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Hellsing
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is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kouta Hirano. It first premiered in Young King Ours in 1997 and ended in September 2008. The individual chapters are collected and published in tankobon volumes by Shonen Gahosha, with 9 volumes released as of October 2008. Hellsing chronicles the efforts of the mysterious and secret Hellsing Organization, as it combats vampires, ghouls, and other supernatural foes who threaten the United Kingdom.
The manga series is licensed for English language release in North America by Dark Horse Comics, in Australia and New Zealand by Madman Entertainment, and in Singapore by Chuang Yi.
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Encyclopedia
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kouta Hirano. It first premiered in Young King Ours in 1997 and ended in September 2008. The individual chapters are collected and published in tankobon volumes by Shonen Gahosha, with 9 volumes released as of October 2008. Hellsing chronicles the efforts of the mysterious and secret Hellsing Organization, as it combats vampires, ghouls, and other supernatural foes who threaten the United Kingdom.
The manga series is licensed for English language release in North America by Dark Horse Comics, in Australia and New Zealand by Madman Entertainment, and in Singapore by Chuang Yi. In 2001, Hirano began publishing chapters of a prequel series, Hellsing: The Dawn, in special editions of Young King OURs, with six chapters released as of September 2008.
An anime series of the same name was produced by Gonzo. Directed by Umanosuke Iida, the series was based on the manga, but used a screenplay by Chiaki Konaka and is significantly different from the manga in terms of plot, though it uses some of the same characters and similar character designs. Spanning 13 episodes, it was broadcast on Japan's Fuji Television from October 10, 2001 to January 16, 2002. An original video animation (OVA) entitled Hellsing Ultimate is being produced by Satelight and Geneon. The first episode was released on January 22, 2006, with the OVA series following the manga story line more closely than the first anime series. As of November 21, 2008 five episodes have been released.
Plot
Hellsing centers on the Holy Order of Protestant Knights, led by the latest member of the bloodline of Abraham Van Helsing. Their mission is to protect Queen and Country from the undead and other supernatural forces of evil. The organization is run by Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing, who inherited her responsibility as its director after the death of her father in her early teenage years. She is served by her faithful family butler and former Hellsing "trashman," Walter C. Dornez, and Alucard, a powerful vampire that was captured by the family a hundred years ago and serves as the organization's current "trashman." They are later joined by former police officer Seras Victoria, who becomes a Hellsing soldier when she is turned into a vampire by Alucard.
After an attack on Hellsing's headquarters, Sir Integra hires the Wild Geese mercenary group to replace the men who are lost in battle. The leader of the group is Captain Pip Bernadotte, a womanizing Frenchman. He is known for his habit of constantly teasing Seras Victoria.
Characters
Hellsing Organization
More formally known as the Royal Order of Protestant Knights, the Hellsing Organization is a fictional group from the Hellsing universe. The Hellsing Organization was founded by Abraham Van Helsing shortly after the events of Bram Stoker's novel Dracula as a response to the threat posed by vampires. The Hellsing Organization is traditionally headed by Abraham's descendants, as they are the only individuals who can control Alucard, the ultimate undead created by the organization for use in their continuing struggle against supernatural threats. After World War II, it was decided that Alucard was too powerful or potentially too dangerous to continue to be used as a weapon, and was locked away in the basement of the Hellsing mansion. Upon Arthur's death, his daughter, Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing, became the director of the organization. Integra's uncle, Richard Hellsing, attempted to assassinate her and take control of the organization, but was defeated in part by Alucard, who was accidentally released on vague instructions from her father. Integra herself fired the bullet that killed Richard. During the timeline of the manga series, ten years have passed since Integra became director of the Hellsing Organization and Alucard was released.
In the Hellsing universe, the organization is an integral part of the true power-structure of Great Britain, which is, according to the story, 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 and often faces controversy over the highly unconventional methods Hellsing chooses to do this, such as the use of "anti-Christian" powers and creatures. In the TV series, Hellsing is portrayed much more like a paramilitary or counter-terrorist organization armed with Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine guns and GKN Saxon or VAB APCs used to transport Hellsing soldiers to areas where there are reports of supernatural outbreaks in Britain. The paramilitary aspects are rarely mentioned in the OVA or the manga.
Alucard
- The series' main protagonist. As the Hellsing Organization's most powerful warrior, he serves as its special "trump card". He is not only a vampire, but also one of the most ancient ones; his origins dating back to the 1400s.
Integra Hellsing
- A descendant of Abraham Van Helsing and the Bureau Director of the Hellsing Organization. She inherited her position in the Hellsing family at the age of 13 (12 in the manga), upon her father's death. Integra is also Alucard's current master. She is beautiful, intelligent and strong. Although often seeming strict and domineering, she is respected and admired, even among her enemies.
Seras Victoria
- A 19-year-old orphan, Seras was formerly a member of the police force's Special Division 11, but, after being mortally wounded on a mission involving Alucard, chose to join him in the ranks of the undead rather than accept death. She now serves as Alucard's fledgling vampire, and, through him, serves Integra and the Hellsing Organization.
