TV-Series
Description
Charden Flamberg is a character from the anime and manga series Black Cat, recognized as a member of the terrorist organization known as the Apostles of the Star. He is a young man of 24 years, typically seen wearing a black silk top hat, a long black trench coat, and dark sunglasses. When he removes his glasses, he reveals long, flowing golden hair and bright blue eyes, a look noted by his partner to be very handsome. His physical stats include a height of 177 centimeters, or 211 centimeters including his hat, and a weight of 66 kilograms.
In terms of personality, Charden is distinguished by his extremely polite and courteous demeanor. He speaks formally to everyone, whether they are friends, colleagues, or enemies, and carries himself with a refined, almost gentlemanly air. Despite this civilized exterior, he is a devoted follower of the Apostles of the Star's cause, which is the complete destruction of the secret organization Chronos. He believes that Chronos is corrupt and that dismantling it will make the world a better place, adhering to an "ends justify the means" philosophy. While he is capable of ruthless, cold-blooded killing, he often offers his opponents a chance to flee before engaging them. The specific reason for his deep-seated grudge against Chronos is never fully explained in the story.
Charden's role in the narrative begins as a capable field agent for the Apostles of the Star, often tasked with recruiting new members for the organization. He appears early in the series alongside his partner, Kyoko Kirisaki, and holds a position of some respect within the group. His motivations are tied to his anti-Chronos agenda, but as the story progresses, he becomes increasingly disillusioned with the group's leader, Creed Diskenth. This is most evident when Creed kills one of his own followers, Durham, and Charden is the only Apostle to voice an objection. Realizing that Creed sees his followers merely as disposable tools, Charden ultimately defects from the Apostles of the Star, taking Kyoko with him.
Key relationships are central to Charden's development. His most significant bond is with his partner, Kyoko Kirisaki. Though he acts stern with her at times, he cares for her deeply and watches over her, even asking the protagonist Train Heartnet to ensure Chronos does not target her after his departure. He also shares a comradely rapport with fellow Apostles Maro and Leon. His relationship with Creed is one of ideological conflict; while he respects Creed's power and vision, he cannot condone his disregard for his followers' lives.
Throughout the story, Charden undergoes notable development. He begins as a devout and dangerous terrorist but transforms into a deserter who questions the very foundation of his cause. After leaving the Apostles, he continues to pursue his personal war against Chronos, seeking out the organization's leader, Sephiria Arks. The anime adaptation provides a more conclusive arc for him, where Train intervenes in his fight with Sephiria, convincing him that there is more to life than revenge. In this version, Charden ultimately finds peace, abandoning his quest and even joining the heroes in the final battle against a new threat.
Charden's most notable ability is his unique power of Tao, which he calls Blood. This ability allows him to control his own blood as if it were a limb, shaping and manipulating it for various attacks. This power is activated by cutting himself, as his blood must be linked to his body to be controlled. He can form his blood into solid figures such as skeletons, skulls, or grim reapers, armed with claws or scythes. He can also create blood replicas of himself to see and speak through, or streams of blood to bind and crush his enemies. One of his more devastating techniques is Bloody Rain, where he turns his blood into countless drops of acid and hurls them in all directions. A key component of his power is the ability to absorb the blood of his victims, replenishing his own supply and making it nearly impossible for him to die from blood loss. He is also highly skilled at sensing the ki, or life energy, of others, allowing him to locate people within a certain area and detect when Tao is being used. In the manga, the reason for his eventual fate remains ambiguous, as he is last seen coughing blood and hinting that he does not have much time left, implying an illness or the heavy toll of his own ability.
In terms of personality, Charden is distinguished by his extremely polite and courteous demeanor. He speaks formally to everyone, whether they are friends, colleagues, or enemies, and carries himself with a refined, almost gentlemanly air. Despite this civilized exterior, he is a devoted follower of the Apostles of the Star's cause, which is the complete destruction of the secret organization Chronos. He believes that Chronos is corrupt and that dismantling it will make the world a better place, adhering to an "ends justify the means" philosophy. While he is capable of ruthless, cold-blooded killing, he often offers his opponents a chance to flee before engaging them. The specific reason for his deep-seated grudge against Chronos is never fully explained in the story.
Charden's role in the narrative begins as a capable field agent for the Apostles of the Star, often tasked with recruiting new members for the organization. He appears early in the series alongside his partner, Kyoko Kirisaki, and holds a position of some respect within the group. His motivations are tied to his anti-Chronos agenda, but as the story progresses, he becomes increasingly disillusioned with the group's leader, Creed Diskenth. This is most evident when Creed kills one of his own followers, Durham, and Charden is the only Apostle to voice an objection. Realizing that Creed sees his followers merely as disposable tools, Charden ultimately defects from the Apostles of the Star, taking Kyoko with him.
Key relationships are central to Charden's development. His most significant bond is with his partner, Kyoko Kirisaki. Though he acts stern with her at times, he cares for her deeply and watches over her, even asking the protagonist Train Heartnet to ensure Chronos does not target her after his departure. He also shares a comradely rapport with fellow Apostles Maro and Leon. His relationship with Creed is one of ideological conflict; while he respects Creed's power and vision, he cannot condone his disregard for his followers' lives.
Throughout the story, Charden undergoes notable development. He begins as a devout and dangerous terrorist but transforms into a deserter who questions the very foundation of his cause. After leaving the Apostles, he continues to pursue his personal war against Chronos, seeking out the organization's leader, Sephiria Arks. The anime adaptation provides a more conclusive arc for him, where Train intervenes in his fight with Sephiria, convincing him that there is more to life than revenge. In this version, Charden ultimately finds peace, abandoning his quest and even joining the heroes in the final battle against a new threat.
Charden's most notable ability is his unique power of Tao, which he calls Blood. This ability allows him to control his own blood as if it were a limb, shaping and manipulating it for various attacks. This power is activated by cutting himself, as his blood must be linked to his body to be controlled. He can form his blood into solid figures such as skeletons, skulls, or grim reapers, armed with claws or scythes. He can also create blood replicas of himself to see and speak through, or streams of blood to bind and crush his enemies. One of his more devastating techniques is Bloody Rain, where he turns his blood into countless drops of acid and hurls them in all directions. A key component of his power is the ability to absorb the blood of his victims, replenishing his own supply and making it nearly impossible for him to die from blood loss. He is also highly skilled at sensing the ki, or life energy, of others, allowing him to locate people within a certain area and detect when Tao is being used. In the manga, the reason for his eventual fate remains ambiguous, as he is last seen coughing blood and hinting that he does not have much time left, implying an illness or the heavy toll of his own ability.