Ranked #68

Hellsing (Manga)

Hellsing throws you into a dark world where monsters and humans coexist and do battle. Think of Bram Stroker's "Dracula" meeting the James Bond series, with a modest touch of fantasy. If your a person who enjoys being succinctly entertained with fast paced action and dialogue, then this is the manga for you. From an American's outlook, I could see where the Japanese lines blended with western comic ideals. Many characters are presented from different, competing groups, trying to hold dominion over the others for various iconographic reasons(God, Country, Money, Power, Abilities). It just seemed much more up front than some mangas I've read where things usually are more subtle at first. Not Hellsing though, from the moment you start reading you are thrown into the midst of essentially, a fast bloody short story with rising action, climax and the falling action. Not to say that the manga didn't try to delve deeper into the obsession over war, pursuit of perfection, and the preciousness of life. These are only a few of the themes that were blended with the fast paced plot for a thought provoking, but albeit entertaining story.

The story isn't very grand in terms of details, but it allows the reader to focus on a few integral characters at a time, which becomes more exciting as they all join together right before the climax.With the exception of the abrupt ending, most of the plot revolves around the main character and his anti hero actions towards evil. I enjoyed seeing all of the situations pitted against Alucard, and how his seemingly never ending powers dealt with them. I was bugged at first that it was just fight after fight, but towards the middle a greater battle is taken up and the fights more or less become the story. It made for good and mildly original entertainment.

The art in Hellsing matched the story perfectly. To say it was just "cool" or "dark" is an understatement. Every character has their own feel to them through their drawings. Integra is always collected and in charge with her cigarette smoke. Walter is respectful but yet mysterious with his eye piece shining, and Allucard oozes dark, fearful power. Its too long to go into, but every character almost seems evil do to the nature of the story and how it fits so well with the art. No one is perfect and the art reflects that idea well.

Due to its fast paced, skirmish then break skirmish then break story structure, I originally thought that character development was lacking in Hellsing. But Hirano uses the battle structure as a way of showing you what type of character the person is. There are many many speeches in these battles that explain their ideals, motives, etc. It isn't really done as subtley as some similiarly natured manga, but still gets the job done. Most of the characters pass away fast, and so only a few get gradually built up. These brief characters are actually quite interesting and original, which makes it easier to appreciate them as much as the built up characters before they die abruptly. The majority of the characters in the series have interesting abilities and larger than life motives for pursuiting battle. If I had to say what the series major weakness was, its most likely the fact that the brief characters aren't given more page time and lack development, which can't be made up just because most of them are interesting and original.

I recommend that you read this series as it is meant to be read, periodically. Read one volume, and then wait a couple days or even a week to read the next. There are many cliffhangers and plot developments that serve to enhance the enjoyment level greatly. I did this and was excited and involved until the end. The action is the bread and butter of this series, and the characters were all very cool, with only a few being "very developed". If you are wanting a break from your deeply thought provoking, hipster manga, than pick up a copy of Hellsing and your adrenaline will thank you.




"Let us drive away those who have forgotten us, let us pull awake those who have fallen in their sleep. Let us pull them up by their hair and pry their eyes open and make them remember. Let us remind them of the taste of fear. Let us remind them of the sound of our military shoes pounding. Let us remind them that there are things between the earth and the sky which they would not even dream to be possible.

We will burn the world down.

Here we go, gentlemen."

- The Major
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Hellsing was part of my introduction to anime and as such it is one of my favourite fandoms. But it has only kept its place there because of its unique way of capturing the reader with action that I can only describe as being kick arse.

There is a great plot to this manga, well thought out and very grand. Being an action manga there are quite a few pages which are full of just pictures, no words, but yet the plot still unfolds well and is not lost.

Due to everything that is going on in the manga you wouldn’t think there is much time for character development. Indeed most characters are already well defined and do not change much during the course of the story, staying true to their personality/nature throughout. Seras Victoria however shows many changes as she adapts to her vampiric life, changes which are understandable, believable and handled well.

I would have to say that great characters and a well thought out plot are the strengths of this story. Combine it with the art work and superb action and you have one of the best mangas around.

A bad side to the mangas? There can be too much gore for some readers, and some may find it too be too heavy in action. But personally my only disappointment is the length of time between volumes, but that’s nothing to do with the actual quality of the manga.

All in all read it. If you’ve seen the series be prepared for a heavier, one could say better, plot. If you haven’t seen the series watch it as well as reading the manga, they are quite different. And no matter what keep your eyes out for the OAV because it promises to be good.

Nanashi Moriko - Most definitely a fan girl for Hellsing

13/06/06


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