▪	RELEASED BY:		VIZ MEDIA
		▪	AUTHOR / ART:		KATSURA HOSHINO
		▪	FORMAT:		JANPENSE / B&W
		▪	PAGES:		188
		▪	RATING:		OT
		▪	RELEASE DATE:		08/07/2007
		▪	REVIEW DATE:		12/05/2007
		▪	REVIEWED BY:		SCOTT CAMPBELL

This series continues to impress on the story side of things, as well as with the dynamic and well-crafted artwork. There are a great number of well developed characters that are immersed in an involving, but not overly complicated plot – making it accessible to people at both a young and mature reading level. Set in a fictional 19th century England, D.Gray-Man covers the story of the main character Allen Walker, who searches the earth for the substance known as “Innocence.” Though lost long ago during an apocalyptic event known as “the Great Flood,” this substance can be used to create weapons to fight demons called “akuma.” It is Allen’s mission to locate the Innocence and use it to destroy these foes. Thankfully he doesn’t have to do this alone, and is joined by a variety of unique allies and rivals. The story is epic and chockfull of dramatic and intertwined character relationships and motivations – it’s easy to see why so many people are getting into it.

In volume six, 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. Hopefully this desperate move will be worth the chance.

The art in this manga keeps getting better with every volume – it’s always such a joy to look at. It has an almost gothic style, but mixed with fun anime/manga style elements. The costume designs of each character are so unique and cool – it’s no wonder that D.Gray-Man cosplay at anime and manga conventions are becoming more and more popular. The little details and just the fashion of the outfits are pretty interesting. They all give a sense of time being taken to make them as great as they all are. The use of extreme darks and lights within the pages of this book continue to provide a wicked, unique style - as does the overall layout and presentation as a whole. And even with all the seriousness of the story, it still has moments that are funny, or at least tongue in cheek humour to get you by. There are also a handful of fun little extras that really add to the product, including “discussion rooms” – pages where a character gets to talk straight to you about something that’s going on, or what they are thinking. It’s a complete package with a lot to offer and deserves a place on our shelves.

IN SUMMARY:
D.Gray-Man does it again with volume six – something this stylish and well-crafted can only get better as the artist/author gets more and more experience. A lot of thought and talent have been poured into the awesome visual style of this Shonen Jump Advanced best seller, and it shows!