D.Gray-man, Vol. 6

D.Gray-man #6

by Katsura Hoshino

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A horde of akuma is closing in on Allen, but instead of attacking him they mysteriously head right for another exorcist, Suman Dark! His tragic story and the secret of his unique Innocence are revealed, but in the process Suman's life is threatened. Allen tries his best to save his comrade by putting himself in grave danger!

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Shonen, Comics, Fiction, Horror

187 pages, Paperback

First published October 4, 2005

About the author

星野 桂

Katsura Hoshino ((星野 桂 Hoshino Katsura) was born on April 21, 1980, in Shiga Prefecture, Japan, as the younger of fraternal twin girls and the second of three children. She drew her first manga at twenty-one. In 1998, Hoshino moved to Tokyo. She dreamed of bringing her mother to the city and was able to in 2006.

She made her debut with her comics in July 2003 with the publication of her first manga series Continue and is known for her work, D.Gray-man, which began serialization in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump in May 2004.

Reviews

[SwedishGeekGirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very action packed, intense and extreamly dark volume! But as usual I loved it. D.gray-man just keeps suprising me volume after volume.
D. Gray-man volume 7 by Katsura Hoshino get a 10/10 stars.

[Nocturnalux]

Volume 6 may very well be the best up to this point. But since so much of it is best enjoyed going blind, this review will be heavily spoiler-tagged. It offers tight action in bundles while pushing the franchise deeper into truly dark territory. In terms of narrative, it interacts with the reader in a kind of real time intensity, with each chapter transitioning into the next with a sense pressing urgency. But there is still one flashback, that is absolutely vital, and does much to provide context for just how horribly wrong things can get. We already knew that the Black Order is not exactly entirely benign and that Leenalee, in particular, has seen her share of horror at its hands. But when we finally see it fleshed out before our eyes, it is truly horrifying. Leenalee completely breaks apart when she realizes that the massive Akuma-like thing wrecking destruction is actually an Exorcist, a certain Suman, whom she knew. She also knows precisely what happened to him as she has seen it before: he has 'fallen into sin', meaning, gone berserk because his Innocence has rejected him. As a child, Leenalee saw how the Order tried to artificially create Exorcists by forcing an Innocence synchronization. The result is one of those fates worse than death. As we are told via Komui, once 'falling' has occurred, there is absolutely no going back. Innocence will consume the Exorcist until they are literally worn down to death. This is the best outcome, too, because until then, they are in terrible suffering.

Both Leenalee and Allen are tested to their very limits. Allen's unflinching effort to save everyone and anyone, his very profile as the savior kind of hero, is both what makes him so wonderful and his biggest weakness. In this case, Allen tries, tries, and tries yet again to save Suman. He manages to reach the massive flying torso-like creature that has engulfed Suman only to end up being swallowed and bombarded with Suman's painful memories. Allen's humanity shines through, as he comes to realize that Suman gave the Noah information that allowed them to target and kill other Exorcists, he does not blame Suman. Allen knows Suman did it because he wanted to see his ailing daughter, for the sake of whom Suman joined the Order in the first place. Many shounen heroes end up preaching at some point or another but Allen has a deeper understanding of others that I greatly appreciate.

Allen then gets thrown off but manages to latch on to Suman's huge body. So willing to go above and beyond is Allen that his plan actually includes getting Suman to bite into Allen's right arm while Allen uses his left one to destroy Suman's Innocence and thus, potentially, saving him. But Allen gets thrown off again and this around has to stop Suman by grabbing the crazily big body with his arm. It is a powerful image, Allen's arm becoming that large and claw-like. Allen has to go to this extreme not only to save Suman but to stop him from destroying the nearby village.

But it does not work because, at the last moment, Allen's arm gives way. But still, Allen does not give up, and after Suman is on the ground and with the help of Timcampy, Allen actually manages to extract Suman from the Akuma-like torso. And then everything gets, so, so much worse.

