Origin
Hansel and Gretel were born in a Romania and left with an orphanage. All they knew were the grey walls and the cloudy skies. At one point, they were bought by local criminal syndicate. They were the victims of child pornography, and forced to kill other children for snuff films. They had to kill or die at the hands of others. All the time kept from the world of the light, and this left them as remorseless killers. It’s unknown how they escaped, but twins soon became contract killers.
Creation

Hansel and Gretel (??????????, Henzeru to Gureeteru) are antagonists in the Black Lagoon series that was created by Rei Hiroe. The series first began serialization in Shogakukan’s Sunday GX magazine on April 19, 2002.
Their first appearance was in Black Lagoon Volume 2 CH. 11 “Bloodsport Fairy tale PT. I”.
Character Evolution

The Hansel and Gretel twins are emotionally damaged children who grew up as victims to the darker side of modern society. Left in a Romanian orphanage, they were victims of child pornography, then used in snuff films where they were forced to kill others or be killed. It’s unknown how they freed themselves from their captures, but wound up as contract killers. The gender of each of the twins is unknown since they tend to cross-dress and switch personalities. Even the way they talk will change depending on how they are dressed. It’s next to impossible to differentiate between the two. Shortly before Gretel’s death, she removed the wig to reveal to Rock that she wouldn’t be lonely without her brother, becasue he is inside of her. Gretel was even speaking like Hansel in this scene. On a psychological level, they are basically the same person. They are the most psychologically damaged characters ever to grace the Black Lagoon series. Both were killed by the forces of Balalaika.
Major Story Arcs
Bloodsport Fairy-Tale
Hansel and Gretel were hired by the Verrocchio, the leader of the Italian Mafia in Roanapur, with the task of killing both Balalaika and Mr. Chang, the leaders of Hotel Moscow and Triad. Verrocchio kept them hidden, and they went on a rampage killing the officers of Hotel Moscow to draw out their leader. They went so far as to abduct and torture one of Balalaika’s men to death in their room. When Verrocchio began to threaten them, they turned against him and killed him first.
The entire city was on shut down and there was a high bounty on their heads. They used local children dressed as them as a distraction for hired guns, and the twins split up as they went to kill Balalaika. Hansel went to confront her alone and was killed by her snipers. Hansel bought her way to escape from the Lagoon Company. On their boat, she met Rock. He was the first person she had ever met who showed true sympathy for her and her brother. Just as soon as Hansel was dropped off at port, she was shot in the back of the dead by a man paid off by Balalaika. She died looking toward the blue sky she had always wanted to see.
Powers & Abilities
The twins are human children with no unique powers or abilities. They do appear to have a level of intellect that allows them to plan and use strategy and subterfuge in their attacks. They showed an impressive level of challenge for the military mind of Balalaika and her men.
Weapons & Equipment
Hansel
Hansel prefers to use a Browning Automatic Rifle as her primary weapon. This is normally cloaked in a patterned blanket and a teddy bear charm tied to it. It’s unknown how she could carry this heavy weapon, let alone deal with the recoil.
Gretel
Hansel is only seen using bladed weapons, such as a hand axe.
Other Media
Anime
Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage (2008)
Black Lagoon: Second Barrage is the second anime series of the Black Lagoon franchise. It’s produced by MADHouse Studios and Geneon Entertainment.. The first episode originally aired on January 18, 2008. The series ran for twelve episodes, the last airing on April 11, 2008. It’s a seinen action series that is for mature viewers The story arcs covered in this season are Bloodsport Fairy-tale, Greenback Jane, and Fujiyama Gangsta Paradise.
Hansel and Gretel’s first anime appearance was in Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage – Episode 16 “Green Back Jane”, which aired on January 18, 2008. The characters in the Japanese series are voiced by Omi Minami(Hansel) and Tomoko Kaneda(Gretel), and the U.S. dub produced by Ocean Group is done by Ashleigh Ball(Hansel) and Jocelyne Loewen(Gretel).
Black Lagoon Blu-Ray Omake
Hansel and Gretel make several appearances in the omake shorts that were added to the blu-ray re-release of the Black Lagoon series in Japan. These were all based on the omake extras added to the Black Lagoon manga volumes. They appear in the gender switch short, during the ghost story contest, and in one are the problem causing children of Balalaika.