Hellsing (manga)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Hellsing | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Hellsing volume 1 (English version) |
|||
| ヘルシング (Hellsing) |
|||
| Genre | Action supernatural fiction | ||
| Manga | |||
| Author | Kouta Hirano | ||
| Publisher |  Shōnen Gahosha |
||
|
|||
| Demographic | Seinen | ||
| Serialized in | Young King OURs | ||
| Original run | 1997 – ongoing | ||
| Volumes | 9 volumes (10 expected) with 92 total chapters (current) | ||
Hellsing (ヘルシング Herushingu?) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kouta Hirano with an anime adaptation. Hellsing chronicles the efforts of the mysterious and secret Royal Order of Protestant Knights, Hellsing, as it combats vampires, zombies called "ghouls", and other supernatural foes who threaten the United Kingdom.
Contents |
[edit] Publication and broadcast history
The manga series began in 1997, and is still being published monthly in Young King OURs magazine in Japan. The English version of the manga is published by Dark Horse.
A 13-episode anime adaptation of the manga was produced by Studio Gonzo in 2001, though the story and characters have large differences from the original manga. This is due to the fact that only the first two volumes of the manga had been written and published in 2001.
An OVA series of the same name is in production and follows the original story of the manga more closely.
Hirano is also working on a prequel to Hellsing, entitled Hellsing: The Dawn. It is published at irregular intervals in special editions of Young King OURs.
Hellsing creator, Kouta Hirano stated in an interview that he will finish Hellsing with volume number 10 and that he has another project planned which he is keeping a secret until the time comes to reveal it.
[edit] Overview
Hellsing is unique in that it takes much of itself from late 19th century and early 20th century Western fiction. It includes themes primarily from H. P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu works and Bram Stoker's Dracula, rolled together with some fast-paced action sequences. The main characters are part of the Hellsing organization, which may have been inspired by the Lovecraftian Miskatonic University's Wilmarth Foundation, an organization formed for fighting demons and the undead. Cthulhu Mythos fans will appreciate the parallels. The name Hellsing is derived from Abraham Van Helsing, and it has been indicated that the series takes place in the same continuity as the novel Dracula.
The series is different from many other anime/manga in that it focuses more on close-quarter combat using exotic guns, similar to the style of heroic bloodshed, with lots of jumping and diving.
Studio GONZO drew the thirteen-episode TV series intensely stylized and matched with an extensive soundtrack, scored by Yasushi Ishii, which mixes rock, blues and jazz with experimental elements.
The manga, which currently spans ninety chapters, is vastly different from the TV series in the themes presented and the atmosphere employed. There is little limit to the atrocities characters can commit in the story ranging from rape, mutilation, torture and cannibalism yet at the same time it delves heavily into strength of character, kindness and heroism. The artwork is unique and highly detailed; it is almost always quite bloody, featuring gore and dismemberment in a manner which, while grotesque, is often amusing. Hirano mostly works with thick outlines, highly detailed tone-work and inking; he also makes use of heavy shading, with large areas obscured by shadow. While initially this appears as a shortcut to drawing detail, it is mainly used as an effect to add drama or tension to a scene: in this manner, it is often accompanied by highly detailed artwork and usually focuses on the face; only in rare circumstances does Hirano actually seem to use it (in conjunction with the fact that most characters wear dark clothing) to skip any detail. Another unique feature is the use of 10 chapters per volume past Vol. 6, when the normal amount is 6 or 7-- each chapter is unusually short, being only 10 or more pages long; this could be a lack of motivation on the part of Hirano (who has described himself in liner notes as "lazy") or could simply reflect the more detailed artwork of each chapter.
The story begins as a form of mystery genre. The main characters scramble for answers to mysterious clues which portend a dark apocalypse. The plot switches to an unusual war story which focuses on the doughty soldiers who suffer and toil in battlefield trenches and the unbalanced leaders who revel in the bloodshed. The story also presents several interesting and diverse philosophical themes and phrases riddled with possible alternate meanings. One of the most noted examples is the question, "Are you a dog, a man or a monster?" Alucard often raises this question as well as the concept of being 'Human'.