Walter C. Dornez
- Walter is a 69-year-old retired member of the Hellsing Organization. At the beginning of the series, he acted only as Integra's butler. However, he later lived up to his old nickname, the "Angel of Death", when Hellsing headquarters was attacked. Walter was altered in some sort of procedure by the Doctor, brainwashed (or turned traitor), and now fights for Millennium as a vampire.
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.
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, as well as his primary rival.
Enrico Maxwell
- Enrico Maxwell is the overzealous religious leader of the Iscariot Organization (Vatican Section XIII).
Heinkel Wolfe and Yumie Takagi
- Heinkel Wolfe is a pistol wielding assassin for the Iscariot organization who partners with Yumie, a Japanese nun. 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.
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 a group of artificial vampires that have chips implanted to study each vampire and its surroundings. The chips defined the vampire's status, behavior, intent, and aggression. They are also used to destroy the vampire remotely from Millennium's base.
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.
The Wild Geese
The Geese are a group of mercenaries boasting around 100 members, led by Captain Pip Bernadotte. Its members are of mixed ethnicity, age, and background. Though described as professionals by Walter, Pip plainly states that they are useless in a "close fight" with vampires, 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.
Captain Pip Bernadotte
- Captain Pip Bernadotte is the leader of the Wild Geese, a group of mercenaries hired by Hellsing. Dies trying to get Seras to cover and through his death and the memories transferred with his blood gives Seras the strength and resolve to kill Zorin.
The Convention of Twelve
In addition to the Queen, Hellsing also answers to the Convention of Twelve or Twelve Conventions, a secret society of knights, comprised of members of the Parliament, military leaders, and other prominent people from the nobility. The group manipulates the affairs of England from the shadows. The group sits around a long, rectangular table, at which Integra Hellsing and Sir Hugh Irons occupy the seats at head and foot.
Media
Manga
The series premiered in Young King Ours in 1997 and ran for eleven years until the final chapter was released in the November 2008 issue. The individual chapters are collected and published in tankobon volumes by Shonen Gahosha, with 9 volumes released as of October 2008. The series is licensed for an English language release in North America by Dark Horse Comics. The first volume was released on December 1, 2003 and as of July 2007, the company has published nine translated volumes. Chuang Yi is releasing the series in English in Singapore, with six volumes released as of October 2008, and through an agreement with the company, Madman Entertainment is re-releasing those volumes in Australia and New Zealand. Hellsing is also licensed for regional language releases in France by Editions Tonkam, in Italy by Dynit, in Germany by Planet Manga, in Poland by Japonica Polonica Fantastica and in Denmark and Sweden by Mangismo.
In 2001, Hirano began publishing chapters of a prequel series, Hellsing: The Dawn, in special editions of Young King OURs, with six chapters released as of September 2008. The Dawn features a fourteen year-old Walter C. Dornez and Alucard, in the form of a 14 year old girl, attacking Millennium's base of operations in Warsaw, Poland in September 1944, during the Warsaw Uprising. Publication is scheduled to resume after the conclusion of the main Hellsing series. According to Taliesin Jaffe, the chapters of The Dawn will be animated as part of the Hellsing Ultimate OVA series.
Anime
Following the release of the manga, Gonzo produced a thirteen episode anime series that uses the same characters and settings, but a different story from its source manga. Written by Chiaki J. Konaka and directed by Umanosuke Iida, the series premiered on Fuji Television on October 10, 2001 and ran until its conclusion on January 16, 2002. The series is licensed for English language release in North America by Geneon Entertainment, in the United Kingdom by ADV Films and in Australia by Madman Entertainment. Geneon's English dub of the series aired in the United States on Starz!'s Encore Action channel from October 4, 2003 to December 27, 2003.
The series uses two pieces of theme music. "Logos Naki World" (A World Without Logos) by Yasushi Ishii is used as the opening theme for all thirteen episodes. Mr. Big performs the song "Shine" for the series ending theme.
OVAs
Hellsing Ultimate is an original video animation (OVA) series being produced by animation studio Satelight and Geneon. The first fifty minute episode was released to Region 2 DVD in Japan on February 10, 2006. As of November 2008, five episodes have been released in Japan. The ending of each episode uses various pieces of instrumental music composed by Hayato Matsuo and performed by the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra
The OVA series is licensed for release in the United States by Geneon USA. In producing the English dub of the series, Geneon used much of the original cast from the dub of the anime series, which the company had also licensed. The first episode was released to Region 1 DVD on December 5, 2006, after premiering the episode at the 2006 Anime Expo convention. Though Geneon USA stopped self-distribution of its titles in 2007, it remains the licensor of the series and in 2008 the North American distribution was assumed by Funimation Entertainment. Funimation released the fourth episode on September 23, 2008. Simultaneously, the company re-released the first three episodes.
Soundtracks
Two CD soundtracks composed by Yasushi Ishii have been released by Geneon for the Hellsing anime series. Hellsing Original Soundtrack: Raid was released on July 1, 2003 and contained 20 tracks. The second soundtrack, Hellsing Original Soundtrack: Ruins, containing an additional 22 tracks followed on September 2, 2003.
Reception
In 2005, the six and seventh volumes of the Hellsing manga series ranked among Diamond Comics Distributors's list of the top 48 manga volumes sold in the United States for the year. In November 2007, the ninth volume was among the top 10 volumes sold according to Japan's monthly sales rankings.
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