History Characters / GungraveMainCharacters

* AwesomeMcCoolname: Rocketbilly Redcadillac.

* CloseRangerCombatant: Juji cannot charge shots and has the weakest ranged attacks of the three playable characters. He makes up for this by being very fast and strong in melee combat.

* IconicItem: The Coffin and arguably, his [[NiceHat original]] [[BadassLongcoat costume]]

* NiceHat: His cowboy hat, which was rather spiffy.

* InstrumentOfMurder: Blue Lightning is the guitar that makes the peoples fall down. Someone or something gets fried every time Billy shreds on it, similar to the Nevan weapon in ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry 3''.

* CreepyCoolCrosses: His battle costumes tend to have a lot of these, even more so when in his Cowboy outfit

[[folder:Brandon "Beyond the Grave" Heat]]
!!'''Brandon "Beyond the Grave" Heat'''
-> '''Voiced by:''' Creator/TomokazuSeki (JP), Creator/KirkThornton (EN; Anime Adaptation and ''Gungrave VR''), Chris Cook (EN; ''Gungrave: Overdose''), Rafael Rivera (SP; Anime Adaptation)

-->''"There is one thing I know for certain. To protect is not to betray. Never betray. Never."''

-->''The roar of an anguished soul terminates everything that exists as it turns into a rave of bullets...''

Brandon is the protagonist of both the '''VideoGame/Gungrave'' series and the anime television adaptation. A quiet, passive but gentle young man, he was originally a petty crook who was a prominent member of Harry [=MacDowell=]'s gang, Harry also being Brandon's closest friend since childhood. Though they lived in a crime-ridden slum called "Desolation Alley", Harry's gang was considered the most good-natured. After the loss of their three best friends, Brandon and Harry joined the Millenion Syndicate and worked their way up through the ranks. Brandon was often favored by Big Daddy, the syndicate's leader, and was trained to become one of Millenion's most powerful sweepers (assassins/hitmen). Brandon eventually chose to distance himself from Maria, the woman who he had strong romantic feelings for, as he felt unworthy of being with her, due to his profession as an emotionless killer. Meanwhile, Harry becomes drunk off of the power he had gained, and quickly desired more, once he discovered and took over "The Necrolization Project"--an otherworldly technology that reanimates the dead as "necrolizers" ("Deadmen" in the games) which are undead, near-invincible soldiers.

Brandon Heat, necrolized and reborn in the form of a 3rd Generation Model Deadman, the semi-titular "''Gungrave''". He was "sealed away" in a sleeping state for over ten years, until he is awakened and tasked to protect a young girl named Mika, the daughter of Big Daddy and Maria. In his resurrected form, Grave is taller, sports some spiffy purple cowboy-esque duds, missing his left eye (a scar now in its place), and his remaining eye is a distinct yellow/amber. Upon reclaiming his pair of guns, he goes out into the city to take down Harry and the syndicate.

His trademark weapons are a pair of large handguns: the Left Head and Right Head; together they are called "Cerberus". His secondary weapon is a large "Coffin" , a device that is stocked with heavy weapons--a machine gun and a missile launcher/bazooka. This Coffin can also be used as a melee weapon or a shield. In ''O.D.'', he receives an enhanced version of his Coffin thanks to Spike, the "Death Hauler".

Grave still retains his status as an expert gunfighter, and possesses all the strengths given by necrolization, but these gains carry weaknesses as well. He was given a "body built for slaughter", but it meant he had to give up his "soul" in exchange--his memories and his emotions. In the anime, Grave suffers "functional disorder" when trying to regain his memories, in which he gets a massive headache and other pains. Due to Grave being in a "dead" state, he has to undergo specially-prepared treatments that periodically refresh his entire body's supply of blood. If he is ever deprived of blood, his body will degenerate (his skin will harden, literally crack and fall apart) rapidly and eventually cease to function.

Often known as "The man nicknamed Death", to most of the characters Grave is a relentless and unforgiving killer, whose body itself is a (un)living bioweapon. However, he's also a selfless, caring man who remains loyal to Big Daddy and his family, even in death. To Mika, he's as much as a close friend and family to her as he is her faithful protector. While viewed as an "antique" by Harry and Garino, Grave continues to prove through sheer determination, his devotion to Mika (whom he's sworn to protect), and '''lots''' of heavy firepower, that he is, in the words of Billy, "the world's strongest Deadman".

* AlwaysSaveTheGirl: Averted in only one instance. He almost always saves Mika during their time together whenever she is kidnapped. The only person he couldn't save was her mother and love of his life Maria.
* AmbiguouslyBrown: In the video games.

