Who Is The Beast? Origin, Powers and Key Facts

The Beast is a Creator-Owned comic book character, with over 10 comic issue appearances. The Beast is (and was) a two-term president whom Spider Jerusalem despised for his political tactics and condescending attitude toward the population.

Who is The Beast?

A Richard Nixon-esque President, The Beast possesses something of a superiority complex and has few qualms with punishing districts which don't support him. Spider repeatedly accused The Beast of being a power-hungry politician who had no real beliefs, who wanted to be president but had no interest in actually doing the job required of him. However, as Spider finds out in an interview, The Beast simply believes in "getting through the day," doing the bare minimum required of him in order to ensure that the country continues to run and that at least the bare majority of the population survives. Unlike The Smiler, The Beast's real name is mentioned only in passing early on in the series, and it was Spider who gave him the nickname. Apparently, The Beast's supporters and even his own children refer to him by his nickname, for which he despises Spider. Spider explains that the name originated from his mental picture of the man, "a big black animal squatting in the heart of America...the thing in us that votes to fuck other people in the gall bladder, the lizard brain that says nothing but eat-kill-hump-shit.".

Key facts

The Beast is of human origin and first appeared in "On the Stump". The character is published by Creator-Owned. With 10 recorded issue appearances, The Beast ranks among the most featured characters in comics.