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Alastor (Hazbin Hotel)

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Alastor
ZooPhobia and Hazbin Hotel character
Alastor as seen in Hazbin Hotel
First appearanceZooPhobia (2012-2016)
First minor appearance"Inside of Every Demon Is a Rainbow" (2018)
First major appearance"That's Entertainment"
Hazbin Hotel (2019)
Created byVivienne Medrano
Voiced by
  • Edward Bosco (2019)
  • Gabriel Brown (2019; singing voice)
  • Amir Talai (2024–present)
In-universe information
SpeciesSinner
TitleThe Radio Demon[1]
OriginHell

Alastor "the Radio Demon" is a fictional character created by Vivienne "VivziePop" Medrano who primarily appears in the musical adult animated series Hazbin Hotel as one of the overlords of Hell. He was voiced by Edward Bosco and Gabriel C. Brown in the pilot and a series of music videos from 2019 to 2024, and by Amir Talai in the animated series since 2024.[2][3] A constantly-smiling sinner, Alastor returns after a seven-year absence to run a hotel known as the Hazbin Hotel (meant to redeem the souls of those in Hell and help them earn a place in Heaven) with Charlie Morningstar, princess of Hell, whom Alastor seeks to guide and control, while also wanting to free his own soul from the service of an unknown being. He is often accompanied by the hotel's bartender Husk and housekeeper Niffty (whose souls he owns), and he is considered a rival by fellow overlord Vox and Charlie's father, Lucifer.[4]

The character has received a universally positive critical reception,[5][6][7] receiving particular attention as a prominent asexual character in media.[8][9]

Conception and creation

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Alastor was created by Medrano during her time at School of Visual Arts in New York City,[10] appearing unnamed on her DeviantArt page "circa. 2008". He was planned to be incorporated into her 2012 webcomic series ZooPhobia as a supporting character in a planned "Angels and Demons" story arc following his formal creation in 2011;[11] on the arc's cancellation in 2016 and subsequent redevelopment as Hazbin Hotel, Alastor's full ZooPhobia design would not see publication.[12]

Design and voice

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In the unpublished ZooPhobia story arc Angels and Demons, Alastor was depicted as a black-and-red demonic deer able to transform into a humanoid deer. He was described as "enjoy[ing] making deals and tricking mortals into service".[11] He was a member of the "Demon Misfit Gang", who would later become the main cast of Hazbin Hotel.[13] Short comics about ZooPhobia published to Medrano's DeviantArt and Tumblr pages would see Alastor attempt to take the place of fellow deer-boy Autumn,[14] and to convince Damian (the webcomic's Prince of Hell) to make a deal with him,[15][16] while himself being in love with "KayCee", an all-powerful ancient being.[17][18]

In the Hazbin Hotel pilot, Alastor was entirely human, save for a few deer-like characteristics, including hooves and antlers. He wore a red suitcoat and had an eternal smile of sharp teeth.[19] He was confirmed to be asexual by Medrano on her Twitter account,[20] which was alluded to in the series itself in "Hello Rosie!".[21] Alastor's voice actor Amir Talai has also described the character as embodying the characteristics of the "Tumblr sexyman".[22]

Alastor was a radio show host in his life, and he died at some point in the 1930s. Upon his arrival in Hell, he gained immense amounts of power very quickly, overthrowing overlords that had dominated for centuries. His voice reflects who he was in life, having a radio static effect over it most of the time, and sound effects common in radio shows of the time occasionally play while he is speaking.[5]

In the pilot of Hazbin Hotel, Edward Bosco was cast as the speaking voice of Alastor, and Gabriel C. Brown was cast as his singing voice.[23] In the series, Bosco and Brown were replaced by Amir Talai.[24][25][26]

Fictional character biography

[edit]

Music videos (2018–2024)

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Alastor made a cameo appearance in the 2018 music video for "Inside of Every Demon is a Rainbow", released October 6, 2018, one year prior to the release of the pilot episode of Hazbin Hotel.[27]

Gabriel C. Brown, the singing voice of Alastor in the pilot, provided vocals as Alastor in several fan-made music videos, including "Insane" in June 2021, which was reviewed by One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda as his "second-favorite song of 2023".[28][29] In 2020, Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss songwriter Sam Haft released "Alastor's Game", in which Haft voiced Alastor.[30]

