#1 - The Great Beast

Morrison Entertainment Group kicked off the Monster in My Pocket Series with some intensity. The first monster in the first series is the Great Beast, essentially a dragon form of the Antichrist. Compare the MIMP version to the medieval woodcut below.

The Antichrist, predictably, originates in the Bible, referred to as an opponent to Jesus or a false messiah, a tradition borrowed from Judaism (see Armilus). Most of the biblical references come from John and may have been written in an attempt to consolidate Christianity into one tradition -- specifically focusing on cutting off the Gnostic tradition -- or to personify Satan more concretely to make him more of a physical threat.

It's really hard to clarify who the Antichrist is. John states that there were multiple Antichrists at that time and that the main Antichrist would arrive in the future. Paul also discusses a "Man of Sin" that some have read to refer to John's Antichrist, but it is unclear what their relationship is. People have also tried to determine whether the Antichrist is Satan or a separate entity, but there are so few references within the text that it is almost impossible to conclusively determine anything.

Despite all of this, the Antichrist has a strong tradition in popular culture. Aliester Crowley referred to himself as the Great Beast. Johnny Rotten combined the Antichrist concept with fashionable anarchism. Nietzsche's rant on religion is titled the Antichrist. Especially despised politicians are often labeled Antichrist. The Omen is based on a child Antichrist. Not to mention multiple metal albums, films, and television shows with title or show references. Even in these representations, there is no consensus as to the imagery or meaning of the Antichrist other than a force for evil. Even within religious art, there seems to be confusion as to the Antichrist's nature. Some show the Antichrist as a demon, some as an animal hybrid, and some as a mirror image of Jesus (see below).

Ultimately, this confusion is likely intentional, created to cause a sense of paranoia and fear of authority to help propagate a young religion during tyrannical regimes. All in all, pretty heavy stuff for the opener of a line of toys.

Next Week: more slithery serpents from an ancient tradition.