Very little is given to the background of Ramiel. He is from Mars, where he serves the God of Mars. He appears in the 1913 film Message from Mars, which is considered to be the first British science fiction feature film. Ramiel is a being from Mars sent to reform the most selfish man on Earth. He is described as: "RAMIEL, HAVING BROKEN ONE OF THE LAWS OF THE KINGDOM, IS COMMANDED BY THE 'GOD OF MARS' TO PROCEED TO EARTH AND REDEEM THE MOST SELFISH OF MORTALS."