The Claw (his real name is never revealed) is a mastermind with a nasty looking prosthetic right claw hand and the primary antagonist of the series. He killed both Van's and Ray's wives, and is the subject of their furious lust for revenge. Later in the series it is revealed he plans to create a new world which supposedly will bring happiness to all people and eradicate all sins one has committed during life. Before episode 12, he is only shown in flashbacks as a shadowy figure with the claw hand. In episode 12 however, Wendy runs into a kind, old man who helps her in overcoming her sorrow for her brother. Immediately after the conservation, it is revealed that this man is the claw man when he abruptly screws on his claw hand, to Wendy's horror.    His plan apparently is to change the world by dissolving himself and then combining with everyone and everything on the planet on a subconscious level, perhaps acting as a sort of conscience for people. It is never made clear what exactly would happen to civilization or to himself, nor how the process would occur. Though he denies any plans of world conquest, the fact of the matter is that his methods is a form of total dominance over free will and choice. The plan was also violently opposed by some of his crew members, claiming he was planning on committing genocide on the planet. In one of the episodes they attempt to commit a coup against him in order to force him into revealing the details for his plans. During the negotiations, the Claw Man seems to strongly prefer talk instead of violence, insisting that genocide is not part of his plans. This pacifism and goodwill can be debated, as he minutes later kills one of the rebels by hugging him (apparently of love) while slashing his back with his steel hand, thereby killing him. However, when he relinquishes him and discovers he is dead, he breaks into shock, saying &quot;I did it again&quot;, and repeatedly apologizing, as if unaware of his embrace being lethal for the rebel.    To realize his plans, he gathers a society of loyal and devoted followers (including Wendy's brother Michael and Van's mentor). Within this society he is only known as &quot;The Comrade&quot;.    He wears simple clothes most of the time, despite his high ranking. He also is shown to like gardening, and the company of animals. In general, he is shown to engage in creative and nurturing activities.    

Van, a lanky and apathetic swordsman, is on a journey to kill the murderer of his fianc&eacute;. The only characteristic he has to go by is that the murderer has a claw for an arm, hence the murderer being referred to as The Claw Man. During his travels, Van happens to pass through the city of Evergreen, which is defending itself from bandits who aim to rob the city of its treasury. It is in this city that Van meets Wendy Garret, a timid young girl who is looking for her kidnapped brother. When the city pleads for Van's assistance to defend it, he refuses, claiming it has nothing to do with him and thus leaves the city on its own to deal with the peril. Soon after, Van comes across the raiding bandits himself and they eventually tick off the swordsman to a degree where he takes action against them for his own personal vendetta. Surprisingly, Van learns that the bandits had ties with The Claw Man, and in kidnapping Wendy's brother for a reason they did not disclose. After the bandits are dealt with easily, Van and, much to his chagrin, Wendy continue the journey in search of The Claw Man. Little do they know, however, that The Claw Man is involved with something more atrocious than either could fathom.<br><br>
[Written by MAL Rewrite]

He is known for playing tough or grouchy men in dubbed anime and video games. His career includes Hotohori in Fushigi Yūgi and Jin in Samurai Champloo. He also played numerous cameos and minor characters in Rurouni Kenshin, in addition to the major character of Hajime Saito. He also does Don Patch in Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo as well as Gabumon and other voices in Digimon.  According to Anime News Network, Thornton has the most credits of any male voice actor and he is second in total voice actor credits only next to Wendee Lee. He has been in nearly two hundred voice-over productions for Japanese animation.  Thornton is also well-known for having played many different minor voice roles throughout the Power Rangers franchise (and similar series such as VR Troopers and Masked Rider).  Thornton has also had experience with ADR direction. Currently, he is co-directing the ADR for the popular anime series Bleach alongside Wendee Lee.

Russell Wait (born February 15, 1977 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S.) is an American voice actor and voice director based in Hong Kong.

Kagitsume no Otoko