Pop Culture

In this post we will discuss the many different ways that sulfur has laced itself into pop culture.

Harry Potter

   

      In Harry Potter, sulfur is only referenced once. When describing the contents of Zonko's Joke Shop, a store for magical wizarding pranks, in Diagon Alley, one of the big sellers was Belch Powder. Belch Powder could be used to make yourself sick enough to get out of class. One of the main ingredients in Belch Powder is Vitriol, which is the historical name for sulfuric acid. 

Supernatural

   

      In the hit CW show, Supernatural (a show about two brothers who hunt demons, die, and save the world more than once), the appearance of sulfur usually refers to a demon's presence. The idea comes from mythology that mentions tales of sulfur-breathing demons that live and thrive in pits of sulfuric fire in hell.
   

  In one episode, where one of the main characters is sent into 2014 (which was considered the future when the episode aired back in 2009) there is an apocalypse called the Croatoan Virus. The virus, when infected, causes humans to turn into very aggressive forms of zombies.
   

The virus was created by an evil creature, called a Leviathan, from purgatory, that wanted to kill off human kind. It was to be disguised as a cure for swine flu (again, 2009) and administered to the public. The main ingredient in the drug was sulfur.