A Distant Evil: The Necromancer

The Necromancer of Dol Guldur by DJO

So just who is this Necromancer that seems to crop up at random times in The Hobbit? Thorin and the dwarves want vengeance on him. Gandalf alone has dared to explore the Necromancer's dread tower of Dol Guldur. Even Bilbo, who has never set foot outside of the Shire, has heard dark tales of this mysterious and evil being.

However, despite his bad reputation, nobody in The Hobbit (at least at first) seems to have any idea who the Necromancer really is, or what his plans are . . . besides making Mirkwood a pretty bad neighborhood.

As an example of just how powerful the Necromancer is, consider this: when Thorin finds out from Gandalf that his father was tortured in the dungeons of Dol Guldur, he begins to muse on how he and the other Longbeards might get revenge on the Necromancer. Gandalf, however, cautions Thorin and suggests that the Dwarfs would be better off forgetting about the Necromancer and instead focus their energy on defeating Smaug:

“We have long ago paid the goblins of Moria,” said Thorin; “we must give a thought to the Necromancer.”

“Don’t be absurd! He is an enemy quite beyond the powers of all the dwarves put together, if they could all be collected again from the four corners of the world.”

-The Hobbit; Ch. 1: An Unexpected Party 

More powerful than all of the dwarves? This Necromancer dude sounds serious. Read on past the break to find out just who he is and where he comes from!