"That's Entertainment" (2019)

[edit]

Alastor made his first full appearance in "That's Entertainment", the Hazbin Hotel pilot episode.[31] Presented as an overlord of Hell, Alastor visits the "Happy Hotel" after witnessing Charlie Morningstar's televised interview about the establishment. He offers his services to help run the hotel, and states that he believes redeeming sinners is an impossible task, and he is only there to watch people try and fail to redeem themselves for his own entertainment, due to boredom with his own life. He summons two souls under his control, Niffty and Husk, to serve as the hotel's maid and bartender, respectively. After renovating the hotel in a musical number ("Alastor's Reprise"), Alastor uses his power to fend off an attacking Sir Pentious, before renaming the hotel the "Hazbin Hotel".

HuniCast (2019–2023)

[edit]

From 2019 to 2023, Bosco and Brown would reprise their roles as Alastor in a series of skits in HuniCast, a livestreamed podcast series co-hosted by Angel Dust's pilot voice actor, Michael Kovach, and Hazbin Hotel pilot animator Ashley Nichols, often featuring the cast and crew of Hazbin Hotel and SpindleHorse Toons as guests.[32]

"A Day in the Afterlife" (2020)

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Alastor returned in a starring role in "A Day in the Afterlife" (alternatively titled "The Radio Demon"), an official webcomic published on October 19, 2020. The comic explored a typical day for Alastor at an unspecified point in his afterlife.[33][34] While attempting to purchase venison from a butcher, Alastor witnesses the butcher attempting to kill a sinner. He saves her life and consumes the butcher.[35]

Hazbin Hotel Season One (2024)

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Main article: Hazbin Hotel § Season 1 (2024)
Alastor showing his demon form to Husk

In the 2024 Hazbin Hotel animated series, Alastor continues to assist Charlie in running her redemption hotel. In "Overture", one week after the events of the pilot, Alastor makes a television commercial for the hotel with Vaggie, Husk, Angel Dust, and Niffty, noting it to have been seven years since he was active in Hell. In "Radio Killed the Video Star", after fending off another attack by Sir Pentious, Alastor's rival Vox learns that Alastor has returned; after losing a broadcast debate with him ("Stayed Gone"), Vox and the other "Vees" (Velvette and Valentino) seek to prevent Alastor from making a deal with Charlie, and send Sir Pentious into the hotel to spy on him. After Sir Pentious is exposed and forgiven by Charlie, choosing to become a real patron instead, Alastor mocks Vox over Sir Pentious' smartwatch. In "Scrambled Eggs", Vaggie asks Alastor to look after Sir Pentious' egg minions, which he allows to accompany him to a meeting with the other the overlords of Hell. After Velvette insinuates at the meeting that Carmilla Carmine killed an angel during the last Extermination (an annual purge of the souls of Hell by Heaven's army, led by Adam) An intrigued Alastor subsequently orders one of the egg minions to spy on Carmilla and confirm this claim to be true, before returning to the hotel.

In "Masquerade", Husk is revealed to have once been an overlord of Hell, who made a deal with Alastor to keep his power in exchange for his soul. In "Dad Beat Dad", after Charlie's father Lucifer arrives at the hotel and isn't impressed, he clashes with Alastor over who is the better father figure to Charlie ("Hell's Greatest Dad"), before being interrupted by Alastor's friend Mimzy. Distrustful of Mimzy, Husk takes Alastor aside while showing Lucifer the hotel to remind him not to trust her motives. On being brushed off as a "pet", Husk mentions how Alastor is "on a leash" to someone else, which Alastor threatens him never to mention again. After several loan shark demons attack the hotel in search of Mimzy, Alastor uses his powers to kill them and remind Hell of his power, before ordering Mimzy to leave. In "Hello Rosie!", following Charlie failing to pitch the hotel to Heaven again, with one month to go until the annual Extermination, Alastor convinces her to make a deal with him, telling her about Carmilla killing an angel, in exchange for a binding future favor. After Charlie sends Vaggie to acquire the information from Carmilla, Alastor brings Charlie to see his friend Rosie, the overlord of Hell in charge of Cannibal Town, and they convince the cannibals to serve as an army to defend the hotel against the angels ("Ready For This").

