultimate boss. His form varies from each game.
• Baal appears as the final boss in the Diablo II expansion pack Diablo II: Lord of Destruction from 2001.
• Baal is also the main character in the 2013 game Impire. His appearance in this game is that of an imp, as he was summoned by an incompetent sorcerer.
• The protagonist in Baldur's Gate 1 and 2 is identified as a Child of 'Bhaal,' a deity also known as the 'God of Murder'.
• Molag Bal is one of the Daedric princes in The Elder Scrolls - Skyrim.
• In Super Robot Wars games, Baal is a force that is known as "mankind's natural enemy". They appear every 12,000 years cycle to wipe out life in the universe
• In Puzzle & Dragons, Baal is an obtainable monster, along with Astaroth, Belial, and Amon.

Songs

• in "Bohemian Rhapsody", a song by the British rock band Queen, the opera section (3:03–4:07), depicting the narrator's descent into hell, concludes with a full choral treatment of the lyric "Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me!".

War games

• In the fantasy/sci-fi tabletop miniature war game Warhammer 40,000, Baal is the home world of the Blood Angels chapter of Space Marines. The planet's attendant moons are Baal Prime and Baal Secundus.

References