Belzebubs Explained

Belzebubs is a Finnish webcomic and fictional black metal band created by JP Ahonen.^[1]

Summary

The webcomic centers around the daily lives of a family that has a stereotypical black metal aesthetic and the black metal band of Sløth, the family's father.^{[2] [3]}

History

The webcomic was first launched by JP Ahonen, a freelance illustrator from Finland, in 2016 after finding inspiration in a sketch he made for an Inktober challenge.^[4]

In 2019, a full-length album was released under the Belzebubs name, entitled Pantheon of the Nightside Gods. Produced by Century Media and Edge of Sanity vocalist Dan Swanö, the names of the participating musicians has not been officially released.^{[5] [6]} That year, the first Belzebubs book was also published.^{[7] [8]}

In 2020, Finnish animation studio Pyjama Films and Finnish public broadcaster YLE began making a TV series based on the webcomic.^[9]

On 15 February 2024 they released their long-awaited "360° Hexperience" — crowdfunded Virtual Concert.^[10]

Reception

The webcomic has received a positive reception, with some reviewers comparing it to Calvin and Hobbes.^[11] Comics Beat reviewer John Seven stated that the comic "is a bit like the Addams Family transposed into the 21st century with more current references."^[12]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Suomalaista black metal -sarjakuvaa lukevat nyt sadat tuhannet ympäri maailmaa – "Kun inasen söpistelee, se riittää kontrastiksi piikkien kanssa". Yle Uutiset. 22 June 2018 .
2. Web site: Belzebubs Are Your Favorite Cartoon Black Metal Band. Kerrang!. February 2019 .
3. Web site: Belzebubs Are The New Cartoon Metal Band We've Been Longing For. 10 July 2018. MetalSucks.
4. Web site: Meet Belzebubs, the Internet's Black Metal Comic Strip Band | Exclaim!. exclaim.ca.
5. Web site: Album Review: Belzebubs – Pantheon Of The Nightside Gods. Kerrang!. 24 April 2019 .
6. Web site: Belzebubs - Pantheon of the Nightside Gods (album review) | Sputnikmusic. sputnikmusic.com.
7. Web site: Read an Excerpt from Upcoming Kvlt Comic Belzebubs. 11 February 2019. Decibel Magazine.
8. Web site: Syndicated Comics. Todd. Allen. 8 October 2018.
9. Web site: Satanic Sitcom 'Belzebubs,' 'Modern Family' Meets 'The Addams Family' in 2D. Ann-Marie. Corvin. 17 September 2020.
10. Web site: BELZEBUBS Reveal Animated Virtual Concert 'The 360° Hexperience' . 27 February 2024 . 23 March 2024.
11. Web site: Inside Black-Metal Comic Strip 'Belzebubs': "Calvin & Hobbes Meets Call of Cthulhu". 16 January 2019. Revolver.
12. Web site: Syndicated Comics. John. Seven. 4 March 2019.