Undertaker, a pivotal character in the Black Butler series, has a distinctive appearance that reflects his enigmatic and eerie persona as a Grim Reaper. He is a lean man with long gray hair, some of which is styled in a single braid on the right side of his head. His appearance is marked by black fingernails and a jagged scar that stretches across his face, neck, and left pinky finger, with other scars scattered across his body, each suggesting a tumultuous past. His chartreuse phosphorescent eyes, which are typical of Grim Reapers, are often hidden beneath his messy hair, adding to the mystery surrounding his character.

Undertaker’s clothing is both practical and symbolic of his role. He frequently wears a black robe, accompanied by a long, crooked top hat and a gray scarf that is strapped across his chest and knotted at the hips. His accessories include black earrings, an emerald ring on his left index finger, and a band of prayer beads around his neck. At one time, he also wore a chain of seven mourning lockets around his hip. This attire gives him a somewhat theatrical, yet imposing, appearance fitting for someone of his dark occupation.

Earlier in his career as a Grim Reaper, Undertaker’s attire was more formal, consisting of half-framed silver-square glasses, a black trench coat, a white dress shirt, a black tie, and black gloves, all lending him a professional and polished look. During this time, he did not bear the scars that now define his more ragged appearance but still had his ear piercings, adding a touch of rebellion to his otherwise austere persona.

Undertaker’s weapon, a death scythe, is just as distinctive as his appearance. It features a long, curving silver blade that extends from a miniature skeleton’s skull, wrapped in a thorny vine. The skeleton’s ribcage connects to the narrow stem of the handle, ending in a lower backbone. This weapon serves as both a tool of his trade and a reminder of his deep connection to death itself.

Undertaker is an eccentric and unpredictable character who adds both mystery and levity to the Black Butler series. He is known for his peculiar sense of humor, often giggling and engaging in strange, unsettling behaviors to provoke reactions from those around him. He enjoys creating an atmosphere of fear, relishing in his ability to frighten others, while also delighting in the absurdity of life and death.

A major part of Undertaker’s personality is his fascination with death and the afterlife, which is reflected in his profession. As the proprietor of a funeral business, he is frequently surrounded by corpses, many of which are victims of the underworld. Undertaker refers to these corpses as his “guests,” and he often inspects them, removing organs for research. He is dismissive of money, particularly when it comes from the Queen, as he harbors disdain for Queen Victoria. Instead, Undertaker seeks amusement, often expecting those who come to him for information to entertain him in return for the knowledge he possesses.

Despite his oddities, Undertaker has a deep attachment to the Phantomhive family. His devotion is so profound that he chose to sever his ties with the Grim Reaper Dispatch to dedicate himself entirely to his experiments in life and death. His obsession is to resurrect the late Phantomhives, but his work has limitations. While he has managed to revive the dead, he cannot construct a soul. The results of his experiments, the Bizarre Dolls, are essentially soulless flesh dolls, but Undertaker sees them as a form of beauty, even though others deem them monstrous. His grea “masterpiece” is Ciel Phantomhive, whom he regards as the pinnacle of his work.

Undertaker’s attachment to his past is also symbolized by a particular set of seven mourning lockets, which he regards as his “treasure.” These lockets hold sentimental value for him, and one of them bears an inscription, “13 July 1866, Cloudia P.” Eventually, Undertaker entrusts this treasure to Ciel, further underscoring the depth of his connection to the Phantomhive family and his complex, often contradictory nature.

Undertaker, once a dedicated Grim Reaper, had a long and storied career where he reaped souls with a detached, almost indifferent manner. His work was considered exemplary, earning him the status of the best in the Retrieval Division. However, as time went on, Undertaker grew weary of the repetitive nature of his duties. He became disillusioned with the mundane process of collecting souls and longed for something more.

This dissatisfaction with his role as a Grim Reaper led to his eventual desertion. After leaving the Grim Reaper Dispatch, Undertaker established his own funeral parlor, where he could indulge in his more eccentric desires. Rather than simply overseeing the passing of the dead, he began experimenting with life and death itself, attempting to manipulate the boundaries of life in ways that the Grim Reapers did not condone.

During this period, Undertaker crossed paths with Vincent Phantomhive, the father of Ciel Phantomhive, who became a key figure in his life. Through his business dealings with the Phantomhive family, Undertaker gained the reputation of being one of the “Aristocrats of Evil,” a title that reflected his involvement in the darker, more forbidden aspects of life and death. His relationship with the Phantomhive family, especially with Ciel, would evolve into something far deeper than mere business transactions, as Undertaker became increasingly attached to them and even saw Ciel as the culmination of his twisted experiments.

• Ciel Phantomhive
  Undertaker has a peculiar fondness for Ciel, often teasing him but also providing crucial assistance when needed. His interest in Ciel’s life and actions suggests deeper motives tied to his past and his fascination with humanity.

• Sebastian Michaelis
  Undertaker maintains a playful yet tense relationship with Sebastian, frequently mocking the demon’s perfection and seriousness. Their rare confrontations reveal Undertaker’s formidable skills and cunning.

• Vincent Phantomhive
  Undertaker was a close associate of Ciel’s father, Vincent, and seems to hold him in high regard. His long-standing connection to the Phantomhive family influences his interactions with Ciel.

Undertaker is one of the most enigmatic and multifaceted characters in Black Butler, embodying themes of death, rebellion, and the human fascination with mortality. His transition from a loyal informant to a morally ambiguous figure with his own agenda adds depth and intrigue to the series. With his eccentric personality, mysterious past, and complex relationship with the Phantomhive family, Undertaker remains a fan-favorite character and a key figure in the story’s supernatural elements.