Voodoo

Voodoo refers to any of varying branches of religious practice and observation stemming back to the religions of Africa. Haitian Voodoo is a syncretic religion originating from the Caribbean country of Haiti. It is based upon a merging of the beliefs and practices of West African peoples. Louisiana Voodoo, also known as New Orleans Voodoo, originated from the traditions of the African diaspora. It is a cultural form of the Voodoo religions which historically developed within the French, Spanish, and Creole speaking African-American population of the U.S. state of Louisiana.

Some Voodoo practitioners are skilled in the creation of zombies. These creatures are the recently deceased, who are resurrected to a semblance of life through mystical and/or chemical means. They are witless servants of the architect of their resurrection and can follow simple commands. These are true zombies and should not be confused with the more ravenous flesh-eating types of ghouls that have become more prevalent in modern popular fiction.

Another trademark of voodoo culture is the voodoo doll. A voodoo doll is a small doll or figurine that is invested with magical energy, usually in the form of a curse. It is utilized by practitioners of the voodoo religion and is fashioned in the likeness of a specific living individual. Sometimes a physical element of the individual will be used in construction of the doll, such as a strip of fabric from a piece of clothing, or even a lock of hair. Once the spell has been cast binding the doll to the selected individual, the maker of the doll can then inflict pain, and even death, upon the person by visiting physical stimuli upon the doll. For instance, stabbing a voodoo doll in the head with a pin, may cause intense trauma for the person for whom the doll is assigned to. Excessive damage, or the complete destruction of the doll, usually causes the person to die.

Television

 * Dead Zone: Deja Voodoo
 * Incredible Hulk: Babalao

Comics

 * Doctor Strange Vol 2 48
 * Kull and the Barbarians 3

Films

 * Son of Dracula