Hellsing draws on inspiration from dozens of different anime/manga/movies/novels/etc. Some are coincidental, while others are actually cited as sources of inspiration. One thing no one has agreed upon is the exact details of the "Vampire Lore" of the Hellsing universe which is a mixture of many different fictional portrayals including Stoker and Ricean vampires. This is made no easier by the introduction of artificial vampires.
The ongoing prequel to the manga, entitled Hellsing: The Dawn, is set in September of 1944, in the midst of World War II. The story features Walter (then only 14 years old) and Alucard fighting Millennium in Warsaw, Poland. Because of its popularity, the importance of the story in relation to Hellsing, and the fact that some scenes from The Dawn were present in the OVA trailer, it is possible that The Dawn will be animated as part of the new OVA series. This is supported also by the appearance of Alucard, as he appears in The Dawn, at the end of the credits in the first episode. However, there has been no mention of The Dawn making an appearance in the OVA by either the creators or Hirano, so it remains to be seen. It should be noted that the credits for OVA III depicted Alucard fighting Nazis, young Walter sneaking about and "Her". These scenes give greater probability of the Dawn being part of the OVA series, at least as flashbacks.
[edit] Major characters
- Alucard
- The main protagonist. Alucard is the most powerful warrior of the Hellsing organization. He is not only a vampire, but also one of the most ancient ones, his original "life" dating back into the 1400s. His name spelt backwards is "Dracula"; this is intentional, as he is, in fact, Count Dracula, the titular character of Bram Stoker's famous novel.[1]
- Seras Victoria
- Alucard's fledgling vampire, and soldier of the Hellsing organisation. Seras was a member of the D11 special forces unit, until being mortally wounded by Alucard's attempt to destroy a vampire masquerading as a priest. On the verge of death, and with a large hole in her chest, she chose to allow Alucard to turn her into a vampire. Serving as Alucard's protégé, she now works for the Hellsing organization. Alucard is often known to call her "Police Girl" or "Draculina".
- Integra Hellsing
- Leader of the Hellsing organization and Alucard's "Master". Often considered a woman of iron personality, she acts to the customs that her position asks of her. She inherited the Hellsing organization at the age of 12 when her father died. Although she often seems strict and domineering, she is respected and admired, even among her sworn enemies.
- Walter C. Dornez
- Walter is a 64-year-old retired member of the Hellsing organization. Though now serving as Integra Hellsing's butler, he still has proved the capacity to live up to his nickname "The Angel of Death" or " the joker" with deadly microfilaments. He had a close friendship with both Integra and Alucard.
- Alexander Anderson
- A warrior priest or paladin who works for the Vatican Section XIII, Iscariot. Anderson is Iscariot's ultimate weapon in the fight against the undead. With regenerative capabilities, and a variety of holy weapons (including his signature blessed bayonets, of which he has many) his mission is nothing less than the complete destruction of all the demons of Hell. As this includes many of Hellsing's subordinates, Anderson is one of Alucard's greatest foes.
- The Major
- A former SS officer, once in charge of the Nazi experiments with vampires, until the operation was destroyed by Alucard and a young Walter in 1944. Now he's back to exact revenge and start an endless war.
[edit] Secondary characters
- Enrico Maxwell
- Enrico Maxwell is the overzealous religious leader of the Iscariot Organization (Vatican Section XIII).
- Captain Pip Bernadotte
- Captain Pip Bernadotte (also translated as Vernedead in some English volumes) is the leader of the Wild Geese, a group of mercenaries hired by Hellsing.
- Millennium Members
- To see bios of each Millennium member, including the Major, Doctor, Schrödinger, Rip van Winkle, Captain, Zorin, Tubalcain, Luke, and Jan, see Millennium.
- Heinkel Wolfe is a pistol wielding assassin for the Iscariot organization who partners with Yumie, a Japanese nun with a split personality. They act as bodyguards for Maxwell in Hellsing volumes 4 to 5 and are later seen among the brigade of Catholic priests sent to apprehend Integra under Father Anderson's leadership.
