Jack the Ripper Arc
A demon butler and his young earl hunt the killer behind London's Jack the Ripper murders.
Victorian London is terrorized by the serial murders of prostitutes, called the Jack the Ripper case, in this arc. As a key mystery, it sharpens the core dynamic: Ciel's relentless pursuit of justice as the Queen's Watchdog against the supernatural horrors plaguing his city. The plot exposes the grim reality of the Phantomhive estate's mission and confirms Sebastian's nature as a demon capable of consuming souls.
Quick Facts
- Setting
- London
- Protagonists
- Ciel Phantomhive and Sebastian Michaelis
Lore & Background
This arc delves into the dark underbelly of London, where the distinction between human cruelty and supernatural malice blurs. Jack the Ripper is revealed to be two people: Ciel's aunt Angelina Dalles, known as Madam Red, and the Grim Reaper Grell Sutcliff, who posed as her butler. It reaffirms the rules of their pre-existing contract: Sebastian serves Ciel in exchange for his soul upon the completion of Ciel's revenge. The arc concludes when William T. Spears stops Sebastian from killing Grell, apologizes for Grell's killing of people who were not on the to-die list, and drags Grell away for punishment.
Reader's Guide
The arc opens with the serial murders of prostitutes in London, whose wombs were removed. Ciel Phantomhive investigates alongside Sebastian Michaelis, visiting the funeral director Undertaker for information. The Viscount of Druitt becomes the prime suspect, and Ciel attends his party in disguise, but another murder takes place after the Viscount is arrested. At the climax Madam Red attacks Ciel but cannot bring herself to kill her nephew, and Grell kills her for it. Sebastian then defeats Grell after tangling the chainsaw-like scythe with his tailcoat, ending the spree. The arc concludes with Ciel solidifying his resolve as the Queen's Watchdog, fully accepting the burden of his contract.
More in Story Arcs & Timeline
Elsewhere in Black Butler
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