The Lich (character)

The Lich (also known as the Lich King) is a villain in Adventure Time. His first appearance was in "His Hero" during a flashback about the adventures of the great hero Billy. He plays the main villian in "Mortal Folly" and "Mortal Recoil" where he nearly kills Princess Bubblegum. Although "His Hero" showed that Billy locked him up in his castle, Mortal Folly shows that he is actually imprisoned in a amber ball in an ancient tree. He has powers such as flying, controlling minds, swimming, throwing green fireballs, and automatically killing all life around him. It is unkown how many more powers he would have if he had regained all of his from the toxic waste pool. He is vulnerable to only two known weapons: Billy's Gauntlet and anything that has been imbued with the power of "liking someone a lot." When weak, he or his possessed victims use apothecare skills to make concoctions that can be drank for energy. The one Princess Bubblegum made when possessed was made with many toxic ingredients such as plutonium, bleach, gasoline, and other flammable materials.

Original pitch document
He was first alluded to in the early series pitch, and was the only other character described in those documents in addition to the main six (Finn, Jake, Princess Bubblegum, Lady Rainicorn, Ice King and Marceline). The pitch document also states he's been imprisoned within his castle possibly by the hero Billy. The Lich is supposed to be the most powerful character in Adventure Time; according to one of Pen Ward's blogs, he apparently will make Ice King and Marceline 'run for the hills'. According to the pitch document, he doesn't go straight into battle like the Ice King, but instead uses a legion of undead skeletal knights to fight his battles.

Appearance
His first design had a more flattened, simplified look with larger eyes, downward-pointing horns a different crown and robe. The new design has a helm with curled horns, horrific lights in his eyes, and pale undead skin pulled tight against his noseless skull. His skin is frayed away from his lips revealing a wicked and perpetual grin. His arms are bare bones with dangling tendons attached to exposed and rotting muscle, and his hands burn with an eldritch light.

While the original version of The Lich's helm has two full horns as seen in Billy's flashback in His Hero, one of the horns has broken off by the time he appears in modern times.

He is actually very large, to the point that Finn has to run up stairs to jump on him.

Episode appearances
 * "His Hero"
 * "Mortal Folly"
 * "Mortal Recoil"

Quotes
See The Lich/Quotes﻿

Biography
Ruler over the other Liches, The Lich once came close to ruling and/or destroying all life in the Land of Ooo, however, the legendary hero Billy casted him down with his gauntlet and then trapped him in amber. After his defeat, the The Lich was stripped of his powers, and, for many years he remained dormant until Finn and Jake came to see him, after which point Waving Snail crawls out of Finn`s backpack and is persuaded by The Lich to open his prison. Released, The Lich flies to the Well of Power followed by Finn, Jake, Ice King and a captive Princess Bubblegum. Later, The Lich puts his hands into the Well of Power in an attempt to regain his powers, so Finn and Jake rush to confront him. Finn and Jake catch up, adn in a desparate attack, Finn charges at The Lich, however, The Lich is able to catch him by his arm and shatter the gauntlet. Jake is then hit with a blast of enchanted fire, and Finn`s protecting crystal breaks after he is tossed away. The Lich then attempts to take control of Finn make him walk into the well, but the sweater made by Princess Bubblegum prevents Finn from having his mind controlled, and he is able to step away from the edge of the Pool. Finn then attacks The Lich with the sweater and causes him to shatter to dust. Afterwards, Princess Bubblegum is released by the Ice King and accidently dropped into the well, which the lich uses to his advantage by possessing her while she is weak. The Ice King is able to see this with his "Wizard Eyes", but he is quickly shut down by Finn when he attempts to tell them of the impending danger. Princess Bubblegum (now possessed by The Lich) is cared for by Doctor Princess and Dr. Ice Cream, and she is then taken to her room, where Finn and Jake soon follow in an attempt to cheer her up. This fails, and Finn leavees the room momentarily while Jake sings to Princess Bubblegum. Now irritated, the Lich demonstrates his power by causing the flowers that had been brought into the room to spontaneously die with a single touch, and he then proceeds to set the entire room on fire, scaring Jake out of the room in the process. Finn is soon sent on an errand to gather the ingredients that will create a mixture of poisonous and radioactive sludge that will mutate Princess Bubblegum. After doing so, The Lich breaks out of the room and proceeds to attempt to destroy the Candy Kingdom, easily swatting away Finn when he attempts to attack. I takes the combined efforts of both Finn, Jake, and the Ice King to freeze him and then shatter him, after which point he is seemingly defeated. Princess Bubblegum is then pieced back together, now younger due to the fact that her complete body could not be recovered. After the news spreads of Bubblegum turning back to 13 years old, the citizens of the Candy Kingdom cheer joyously, while the Waving Snail, now possessed by the Lich, can be seen on the window sill.

Trivia

 * He is voiced by Ron Perlman, who is famous for his roles as monsters in various media, including as the Beast in the live action "Beauty and the Beast" television series and as Hellboy in the movie series based on the comic books. Perlman also provided the voice of the villain Slade in four seasons of Teen Titans, where Princess Bubblegum's VA Hynden Walch was the voice of heroine Starfire.
 * As said by Adam Muto (http://www.formspring.me/MrMuto/q/188832011195019437), The Lich is not powerful enough to control Death, but can cheat Death.
 * It is shown that The Lich can possess someone with his voice, as well as possess bodies. The only way to prevent The Lich from controlling someone is by wearing a special gem.
 * Chances are, the name was changed from the Lich King to just The Lich in order to avoid confusion with the Warcraft character of the same name/motives.
 * The Lich may still be alive, due to the snail still being possessed at the end of the episode.
 * It seems that water The Lich passes through turns Black and all fish swimming by are killed, but only in a trail behind him.
 * The Lich has only spoken when attempting to control Finn and speaking through Princess Bubblegum when he possessed her, other than that, he is basically mute.