Minor spoilers ahead for Bungo Stray Dogs, including events from Dead Apple and Season 5. For a series that treats literary history like a suitcase full of fireworks, Bungo Stray Dogs has never met a poet it could not turn into a problem. Kafka Asagiri's cast is a globe-trotting book club with superpowers, and as of 2026 the biggest question is not who wins the next fight but which dead author gets a dramatic entrance next. Early on, Western fans could be forgiven for not catching the author gimmick; most of the cast came from Japanese literature. Then the Guild arrived, and the floodgates opened for American, European, Russian, and generally chaotic literary figures.
The Order of the Clock Tower: Knighthood, Fog, and Questionable Success Rates
Europe's often-alluded Order of the Clock Tower has been looming over the story for some time. The group's status and power symbolize how far this alternate history has gone in letting the Gifted shape the modern world. Before the Decay of Angels arc, so much of the series stayed close to Yokohama, Japan, that the wider world could wait. After Season 5's conclusion, that comfortable isolation looks increasingly temporary.
The Order is a secret military agency operating out of Great Britain. Its operatives are even knighted, which gives them the authority to guard the royal family and, specifically, the queen. In Bungo lore, legendary author Agatha Christie leads the Order. Her ability is known to be called 'And Then There Were None,' but what it actually does remains a deliciously annoying mystery.
Christie first appeared in the manga in passing in Chapter 12, while anime fans got a more imposing introduction in the 2018 film Dead Apple. As the movie approached its climax and the fog over Yokohama threatened to engulf the world, she sent an aircraft with the intention of incinerating the city to prevent that outcome. It was a bold gesture, the kind that says she is willing to go very far to protect her country and very far to make everyone else nervous.
It is also amusing that, despite all the subtle world-building hype, the Order's success rate in the lore has not been great. Apart from Christie, the only other members shown so far are the two agents aboard the plane transporting the One Order to the airport in Season 5, and they were quickly killed off. Furthermore, the Order's operatives mentioned in Storm Bringer were apparently killed easily by Paul Verlaine. For a secret military agency, the Order's batting average is less intimidating than its branding. Good luck keeping track of who is actually dangerous and who merely has a nice coat.
Whether as an uneasy ally or a major antagonist, Agatha Christie's time in the spotlight has to be coming soon. Especially now that two agents have died during the events of Season 5, it would not be a surprise if the Order decided to exert its authority. Plus, there is so much more about the Order and its expanded roster that remains a mystery. No pressure, right?
The Transcendents: A Very Literary Secret Society
Almost as mysterious as the Order, the Transcendents are a group of Gifted first mentioned in the light novel Bungo Stray Dogs: 55 Minutes. Unlike the Order, of which only Agatha Christie is known, five members are confirmed as of the time of writing, and one of them has already appeared in the anime: Arthur Rimbaud.
Rimbaud was a central character during the '15' arc of Season 3, revealed to have formerly been a spy from Europe. 55 Minutes reveals that the organization was sent by Europe into the Great War, though not much else is known about the group's objectives or accomplishments. Apart from Rimbaud, the other members are particularly exciting. First, the aforementioned French author Paul Verlaine has already appeared in the novel Storm Bringer, which is likely to be adapted at some point in the near future. Next is the German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Les Misérables author Victor Hugo, and perhaps most excitingly, William Shakespeare. That is just a handful of what 55 Minutes described as a group comprising a few dozen ability users. That is one way to run a book club.
| Faction | Known Faces | Why Fans Are Watching |
|---|---|---|
| Order of the Clock Tower | Agatha Christie, two very unlucky plane agents | Knighthood, fog, and a suspiciously low success rate |
| Transcendents | Arthur Rimbaud, Paul Verlaine, Goethe, Victor Hugo, Shakespeare, H.G. Wells | Dozens of ability users and almost no clear agenda |
| Gaiden | Ayatsuji Yukito, Mizuki Tsujimura, Kyogoku Natsuhiko | A rare corner where the authors are still alive |
For all fans know, the series could end without exploring every character named above, though briefly appeared figures like Agatha Christie are bound to be major players. As for who will show up next, be it in a future season or a potential movie, the light novels give the safest guesses, as those stories need only get the green light for an adaptation.
H.G. Wells, the author of The Time Machine, is prominently featured in 55 Minutes with a notable twist to their portrayal and an ability that is exactly what you are thinking. Next, Storm Bringer, no doubt the most demanded adaptation, features Verlaine as well as another surprise cameo that will surely please fans of classic horror fiction.
Gaiden and the Living Author Problem
Finally, there is Bungo Stray Dogs Gaiden, which is unique in that it features authors who are still alive, unlike most of the main series' authors who are long deceased. The author of the 2009 horror story Another, Ayatsuji Yukito, is the lead character, working alongside Mizuki Tsujimura of Lonely Castle in the Mirror in pursuit of Kyogoku Natsuhiko of Ubume no Natsu.
The possibilities for author cameos are truly endless, and these are just the ones who have been confirmed to exist in the world of Bungo Stray Dogs. Looking at all the characters yet to make their debut is not only exciting, but it offers perspective into just how many unique factions exist within this story. With any luck, Asagiri will get the chance to explore each one and surprise fans with a few unexpected appearances along the way. Until then, the literary guest list remains a beautifully overstuffed waiting room. 📚✨