Tyki looks vey debonair on the cover and he keeps that same attitude in the volume proper. Unfortunately, he is also the stuff of nightmares and his urbane style only makes it worst: Allen 'saves' Suman's life, somehow. He is unresponsive but alive. Not for long as Tyki appears out of nowhere and basically implodes him in a sea of creepy carnivorous butterflies. It looks every bit as bloody as it sounds. The manga depicts this splatter-fest several times, including a chapter header that is heavily stylized. Allen is too wounded to even move so he cannot do anything while Tyki sits down to have a chat, smoke a cigarette, shoot debris and then rip Allen's arm, plunging his pretty gloved hand deep into Allen's body and rupturing his heart.

It all reads so, so, rapey that he has to be deliberate. Tyki even recognizes Allen as the kid who cheated at cards (somehow, it seems he had not realized at that time that Allen was an Exorcist, which is very strange considering Allen waged his Order coat) and has one of those Tyki, 'it's love to hang out with you again but, alas, I have a mission and so must kill you'. The sadism is also through the roof as Tyki will not just kill Allen right away, the plan is to have him slowly bleed to death, in agony.

The sexual assault overtones are perhaps that is the more chilling aspect of all this. Plenty of shounen put the hero through the wringer but the way Tyki literally penetrates Allen's prone body, the inside of which we get to see, while peering deep into his eyes at very close range; and the way Tyki will do this more than once, it is profoundly disturbing. There is one particular scene near the very end that has Allen on his back and Tyki placed very much like a rapist, hand thrust into Allen's chest, Allen's body jerking involuntarily from the sheer pain.

The amount of violence in this one cannot be underestimated and the scope of the destruction is rendered very effectively. The swarm of Akuma gives us a sense of perspective that is dizzying, they are truly legion and the Exorcists but a handful. Movement flows across panels beautifully, from Leenalee flying through the air with her Dark Boots, to the way her skirt and hair react to her suddenly dropping to her knees: this a mangaka who is full possession of her craft and entirely capable of shaping grand epic battles and tiny details that enliven everything.

Hoshino-sensei's tact is also on full display. In an illustration between chapter she depicts Suman playing chess with Johnny and informs us that we should not see in Suman a 'traitor' but just someone who was overwhelmed by circumstances. As she explains, Exorcists are not soldiers but normal people who have to take part in a war. They remain human, full of failings as well as of qualities. It is a soft illustration taken from the past as Johnny mentioned, in tears, that Suman used to play chess with him and keep at it even though he almost always lost. It gives a character that dies almost right away a greater sense of reality while making everything all the sadder.

The volume ends in a killer cliffhanger, thus assuring that it will keep you on the edge of your seat from the very page to the last.

[gabriella escoto · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume made me cry. And the end shocked me, can't wait to see where the story goes from here.

[Dxdnelion · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a depressing and heartbreaking volumes. I cry so much for Suman. He deserves better and it is understandable on why he did that. Just like the author say, don't hate him, and I would never.

This volumes explain about the 'fallen one', it is a condition where the accommodator and their innocence were not compatible, like less than zero, or being forced to merged together if they were not strongly in tune. If this happen, their bodies and mind will be overtaken by their innocence. There is no way to save them anymore unless, being destroy.

Ugly crying because the story behind this one character is just too much. I was hoping for him to be saved at least (because I forgot what happen in the anime, which is good cause the emotion i feel right now is refreshing).

The fight scenes is so brutal, so many blood. This feels like a mixture of shounen and seinen. Now i'm scared to know what happen on the next volume.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 This volume covers the bleak tale of Suman Dark and what happens when an exorcist betrays their innocence. Not to pun on the characters name but damn this volume got very dark and that’s saying something for a series that’s usually pretty Grimm at the best of times. Tyki Mikk on the cover this time.

Read 9/26/20

[Phee]

So much heart ache in this one.

