Allen Walker

Creation and conception

Manga creator Katsura Hoshino says that she does not know where Allen's concept came from, since she likes her main characters to be rambunctious, rude idiots.^[vol. 1:61] She has stated that the general idea for his design was that of an "energetic youth with messy fly-a-way hair and other things like that", but when this design was drawn with the uniform of the Black Order – the group Allen joins in the series – Hoshino felt the look had a "lack of coordination". She felt that a more mature design would be better, and though she believed his final design looked best with the Black Order uniform, she wondered if it should be more masculine.^[vol. 1:61] Because he is an Exorcist, she also wanted him to have a "very scary-looking image" and so added the scar on his left forehead. The scar's shape changed multiple times before becoming a pentagram. She also wanted the Order and its enemies have contrasting looks, so she dressed Allen and the Exorcists in black cloaks to give them a "gloomy" impression. Allen's personal clothing draws from Hoshino's general impression of the late nineteenth century, and his ribbon tie and other pieces of clothing are meant to project a "gentlemanly image".

Hoshino based Allen on Robin, the protagonist of her one-shot comic titled Zone.^[vol. 1:61] When comparing the two, Hoshino notes that Allen is a "different kind of boy". She drew the character with longer hair to create Allen and found it difficult to decide on a hairstyle.^[vol. 1:61] In the end, she gave Allen's hair a center part so his expressions can be seen properly. Hoshino also comments comically that later in the series Allen's hair has become very similar to a Super Saiyan, a transformation from the Dragon Ball series, in which the character's hair becomes spiky.^[vol. 11:2] She said towards the beginning of D.Gray-man's publication that Allen was one of the hardest characters to draw.^[vol. 3:86] During the manga's first chapters, due to a discussion between Hoshino and her editor, Allen's eyes have had different colors such as red and light blue. It was later officially decided to give him silver eyes.^[vol. 4:72] The series' title, "D.Gray-man", is meant to have various meanings, most of them referring to the state of Allen and the other main characters.^[vol. 3:26]

Personality and attributes

While introduced as a "gentleman", Allen's characterization has changed across to the point that Hoshino once wrote an interview between Allen and herself. During this interview, the author constantly complains to Allen how he has changed from "pure and innocent" to a more "corrupted" character, to the point of calling him "Dark Allen". In response, Allen says the change must be due to the series' dark setting, which makes Hoshino apologize to him.^{[vol. 9:191]} Allen's "dark side" was once again mentioned by Hoshino when Allen hit his own master, Cross Marian. He hit him angered when wishing to learn more about how he would become the 14th Noah, Nea, and wanted more information from him. Cross, while angry at his student for the attack, enjoyed seeing this side of Allen according to the author.

Allen's departure from the Black Order occurred because the previous story arc had too many characters featured at the same time, and that took too much effort. Hoshino was also pleased with the way she drew Allen's farewell to his comrade Lenalee Lee because it showed how the character had matured. She also noted how much taller Allen became, because in the series' debut he and Lenalee were the same height. Although Hoshino noted that Allen's departure fit in with the series' theme of "tragedy", she said he would always have comrades. For example, in the previous arc she made Allen and Yu Kanda end on good terms despite they often have arguments. As a result, she said Kanda would come to assist him in the next story arc.

By Allen's departure from the Order, Hoshino stated Allen became a very difficult character to write. This is due to how Allen is a philanthropist whereas the author comically said she was not as kind. Due to the manga's magazine being aimed a young men, Hoshino said she does not want to write Allen as a troubled teenager but as a more cheerful person. However, she still finds it difficult as a result of his life becoming more tragic ever since the series began. As a result she aims to write him with a balance between "strength and sorrow" although she has stopped writing him sometimes due to these issues. She also noted the most difficult part of his face when writing him was his smile because, while he is often smiling, he sometimes smiles when lying or when being sad. After Allen left the Order, Hoshino told the readers he might deal a hard life, but he would cheat while gambling as he learned while training with Cross Marian. Nevertheless, she found this funny.