* AntiHero: Type [[GoodIsNotNice III]]. The PragmaticHero type. He will do anything to protect his loved ones, even if it involves killing. Though it doesn't mean that he isn't pained by his duty, especially in his early days as a hitman.
* AudienceSurrogate: The character-driven nature of the anime turns Brandon into one.
* BadassAndChildDuo: He and Mika.

* BadassBandolier: Part of his cowboy outfit.
* BadassInANiceSuit: During his days as Millennion's hitman.
* BadassLongcoat Oddly enough, it's a purple one, unlike fellow gunslingers [[Manga/{{Hellsing}} Alucard]], [[Manga/TriGun Vash]], or [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry Dante]]. In the anime, he often sports a black longcoat.

* BenevolentBoss: To his squad True Grave. He funds his member's mother's medical expenses. After his death, his members still question about his betrayal and prefer using his method instead of Bunji's method when completing tasks. Since Bunji leads them and renames the squad as The Kugashira Group, the squad is never heard again (may be related to the information in episode 19; it's said that Bunji works alone and [[FridgeHorror people who work under him always end up dead]]).
* BerserkButton: In the anime, mess around with his loved ones and Brandon/Grave will roar and thrash you.
** Brandon/Grave doesn't like it when someone talks about betrayal (and implies him as a traitor) or he sees someone as a traitor.

* {{BFG}}: The "Coffin", a secondary/backup weapon created and designed by Dr. Tokioka. Like Cerberus, only Grave is able to use it. It's loaded with a portable missile platform and a chaingun/machinegun. For some reason, the coffin also has a "brain". When it's upgraded by Spike, he gives it a name--[[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast "Death Hauler"]].
* BigBrotherMentor: To Bunji.

* BlessedWithSuck: Grave's powers would be fine if he didn't lose his memory and his feelings (more apparent in the game due to differences in characterization). Then there's the whole thing of needing fresh blood every ten days (supposedly his blood coagulates after a while because his body is dead). The blood needed for transfusion has to match the blood type he was when he was human. On the flipside he doesn't age and lacks the mindless and/or villainous insanity (barring Juji, he's just really short-tempered) of every other Deadman or Orgman.

* CelibateHero: A variant of sort, as Brandon is too dedicated to Maria to be involved with any other woman.

* ChronicHeroSyndrome: In the anime, Brandon goes from saving Maria from thugs (which Harry tells him not to interfere) to TakingTheBullet for Big Daddy and even taking Bear's place in executing Sid. [[spoiler: Later on, he asks Dr. Tokioka to Necrolyze him so that he can deal with Harry if Harry ever veers off course.]] This is often lampshaded by other characters as well.
** Harry doesn't call him 'Mr. Buttinsky' for nothing.
* CoolBigBro: To Bunji.

* DeathByOriginStory: And it's a doozy at that...
* DeclarationOfProtection: In the games, his promise to protect Mika.
* {{Determinator}}: Even when he was still Brandon he would steadfastly refuse to give up or give in, even when faced with seemingly impossible odds as he valued the lives of his friends and loved ones over his own, and his sole driving force is his desire to protect, no matter what the cost, and not even death stopped him--which is why the doctor gave Brandon his new name.
* DoesNotLikeGuns: Young Brandon. Ironically, he becomes a hitman with exceptional skills in guns.
* TheDreaded: Brandon became the boogeyman of every one of Millenion's enemies after he became a hitman. He still retains this status after he becomes Grave, only this time every criminal organization knows him as the man who brought down Millenion.

* EatingOptional: After becoming a necrolyzer, he can't eat. Gary also remarks that he can't seem to enjoy the taste of booze.

* {{Expy}}: His anime version closely resembles a cross between [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry Dante]] (without the [[{{BFS}} giant sword]] and [[TrashTalk snarky one-liners]]) and [[Manga/TriGun Legato Bluesummers]] (without the hefty doses of [[AxCrazy insanity]], [[YouGottaHaveBlueHair blue hair]], and PsychicPowers).
** Young Brandon looks like [[Anime/{{Texhnolyze}} Ichise]].

* GoodOldFisticuffs: Young Brandon is quite the capable hand to hand fighter.

* GutFeeling: Implied throughout the show. [[spoiler:In his letter to Big Daddy, it's hinted that before he dies, he already knows that Harry will soon take the wrong path and kill him in process. And then, years before that, he has a nightmare about Harry [[SeanConneryIsAboutToShootYou pointing a gun at the audience]] and...bang.]]