[Lory Blanco (areaderheart) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ooof the pain in this one 😭

[K.S. Trenten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Allen is carried off the ship bound for Japan by one of a huge army of akuma drawn to a very special kind of Innocence. Saved by Lenalee, Allen is still forced to fight alone, pushing his Innocence to the brink of shattering to save a lost soul, only to fall prey to a deadly enemy he’s met before, who who offers a seductive smile even when he reaches his hand into your chest to touch your heart. Literally.

This was one of the most intense, disturbingly sensual, tragic, and terrifying of the volumes which have been in this series. Tykki Mikk has all the qualities of a good vampire, stalking Allen with a charming menace in a very proper, 19th century fashion. He and Allen remind me keenly of another pair of favorite characters in another manga in this book. A much darker side of the Order is revealed along with the existence of the Fallen, the dissension which exists within the ranks of Exorcists. For all of this, never has Allen been more beautiful or heartbreakingly heroic as he strives to save someone everyone else has given up on, struggling to save his Innocence even when his own is lost. Drama, horror, and supernatural action come together in a heady mixture in this book, while staying true to the overall mood of the manga. For all of these qualities, I give this book four stars.

[Michelle Kobus · Rating 4 out of 5]

This installment left me confused and dissatisfied. The thing about this series is it's very action-based, and that means no/very little dialogue during the action sequences; the action scenes can be really cool, but they can also be confusing. The artwork style sometimes makes it hard to figure out what exactly's going on in the fight scenes, and there are a lot of fight scenes here. I've heard from other reviewers that the action bits can be awesome-confusing, and they're telling the truth.

I'm still looking forward to the next installment (which I've just started as I'm writing this), and I still have hope because the series was pretty good for 5 previous books, so I won't let one bad book ruin the series for me. And please bring Kanda back!! Pretty PLEASE?!

[Fugo Feedback · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sigue la tragicomedia del pobre Allen y sus masacrados amigos. El dibujo sigue mejorando de a puchitos y el guion amague entre volverse un dramón con masacres por doquier y terminar como un shonen más, con todo lo bueno y, sobre todo malo que eso conlleva. Pongo más o menos la misma review para los tomos 6 y 7 porque los leí de corridos y siguen con la misma trama, creo...

[Veronica Morfi · Rating 5 out of 5]

That pretty much sums this volume up.

[Laury Plum · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm definitely in love with Tyki. No regrets.

[Michelle Kobus · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only flaw is that the action panels are quite busy, and while it's easy to get the overall gist, it is still a wee bit confusing. Otherwise...amazing!!!

[kate vnry · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Eva Domínguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!! \\(O_O)//

[Isaiah Wofford · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I felt like giving this volume a 3 star but I liked the dark tone of the volume enough to give it a 4 star. I just believe that the plot of summa was randomly thrown into the story to add more lore to the world. So now we know of fallen ones that are people who betrayed the black order in other words they betrayed god and sided with the devil. The story is supposed to make you feel sad that summa just wanted to love and see his family but it doesn’t work at all for me because he still betrayed his comrades and sided with the devil haha. I liked the new villain at the end of the book and his power ability. He can enter peoples bodies and rip out their hearts if he wants and also destroy akunma weapons. The ending showing Allen walker im assuming dead or severely injured is a good way to end the volume, I’m definitely ready to see what happens next.

[Leigh Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This section of the storyline was sad in the animation and it was sad in the book series.

I feel so sorry for Allen - it seems like he always gets the blunt end of the stick. In the animation the progression of this storyline happened over the course of several episodes, but in the manga it happened so quickly.

Again, I am happy that I watched the series before I read it as there were bits here and there that were skipped over quite quickly. So, I think the anime actually took the time to really tell the story so it all made sense.

I'm interested to see how fast or slow Allen's recovery will be now that we're nearing him coming back to life and receiving "Crown Clown" (why they picked this name I have no clue).

Looking forward to reading the next installment.