In the first animated version of the D.Gray-man series, Allen has been voiced by Sanae Kobayashi. Hoshino praised her work due to how she captures the character.^{[vol. 9:187]} However, for the anime sequel D.Gray-man Hallow, Kobayashi was replaced by Ayumu Murase. For the English dubs of the two series, Allen has been voiced by Todd Haberkorn. The actor has said that voicing Allen was one of his favorite works.

In D.Gray-man

Allen was born with a deformed left arm, caused by the effects of a rare object known as "Innocence". Abandoned by his parents, he is raised at a circus where he meets Mana Walker, a clown, who adopts Allen the day his contract with the circus expires.^{[vol. 1:62, ch166]} When Mana dies, Allen attempts to resurrect him through a man known as the Millennium Earl. However, Mana is revived as a demon known as an Akuma, and slices through Allen's left eye. Allen's deformed left arm awakens as an "anti-Akuma" weapon, later dubbed "Cross α", destroying Mana. His left eye becomes cursed, allowing him to see the souls of Akuma. Shortly thereafter, Exorcist General Cross Marian takes in Allen as a disciple.^[ch. 3]

After Allen completes his Exorcist training, he is sent to the Black Order headquarters, a place where he meets other Exorcists.^[ch. 7] Alongside his new mates, he goes with other Exorcists on missions to recover other Innocences which are scattered around the world. He also finds people compatible with Innocence who become his new allies. He fights the Millennium Earl, his army of Akuma, and the Noah Family, a group of immortal humans who aid the Earl and wish to destroy the world.^{[ch. 8, 19]} Eventually, Allen and four other Exorcists are sent to locate and protect Cross, as the Millennium Earl has attacked Exorcist Generals in his search for the Heart, the most powerful Innocence.^[ch. 29] Allen splits from the group to save a traitor from the Black Order.^[ch. 53] Shortly afterwards, a Noah known as Tyki Mikk nearly kills Allen.^[ch. 56] Allen stays at the Black Order's Asia Branch headquarters to recover from the experience.^{[ch. 57, 59]}

During his stay at the Asian Branch headquarters, Allen's Innocence takes its true form, the Crown Clown (神ノ道化, Kuraun Kuraun, lit. "Clown of God"), which allows him to perform new techniques.^[ch. 187] He then rejoins his comrades in Edo,^{[ch. 85, 89]} where the group is trapped in a place known as the Noah's Ark. As they look for a way off the Ark, Allen and his friends fight the Noah. In his rematch against Tyki, Allen is able to transform his left arm into a sword that exorcises evil from any body, allowing him to win.^{[ch. 116, 117]} After Cross appears and saves Allen from Tyki's new Noah appearance, he directs him to restore the falling Ark by playing a piano.^{[ch. 129, 132]} On returning to headquarters, Allen learns that he is the host of the late 14th Noah, Nea, who betrayed the Earl and was killed as a result. Before his death, Nea implanted his memories into Allen, so that he would be reborn in the future.^[ch. 167] All Exorcists are ordered to kill Allen before he begins to transform into a Noah.^[ch. 170] While Allen is still in control of his body, he briefly starts turning into Nea to the point where Crown Clown's sword starts hurting him, despite it being a weapon that only affects Noah and Akuma.^{[ch. 182, 184]}

When the Black Order commands Allen to destroy the Akuma of Alma Karma, Allen instead sends him to another location with his fellow Exorcist Yu Kanda, believing they will find peace.^[ch. 199] As a result, Allen is imprisoned by the Order, who also fear the reappearance of Nea.^[ch. 201] He is attacked by Apocryphos, a sentient Innocence, who attempts to assimilate Allen's Innocence.^[ch. 203] Two Noah, Tyki and Road Kamelot, rescue Allen, causing the Order to believe that Allen has betrayed them and is joining the Noah.^[ch. 204] Allen refuses help from both the Order and the Noah, but promises his comrade Lenalee Lee that he will continue being an Exorcist.^[ch. 205] He disguises himself as a clown and goes into hiding. An Akuma attack reunites Allen with Kanda and scientist Johnny, who left the Order to help him. Nea begins reawakening and is confronted by the Earl.^{[ch. 212 ,216]} As this happens, Allen's mind starts to disappear from his own body; an illusion of Cross tells him to meet a woman named Katerina Eve Campbell, who might help him.^[ch. 222]