* HandCannon: "Cerberus", a pair of HandGuns the size of ''submachine guns'', supposedly created by engineers of Millenion for Grave's use. Naturally, only Grave can handle them. Consists of Left Head (silver) and Right Head (red).
* HandicappedBadass: As Grave, he can still shoot very accurately despite having just one eye. In the anime, the final episode. [[spoiler:Grave can still take out the Millenion goons with an arm and bricks despite having losing an arm and unable to walk properly.]]
* TheHeroDies: Which is why he is an undead. In the anime, [[spoiler:depending on how one views the AmbiguousEnding, he may truly die]].

* HeroicBuild

* HunterOfHisOwnKind: Grave's a deadman who destroys other orgmen and deadmen (except for Billy and Juji).

* ImplacableMan: A protagonist example. He won't stop until he settles his score with Harry.
* ImpossiblyCoolClothes: That cowboy getup is ''really'' hard to replicate for cosplays

* {{Irony}}: DoesNotLikeGuns, but becomes the most fearsome hitman in Millennion. Even after becoming Grave, he is still extremely skilled with guns.
* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: In the anime, Brandon refuses to be with Maria as he believes Big Daddy can provide a much happier life for her.

* KnightInSourArmor: Brandon when he became hitman for The Organization.

** Protects Mika all the time, [[spoiler:and in the end, thanks to Mika's intervention, Biscoe's agents stop attacking him]].

* LivingOnBorrowedTime: As Grave, unless he gets his blood replaced regularly.

* ManlyTears: Sheds them when he finds his colleagues, [[spoiler:Gary and Widge]], have been massacred. Sheds some more [[spoiler:when he hears Mika mourning Dr. T's death]]. In the anime finale, [[spoiler:when he admits that he cannot shoot his best friend Harry.]]
* MartyrWithoutACause: In the anime. Other characters often ask why he is willing to go so far for them.

** MeaningfulRename: Dr. Tokioka's reason of renaming Brandon as Beyond the Grave? Brandon's loyalty and desire to protect literally go ''beyond the grave''.
** NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast
* MoeGreeneSpecial (How Brandon was murdered.)

%%* MyMasterRightOrWrong
%%* NamedWeapons
* NiceHat: Because Cowboy hats are just naturally nice.
* NighInvulnerability / HealingFactor: Grave's regeneration allows him to heal almost any injury he sustains. As long as he receives his blood treatments, he can essentially "live" forever.

* NinjaPirateZombieRobot: [[EyepatchOfPower Pirate]] (not really an eyepatch; it's just a blackened lens to hide his lost eye). [[ArtificialZombie Zombie. Robot.]] Grave is a one-eyed techno-zombie who wields two HandCannon simultaneously and carries around a coffin that is loaded with missile launchers and a chaingun/machine gun.
** The anime adds Ninja into the mix: Grave jumps very well. He can jump from roof to roof.

* OneManArmy: He single-handedly dismantles Millennion by himself, taking out countless gang members and even Harry's elite inner circle before offing the man himself.

* RealMenGetShot: In contrast to Harry, who is never hit by a bullet until the last episode, [[spoiler:in which he dies]]. Brandon/Grave is shot almost in a regular basis, usually because of his habit of TakingTheBullet for his loved ones.

%%* PersonOfMassDestruction
* PossessionImpliesMastery: Grave just seems to instinctively know how to use the Coffin.

* ScaryShinyGlasses: In the anime.

* TallDarkAndHandsome: As Brandon.

* TechnicalPacifist: In the anime. It appears to be zigzagged.
** Young Brandon can give people NoHoldsBarredBeatdown, but he is unwilling to use a gun. He is terrified when Harry shoots [[spoiler: Deed]] to avenge the gang and when Widge solves an organization issue by shooting some people. After shooting a Lightning goon to save Big Daddy, he asks himself why he kills.
** As a hitman, Brandon kills, but he doesn't really like it. The more he kills, the more he feels that he has to distance himself from Maria.
** As Grave, he kills Orgmen, but is never seen to kill any Millennion agents. In the finale, he is holding a gun, but he chooses to only give out NoHoldsBarredBeatdown to the Millennion agents.
** [[spoiler: Against the Big Four, Grave usually seriously injures them and leaves them for dead instead of killing them 'here and now'.]]
** [[spoiler: A variant happens to Bob. Grave is actually leaving when Bob asks him to spare him, but Bob then attacks. Grave counters by killing Bob.]]
** [[spoiler: Grave only knocks Lee off the train by shooting Anti-Superior bullets at his legs. Lee dies alone on the railroad when the train is already gone.]]
** [[spoiler: Bear is the exception. He asks Grave to execute him after his loss.]]
** [[spoiler: Bunji loses a western-style exchange against Grave and dies in the lobby alone.]]
** Interestingly, when Grave destroys Millennion's research facility, he doesn't kill any of the scientists. Sadly, this enables Biscoe to re-hire them to produce Anti-Necrolyze bullets, [[spoiler:which are later used against him ''and'' destroy his right leg]].

