Crimson King
Encyclopedia
The Crimson King, also commonly known as Los', is a fictional character created by Stephen King
. He is the antagonist in the novel Insomnia
(1994) the main villain due to a plot twist in Black House and one of the main villain
s in the latter half of Stephen King
's Dark Tower series
.
, The Crimson King was born from a mating between Arthur Eld and a creature of the Prim, the chaotic primordial
void that the universes arose from, known as the Crimson Queen. Apparently the Crimson Queen deceived Eld to achieve this union. The main protagonist of the series, Roland Deschain
, is also descended from Eld, thus making them distant cousins. This is the key through which Roland can defeat the King, as stated in prophecy laid out during the course of the series.
The King is introduced in the Stephen King novel Insomnia
, where he is depicted as a powerful and mysterious entity that forces others to do his bidding. He seeks to kill a child named Patrick Danville
who is prophesied to aid in bringing the King down; he is defeated during a confrontation with that novel's main protagonist, Ralph Roberts. He makes his next appearance at the end of Black House, where he is revealed to be responsible for the events of that novel and is seen to have been weakened by the actions of protagonist Jack Sawyer and his allies. In the Dark Tower novels, the King is revealed to be behind the destruction of the beams that hold up the Dark Tower which holds reality and all of the universes together. He is shown to have gone insane and his intentions are not quite clear beyond that he wishes to destroy the Tower and possibly rule the darkness that would follow. He rules from the lands of Discordia and, as his insanity worsens, he kills nearly everyone in his employ and even kills himself
. He thus becomes undead
and possibly immune to Roland's guns. He reaches the tower before Roland, but is trapped on a balcony on one of its lower levels. When Roland finally meets the King at the climax of the final Dark Tower novel, he appears as an old man with a white beard and blood red eyes who throws grenade
s from his imprisonment on the Tower. As previously predicted, his downfall is wrought by Roland and Patrick Danville.
, the King's true form can't be comprehended by human beings. In the Dark Tower series he has the appearance of an old man with white hair and fangs, but in the comics he appears both as a monstrous entity with spiderlike characteristics much like his son Mordred
, as well as a bald man with a large tusk or horn on his head. Throughout all of his appearances his one defining characteristic is his blood red eyes, which fascinate anyone who looks into them. Patrick Danville also mentions that the King fades in and out of view due to his transcendent magical powers.
The King prefers to work from the background and his sigil, a glaring red eye, is seen throughout the books he has appeared in. He employs others to do his bidding, such as Atropos, Mr. Munshun, Dandelo, collaboration with Randall Flagg
, John Farson, and a number of minor characters including human, vampire
s, low men, and the taheen
.
novel Hearts in Atlantis
.
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
. He is the antagonist in the novel Insomnia
Insomnia (novel)
Insomnia is a novel written by Stephen King and first published in 1994. Like It and Dreamcatcher, its setting is the fictional town of Derry, Maine. The original hardcover edition was issued with dust jackets in two complementary designs...
(1994) the main villain due to a plot twist in Black House and one of the main villain
Villain
A villain is an "evil" character in a story, whether a historical narrative or, especially, a work of fiction. The villain usually is the antagonist, the character who tends to have a negative effect on other characters...
s in the latter half of Stephen King
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
's Dark Tower series
The Dark Tower (series)
The Dark Tower is a series of books written by American author Stephen King, which incorporates themes from multiple genres, including fantasy, science fantasy, horror and western. It describes a "Gunslinger" and his quest toward a tower, the nature of which is both physical and metaphorical. King...
.
Fictional Biography
According to The Dark Tower comicsThe Dark Tower (comics)
The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born is a seven-issue comic book limited series, published in 2007 by Marvel Comics. It is the first story arc of five based on The Dark Tower series of novels by Stephen King. It is plotted by Robin Furth, scripted by Peter David, and illustrated by Jae Lee and...
, The Crimson King was born from a mating between Arthur Eld and a creature of the Prim, the chaotic primordial
Primordial
Primordial may refer to:* Primordial sea . See abiogenesis* Primordial nuclide, nuclides, a few radioactive, that formed before the Earth existed and are stable enough to still occur on Earth...
void that the universes arose from, known as the Crimson Queen. Apparently the Crimson Queen deceived Eld to achieve this union. The main protagonist of the series, Roland Deschain
Roland Deschain
Roland Deschain of Gilead is a fictional character, the protagonist and antihero of Stephen King's The Dark Tower series. He is the son of Steven and Gabrielle Deschain and is descended from a long line of "gunslingers", peacekeepers and diplomats of Roland's society...
, is also descended from Eld, thus making them distant cousins. This is the key through which Roland can defeat the King, as stated in prophecy laid out during the course of the series.