In other media

As well as being in the manga and anime series, Allen is a playable character in the two D.Gray-man video games. He appears as a playable character or support character in the crossover fighting games Jump Super Stars, Jump Ultimate Stars and J-Stars Victory Vs, which pit various Weekly Shōnen Jump manga magazine characters against each other. An insert song that Sanae Kobayashi sang in the first anime while Allen is restoring Noah's Ark, "Hands Sealed With a Kiss" (つないだ手にキスを, Tsunaida Te Ni Kisu o), was included on the series' third CD soundtrack.

Allen also appears in the D.Gray-man's light novels series by Kaya Kizaki. The first novel documents Allen's search for the Black Order headquarters after Cross tells him to find it and subsequently disappears. After slaying more Akuma, Allen is given the location of the Order by a woman named Mother. In the second, he is a supporting character and attends the Black Order's reunion party. The third light novel follows has him making a brief appearance in the first chapter where he greets the Black Order scientist Rohfa who was a crush on him. The second chapter follows his life in the circus when he was known as Red (レッド, Reddo). There, he befriends the clown Mana and his dog Allen. The dog is killed by another clown, and Red attacks Mana when he does not mourn for the dog; this causes Mana to lose his memory and act strangely. After an Akuma destroys the circus, Red, whom Mana mistakes for his dog, adopts the name Allen and begins traveling with Mana.

Characteristics

The series follows Allen's adventures starting when he was about 15 years old.^[vol. 1:61] Although most of his colleagues assume he ages normally, one of his enemies, Nea, who possesses his body later on, suspects he has not really aged and could possibly be growing younger.^[ch. 215] Allen is commonly accompanied by Timcampy, a small flying Golem given to him by his mentor, Exorcist General Cross Marian.^[ch. 1] As a result of his traumatic experience attempting to revive his guardian Mana Walker, Allen's hair, originally reddish-brown, became white from shock. Mana's curse on Allen's left eye allows him to distinguish Akuma from real people. Allen is devoted to helping the Akuma find peace. This changes when he meets new Exorcists in the Black Order, who become his friends. Allen realizes that he fights not only to save the souls of the Akuma, but also for his human friends, and devotes himself equally to both causes.^[ch. 83] Allen's master, Cross Marian, notes that Allen, originally cynical and rude, has adopted Mana's formal speech, mannerisms, and personality as his own.^[ch. 173] As the series progresses, Allen begins to speak in a less formal way, reverting to the way he spoke before he met Mana.^[ch. 165]

Popularity

Allen has been highly popular with the D.Gray-man reader base, and ranked as the most popular character in the first official Shōnen Jump poll of the series.^{[vol. 7:117]} In the series' second poll he dropped to second, falling behind Yu Kanda.^[ch. 121] He returned to first place in the third poll,^[ch. 171] but lost that position to Kanda again in the fourth. Outside D.Gray-man, Allen has also been popular. In an Animedia character popularity poll, he featured as the twentieth most popular anime character. He ranked twentieth in a Newtype character poll from 2007. In the same magazine, Allen was also nominated as the fifth best male character of the 2016 anime season for his role in D.Gray-man Hallow. A poll by Animage magazine of the top 100 anime characters of 2016 ranked Allen 46th for his role in Hallow.

A large variety of merchandise has been released with Allen's likeness, including key chains, plush dolls and figurines. Clothing and cosplay pieces based on his appearance and uniform have also been released. Allen has also been popular with cosplayers alongside other characters from the series. In celebrating Halloween during 2016, new merchandising was developed with Allen often disguised as a vampire. There is also a piña colada-themed drink based on the character.