%%* UndeathAlwaysEnds
** In the anime canon, Grave (whose [[SpellMyNameWithAnS necro-rise/necrolize/necroraise]] is fading fast) and a dying Harry decide the only way they can truly be "free" is to kill each other, which they do. [[spoiler:However, if Grave indeed dies, it's likely to be caused by his Necrolyze wearing off.]]
** In the video game series canon, this doesn't happen as Grave simply kills Harry and leaves the city with Mika, protecting her now his one and only concern. He remains in his undead state (there seems to be no way to "cure" him anyways, nor is there any indication that Grave wants to be human again) and still needs blood transfusions now and then while lucid. He is put into hibernation when his services aren't needed, as he's only supposed to be awakened in times of crisis.
* UndyingLoyalty: ''Very'' faithful to those he loves, willingly takes on their burdens so they don't have to do so for others. Sadly, this philosophy also plays a part in his undoing.
* UnstoppableRage: In the anime, there is once when Bunji pushes his both of his [[BerserkButton Berserk Buttons]] by questioning his loyalty ''and'' threatening Mika by shooting around her. What follows afterwards is Brandon/Grave beating Bunji savagely (all while [[ScreamingWarrior screaming]] [[NotSoStoic and]] [[BerserkerTears crying]]) until Mika pleads him to stop.

* TheAtoner: Possibly. His origins are never really explained, but if his dialog after some boss fights are to be believed, Billy might have underwent a really gruesome death, and is trying to make up for whatever he did.

%%* MusicalAssassin

* SomethingAboutARose: "Roses from Heaven"

* CloseRangerFighter: Juji cannot charge shots and has the weakest ranged attacks of the three playable characters. He makes up for this by being very fast and strong in melee combat.

* BoisterousBruiser (Although more virtuous and chivalrous than most, he's still an all-around nice person/ghost. Even in his appearance in ''Chaos Wars'', Hyoma (the main character of said game) even comments about how Billy just seems to have the natural ability to brighten someone's day.)

* ImprobableWeaponUser: Really, who in their right minds would expect a ghost of all people to use a ''guitar'' was a weapon? Granted, this one's obviously empowered by Billy and obviously has modifications done to it, but the point still stands.

* DullEyesOfUnhappiness: Shows them after [[spoiler:Brandon/Grave leaves her]].

An organization in ''[[VideoGame/GungraveGORE Gungrave: G.O.R.E.]]'' led by Mika that's dedicated to eradicating the drug SEED, and destroying the Raven Clan, the mafia organization that is its primary handler, which Mika has Grave, under her will, to do the job. It was founded by Mika and a small organization.

* BadassNormal: He was already an expert gunman long before he became the undead OneManArmy known as Beyond the Grave.

->'''Voiced by:''' Creator/TomokoKawakami (JP; ''Gungrave (2002)'' & ''Gungrave: Overdose''), Creator/KumiSakuma (JP; Anime Adaption), Creator/KariWahlgren (EN; Anime Adaption), Renee Raudman (EN; ''Gungrave: Overdose''), Mayra Arellano (SP; Anime Adaption)

* TheGunslinger: [[MoreDakka Types two]] and [[ImprobableAimingSkills four]]. He was always an accurate shot during his time as a human, and in the games the autolock ensures that his bullets will always be hitting something. When his aim isn't enough, that's when he brings out the big guns in the form of his coffin, or [[ImpossiblyCoolWeapon "The]] [[CrazyAwesome Death]] [[SwissArmyGun Hauler"]], as it is later known as.

* ZettaiRyouiki (In the anime and original game. She wears a different outfit in ''Overdose'').

An organization in ''[[VideoGame/GungraveGORE Gungrave: G.O.R.E.]]'' led by Mika that's dedicated to eradicating the drug SEED, and destroying the Raven Clan, the mafia organization that is its primary handler, which Mika has Grave, under her will to do the job. It was founded by Mika and a small organization.

* BodyguardCrush On Brandon/Grave. Before he goes off to finish the rest of his quest for revenge, she gives him a AguishedDeclarationOfLove and tries to get him to stop.

* MoralityPet (To Grave. She gives him a reason to "live" and to fight, aside from revenge.)
* ParentalAbandonment (She was born after her father was murdered and thus, never knew him. She saw her mother Maria die protecting her from Millenion's agents.)

