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AZ-001 also referred as Azazel by the cultists, is the main antagonist of the Midwest Angelica series.
It is a colossal, tentacled alien entity discovered near Jupiter in 1985. This eldritch, fungal-like being, potentially linked to the fallen angel Azazel by its cultists, spreads the "Starkill" infection, assimilating lifeforms into grotesque masses. Capable of surviving space and controlling detached parts, it uses the Akashic Plane to connect and manipulate minds, posing a catastrophic threat to Earth.
Biography[]
Discovery and Early Observation (April 1985)[]
In April 1985, NASA detected an anomalous object orbiting Jupiter, later designated AZ-001. Measuring approximately 66.3 kilometers in diameter, this massive, tentacled entity exhibited organic properties, confirmed through spectroscopy and temperature readings. Its ability to survive the vacuum of space and emit detectable brain waves baffled scientists, suggesting a form of sentience or instinctual intelligence. Described as a "corpse" yet capable of activity, AZ-001’s composition resembled a fungal extremophile, sparking theories of it being an interstellar lifeform that propagates by hitching rides on celestial bodies.
NASA established the Division of Heavenly Operations and Material Examination (HOME) to study AZ-001, initiating covert monitoring. Early observations noted its ability to manipulate detached portions of itself, hinting at a decentralized structure. Cultists, who later emerged, claimed AZ-001 was the physical manifestation of Azazel, a Biblical fallen angel associated with forbidden knowledge, though this remained unverified speculation within the series.
Fragmentation and Earthbound Threat (1985–1999)[]
Between 1985 and 1999, AZ-001 remained under surveillance as HOME tracked its movements. A significant event occurred when a fragment, labeled AZ-001 (Alpha), detached from the main body. Calculations predicted this chunk would enter Earth’s atmosphere and land in Nebraska in 1999. This fragment’s projected impact raised alarms due to AZ-001’s ability to spread the "Starkill," a highly infectious, intelligent disease capable of assimilating biological matter with a single cell. The Starkill could transform victims into grotesque, interconnected masses, with infected individuals like Dr. Evans exhibiting horrific mutations such as elongated limbs.
During this period, AZ-001 demonstrated interdimensional influence through the Akashic Plane, a psychic network that stored and transferred the knowledge of assimilated entities, connecting all Starkill cells across vast distances. This ability allowed AZ-001 to exert remote control over infected organisms and potentially influence human minds, fostering the growth of a cult that revered it as Azazel.
Nebraska Landing and Starkill Outbreak (1999)[]
In 1999, AZ-001 (Alpha) landed near Starfield Ranch in Nebraska, triggering a catastrophic outbreak of the Starkill infection. The Jones family, including their dog Rocky, was among the first victims, with survivor Collin Jones documenting the horrific assimilation of his family. The infection spread rapidly, affecting local wildlife, humans, and HOME personnel sent to contain it. Infected sites, dubbed "Starkill Altars" by cultists, resembled Satanic symbols like the Leviathan Cross, with one notable altar forming in a Long Pine, Nebraska church under the influence of cultist Ray O’Connor.
HOME’s containment efforts, including Operation Homebound, faltered as internal infections and cultist sabotage compromised their facilities. AZ-001’s influence grew, with reports of it manipulating events through psychic means. The cult, led by figures like Admiral Nero, the self-proclaimed "First Prophet of Azazel," expanded, worshipping AZ-001 as a divine entity and accelerating the spread of Starkill.
Second Landing and Escalation (Post-1999)[]
Following the Nebraska incident, another fragment, AZ-001 (Beta), landed in Missouri, further escalating the crisis. This second landing overwhelmed HOME’s resources, as the Starkill infection breached containment protocols. AZ-001’s ability to coordinate its fragments and infected hosts through the Akashic Plane rendered traditional containment impossible. The entity’s cultists continued to thwart efforts, with their rituals and altars amplifying the infection’s reach.
