manga: Hellsing Vol 1

[meganbmoore]

Stealing the descriptions of others again:

There's a secret organization somewhere in England created to defend the Queen and country from monsters of all sorts. Yes, it's hard to believe in this day and age... but really, isn't this the true age of monsters? Enter Hellsing, an agency, long in tooth, with the experience, know-how, and... er... equipment to handle the problems that arise when vampires, ghouls, and the like take on these dark forces. "What equipment?" you may say. How about another vampire, and a big pistol loaded with special silver bullets? That oughta do the trick.


It leaves out the part where his boss, Intregral Hellsing found Alucard, the vampire in question, in the family dungeon when she was about 13, was relatively unphased when he slaughtered the people trying to kill her, and then used him as a shield when she shot their leader. Or how she went toe-to-toe with the genetically-enhanced priest who chopped him up. (It didn’t take for long.) Or the part where he acquires an underling by shooting through a cop to kill a vampire. After making sure she’s a virgin, so he can turn her.

In a lot of ways, it’s very much a case of style over substance, especially when it comes to Alucard and guns. The mangaka is very in love with drawing that. Or anyone with weapons. There also seems to be something of a glasses fetish going on, to the point where there’s a footnote saying “It’s starting to seem like everyone wears glasses. What to do?” And Alucard and Vash clearly have the same tailor.

It’s also quite fun, and some comments telophase  made at A-Kon have me very interested in reading more.

Spoil me and suffer torments far greater that what I can come up with off the top of my head.

Comments

[woodburner.livejournal.com]

Wait, it ENDED? I knew it seemed to be winding up but I hadn't heard it ended... I've always been terrified of how he was going to end it because I've always had the horrible suspicion he was just going to go "rocks fall, everyone dies!"

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Only within the last month or so. (Meaning the last volume should be out here in a few months.)

My understanding is that it doesn't have that kind of ending.

[paperclipchains.livejournal.com]

It just ended, the translation came out a couple days ago. Go catch up!

People were disappointed with it, but I think it was approximately what was to be expected at that point.

[woodburner.livejournal.com]

I've pretty much only been (very confusedly) following spoiler reports for a while, so I'm completely lost as to what exactly happened, but I read the last chapter because I couldn't stand not knowing how it ended. XD

Personally... I kinda like it! I have been conflicted all along about whether I wanted Integra to become a vampire or not - part of me really wanted it and part of me really totally DIDN'T, so there was no way for me not to be disappointed on that front... But oh well, I didn't really expect that to happen anyway.