In "The Show Must Go On", the night before the Extermination, Alastor reminisces on the previous six months with Niffty, noting that one "could get used to" the residents of the hotel. On the Extermination's arrival the next day, a war between the angels and sinners ensues, and Alastor faces Adam himself. Overconfident, Alastor is badly wounded by Adam and forced to flee; in the aftermath of the battle, as the Vees celebrate Alastor's assumed loss and plot to take over Hell, a desperate Alastor hopes for freedom from his previous deal with an unknown being and control over Hell, before cleaning himself up "with a smile" and reuniting with Charlie and her friends ("Finale").[36]

Promotion and reception

[edit]

Since 2018, official clothing and merchandise based around Alastor and the cast of Hazbin Hotel designed by Medrano have been available intermittently from Shark Robot LLC.[37][38][39] In 2024, an emote entitled "Reaper's Showtime" was added to the video game Fortnite, depicting the player character dancing with a scythe matching Alastor's color scheme, while playing the fan song "Insane". "Insane" was sung by Black Gryph0n, the singing voice of Alastor for the pilot episode.[40]

Alastor's character in the show's pilot was received positively. Esther Liberman of BeLatina described him as "caricaturesque, impossibly rotten and flatter, like a perverse version of a third-generation descendant",[41] while Dan Short of Animated Views called Alastor the "show-stealer" as one who is "charismatic and extravagant with smile-inducing flare while making it subtly clear he is as evil as he's feared to be", complimenting Edward Bosco's "magnificent" vocal performance and Gabriel C. Brown's "wonderfully inspired" singing voice.[42] Reviewer Sean Cubillas for CBR described him as the embodiment of "dark humor at its quietest and best".[43]