[Alexis Hubsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Character 3.5| Setting 4| Plot 3.5| Art 3.5| Enjoyment 4

Rating: 3.7

I really liked this volume it gave us more knowledge about the order, even if what Lenalee had to tell us wasn't good. It also makes me feel for Lenalee because she has been with the order almost her entire life.

As I first read this, I don't think I thought too much of the experiment aspect.

It really tells you what a militant order the Black Order is when Lenalee ended up getting angry at her brother being that authority she was supposed to follow.

Allen is such a precious cinnamon roll. I want to hug him and give him comfort. I enjoyed how Allen was drawn through out this volume as well. I am excited to continue on.

[Kelsey Hanson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good grief this was a hard one to read! I have two major recurring issues with this series in general. 1. that it has a strange connection to the Bible that never makes a lot of sense to me. 2. that sometimes this series can get DARK. This is one of those volumes. I really didn't care for this one. It reads like one giant action scene which normally isn't a bad thing, but when it's filled with grotesque images like giant floating torsos, hand biting with cringe-inducing sound effects, and heart ripping out I'm ready for the volume to wrap it up and move onto something a little less traumatizing.

[Natilin Alpaca Saurio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este tomo fue muy dinámico y atrapante, sin darme cuenta me había devorado la mitad del tomo antes de dormir (eso que era tarde y tenia que madrugar). Los plot twist me volaron la peluca un par de veces XD.
También plantea un tema muy interesante con los exorsitas, pobre Suman :( que situación más fea que están pasando.
Me gusta mucho como es Tyki, como personaje,obvio, me gusta la dinámica que tiene(? Nose como explicarlo jeje


No leer el final si no quiere spoilers




Aviso







Por las dudas






P.s. Tomo 6 el prota se muere... y ahora como hacemos? Otra cosa, el prota no tiene el corazón 👀 que intriga,wacho.

[Kirsten Simkiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

You finally get to meet Tiki Mikk in this volume, one of my favorite villains in the series. I love his art style. It also introduces you to how an exorcist can fall through being a traitor to his or her own kind. Allen is also left crippled by Tiki Mikk at the end of the volume, leading one to believe that he's lost his innocence - which we all know isn't likely considering he's the main character.

[Hannah Belyea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Suman Dark is being chased down by a massive horde of akuma, and Allen must put his own life on the line if he hopes to save his friend! Hoshino gives an emotional and action-packed adventure with this entry to the dark series. Walker will have to make the ultimate choice if he has any chance of getting Suman out of this alive...

[Sora · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was shocked in the last part of the last chapter. This volume makes you think a lot and even the author wants you to not hate a character that made so many horrible things to people. Humanity has two faces and Suman kind of represent the desperation and selfishness of humans desires.

I highly recommend this series so please check it out if you like the drawings or fantasy genre.

[Leeah G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the stories in this series that makes me come back. You find out how convoluted the whole of the Order can be, and yet it’s very debatable as to whether these actions are necessary.

This book is full of action and emotional pain. It is somewhat graphic at some points, and once again it’s not overwhelming. This one will get your heart racing.

[Michael Reddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was hands down the best volume I have read so far. We get an epic confrontation between Allen and the fallen exorcist Suma that did not fell dragged out like the first three arcs did. The art also is a highlight here. D-Gray Man's distinctive style and aesthetic is becoming more defined and added so much to my enjoyment of this volume.

[MajesticalLion · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was simultaneously the most eventful and most confusing volume so far. The paneling was a little hard to follow, but the dialogue and events of the volume were huge. The amount of stakes and endgame feeling THIS early in the series was unexpected to say the least.

[Sedna Dragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume was completely brilliant. The fight was gripping and did well to bring out the emotion of the fight.
Yet the ending was so shocking and showed just how powerless Allen was against Tim. Yet I found the cliffhanger extraordinarily gripping and left an impact.

[psycho · Rating 5 out of 5]

omg noo allen

[Helene Falkinburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!!! I love this series and the Anime. There were some hard times to get through, but over all it was a great read.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things starting to get real dark. Yes.