The King is introduced in the Stephen King novel Insomnia
Insomnia (novel)
Insomnia is a novel written by Stephen King and first published in 1994. Like It and Dreamcatcher, its setting is the fictional town of Derry, Maine. The original hardcover edition was issued with dust jackets in two complementary designs...
, where he is depicted as a powerful and mysterious entity that forces others to do his bidding. He seeks to kill a child named Patrick Danville
Patrick Danville
Patrick Danville is a fictional character created by Stephen King, featured in the novels Insomnia and The Dark Tower.-Insomnia:Patrick was introduced as a child in Insomnia, a budding artist who was destined to die saving the lives of two men, one of whom must not die...
who is prophesied to aid in bringing the King down; he is defeated during a confrontation with that novel's main protagonist, Ralph Roberts. He makes his next appearance at the end of Black House, where he is revealed to be responsible for the events of that novel and is seen to have been weakened by the actions of protagonist Jack Sawyer and his allies. In the Dark Tower novels, the King is revealed to be behind the destruction of the beams that hold up the Dark Tower which holds reality and all of the universes together. He is shown to have gone insane and his intentions are not quite clear beyond that he wishes to destroy the Tower and possibly rule the darkness that would follow. He rules from the lands of Discordia and, as his insanity worsens, he kills nearly everyone in his employ and even kills himself
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
. He thus becomes undead
Undead
Undead is a collective name for fictional, mythological, or legendary beings that are deceased and yet behave as if alive. Undead may be incorporeal, such as ghosts, or corporeal, such as vampires and zombies...
and possibly immune to Roland's guns. He reaches the tower before Roland, but is trapped on a balcony on one of its lower levels. When Roland finally meets the King at the climax of the final Dark Tower novel, he appears as an old man with a white beard and blood red eyes who throws grenade
Grenade
A grenade is a small explosive device that is projected a safe distance away by its user. Soldiers called grenadiers specialize in the use of grenades. The term hand grenade refers any grenade designed to be hand thrown. Grenade Launchers are firearms designed to fire explosive projectile grenades...
s from his imprisonment on the Tower. As previously predicted, his downfall is wrought by Roland and Patrick Danville.
Characteristics
The Crimson King has taken many forms throughout the series. He has the ability to shapeshift as evidenced in Insomnia, where he takes the forms that most terrify those that confront him. When he is injured by Ralph Roberts, he reverts first to a handsome, blonde man, and then to a creature Ralph is unable to properly see, suggesting that like ItIt (novel)
It is a 1986 horror novel by American author Stephen King. The story follows the exploits of seven children as they are terrorized by the eponymous inter-dimensional predatory life-form that exploits the fears and phobias of its victims in order to disguise itself while hunting its prey. "It"...
, the King's true form can't be comprehended by human beings. In the Dark Tower series he has the appearance of an old man with white hair and fangs, but in the comics he appears both as a monstrous entity with spiderlike characteristics much like his son Mordred
Mordred Deschain
Mordred Deschain of Discordia is a fictional character from Stephen King's The Dark Tower series of novels and comic books. He is one of the major antagonists of The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower, seeking to destroy his father Roland and his ka-tet...
, as well as a bald man with a large tusk or horn on his head. Throughout all of his appearances his one defining characteristic is his blood red eyes, which fascinate anyone who looks into them. Patrick Danville also mentions that the King fades in and out of view due to his transcendent magical powers.
The King prefers to work from the background and his sigil, a glaring red eye, is seen throughout the books he has appeared in. He employs others to do his bidding, such as Atropos, Mr. Munshun, Dandelo, collaboration with Randall Flagg
Randall Flagg
Randall Flagg is a fictional character created by Stephen King. Flagg has appeared in seven novels by King, sometimes as the main antagonist and others in a brief cameo. He often appears under different names; most are abbreviated by the initials R.F. There are exceptions to this rule; in The Dark...
, John Farson, and a number of minor characters including human, vampire
Vampire (Stephen King)
Vampires appear throughout Stephen King's fictional multiverse. They appear in the novels Salem's Lot, Wolves of the Calla, Song of Susannah, and The Dark Tower; the short stories "One for the Road", "The Night Flier", "Popsy", and "The Little Sisters of Eluria"; and are mentioned in a number of...
s, low men, and the taheen
Taheen
The Taheen are fictional creatures humanlike in proportion, but with animal characteristics. They are mostly mammals and birdlike creatures, and most are under control of the Crimson King. They are mentioned in Stephen King's Dark Tower series; most specifically, they are first hinted at in the...
.
In other King works
The Crimson King is also mentioned in the Stephen KingStephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
novel Hearts in Atlantis
Hearts in Atlantis
Hearts in Atlantis is a collection of two novellas and three short stories by Stephen King, all connected to one another by recurring characters and taking place in roughly chronological order....
.