Hellsing

WARNING: This review contains an opinion that may differ from your own. I ask that you please read it with an open mind. If you're a fan of this manga/anime, hey I'm completely okay with that. I respect your opinion. Just how you should respect mine.

I know I'll get some hate for this, but whatever, this must be said. When you create a manga, there are three things that you can judge it on. First is the characterization, then the story and lastly the art. Hellsing fails when it comes to story and characterization. Before I go any further, I'll tell you right now there will be some very minor spoilers but there's nothing that will ruin the series for you and I'll warn you ahead of time.

The story takes place in the United Kingdom where the British government employs a special group named the Hellsing organization. They defend the country from things that go bump in the night. It's run by Sir Integra; (SPOILER UP AHEAD) it was originally started by her great grandfather, the notorious vampire hunter, Abraham Van Helsing. They incorporate a powerful vampire named Alucard. So yeah, you can kind of see where this is going, the Hellsing manga is like one of those "what if" stories. In this case, it's with Bram Stroker’s “Dracula” Novel where instead of killing the count, Abraham Van Helsing keeps him alive and uses him to fight off demonic entities, vampires and ghouls(SPOILERS ARE OVER). I won't go any further, because I don't want to ruin what's left of the story (which isn't that much anyways).

Hellsing's narrative is really lacking, there isn't much depth and it doesn't engage you. Not to mention, it's way too simple (especially for a seinen manga), and isn't that multi-layered or complex aside from a plot twist that occurs towards the end of the series. I wouldn't have had a problem with it if the manga was shorter, but at 92 chapters, I was expecting more story. Obviously, Kouta Hirano knew this, so he needed a way to entertain the reader; which was to throw in a whole bunch of action and graphic bloody violence to the point where it became borderline exploitation. I remember reading Hellsing up to the halfway point and kept asking myself when will the story take off? It never did. Even though the story isn't that well written, I'll admit it's very well paced and there's always a smooth transition from one scene to the next.

Now on to the characters, okay let me start off by saying that Alucard has to be one of my all-time favorite characters in all of manga and anime. He is the definition of badass and is a great example of the anti-hero. It's always fun to see him destroy his enemies mentally and physically. Not only that, but his whole persona and appearance is memorable. With his red duster and hat, to his large pistols and circular framed glasses. Of all the characters in the manga he had the most depth and was the most fleshed out. But still, he could have gotten a little more development. You couldn't imagine how frustrated I got when finally, we were given some background info on him but it turns out that it was only about 5 or 6 pages worth of material. Then it went back to nonstop action and violence. :( Furthermore, as for the others, they got little to no characterization whatsoever. For example, Seras Victoria, she barely got any development. Aside from trying to adapt as a newly turned vampire, there wasn't much else to her. About midway through, I began thinking that Kouta Hirano just put her in there because she had big tits. Don’t get me wrong, Seras is put to good use in the series but she just lacks depth. Like Alucard, we only get a small amount of info on her past later on in the manga. The same thing applies to the other characters as well. Sure, some of them had personalities that might make one stand out from another, but they were all one-sided and flat. As I read further on, it became apparent that Hirano was too caught up with making them look cool and badass when they're fighting. And so, he completely forgot to develop them.

Finally the art, the best part about the Hellsing manga; the manga author may not be able to write, but he sure can draw. The character designs are distinctive and fit perfectly for this horror-themed manga. Implementing thick lines into the designs was an interesting idea. Backgrounds were very detailed and crisp as well. Although, Hellsing’s art doesn't start out that great in the first 8-10 chapters (especially the design for Alucard). But by volume 3, it changes for the better.

All in all, Hellsing is a mediocre Seinen manga in my opinion. If you're looking for great storytelling and Characterization, look someplace else (Berserk, Vinland Saga and Monster). But if you want action and graphic violence then you’ll probably enjoy this. My suggestion to you is go watch Hellsing Ultimate instead, it’s a very faithful OVA adaptation of this manga. It’s a little more enjoyable than its counterpart because there is an OST, animation and of course, Crispin Freeman’s AMAZING dub performance. This all distracts you from the fact that the story and characterization isn't so great. So I think you’ll definitely have a more enjoyable experience with that.

