History Main / ABeastInNameAndNature

* "VideoGame/MinecraftLegends'': The Beast is the leader of the Horde of the Hunt who resembles a [[OurCentaursAreDifferent centaur]]. He attacks villages at night and will easily destroy your walls.

* Reinhard Heydrich was known as "The Blond Beast" for his blonde hair, and was one of the most infamous Nazis of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, having helped organize ''Kristallnacht'' beforehand, was directly responsible for the ''Einsatzgruppen'' death squads, and chaired the 1942 Wannsee Conference that formalized the Final Solution.

* In ''WesternAnimation/OverTheGardenWall,'' the BigBad is called the Beast. As noted on the series' character page, however, it comes off as a NonIndicativeName, as the Beast is a [[FauxAffablyEvil well-spoken]] HumanoidAbomination [[spoiler:whose true form [[BotanicalAbomination resembles a plant more than an animal]]]]. Then again, with all the show's references to ''Literature/TheDivineComedy,'' he might be a reference to [[SatanicArchetype a specific Beast]].

* ''ComicBook/XMen'': The series offers a rare heroic version in the form of Hank [=McCoy=], AKA ComicBook/{{Beast|MarvelComics}}: codenamed for his gorilla-like physique, enormous hands and feet, and (later) his blue fur and other animalistic attributes. In sharp contrast to his beastly appearance, Hank is commonly portrayed as a brilliant scientist and a gentleman. However, this is played straight by his MadScientist EvilCounterpart [[ComicBook/AgeOfApocalypse Dark Beast]], as well as his BadFuture self that shows up in ''ComicBook/NewXMen'', and later in ''[[Comicbook/XMenTheKrakoanAge The Krakoan Age'', Beast is the increasingly morally compromised leader of [[Comicbook/XForce2019 X-Force]].

* ''ComicBook/{{Preacher}}'': At one point God names Cassidy "Beast" to express contempt for Cassidy being a blood drinking parasite that crawls in the night. [[spoiler:And despite God's own many failings, this judgement of Cassidy was correct. Cassidy lives down to the name due to his tendency to drag other people down into ruin with his careless selfish hedonism.]]
* ''ComicBook/XMen'' offers a rare heroic version in the form of Hank [=McCoy=], AKA [[ComicBook/BeastMarvelComics Beast]]: codenamed for his gorilla-like physique, enormous hands and feet, and (later) his blue fur and other animalistic attributes. In sharp contrast to his beastly appearance, Hank is commonly portrayed as a brilliant scientist and a gentleman. However, this is played straight by his MadScientist EvilCounterpart Dark Beast, as well as his BadFuture self that shows up in ComicBook/NewXMen. And in ''Comicbook/DawnOfX'' era, Beast is the increasingly morally compromised leader of [[Comicbook/XForce2019 X-Force]].

* The sinister entity behind the haunting in ''Film/{{Poltergeist}}'' is referred to as "The Beast" - in this case, a definite nod to a demonic nature.

* The finale of ''VideoGame/InFamous'' reveals that the true overarching threat of the setting is a giant, lava-skinned HumanoidAbomination known to Kessler as the Beast, responsible for destroying the world in one possible future. Likely named due to the connections with the Book of Revelation, the Beast becomes the BigBad of ''VideoGame/InFamous2'', destroying an entire city and leaving a trail of destruction across most of the American east coast before catching up with Cole for the second time. [[spoiler: He's actually John White, one of your allies for the first game, and his real goal is [[WellIntentionedExtremist to save potential Conduits from the plague now killing humanity]]. Unfortunately, saving them requires more ray sphere explosions to activate their latent powers, resulting in more destruction, more deaths, and a greater spread of the plague - in other words, the extinction of the human race.]]
* In ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords'', [[AmbiguouslyEvil Kreia]]'s [[TheNicknamer nickname]] for the Wookie bounty hunter [[TheBrute Hanharr]] is simply "Beast." Normally, this would be just another sign of Kreia's FantasticRacism, but in Hanharr's case, he's more than earned the title: quite apart from his crimes as a hunter and [[DebtDetester his efforts to murder anyone he owes a life-debt to]], his own tribe exiled him for insanity [[spoiler: before he killed them in a demented attempt to save them from enslavement.]]
* In the ''VideoGame/NintendoWars'' game ''Advance Wars: Days of Ruin'', the StarterVillain is a man simply known as The Beast. When he meets the BigBad Dr. Caulder, Caulder originally refers to The Beast as Sergeant, before correcting himself - The Beast was dishonorably discharged from the military for his extreme aggressiveness.
* In ''VideoGame/PathOfExile'', the Beast is a creature mentioned in the lore as a source of virtue gems and thaumaturgy. It is a RealityWarper that created the [[EldritchAbomination Eldritch Abominations]] you see in Acts 3 and 4. In Act 4, the Exile ventures inside the Beast to destroy it. [[spoiler:The Beast was created by Sin to suppress the gods and put them in an eternal slumber, but Sin created the Beast with [[NonMaliciousMonster no ambition of its own]], which made it vulnerable to ambitious humans trying to use the Beast for their gain.]]
* During the backstory to ''VideoGame/TheSecretWorld,'' the legendary [[VampireMonarch vampire queen Mara]] took to living large in mid-20th century Romania, committing such grisly crimes that Nicolae Ceausescu's Securitate could barely keep them hidden from the public - earning herself the nickname "The Beast of Bucharest" in the process. Unbelievably enough, this reputation led to her becoming partners with [[SovietSuperscience the Red Hand]] and paving the way for even ''bigger'' atrocities.

