Manga
The manga that were hits in Japan in the 2000s.
2000S HITS
About
A born exorcist, Walker's primary anti-akuma weapon is the cross that's embossed on his red, disfigured left hand, which contains Innocence. But not only does Walker destroy akuma, he sees the akuma hiding inside a person's soul! Together with his fellow exorcists fighting under the command of the Black Order, Walker leads the battle against the Millennium Earl, the evil being out to destroy mankind.
Character analysis
Allen's left eye and arm were both transformed by a painful, abusive childhood under a cursed adoptive father, yet he remains one of the gentlest, most forgiving characters in the cast, extending sympathy even to the demonic Akuma he's forced to destroy.
Lenalee grew up within the Black Order alongside her brother Komui, and her powerful, agile fighting style is matched by how fiercely protective she is of the found family she's built among her fellow exorcists.
Kanda keeps nearly everyone at a hostile distance and refuses to discuss his own mysterious past, making him one of the harder members of the cast to read, even as the story slowly reveals just how much weight he's actually carrying.
Lavi was raised to record history rather than get attached to the people living through it, and his cheerful, deflecting personality is constantly tested by how much he actually ends up caring about his fellow exorcists despite his training.
Komui balances his responsibilities running the Black Order's science division with an exaggerated, often comedic overprotectiveness toward his sister Lenalee, giving the story some of its lighter moments amid the darker exorcist plot.
Status evaluation
Detailed, gothic-tinged character designs and dynamic action art give the series a distinct visual identity.
The exorcists-versus-Akuma premise is compelling, though the plot's pacing has been affected by the series' irregular publication history.
Komui's antics and Lavi's teasing provide occasional lighter moments in an otherwise serious story.
Character backstories, especially Allen's childhood, give the series real, sustained emotional weight.
Akuma designs and the story's darker supernatural elements create genuine unease.
Battles against Akuma involve fairly direct violence and destruction.
A detailed mythology around exorcists, Akuma, and innocence takes some explaining to follow.
This figure has not been verified against a current source and should be treated as approximate.
“An exorcist cursed since childhood who still finds it in himself to pity the monsters he has to destroy is a tougher balance than most dark fantasy heroes even attempt.”