Alastor's character in the animated series was also received positively. Hope Mullinax of Collider praised him as "the most delightful enigma that keeps the audience guessing if he’s a friend or an antagonist waiting in the wings. Or both!", while also complimenting the "phenomenal" sound design behind Alastor and Vox, with the "shifting static of radio and VHS tracking buzz from nostalgic television sets heighten[ing] their subtextual emotions".[5] Another reviewer, Mae Abdulbaki of ScreenRant, has said he has "a particularly intriguing character" during the series, noting his "mysterious and seemingly dangerous, yet protective and snarky" attitude.[6] MXDWN additionally praised the "incredible chemistry" between Jeremy Jordan as Lucifer and Talai as Alastor.[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Radulovic, Petrana (February 2, 2024). "Hazbin Hotel is pure chaos — and it mostly works". Polygon. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  2. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (October 14, 2023). "'Hazbin Hotel': Erika Henningsen, Stephanie Beatriz, Alex Brightman & Keith David Lead Voice Cast Of Prime Video's Adult Animated Series – NYCC". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  3. ^ Archer, Greg (January 21, 2024). "Exclusive: Hazbin Hotel Stars Jeremy Jordan, Amir Talai, and Kimiko Glenn Talk Lucifer, Alastor, and Niffty". MovieWeb. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  4. ^ McClure, Deven (February 2, 2024). "Hazbin Hotel's Vivienne Medrano On The Biggest Moments Of Season 1 & The Future Of Season 2". Screen Rant. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Mullinax, Hope (January 11, 2024). "'Hazbin Hotel' Review: Prime Video's Adult Animated Series Is Sinfully Good". Collider. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Abdulbaki, Mae (January 18, 2024). "Hazbin Hotel Review: Prime Video's Adult Animated Series Successfully Mixes Unique Story With Music". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Londono, Alejandro (January 25, 2024). "Review: 'Hazbin Hotel' – "Dad Beat Dad"". MXDWN. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  8. ^ Rupnarine, Nerissa (July 24, 2020). "Dr. Stone's Senku Could Be Groundbreaking for Asexual Anime Representation". CBR. Archived from the original on September 16, 2020. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  9. ^ Colangelo, BJ (December 1, 2022). "Why Animation Fans Are Going Wild For Hazbin Hotel's King Of Hell". Slashfilm. Retrieved December 1, 2022. The character of Alastor, also known as "The Radio Demon" has been classified as a Tumblr Sexyman on the website since his introduction in the VivziePop webcomic ZooPhobia. Alastor has a voice that sounds a bit like radio static and often includes theme music, and as one of the few examples of asexual representation in media, has, of course, been immediately sexualized.
  10. ^ Zahed, Ramin. "One Hell of a Show! Checking in with 'Hazbin Hotel' Creator Vivienne Medrano". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Medrano, Vivienne (October 8, 2011). "this guy is fun to Draw, I'm thinkin' bout makin' him: Allastor, which I'm mixing some mythology on the demon together, making him both a demon who does the dirty work for people who need him, as well as a possessive demon who can seize control of people". Retrieved October 8, 2011 – via Tumblr. Allastor © Vivienne M.
  12. ^ Medrano, Vivienne (August 19, 2019). "VIVZIE STREEM – WE'RE SIX WOOOAHH -#6". youtube.com. Archived from the original (video) on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  13. ^ Medrano, Vivienne (May 24, 2013). "Misfit Demon Gang lineup as it stands right now! Been workin' on these off an' on over the last week n' a half. Was loads of fun, Gonna be doin' more lineups as time goes on cause they are relaxing, and help me diversify designs! Some of these guys reflect their time period, some of them kinda created their own look overtime, but I did a lot of research on each to try and stay in the right mindset. Enjoys <3". Retrieved May 24, 2013 – via Tumblr.
  14. ^ Medrano, Vivienne (November 1, 2011). "Happy Halloween!". Retrieved November 1, 2011 – via Tumblr.
  15. ^ Medrano, Vivienne (October 8, 2011). "human-form stuff". Retrieved October 8, 2011 – via Tumblr. Alastor: I am sorry, Your Highness, but I simply adore your company. Might I escort you to class today? Damian: NO. Get off my foot.
  16. ^ Medrano, Vivienne (October 8, 2011). "Much better. I'm revampin' this character btw". Retrieved October 8, 2011 – via Tumblr.
  17. ^ Medrano, Vivienne (August 9, 2012). "fff I'm happy I can finally post lil things of KayCee; shes one of my favs to think about mmhm ^^". Retrieved August 9, 2012 – via Tumblr.
  18. ^ Medrano, Vivienne (January 21, 2013). "Livestream doodles: Alastor has a huuuuuuge crush on KayCee so doodled them lots xD also all around played with drawing him and such". Retrieved January 21, 2013 – via Tumblr.
  19. ^ Medrano, Vivienne (February 7, 2018). "The official Hazbin trailer will drop in a few months maybe sooner! Just to letchall know". Retrieved February 7, 2018 – via Tumblr.
  20. ^ Medrano, Vivienne [@VivziePop] (October 11, 2018). "Angel and Alastor are old men who don't understand anything anymore 👍 I hope everyone on this #NationalComingOutDay2018 stays safe and stays proud 🥰" (Tweet). Retrieved October 11, 2018 – via Twitter.
