Viv's Hellaverse

My thoughts on "Hazbin Hotel" & Helluva Boss."

During the days of this last pandemic, maybe 2019 or 2020 I stumbled across a little cartoon on youtube called Helluva Boss. Being a fan of independent animation, especially those found on the internet I clicked on it. What followed was a a cute, yet thoughtful and dirty fiasco.

The main cast was three little red demon-like creatures and an anthro wolf. One of the imp voices I recognized from a cartoon I had watched years before called Invader Zim. The concept was that they were assassins that dead sinners could hire to kill people in the living world. I watched the whole show, loving the artwork, the voice acting, and the writing. In the course of one thirty-minute pilot, I fell in love with the whole thing. Attached to that video was another called Hazbin Hotel from the same creator, Vivian Medrano. This show was about the daughter of Lucifer trying to rehabilitate sinners and stop a yearly slaughter by heavenly angels and was actually created a few years before Helluva Boss and featured early versions of some characters. Both took place in Hell and showed that she had put thought and research into her characters, and ideas. I instantly respected her.

Over the next few years Vivzipop, her animation studio, released several episodes of Helluva boss showcasing her vision of Hell, as well as her teams phenomenal artwork. In the first season, consisting of eight episodes she introduced us to the Goetia Prince Stolas, the king of lust Asmodeus, and my personal idol, the queen of gluttony Beelzebub. She showcased guest stars like Norman Reedus, and Kesha. The second season of the show 12 episodes, just ended late last year, 2024 and the first season of Hazbin Hotel which was picked up by Amazon ended shortly before.

I have been a lifelong fan of animation, I wanted to be an artist when I was younger and I have also been an occultist for as long as I can remember which are two things that keep me buried in what has became known as the Helleverse.
Her inspirations which she has drawn from Dante’s Divine Comedy, the Keyes of Solomon, and Jedeo-Christian mythology have kept her name on the lips of many streamers such as Deepcut on Youtube as well as others on reddit, facebook ect.
Many if not most people like her work, millions of people fandom over it, but there are always haters. Fortunately, they’re smaller in number than everyone else but they yet can be twice as loud. There have been instances of the actors and artists both being threatened and harassed by people who simply don’t like her stories, the fact she makes what most call demonic characters likeable, she’s pro LGBTQ+ and she says fuck. Personaly, those are some of what I’d call her finner points. Some would say she promotes drug use, but I see it as accepting it happens and warning against it. She has no try good guys, but also no true villains… except maybe Mammon.
In any case I love what she’s done. She’s been an inspiration to me, and what she’s created has even changed my life. Introducing me to people who have helped me grow, and became much more than friends. I am thankful for Helluva Boss, Hazbin Hotel, and Viv herself. I hope she gets to do what she loves forever.