Hellsing stands out as the sole vampire narrative devoid of any romantic subplots, brimming instead with thrilling, gory action. I wholeheartedly recommend this series over others like Twilight, Vampire Knight, or Rosario + Vampire. The characters felt so authentic that they began to seem real to me. The plot was among the finest I've ever encountered, compelling me to read until the very last page. Even amidst intense battles rife with murder and bloodshed, the comic relief kept me engaged. The artwork was particularly captivating for me. Inspired by Hellsing, I've drawn numerous pictures featuring its characters. It's a shame the Hellsing Ultimate series didn't continue, given how well it preserved the original storyline. If you're choosing between buying a Hellsing book or a Twilight one, do yourself a favor and ditch the Twilight nonsense in favor of Hellsing.

Hellsing is an exhilarating adventure packed with intense action, striking artwork, humorous moments, unforgettable characters, and thrilling executions. The narrative centers around the seemingly immortal vampire Alucard, who serves his master, Integra Hellsing, by hunting down his own kind.

When the story begins, Alucard has already been a loyal servant for several years. However, the tale plunges us into the Hellsing Organization's most formidable challenge yet: a routine mission leads Alucard to acquire his own vampire servant, subsequently uncovering information that ignites a hunt for menacing foes from the past.

Action is the heart of this manga, drawing you in immediately, but it’s the diverse and captivating personalities throughout its ten volumes that keep you hooked. It’s no surprise that series like Devil May Cry find inspiration in this incredible work. Among my favorite supporting characters are the devoted and charming butler Walter and the ever-professional mercenary Pip.

The only drawback I have is more of a personal issue: the phonetic spelling used for many characters' dialogues. I struggle significantly with reading phonetic dialogue, finding it challenging to decipher 2-3 speech bubbles in most conversations. Despite these difficulties, I couldn't put the manga down because I love it so much.

Many readers might easily give this manga a perfect score of 10. Due to my aforementioned issue, I would rate it a 9. Regardless, READ THIS MANGA!

It's a rather mediocre manga all things considered. I don't view Hellsing as a horror piece—if it was intended to be one, it fell short in that aspect—and it leans more towards straightforward action, which is just okay, I suppose. It feels visceral enough, but the characters being vampires and ghouls have this frustrating knack for returning from the dead no matter how much damage they endure.

There isn't much of a storyline, which is a pity because the concept of Vampire Van Hellsing holds significant potential that remains unfulfilled. If you're after a manga with some vampires and mindless action, Hellsing might suit your needs, but if you're seeking something deeper or more substantial, it won't satisfy that craving.

What do you get when you place vampires in the 1940s amidst World War II? Hellsing.

It's a fascinating concept that is generally well-executed in this manga. The protagonist's name is Alucard, essentially the most powerful vampire on Earth. Alucard and his team don't usually battle Nazis; instead, they fight against other supernatural entities. The Hellsing organization focuses solely on defending London, employing any means necessary to keep it safe. With only 10 volumes, the series doesn't feel overly drawn out. It does become intensely gory at times, but given the wartime setting, what else would you expect?

I read this series quite some time ago, so I don't recall many specifics from the storyline, but I do remember it can be confusing at points. My favorite aspect of the manga is primarily its core idea; there are moments where excessive dialogue interrupts the expected bloodshed and death. Overall, though, it's not a bad series.

Hellsing is an extreme manga. Its characters are highly exaggerated and lack broad appeal, focusing mainly on fighting, dismemberment, and snickering. That's all there is to it. This is both its charm and its limitation; it's good but constrained.

The storyline is quite nonsensical and often poorly explained at times.

The artwork, however, is exceptional. The characters are amusing but lack depth (they don't have much of a backstory).

In conclusion, Hellsing is a manga that's both entertaining and absurd.

Hellsing was my introduction to the world of manga, and it was what sparked my interest in reading more. This manga delivers everything you'd expect from a bloody, vampire-filled, action-packed, gory story. Just by looking at the cover, you can tell it's going to be a thrilling ride. Alucard stands out as one of the most formidable vampires in modern literature. I never found a single page boring, and after finishing each volume, I eagerly awaited the next release.

Overall, if you're looking for fast-paced action and an engaging plot, Hellsing is definitely a great choice.