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 alludes 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.
• 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.
• In the "Ash vs Evil Dead" TV series, Baal has been mentioned as the father of Ruby's spawn, who are trying to raise him so he can take over the world. Baal finally appeared in October 2016 played by Joel Tobeck.
• In Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans, the ASW-G-01 Gundam Bael, the first Gundam-Frame Mobile Suit was named after the said demon.
• French TV miniseries, Les Compagnons de Baal (1968) is based on an evil fraternity of Baal's worshippers.
• Baal, BBC Adaptationof Bertolt Brecht’s early play starring David Bowie. First shown in 1982. Directed by Scum director Alan Clarke

Literature

• Baal (Bael) is a character in the form of a cat in the novel The Christians by Jim Yoakum.
• Baal is a character in the form of a fiery demon and beautiful man in Ascent of the Fallen by Travis A. Chapman.
• Bael (Vlen Baelsepap) is one of the four main characters in the novel "Marcel the Drunkard" by Brent Bourguignon.
• Baal is mentioned in Ray Bradbury's There Will Come Soft Rains

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.
• In the series The Wicked + The Divine, Baal is the first god to reincarnate in 2013 and a major character. He's represented as a well-dressed, arrogant, bisexual musician.

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.
• Baal (spelled Bael) appears as a boss in Devil May Cry 4, in the form of a giant white frog with protrusions from its back and tail, which are made of ice.
• In Bayonetta 2, Baal can be summoned from the depths of Inferno. It takes the form of a dark purple frog with a massive barbed tongue.
• 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". In addition, the Ba'al from the first game return alongside several new Ba'al, retaining the role of downloadable bosses, except for one, which is fought during the main storyline.
• 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 Inspire. 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 Series.
• 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.
• Baal appears in The Exorcist: Legion VR in Chapter 4 as a Two-Headed Demon responsible for an epidemic disease
• Baal appears in Iron Blade as a main boss.
• Ba’al World of Warcraft (Legion Expansion) by Blizzard Entertainment: Ba’al is a hidden pet obtained by finding a series of Hidden pebbles around various places in Azeroth, then winning a battle pet fight.
• Bael (another name of the demon Baal) appears in Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night as the final boss.

Songs

• The third track of the album Head Carrier by the American alternative rock band The Pixies is called "Baal's Back", and describes a human sacrifice to Baal causing the sky to go black as he returns to Earth.
• Exuma's album "Exuma II" has a track titled "Baal"
• The death metal act Morbid Angel has a track titled "Blades for Baal" off their 2011 album Illud Divinum Insanus.

War games

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

Role Playing Games

• In the role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons, Bael (another name of the demon Baal) is one of the nine archdevils in Baator

References