Japanese mangaka born in 1955.

Famous for works such as Dragon Ball, Dr. Slump., Go Go Ackman and SandLand

Recognized for his humor, iconic characters and unique drawing style.

• One-shot manga published in 2000.

• It tells the story of Beelzebub, the Lord of the Flies, in a desert world.

• It was adapted into a video game in April 2024.

• It was adapted into an anime series on Disney+ in March 2024.

Name Origins:
While the exact inspiration behind "Ackman" remains unknown, the most likely scenario is that it's a name created by Toriyama with a phonetic connection to "akuma" to reflect Ackman's demonic identity. The name itself doesn't have a direct meaning in Japanese and likely serves the purpose of being catchy and memorable for the character. 

About the Series

• Protagonist of the manga Go! Go! Ackman.

• Low-ranking demon who works for the King of Hell.

• His mission is to collect human souls for Hell.

• He is accompanied by his faithful companion, the bat Godon.

• Ackman is a sarcastic, lazy and somewhat clumsy character.

• Despite his demonic nature, he has a good heart and often helps humans.

• Demonic figure associated with evil, impurity and blasphemy.

• He appears four times in the New Testament.

• The Pharisees accuse Yeshua of blaspheming by attributing his power to Beelzebub.

• Yeshua refutes the accusation and warns about the danger of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

• Complex character seeking redemption.

• He distances himself from the stereotype of an evil being.

• He shows kindness, compassion and sacrifice.

• He highlights the importance of friendship, hope and forgiveness.

• Impact from a messianic point of view:

• Glorification of a demonic figure: Beelzebub, presented as a kind being, could divert attention from the true Messiah, Yeshua.

• Distortion of the Messianic Message: Redemption in Sandland comes through self-sufficiency and personal effort, rather than divine grace.

• Risk of confusion: The mixture of religious elements with fictional characters can generate confusion in people's faith, especially in children and young people.

While Sandland is a work of fiction with a positive message in some aspects, the depiction of Beelzebub as a heroic character can put the souls of many around the world at risk by glorifying a demonic figure and distorting the messianic message. A critical analysis of the work and a clear understanding of the messianic faith is recommended to avoid confusion and doctrinal deviations.

Recommendations:

Educate children and young people about the true figure of Beelzebub and the messianic message.

Promote a critical analysis of works of fiction that mix religious elements.

Emphasize the importance of faith in Yeshua as the source of true redemption.



The Bible mentions Beelzebub in four verses, all within the New Testament:

• Matthew 10:25: "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." (NIV)

Context: Jesus is instructing his disciples and mentions not fearing those who can harm the body, but fearing God who has ultimate authority. The reference to Beelzebub doesn't appear in this verse, but it sets the stage for the following verse.

• Matthew 12:24: "Hearing this, the Pharisees said, 'It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.'" (NIV)

Context: Jesus has cast out a demon, and the Pharisees, his opponents, accuse him of doing so through the power of Beelzebub, the ruler of demons.

• Mark 3:22: "And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, 'He is possessed by Beelzebul,' and, 'By the prince of demons he casts out demons.'" (NIV)

Context: Similar to Matthew 12:24, the scribes who came from Jerusalem accuse Jesus of casting out demons through the power of Beelzebub.

• Luke 11:15: "But some of them said, 'He drives out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of demons.'" (NIV)

Context: Again, Jesus casts out a demon, and some people in the crowd attribute it to the power of Beelzebub.

In all these verses, Beelzebub is used as an accusation against Jesus, implying his power comes from an evil source. Jesus refutes these accusations in the following verses, but those are not included as they don't directly mention Beelzebub.