Chernobog (Proto-Slavic *čĭrnŭ 'black' and *bogŭ "god"), also spelled as Chernabog, Czernobog, Chornoboh, Crnobog and Tchernobog is a Slavic deity, whose name means black god, about whom much has been speculated but little can be said definitively. The only historical sources, which are Christian ones, interpret him as a dark, accursed god, but it is questionable how important or malicious he was really considered to be by ancient Slavs. The name is attested only among West Slavic tribes of the 12th century, hence it is speculated that he was not a very important or very old deity. Older scholarship assumed him to be the counterpart of Belobog.
A veneration of this deity perhaps survived in folklore of several Slavic nations. In some South Slavic vernaculars, there exists the phrase do zla boga (meaning "to [the] evil god," or perhaps "to [the] evil [of] god"), used as an attribute to express something which is exceedingly negative.
Chernobog has made appearances in various media. As Chernabog, he features in the "Night on Bald Mountain" sequence in Disney's Fantasia (1940), as a gigantic black gargoyle like creature who summons other ghosts and demons. In an interview, Walt Disney referred to him as Satan himself. Deems Taylor likewise refers to him as such in the film. This version of Chernobog appears throughout the Kingdom Hearts series, as well as an appearance on the fourth season of Once Upon a Time.
Chernobog appeared in the Marvel Comics series Thor. He was slain by a villain, a powerful god-killer. Chernobog's flying steed helps Thor fight back.
Chernobog is mentioned in several books in the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. Specifically the Russian Volvh is dedicated to Chernobog.
Tchernobog is the final boss in the video games Blood and Blood II: The Chosen.
Czernobog is a character in Neil Gaiman's novel American Gods.
In Pacific Rim (2013), there is a Russian mech, "Cherno Alpha", named after Chernobog.