* ''WesternAnimation/OverTheGardenWall'''s BigBad is called The Beast, most likely a reference to the Beast of Revelation, since he's a SatanicArchetype. As noted on the series' character page, however, it comes off as a NonIndicativeName, as the Beast himself is a [[FauxAffablyEvil well-spoken]] HumanoidAbomination [[spoiler: whose true form [[BotanicalAbomination resembles a plant more than anything]].]]

* In ''Film/KungFuHustle'', one of the many villains is an ArrogantKungFuGuy dubbed "the Beast". Known for his Toad-style fighting technique, he spent a big chunk of the backstory killing various masters in search of a WorthyOpponent, before checking himself into a mental asylum out of sheer boredom. Despite his seemingly-lackadaisical appearance and laid-back attitude, he soon proves himself one of the deadliest combatants in the film by [[spoiler: killing the apparent BigBad and taking centre stage as the main villain of the story.]]

* ''ComicBook/XMen'' offers a rare heroic version in the form of Hank [=McCoy=], AKA [[ComicBook/BeastMarvelComics Beast]]: codenamed for his gorilla-like physique, enormous hands and feet, and (later) his blue fur and other animalistic attributes. In sharp contrast to his beastly appearance, Hank is commonly portrayed as a brilliant scientist and a gentleman. However, this is played straight by his MadScientist EvilCounterpart Dark Beast.
** As well as his BadFuture self that shows up in ComicBook/NewXMen.

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* The Beast of Darkness (or simply "the Beast") from ''{{Manga/Berserk}}'' is Guts's EnemyWithin. This horrific {{Hellhound}}-like monstrosity is the manifestation of all the fear, hatred and other negative emotions that arose in Guts after the living hell that was The Eclipse, and it wants more than anything to have Guts take revenge on the Godhand and every demon in existence while turning Guts into a monster himself.

* In the fourth season of ''Series/{{Angel}}'', a demonic-looking creature called the Beast is the first ArcVillain of the season. He is eventually replaced by [[spoiler:Angelus]] and then [[spoiler:Jasmine]].
* ''Series/TheSopranos'': Phil Leotardo takes to referring to Tony Blundetto as "Animal Blundetto" after the latter [[YouKilledMyFather murdered his brother Billy]] during the Lupertazzi civil war. In reality, Tony B. was more of a BewareTheNiceOnes-type guy who got in over his head when he recklessly tried to make a name for himself, with the vicious, hotheaded Phil himself being a much better candidate for that title.

* In ''Beetle Hands'', a [[EldritchAbomination nightmarish creature]] known only as The Beast stalks the hallways of [[EldritchLocation The Heartland]], eating the humans it lures inside. Its true nature is as yet unknown, but given that it's shown to be a ManipulativeBastard sporting BodyHorror aplenty (the first few chapters that finally showed [[NightmareFace its face]] had ContentWarnings tags on them ''for good reason''), [[SatanicArchetype the description is apt]].

* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'': Bill Cipher, the series BigBad, is once called the 'Beast With Just One Eye' by Fiddleford. Given the many {{Eldritch Abomination}}s he transforms into later, this is deserved.
--> When gravity falls and earth becomes sky beware the beast with just one eye

* Creator/AleisterCrowley liked to call himself "the Beast [[NumberOfTheBeast 666]]", among other elaborate occult titles; amusingly, his own mother referred to him as "the beast" throughout his childhood, [[InsultBackfire a fact that young Crowley delighted in]].
* The US presidential state limo is often known as "The Beast".

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* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'': Bill Cipher is once called the 'Beast With Just One Eye' by Fiddleford. Given the many [[EldritchAbomination Eldritch Abominations]] he transforms into later this is deserved.

* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'': Bill Cipher is once called the 'Beast With Just One Eye' by Fiddleford. Given the many {{EldritchAbomination}}'s he transforms into later this is deserved.

In some cases, this is due to the character possessing some animalistic attribute, a "beastly" appearance or nature. In others, this is due to brutish, violent or savage behavior, a close tie-in with the first reason. And in some cases most commonly associated with the [[BeastOfTheApocalypse titular beast]] of Christian theology and the Book of Revelation, there may be some connection with the demonic or diabolical; the MarkOfTheBeast may be utilized.