By the series’ timeline, AZ-001’s full intentions remain unclear, but its actions suggest a drive to assimilate Earth’s biosphere. General Garrett Piso, a HOME official, hinted at AZ-001’s potential connection to historical disasters, though this may have been propaganda to justify extreme measures. The entity’s influence persists, with recovered footage such as tapes from 1985.
Appearance[]
AZ-001 is a colossal, eldritch alien entity with a grotesque and otherworldly appearance. It is described as a massive, fungal-like organism, roughly 66.3 kilometers in diameter, resembling a tentacled, organic "corpse" capable of surviving the vacuum of space. Its body is an amorphous, pulsating mass, with writhing, fleshy tendrils that suggest a mix of fungal and cephalopod-like traits. The surface appears mottled and uneven, possibly covered in spore-like structures that facilitate the spread of the "Starkill" infection. Detached fragments, such as AZ-001 (Alpha), retain this organic, tumorous quality, capable of independent movement and infection upon landing. Its appearance evokes cosmic horror, defying conventional biology and instilling dread in those who encounter it, as depicted in the series’ recovered footage.
Trivia[]
- AZ-001’s designation as "AZ-001" stems from its initial discovery by NASA in 1985, with "AZ" possibly referencing its cult-assigned name, Azazel, though this is not officially confirmed in the series. The "001" indicates it was the first anomaly of its kind documented by the Division of Heavenly Operations and Material Examination (HOME).
- The entity’s size, approximately 66.3 kilometers in diameter, makes it larger than some small moons, such as Mars’ moon Phobos (about 22 kilometers in diameter). This colossal scale underscores its cosmic horror, as it dwarfs any terrestrial organism.
- AZ-001’s connection to the Biblical Azazel, a fallen angel associated with forbidden knowledge, is reinforced by its use of the Akashic Plane—a metaphysical network named after the Akashic Records, a concept in theosophy referring to a compendium of all universal knowledge. This suggests AZ-001 may have a deeper, metaphysical purpose beyond mere assimilation.
- The Starkill infection’s ability to assimilate with a single cell mirrors real-world fungi like Cordyceps, which can control hosts, but AZ-001’s version is far more aggressive, capable of reaching critical mass in days and merging victims into grotesque, interconnected masses, as seen with the Jones family and HOME personnel.
- AZ-001’s influence extends to animals, with the Jones family dog, Rocky, being one of the first infected, showcasing its indiscriminate assimilation across species. This mirrors themes in cosmic horror where no lifeform is safe from the entity’s reach.
- The series hints at AZ-001’s potential sentience through its ability to "steer" interstellar objects, implying it may intentionally target planets for infection. Fan theories suggest it uses a form of chemosynthesis to grow on these objects before releasing infectious fragments like AZ-001 (Alpha) and (Beta).
- Cultist activity surrounding AZ-001 includes the creation of "Starkill Altars," which resemble the Leviathan Cross, a symbol associated with Satanism. This ties into the series’ blend of cosmic and religious horror, drawing inspiration from works like Neon Genesis Evangelion, which also mixes existential threats with spiritual symbolism.
- AZ-001’s discovery and the subsequent events are presented through recovered footage, including VHS tapes from 1985–1999, some of which were found in the rubble of Grand Forks Technical College. This analog horror framing adds a layer of realism to its narrative, a common trope in the genre.
- The series’ creators, Team AQ, had noted that Midwest Angelica draws inspiration from various horror and sci-fi sources, but AZ-001’s design and behavior are uniquely crafted to evoke dread through its incomprehensibility, aligning with Lovecraftian themes of humanity’s insignificance against cosmic entities.
- A fictional in-universe film about AZ-001, advertised between 1991 and 1992, is mentioned in the series but remains unrecovered, adding to the lore’s mystery. This reflects a meta-narrative technique often used in analog horror to deepen the sense of a hidden, fragmented history.