You're walking through the dark, ink-slicked halls of Joey Drew Studios, and suddenly, you hear it. A wet, dragging sound. A rhythmic thumping of a wrench against metal. If you've spent any time in Bendy and the Ink Machine, the Butcher Gang is likely the source of your most persistent headaches. They aren’t the main attraction like Bendy or Alice Angel, but honestly, they’re way more disturbing when you actually look at them.
Most players just see them as annoying obstacles or "ink fodder." But there is a lot of weird, specific detail packed into these three—and now four—monstrosities that explains exactly why the studio went to hell.
The Butcher Gang Members: Who Are These Guys?
In the original cartoons, they were the villains. The "bad guys" meant to make Bendy look like a hero. In the "real" world of the game, they are tragic, mutilated husks of those characters.
- The Piper (Charley): He’s the "leader" by default. He's got a wrench and a peg-leg that makes a distinct thump-swish sound. If you look closely at his face, one eye is a stitched-up X and the other is just a hole leaking ink.
- The Fisher (Barley): This guy is a nightmare. His head is literally hanging from a fishing line attached to a pole that replaced his neck. He wears a sign around his waist that just says "LIAR." It’s heavy-handed, sure, but in the context of Joey Drew’s lies, it’s a gut punch.
- The Striker (Edgar): The fastest of the bunch. He’s got an extra mouth on top of his head and an accordion-style mechanical arm. He’s basically a walking jump scare.
- The Slicer (Carley): Added later in Bendy and the Dark Revival, she’s the "ghost" member. She doesn't just walk at you; she teleports. She’s essentially the developers' way of making sure you never feel safe, even in an empty room.
Why Do They Look So... Wrong?
Ever wonder why they look like they were put through a blender? In Bendy and the Ink Machine, the Butcher Gang shows the messy evolution of the Ink Machine. Unlike the "Perfect Boris" or the "Alice" who is desperate for beauty, the Butcher Gang members are "tainted."
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Some fans, including theorists like SuperHorrorBro, have pointed out that these might be the "near successes" mentioned in the logs. They weren't created with human souls initially. They were just ink. Because they lacked that "soul," they came out as mindless, aggressive shells.
Think about it. Alice Angel—the "Twisted" version—actually harvests them. She pulls them apart for parts. That's why they're so mismatched. They aren't just born wrong; they're being recycled by a desperate angel who wants her face back.
The Mystery of the Soul
Here is where it gets kind of complicated. There is a huge debate in the community about whether the Butcher Gang has souls.
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When you kill a Searcher, they melt into a puddle. When you kill the Butcher Gang in Chapter 3, they also melt. In the Bendy lore, creatures with human souls—like the Projectionist (Norman Polk) or Alice—don't just vanish. Their bodies stay behind.
This suggests that the ones you fight in the hallways are just "clones." They are mass-produced by the Machine. However, there’s a theory that the original versions were indeed employees. Some think the Butcher Gang might have been the theme park workers from Bendy Land, since Joey Drew had a special kind of spite for anyone who worked under his rival, Bertrum Piedmont.
How to Actually Deal With Them
Look, fighting them isn't hard once you get the rhythm. But they are persistent.
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- Listen for the Audio Cues: You can hear the Piper’s limp from a mile away. Use that.
- Corner Control: In Chapter 3, when Alice sends you on those "fetch quests," the Gang will spawn in specific spots. Don't let them surround you. They work best when they pin you against a wall.
- The Dark Revival Shift: If you're playing the sequel, the strategy changes. They hide in lockers and ceilings. You aren't the hunter anymore; you're the prey.
Why They Still Matter in 2026
The reason we still talk about the Butcher Gang is because they represent the "trash" of the studio. They are the discarded ideas. While Bendy is the face of the franchise, the Butcher Gang is the reality of the Ink Machine: a broken process that produces broken things.
They aren't just monsters. They are a reminder that in the world of Joey Drew, if you aren't a star, you're just a part to be used.
Your Next Steps in the Ink
- Re-examine the "Liar" sign on Fisher: Look at the surrounding environment when you find him; it usually points to a specific piece of lore about Joey's bankruptcy.
- Check the Crates: In Boris and the Dark Survival, you can actually find where they were "stored." It gives a whole new perspective on how they were treated as objects rather than characters.
- Compare the Models: If you have the art book or access to the game files, compare the Butcher Gang to the "Lost Ones." You'll notice the Butcher Gang has more mechanical "upgrades," suggesting they were intentionally modified, not just "born" in the ink.