And sometimes, the character in question is literally an animal -- only so monstrous or so indescribable that giving it any name other than "beast" simply will not suffice.

In some cases, this is due to the character possessing some animalistic attribute, a "beastly" appearance or nature. In others, this is due to brutish, violent or savage behavior, a close tie-in with the first reason. And in some cases most commonly associated with Christian theology and the Book of Revelation, there may be some connection with the demonic or diabolical; the MarkOfTheBeast may be utilized.

* In the Book of Revelation, two "beasts" are stated to emerge in the last days as servants of the Dragon. The first, the Beast from the ocean, is a monstrous creature that inspires humanity to follow it. The second, the Beast from the earth, is also known as the False Prophet; he commands that the people worship the first Beast and accept a MarkOfTheBeast -- with dissenters being executed. As such, the second Beast is a popular contender for the role of the AntiChrist.

* ''VideoGame/BugFables'' features The Beast, a giant monstrous [[CreepyCentipedes centipede]] responsible for deaths of many travellers who cross the Wild Swamplands, [[spoiler:including [[ItsPersonal Kabbu's old friends]].]]

* ''Webcomic/KillSixBillionDemons'': '''[[green:BEAST]]''' is one of the the seven names of TheCreator and TopGod YISUN, and is currently held by the GodEmperor Gog-Agog. Gog-Agog, fittingly, is by far the most beastly of the [[BigBadEnsemble Seven Black Emperors]], being a MadGod WormThatWalks EvilDiva who infects and assimilates others into new copies of herself. [[WrongContextMagic She's also an unique being]] in that animals aren't ''supposed'' to have soul flames, and yet she does.

* The [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beast_of_Gévaudan Beast of Gévaudan]] was a man-eating animal which terrorized the province of Gévaudan in France between 1764 and 1767. Although generally thought to have been a large wolf or wolf-dog, some contradictory reports depicted it as a different beast. It spawned lots of articles in the contemporary press and many conspiracies and legends surrounding it.

* ''VideoGame/HollowKnight'' has Herrah the Beast, who is one of the [[BarrierMaiden Dreamers]]. While she isn't a direct antagonist, and we never see her in battle, she is the leader of a tribe of spiders implied to eat sentient bugs.

* Count Glossu Rabban of ''Literature/{{Dune}}'' is popularly known as "Beast Rabban" by his subjects for his unrelenting cruelty. Needless to say, he most commonly serves as TheBrute to his uncle, [[BigBad Baron Vladimir Harkonnen]], in his efforts to crush the population of Arrakis.

* Count Glossau Rabban of ''Literature/{{Dune}}'' is popularly known as "Beast Rabban" by his subjects for his unrelenting cruelty. Needless to say, he most commonly serves as TheBrute to his uncle, [[BigBad Baron Vladimir Harkonnen]], in his efforts to crush the population of Arrakis.

* In ''KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords'', [[AmbiguouslyEvil Kreia]]'s [[TheNicknamer nickname]] for the Wookie bounty hunter [[TheBrute Hanharr]] is simply "Beast." Normally, this would be just another sign of Kreia's FantasticRacism, but in Hanharr's case, he's more than earned the title: quite apart from his crimes as a hunter and [[DebtDetestor his efforts to murder anyone he owes a life-debt to]], his own tribe exiled him for insanity [[spoiler: before he killed them in a demented attempt to save them from enslavement.]]

* The finale of ''VideoGame/InFamous'' reveals that the true overarching threat of the setting is a giant, lava-skinned HumanoidAbomination known to Kessler as the Beast, responsible for destroying the world in one possible future. Likely named due to the connections with the Book of Revelation, the Beast becomes the BigBad of ''VideoGame/InFamous2'', destroying an entire city and leaving a trail of destruction across most of the American east coast before catching up with Cole for the second time. [[spoiler: He's actually John White, one of your allies for the first game, and his real goal is [[WellIntentionedExtremist to save Conduits from the plague now killing humanity]]. Unfortunately, saving them requires more ray sphere explosions to activate their latent powers, resulting in more destruction, more deaths, and a greater spread of the plague - in other words, the extinction of the human race.]]

* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000: [[Literature/TheBeastArises The War of the Beast]]'' was the single most destructive war the Imperium ever faced since the Literature/HorusHeresy against the biggest Ork warlord ever; known as the Beast, he was so huge he was at first mistaken for a HumongousMecha and also [[GeniusBruiser terrifyingly intelligent]] by Ork standards. [[spoiler:And then it turns out there were ''six'' of them.]] [[spoiler:In addition, The Beast's Orcish name was translated to Gothic as "I am Slaughter"... but in Orcish, it was "Mag Uruk Thraka", marking Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thraka, the Beast of Armageddon, as the next incarnation of The Beast.]]