* TookALevelInBadass: In the beginning of OD, she has the guts to use a rocket launcher to fight off a SEED mob.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/el_al_canhels_symbol.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:El-Al-Canhel's Emblem]]

A young woman who is granddaughter of Richard Wong from ''[[VideoGame/GungraveOverdose Gungrave: Overdose]]'' and had her left arm infected with [=SEED=]. She formed El-Al-Canhel with Mika to eliminate the drug.

Brandon is the protagonist of both the '''Gungrave'' series and the anime television adaptation. A quiet, passive but gentle young man, he was originally a petty crook who was a prominent member of Harry [=MacDowell=]'s gang, Harry also being Brandon's closest friend since childhood. Though they lived in a crime-ridden slum called "Desolation Alley", Harry's gang was considered the most good-natured. After the loss of their three best friends, Brandon and Harry joined the Millenion Syndicate and worked their way up through the ranks. Brandon was often favored by Big Daddy, the syndicate's leader, and was trained to become one of Millenion's most powerful sweepers (assassins/hitmen). Brandon eventually chose to distance himself from Maria, the woman who he had strong romantic feelings for, as he felt unworthy of being with her, due to his profession as an emotionless killer. Meanwhile, Harry becomes drunk off of the power he had gained, and quickly desired more, once he discovered and took over "The Necrolization Project"--an otherworldly technology that reanimates the dead as "necrolizers" ("Deadmen" in the games) which are undead, near-invincible soldiers.

She always felt that she only causes trouble for Grave, and wonders why he would go to such great lengths to protect her, but Grave often pats her on the head, as if to remind her that she is his "special person" and that she is not a burden--she is a living memento of the people that Grave knew and loved when he was still known as Brandon. She means everything to him, and is the only person who can truly understand his gestures and expressions. Though not related by blood, Mika knows that they are a family. After slowly being overtaken by Seed infection, she and Grave are given a counter-antidote, which Grave administers to Mika. As she falls asleep, Grave breaks his usual silent mannerisms by gently telling her that she must live.

Brandon is the protagonist of both the video game series and the anime. A quiet, passive but gentle young man, he was originally a petty crook who was a prominent member of Harry [=MacDowell=]'s gang, Harry also being Brandon's closest friend since childhood. Though they lived in a crime-ridden slum called "Desolation Alley", Harry's gang was considered the most good-natured. After the loss of their three best friends, Brandon and Harry joined the Millenion Syndicate and worked their way up through the ranks. Brandon was often favored by Big Daddy, the syndicate's leader, and was trained to become one of Millenion's most powerful sweepers (assassins/hitmen). Brandon eventually chose to distance himself from Maria, the woman who he had strong romantic feelings for, as he felt unworthy of being with her, due to his profession as an emotionless killer. Meanwhile, Harry becomes drunk off of the power he had gained, and quickly desired more, once he discovered and took over "The Necrolization Project"--an otherworldly technology that reanimates the dead as "necrolizers" ("Deadmen" in the games) which are undead, near-invincible soldiers.

Creator/TomokazuSeki is Brandon/Grave's seiyuu, and reprises the role in ''O.D.''. Creator/KirkThornton voices him in the dubs of the anime and ''VR'', but did not reprise the role for ''Overdose'', [[TheOtherDarrin where he is voiced by]] Chris Cook. Rafael Rivera voices Brandon/Grave in the Mexican Spanish dub of the anime.

Voiced by Creator/TomokoKawakami in the first two games, Creator/KumiSakuma in the anime, Creator/KariWahlgren in the English dub of the anime, Renee Raudman in Overdose, and Mayra Arellano in the Mexican Spanish dub of the anime.

An organization in ''[[VideoGame/GungraveGORE Gungrave: G.O.R.E.]]'' led by Mika that's dedicated to eradicating the drug SEED, and the Raven Clan, the mafia organization that is its primary handler. It was founded by Mika and a small organization.
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[[folder:General]]

An organization in ''[[VideoGame/GungraveGORE Gungrave: G.O.R.E.]]'' led by Mika dedicated to eradicating [=SEEDs=], and crime syndicate, the Raven Clan. It was founded by Mika and a small organization.
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!!Cheni Quartz Angel

''Main Characters'' | [[Characters/GungraveAntagonists Antagonists]] | [[Characters/GungraveOtherCharacters Other Characters]] ]]-]]]

''Main Characters'' | [[Characters/GungraveAntagonists Antagonists]] | [[Characters/GungraveSupportingCharacters Supporting Characters]] ]]-]]]

!!El-Al-Canhel