Summary
In any epic, heroic fantasy story, every hero is only as good as the villain they must face. The antithesis of everything the hero represents, the villain’s role is to add conflict and drive the plot forward. Every time Batman rises to the top and answers the call of the Bat-Signal,the Joker is waiting with another deadly plot for Gotham City. For longtime Stephen King fans, the upcoming adaption of Mike Flanagan’sThe Dark Toweris set to introduce both the series hero and protagonist Roland Deschain, aka the Gunslinger, and the overall series villain, The Crimson King. Yet the true villain of this series is not the Crimson King, but his primary agent of chaos,The Man in Black.
An immortal wizard with a multitude of names, including Randall Flagg, the man in black is a foe that not only holds the key toRoland’s quest for the Dark Tower, but has been instrumental in many of the plots and fights that Roland faces on his journey to the Dark Tower. His connection to one of the land’s oldest and most potent forces and his penchant for chaos embodies every force standing between the hero and the Dark Tower itself. That is why the upcoming adaption ofThe Dark Towerneeds to highlight this powerful villain.
The Man in Black, Explained
Making his firstappearance in Stephen King’sThe Stand, Randall Flagg uses his power as an agent of chaos to try and build a new society based on those evil foundations in the wake of a world destroyed by a plague outbreak. Traveling across America and guiding his new followers to Vegas to rebuild his great civilization, he faces Mother Abigail and the forces of good who gather around her, intent on proving that his evil and violent ways are the true nature of humanity. Ultimately, he is defeated, but he survives the conflict and leads a new conflict once more.
He next appears inStephen King’sEyes of the Dragonas a wizard in the kingdom of Delain. Serving the king, Flagg orchestrates a plot to take control of the kingdom himself. He frames Prince Peter for the murder of his father, King Roland, and then uses the younger son, Thomas, as a puppet to control the kingdom. But Peter is freed, a rebellion turns on Flagg, along with King Thomas remembering what happened to his father and shooting Flagg in the eye with an arrow. Flagg disappears again, set loose on the world with Thomas and his butler in pursuit of him.
Yet his most profoundimpact comes in his appearances inThe Dark Tower. As part of the series' iconic opening line:
“The Man in Black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed…”
Flagg is also known as the Ageless Stranger, Martin Broadcloak, and Walter o’Dim. The man in black was responsible for the fall of the gunslingers, plotting behind the scenes to destroy Roland’s family and tear down the kingdom of Gilead. He is quasi-immortal, allowing him to live many lives and spread his chaos wherever he goes. The character tends to work behind the scenes, spreading misinformation and whispering into leaders' ears to steer influential people into doing bad things, much like he did in Delain.
The Man in Black in The Dark Tower Adaption
Flagg hasappeared in adaptions of Stephen King’sThe Standbefore, but the upcomingThe Dark Toweradaption needs to feature this powerful foe. Not only is he immortal and cunning, but he is also a powerful wizard, wielding dark and ancient chaos magic taught to him by Maerlyn, the ancient wizard who developed much of the chaos that plagued All-World for centuries. Flagg’s magic is dark and messy, while the magic that fuels so much of Roland’s journey represents the White, a powerful force for good inthe Dark Toweruniverse. This makes Roland and Flagg two sides of the same coin inthe Dark Towerseries.
The man in black significantly impacted the events of this series overall. Not only does he become the driving force of Roland’s initial leg of thejourney to the Dark Tower, but his actions have also influenced the path Roland takes. He wields powerful talismans created by Maerlyn that warp and change those who wield them over time and place them in specific places and points to impede Roland’s mission. He influences people’s minds, can control or shape-shift into animals at will, and can travel between and to other worlds to gather power and control.
Ultimately, the Man in Black is the main antagonist of the series. While he serves the Crimson King as his primary agent of chaos, Flagg always serves his purposes.His mission in The Dark Toweris to climb to the top and open the door to the top room, becoming the god of all and gaining the ultimate power he has always sought. Even in moments where he seems to meet a grisly demise, his immortal status sees him rising again and again, free to let loose his unique brand of chaos. Fans should expect to see Flagg, aka the man in black, as the driving force of the bad guys Roland will face in Mike Flanagan’sDark Toweradaption.