[edit] Organizations
[edit] Royal Order of Protestant Knights, Hellsing
The Hellsing organization (formal name the Royal Order of Protestant Knights) is the central focus of Hellsing's plot. In Hellsing's universe the organization is an integral part of the true power-structure of Great Britain, which is in fact still ruled by a hidden aristocracy and the monarchy. The organization is tasked with defending the country's shores from any and all supernatural threats.
[edit] Millennium
A mysterious group of Nazis that has been hiding in Brazil ever since the end of World War II. They are the organization behind the elusive FREAK chips. (Note: FREAK chips were only seen in the TV series. In the manga, the chips were implanted to study each artificial vampire and its surroundings. They defined the vampire's status, behavior, intent, and aggression. They were also used to destroy the vampire remotely from Millennium's base. The means of actually making artificial vampires in the manga remain a mystery.)
[edit] Iscariot (Vatican Section XIII)
The Iscariot Organization, named after Judas Iscariot, the apostle who betrayed Jesus, is a top-secret wing of the Vatican charged with the active pursuit and extermination of demons (such as vampires) and heretics. Given that the Hellsing Organization not only employs vampires but is run on the principles of staunch Protestantism, Iscariot is their natural rival, despite their similar aims.
[edit] The Wild Geese
The Geese are a group of mercenaries boasting around 100 members, led by their captain, Pip Bernadotte (the mansion is said to house about 100 soldiers and Pip's rank, Captain, usually leads a company which is up 100 members). They seem to operate internationally, having performed their last operation in Uganda where Pip lost his eye, back in 1992. It is not known how old this group is as it is not stated if Pip or one of his ancestors founded them. Its members are of mixed ethnicity, age, and background and recognize Pip as their leader. They are described as professionals by Walter, but, overall, are no more effective in hand-to-hand combat against vampires than any other 'human' soldier has demonstrated thus far. Pip himself plainly states that they are useless in a "close fight," which is why he set a minefield, and a defensive perimeter, which proved remarkably effective until they were tricked by illusions cast by Zorin Blitz. In volume 7 Pip is killed by Zorin while attempting to save Seras. At the end of Volume 7 there appears to be only 3 members of the Wild Geese still alive, the rest having been killed by Zorin Blitz and the vampire Waffen SS under her command.
(Note: The term human is used rather loosely in Hellsing, but appears to indicate beings who do not have the comfort or curse of eternal life/youth. The Captain, though not a vampire, is a werewolf, and, as such, is eternally youthful. This means that he is a non-human. Humans in the Hellsing series can have any number of superhuman powers and still merit this title, as is clearly demonstrated by Anderson and Walter. In the case of the Wild Geese, they certainly do not possess any supernatural powers.)
[edit] The Convention of Twelve
In addition to the Queen, Hellsing also answers to the Convention of Twelve or Twelve Conventions. This organization, called the Round Table Conference in the English dub of the TV series, is a secret society of knights, comprised of members of the Parliament, military leaders, and other prominent people from the nobility who manipulate the affairs of England from the shadows, almost like the Illuminati. It is also similar to the Round Table of old, which swore loyalty to the throne as well. While the medieval Knights of the Round Table occupied seats around an actual round table, to symbolize equality, the modern Knights sit around a long, rectangular table, at which Integra Hellsing and Sir Hugh Islands, Irons in Dark Horse's translation, occupy the seats at head and foot. This may be intentional as Integra and Sir Islands show themselves to be the most powerful and influential of the organization, though Integra is apparently the youngest there. However, in the OVA series, the table is depicted as being round, specifically ovoid, thus making determination of rank in this way difficult.
[edit] References
- ^ Manga; hellsing Volume 8.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Hellsing OVA Website (USA) (Japan) Official website for the OVA series. The first volume was released in Japan on DVD on February 10, 2006.
- Hellsing (2002) at the Internet Movie Database
- General Hellsing manga info Listing in the Anime News Network's manga encyclopedia (includes link to anime listing)
- Young King OURs Official website of Young King OURs, the monthly magazine that Hellsing is published in
|
||||||||||||||
