History Main / Necromancer

[[caption-width-right:330:Want a [[NightOfTheLivingMooks zombie army]]? Just dial 1-800-NECROM[[supersecretspoiler:ANCER]].]]

[[caption-width-right:330:Want a [[NightOfTheLivingMooks zombie army]]? Just dial 1-800-NECROMANCER.]]

In typical media they're the epitome of the EvilSorcerer, showing none of the respect DueToTheDead, using the [[TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow dark arts]] to create an army of [[DemBones skeletons]] and [[NightOfTheLivingMooks zombies]] (or any kind of [[TheUndead Undead]] being) to ravage the countryside or enslave souls of the damned for their own evil and twisted purposes. Any villain that practices necromancy is guaranteed to fall hard onto [[TheDarkSide far side]] of the evil scale, and any hero who dares to dabble in it can kiss his position on the good side [[MoralEventHorizon good bye]].

* In the universe of ''TheDresdenFiles'', necromancy on human remains is absolutely forbidden by the laws of the White Council. Of course, there are many illegal necromancers, and they've been shown to create zombies, control ghosts, and stop a person from dying until medical help can arrive. [[spoiler: Harry himself ends up exploiting a loophole in the laws on necromancy -- the law only says ''human'' remains, after all -- to [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome create a zombie T. rex]].]]
** [[spoiler: The odd part is, the zombie T. rex is much more practical, because the age of the dead increases their power. Which raises the question, why bother with raising the human dead at all?]]
*** Because there's a lot of them and they have hands.
*** Because in the universe of TheDresdenFiles, black magic, including necromancy, is believed to be [[DrunkOnTheDarkSide inherently corrupting]], and while it's not totally certain to the reader there does seem to be some kind of connection. The point is, even if someone hypothetically starts out using it for altruistic reasons eventually they'll start enjoying having power over and causing pain to others. And for that type of personality, [[CompleteMonster controlling undead humans is more fun than animals]]. As Harry puts it at one point, sane wizards don't use necromancy at all and insane ones go straight for lording it over zombified humans; undead animals would have little appeal to anyone.
** Wait, why is that last one bad? Stopping a person from dying until medical help can arrive kinda seems like a ''good'' use of that kind of power, wouldn't you think?
*** Which is exactly what the necromancer in question says when she tries to give Harry a whole DarkIsNotEvil spiel. He doesn't necessarily ''buy'' it, but he does give it some credence.

* ''DungeonsAndDragons'' had Necromancy as one of its schools of magic. Its practitioners were called necromancers.

*** As did the Dread Necromancer (see above)

* Faust the VIII from ''{{Shaman King}}''. He's the descendent of the original Dr. Faustus who made a {{Deal with the Devil}} and Faust learned about being a shaman and necromancy from his books. He did it to resurrect his wife from the dead so he's got the {{Necromantic}} thing going on as well. Finally, his basic fighting technique is to summon tons and tons of skeletons. Not to mention he's about the most evil character we see until {{The Big Bad}} shows up.[[spoiler: Faust makes a {{Heel Face Turn}} after that though.]]
* Doll from ''{{Half Prince}}'' is a spell caster class called necromancer, she doesn't really summon zombies, she summons flaming spell monsters which generally act as meat sheilds for her team. However, if she's really modivated, she can summon a freaking undead dragon, however, since it generally scares her she's only done this twice so far.

* JohannesCabalTheNecromancer and the sequel [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin are about a necromancer]] who sold his soul to Satan to get the skill. In-universe it's not really viewed positively, and the character jokes about his favorite wanted posters of himself. [[spoiler:It's hinted in the first book, confirmed in the second, that he's the second type mentioned above a necromancer because he wishes he could bring someone back.]]

* The Zombie Master in Piers Anthony's {{Xanth}} series may qualify as a necromancer as his power is raising the dead, ie: creating Zombies. This does not make him popular but he is in fact a regular sweetheart and gets the girl (okay after a few hundred years spent undead but still..)

* [[MagicMusic "O admonishing melody,]] arise in the name of the Necromancer. Mystic Cage!" - [[TalesOfTheAbyss Jade "The Necromancer" Curtiss]]

* There are three in {{Naruto}} - [[spoiler: Orochimaru, the Second Hokage, and as of chapter 489, Kabuto.]] All use the Impure World Resurrection technique.
* [[LivingShadow Gecko Moria]] from OnePiece is one, to a degree.
* How has Faust the VIII from {{Shaman King}} not been mentioned yet? He's the descendent of the original Dr. Faustus who made a {{Deal with the Devil}} and Faust learned about being a shaman and necromancy from his books. He did it to resurrect his wife from the dead so he's got the {{Necromantic}} thing going on as well. Finally, his basic fighting technique is to summon tons and tons of skeletons. Not to mention he's about the most evil character we see until {{The Big Bad}} shows up.[[spoiler: Faust makes a {{Heel Face Turn}} after that though.]]
* Doll from {{Half Prince}} is a spell caster class called necromancer, she doesn't really summon zombies, she summons flaming spell monsters which generally act as meat sheilds for her team. However, if she's really modivated, she can summon a freaking undead dragon, however, since it generally scares her she's only done this twice so far.
* The protagonist of GhostTalkersDaydream works part-time as a necromancer. It mostly involves fighting ghosts, so there is no "evil sorcerer" part there. Yet for some reason, she considers her main job as a dominatrix way more respectable.

* In both {{Excalibur}} and {{Dragonslayer}}, the wizards (Merlin & Ulrich respectivley) are called necromancers at some point. As neither film involves undead hordes and feature more traditional wizards, it is clear the older meaning is being invoked.

** Also worth noting is that neither are evil. They're both ''dark'', certainly, but both PC and NPC Ritualists and Necromancers are most often unambiguously on the side of good.

* JohannesCabalTheNecromancer and the sequel [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin are about a necromancer]] who sold his soul to Satan to get the skill. [[spoiler:It's hinted in the first book, confirmed in the second, that he's the second type mentioned above a necromancer because he wishes he could bring someone back.]] In-universe it's not really viewed positively, and the character jokes about his favorite wanted posters of himself.