Critical response

Several publications covering manga, anime, video games, and other related media have both praised and criticized Allen's character. Sheena McNeil from the web zine Sequential Tart praised Allen's character design, saying that his anti-Akuma weapon is "quite impressive" when invoked, providing a visual representation of his strength. She also notes that his cursed left eye paired with his white hair make the design "much more striking". Anime News Network's Casey Brienza also praised his design, stating he looks like a "visual kei rock star" and believed he is "a nice change of pace" from other shōnen protagonists. Allen's abilities were described as "rather inspired" by Michael Aronson in Manga Life magazine. Brian Henson of Mania Beyond Entertainment noted the mystery behind Allen's cursed eye might appeal to readers of the series. However, Carlo Santos of Anime News Network stated that Allen does not use any amount of "cleverness" to defeat Akuma and just lets his arm "overpower the enemy". Despite this, Allen was praised as a hero, being described as "solid" by A.E. Sparrow of IGN. While noting how Allen's use of the anti-Akuma weapon might seem cliché, Todd Douglass Jr. from DVD Talk found the way the anime shows it entertaining. Like Casey Brienza, Kevin Leathers of the UK Anime Network noted that Allen differed from the main characters often seen in the genre. He also observed that he has not grown much, as "[he] is focused on his job, but will always make time for his friends, which while different, isn't interesting over a long period of time." Allen was labeled a "good lead character" by Tom Tonhat of Escapist magazine. Active Anime's Sandra Scholes found Allen to be a mysterious type of character, citing the way he came to the Black Order and his anti-Akuma weapon.

Critics have also commented on Allen's interactions with other characters as development across the series. John Rose of The Fandom Post liked that Allen and his fellow Exorcist Yu Kanda teamed up, considering it to be the greatest strength of the manga's second volume. In a later review, Rose liked the situation Allen was put into as he became unable to distinguish innocents from Akumas. Allen's rematch with the enemy Noah Tyki Mikk has earned praise from Casey Brienza of Anime News Network. She also liked his new abilities, the Innocence Crown Clown and Allen's sword, comparing the latter to a sword from the video game Final Fantasy VII which was wielded by its protagonist, Cloud Strife. Reviewing the same fight as Brienza, Otaku USA's Joseph Luster praised the development of Allen's traits throughout the series and also enjoyed his battle against Tyki. Leroy Douresseaux from Comic Book Bin liked the special situation Allen was put into in volume 21, and wanted to see more of that instead of the focus on Kanda's fight against the Akuma of Alma Karma. During his imprisonment for saving Alma, Anne Lauenroth from Anime News Network found interesting how Allen and his enemy, Tyki, acted as friends with the latter questioning his loyalty to the Black Order, whereas his friend, Lenalee Lee, finding him heroic due to how he always tries to save others. As a result, Allen's decision to abandon the Order after putting his comrades in danger with his goodbye to Lenalee was seen as a sad event.

Reviewers were also impressed with the revelation that Allen would turn into an enemy of the Order, the 14th Noah. The single revelation was praised by Grant Goodman of Pop Culture Shock who found the discussion as intense as a battle. Similarly, Chris Beveridge, another reviewer from The Fandom Post, enjoyed the appearance of the 14th Noah within Allen's mind, praising the internal conflicts. Alex Osborn from IGN was shocked by the first time Allen was possessed by the 14th, seeing how in previous episodes a "beam of light in an otherwise dark series" causing his possession as well as his own impaled feel "disturbing". Nevertheless, the reviewer added Allen was becoming "an increasingly more complex and interesting character" and expected to see the outcome of Allen's fight with the 14th. Anne Lauenroth commented that the current struggles between Allen and the 14th has heavily affected the former so much that he needs a friend that could help him in the same way. However, the writer also noted that Cross Marian's words and care affected Allen so much that it allowed the character to create a "path".

Some reviewers have also commented on Allen's voice actors. Animation Insider's Kimberly Morales believed that his English voice actor, Todd Haberkorn, does a "decent job" voicing Allen, matching the original work by the Japanese actress Sanae Kobayashi well. Similarly, Michael Marr from Capsule Computers enjoyed Haberkorn's work, believing it was as appealing as that of the original voice actress. When Kobayashi was replaced by Ayumu Murase in the second D.Gray-man anime, D.Gray-man Hallow, Anne Lauenroth of the Anime News Network felt Murase's work was appealing. In a later review, Lauenroth praised Murase's work again as the actor had to voice two characters: Allen and the 14th Noah.