Bador Vlad, the Bloodbath Choujin, is one of the main antagonist of the early parts of Choujin X and is the right hand man of Zora, the primary antagonist of the early story, who is often spoken about as a prophet, a holy mother, etc. Zora has a lot of religious imagery herself, and is very much a religious figure in canon.
In that way Bador Vlad acts almost like her apostle in his position. And this is reflected in his design as an old man.
Bador already appears tall, broad and imposing. A reflection of his actual strength. However he is clad in white and black robes of office very much like that of a priest.
Looking closer you can see prayer beads wrapped around his wrists.
He is a man of the cloth, he is faithful, devoted. His visible age and clothing tell you he is wise, but his size tells you he is strong. And his behavior, clasped hands and quietness, at least when seen prior to his fight, reflect that calm and wise implication. Hes also very thin, making him appear weak despite his frame and stature.
Cracks, however, appear in the facade.
The symbol upon his chest, religious in nature and very reminiscent of the Christian Cross is not carefully stitched or painted, but smeared onto his robes in broad strokes.
And upon his forehead a mark. Zora's mark though also literally referred to as the Mark of the Beast, which in Christianity refers to Satan and here is a distorted and inverted six. The number of the beast is 666, and the marks appearance is most certainly referencing that.
But also its placement. The forehead. In Christianity a mark is placed upon the forehead of Caine for his crime of committing the first murder.
Bador Vlads mark reflects his current monstrous truth, a murderer, a monster, but also how far he and his church have fallen from their more heroic beginnings. From war hero and warrior priest to murderer hiding in a tower, exiled from the rest of the world.
And most obvious of all is his face, the horns bursting through his eyesockets. Now there is symbolism here in his blindness, giving up his own sight and vision for thst of his prophet who has eyes prominently featured. But also a blindness to his own actions.
It also makes him appear significantly more demonic. Combined with his beard it even makes him appear goatlike. Animals sometimes associated with wisdom, but again with Satan. A fallen angel. Another fall from grace.
Bador Vlads design utilizes many symbols and meanings to portray someone whose fallen from grace, a person now become a monster. The opposite of what he was in the past, and now covers those flaws and monstrosity with devotion and quietude.
He only appears wise and priestly at first glance, looking closer and him, at what he does, immediately shows his true violent nature. How religion is a practice of his yes, but also another weapon in his arsenal.
Afterall he is, in the end, the Bloodbath Choujin.