  21. ^ Tewari, Tanya (February 3, 2024). "What does "ace in the hole" mean in Hazbin Hotel? Explained". Sportskeeda. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  22. ^ Mama's Geeky (January 13, 2024). Hazbin Hotel Stars Blake Roman, Amir Talai and Kimiko Glenn Talk New Series. Mama's Geeky. Retrieved January 13, 2024 – via YouTube.
  23. ^ Naushad, Abdul Azim (January 24, 2024). "Hazbin Hotel Controversy Explained: Why Were Actors Replaced & Who Replaced Them?". ComingSoon.net. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  24. ^ Llewellyn, Tom (September 29, 2023). "Hazbin Hotel's Axed Voice Actor Says It's 'Better To Be Involved With Smaller Projects'". HITC. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  25. ^ Gilmore, Haylee (December 14, 2023). "Fans Are (Still) Not Happy About the Hazbin Hotel Recast". MovieWeb. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  26. ^ Ulatowski, Rachel (January 23, 2024). "The Most Unique Voice in 'Hazbin Hotel' Has an Equally Interesting Backstory". The Mary Sue. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  27. ^ Medrano, Vivienne (October 6, 2018). Hazbin Hotel – "Inside of Every Demon is a Rainbow" (Original Song) Not For Kids. VivziePop. Retrieved October 6, 2018 – via YouTube.
  28. ^ Brown, Gabriel (June 11, 2021). INSANE (A Hazbin Hotel Song) – Black Gryph0n & Baasik. Black Gryph0n. Retrieved June 11, 2021 – via YouTube. It's about time I did a #HazbinHotel song! To be honest, I wasn't even sure if I was allowed to do this, since I'm the singing voice of #Alastor in the pilot, but Viv said she loved it, so I guess it's ok?… Nate and I wrote this song in about 8 hours! It was one of those songs that kinda wrote itself! I showed up to his house at noon, and by 9:00pm we were wrapping up recording!
  29. ^ Oda, Eiichiro [@newworldartur] (December 19, 2023). "Eiichiro Oda shares his Top 3 Favorite Music Artists of 2023" (Tweet). Retrieved December 19, 2023 – via Twitter.
  30. ^ Haft, Sam (July 9, 2020). The Living Tombstone – Alastor's Game (Hazbin Hotel Song). VivziePop. Retrieved July 9, 2020 – via YouTube.
  31. ^ "The Story". Official Hazbin Hotel site. October 28, 2019. Archived from the original on April 9, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  32. ^ Nichols, Ashley (November 27, 2019). HuniCast – Last Minute Charity Stream. Ashley Nichols Art. Retrieved November 27, 2019 – via YouTube Live. Angel Dust in: "Something in the Post, or, Alastor Writes a Porno
  33. ^ Liam; Faustisse; Lola "Lunetta" Brunetti; Magpie V Raven; Vivienne, Vivienne (October 19, 2020). "Hazbin Hotel Comic: The Radio Demon: A Day in the Afterlife". HazbinHotel.com. Archived from the original on October 19, 2020. Retrieved October 19, 2020. Deep within the recesses of Hell, there lies a demon who is so evil and so powerful, that very few dare to cross him. A demon so vicious and deadly, that the blood of his victims stains every part of his body. A demon so frightening and encased in mystery, some dare to question if he has ever existed in the first place. It is said that he has the power to dominate the seven rings of Hell. A power that, if left unchecked, could tear apart the very fabric of the void itself. And he'd happily do it with a skip in his step and a wide, toothy smile on his face. They call him… The Radio Demon.
  34. ^ @Faustisse (June 29, 2020). "And just like that, the Alastor comic is 🎉DONE🎉 I want to give a shout out to the pencil artist, a good friend and beautiful human being, @RiplaeChills❤️✨ And to the AMAZING colorist, the incredibly talented, ever stunning @FunnyLunettaART💕🌟 (@HazbinHotel/#HazbinHotel)" (Tweet). Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2020 – via Twitter.
  35. ^ Medrano, Vivienne (October 19, 2020). "Hazbin Hotel – Alastor Prequel Comic ("The Radio Demon"/"A Day in the AfterLife")". Retrieved October 19, 2020 – via Tumblr.
  36. ^ Stevenson, Rick (February 6, 2024). "Biggest Unanswered Questions In Hazbin Hotel Season 1". Looper. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  37. ^ Medrano, Vivienne (November 19, 2018). Hazbin Hotel Merch Sale – Funny Hell Show Sells Stuff Not For Kids. VivziePop. Retrieved November 19, 2018 – via YouTube.
  38. ^ Medrano, Vivienne (August 12, 2019). Hazbin Plushies Are Here (Not For Kids). VivziePop. Retrieved August 12, 2019 – via YouTube.
  39. ^ Medrano, Vivienne (February 12, 2024). A Romantic Evening With Helluva Boss & Hazbin Hotel. VivziePop. Retrieved February 12, 2024 – via YouTube.
  40. ^ Poskitt, Matt (February 12, 2024). "Is Hazbin Hotel coming to Fortnite? Emote Explained". Radio Times. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  41. ^ Liberman, Dr Esther (December 9, 2019). "A Salvadoran-American Artist's Conception of Hell". BeLatina. Archived from the original on February 26, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  42. ^ Short, Dan (November 7, 2019). "Hazbin Hotel [Review]". Animated Views. Archived from the original on November 6, 2020. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  43. ^ Cabillas, Sean (November 24, 2020). "Hazbin Hotel: 10 Funniest Lines In The Show, Ranked". CBR. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
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