Hellsing
Overall Rating: A+
Media Reviewed: DVD
Creator: Kohta Hirano
U.S. Licensed: Geneon Entertainment
Released by: Geneon Entertainment
Run time: 13 episodes
BL Content: None (slashable)
Genre: Horror/Action
Other media:
English-licensed manga
English OAV DVD (unreleased)
"A secret war is brewing in the night - a war in which humanity is only a pawn. The mysterious Hellsing Organization deploys in the shadows to protect ordinary mortals from the undead legions who would prey upon them.
"Now, artificially spawned ghouls and vampires are appearing, stretching the Hellsing soldiers to their limits - forcing them to call in their ultimate weapon - the rogue vampire, Arucard!
"After saving young Seras Victoria, a Hellsing operative, from death by transforming her
into a vampire, Arucard must work with her to fight the artificial undead army- as well as
her own newfound hungers!"
--Hellsing website description
The ultimate in vampire anime, I gave this an A++++, and you'll understand why. Hellsing, created by Kouta Hirano and the manga published by Young King Ours (Now Dark Horse is publishing the english version), also the anime by Pioneer Entertainment only a few years after the manga, already you can guess the greatness of this particular series.
Hellsing is a more matriarchal series, as Hellsing is run by Sir Integra Hellsing, a cold-as-ice, cross-dressing, cigar smoking femme with an attitude that could make the devil wet his pants. She is also the Master of Alucard, a sexalicious bishounen with a big gun, and the original Vlad Tepes (Dracula). These two are the only real 'couple' in the series, both manga and anime, as Integra deals with her small but significant passion for the vampire, and he desires her strength and power.
Seras Victoria, a young woman who begins the series as a ditzy and helpless police girl, awakens to her vampiric powers by her master Alucard. Throughout the anime and manga, she is treated like crap, just a stupid girl who should be behind the man. Little do they realize she begins to loose her humanity more and more, carrying a Halconnen Canon and the strength of a wild beast.
But enough about the feminism. On to why this is a slashable series. If anyone has watched Hellsing, you'd see that Alucard, like all cinema vampires, is the most sexual, masochistic, hump-anything-that-could-kick-his-ass kinda guy. Everything is subtle, yet very obvious.
One man, Paladin Alexander Anderson, makes this very clear. He is a vampiric priest from the Vatican sent to slay Alucard, and is unstoppable. Also, he was the only one that was ever a real threat to Alucard, and in manga #2, there is an aspect of sexual excitement when Alucard is faced with the priest again. The vampire is a masochist, and in the manga, a humorous scene with old people makes Anderson say he's "lost interest" in fighting, obviously saying the mood was destroyed.
Also, in the anime, Alucard keeps a certain murdurous passion towards Incognito, a revolting creature, but still one of the only creatures who could ever harm him.
Plus, just look at him! The way he acts, dresses, talks. Alucard is gayer than french toast!
Still, I recommend Hellsing to any feminist or yaoi-fan, simply for the hot guys and kick-ass girls.





