Product Description

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. But what really knocks 'em dead is the sharp wit, awesome artwork, and crazy, bloody action that make up the manga. Hellsing the long-awaited manga is finally in America, thanks to Dark Horse Comics and the folks at Digital Manga, and you're gonna love it. Come get some smart-ass gore and action as only Japan seems to produce, in that crazy "non-Western" format the kids seem to love. And nice and thick at a full 200 pages! The night is dark, but at least those wacky anti-heroes from Hellsing can make light of it.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #40337 in Books
• Published on: 2003-12-16
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

Customer Reviews

It is a nice night female officer, on a night such as this..
Hellsing. As a fan of the animé and of the manga, I hold Hellsing in high regard. So do excuse me if the review is, a little biased. :)

As stated by other reviews, Hellsing: Psalm to the Darkness, is set in England. The manga reflects this relatively well, with its phrasing and attempts of an accent in the writing of the text. This is as evident as the english voice actors used in the 'dub' of the japanese anime.

Hellsing isn't intended as the more common 'vampire' japanese serials, it has its serious points, and of course, bloody killing of vampires and rival priests, but it has a humour thats almost entirely its own. This, I feel, is carried along well, and while you may be carried along in the feel of the manga, and the excitement of the fighting through the refreshing drawing style - you can't help but want more. I have met very few who have picked up the manga or the anime and haven't loved it, if not straight away, then eventually.

Translations of japanese mangas are always a bit sketchy, however this one pulls it off well enough to be believable. However, if you're picking this book up, expecting it to be exactly the same as the anime, you will be a little disappointed. The storyline in the manga does surpass the anime and explains certain aspects in greater and more interesting detail. Though the storylines are the same.

Overall, Hellsing is an enjoyable read, and there're enough pages in one book to keep you reading for a good few hours, depending on your rate of reading of course. The author has included a bonus chapter based on a tangent to the storyline, and his own comments - that are amusing to read. If you're a fan of Trigun, this has a similar feel, but isn't intended as a rip-off as it was originally written and published at about the same time. I recommend it. *Readies Cassul with his teeth* ^_~

I did come up with a title - but then I forgot it
The manga - Hellsing, is about the organization of the same name that has dedicated itself to protecting England; well, an awfully but hilariously stereotyped version of it anyway, from vampires and demons and the usual gang of night time terrors, for probably a very long time. In particular, it is about a tall, dark and scary, but very cool vampire named Alucard that is for some reason working for the humans to kill his own kind, who have of recent become reckless and lost their way. Joining this squad of righteousness is Seras Victoria, the new blood; a young vampire that Alucard turned to save her life.

The manga is already pretty famous just about everywhere (as is the anime), and there are a lot of reviews here that are probably much better than mine, so while I don't exactly have to right this review, I want to write a short something-something anyway.

Throughout this first volume there is clever dialogue that, as already mentioned, is a ludicrously stereotyped version of the way us Brits speak, and the colloquialisms we use. It is pretty clear that the author knows what he is doing though, and the result is often pretty funny; especially the swearing, with an almost liquid use of that w- word the English use oh so often to describe every thing or situation around us. Also, as hilarious, is the absurd portrayal of our religious beliefs, our apparent devotion to the monarchy, and even our physical appearance and, noted by the author on one page, apparent extremely poor eye sight; nearly every single character wears glasses! Of course, we know that it is a joke, and the whole thing is funny as hell (bad joke, if it could even be called a joke), so it can all be forgiven. Heck, by now I'm used to, and enjoy, seeing how other countries view the English. I guess we stereotype the Japanese quite a bit, so, we probably deserve it all anyway.

The artwork is great and a definite highlight of Hellsing. As is to be expected, everything has been washed in goth and hung out to dry in a quaint little English garden, probably infested with blood thirsty vampires. Also, throughout the book, the only thing that is as consistent as the stereotyping of English people is the author's scary lust for, and indulgence in, extreme violence. Seriously, it comes thick and fast, page after page; but, when the violence is drawn as beautifully as it is, you'll be welcoming every gore saturated frame of it.

So, to summarise a rather pointless review, this is a great manga and a great start line into this genre. Everyone looks great and the dialogue is good. The characters are all likeable and the story is addictive, gripping, and original. Buy it (if you want too, I don't want to force you into anything you don't want to do here). Thank you for reading my review.

just amazing, alucard is the greatest vampire ever
just amazing, the anime version is ok but when compared to the manga (it deviates from the manga after 3 episodes or so) but after reading the manga it is clear it is far far better.

this is for me a review of the series rather than this specific volume ive read as far as has been published in japan and have to say it gets better and better.

it starts with a simple premise, a secret organisation protects the uk from vampires and other occult dangers, the twist of course being that it is a vampire (the rather psychotic alucard and seras the woman he turns into a vampire in the first chapter) that is under control of the protestant knights (or hellsing organisation). complication arises becasue of the intense hatered toward them from the catholic 'iscariot' divsion XIII and as time goes on the mysterious millenium organisation.

it is a series that is as influenced by action as it is horror (probably more), need i say more than vampires with guns (very big guns). the depiction of vampires is very different to their depiction in other contemporary vampire stories and to my mind far superior, with alucard we see more than merely a human with fangs and super strength you generally see. he is a real monster that could (and does) kill vampires like that with ease.

ever see vampire hunter d? if you did i feel sorry for you, get and read this as a rememdy and to show how proper vampire stories should be done. anne rice, ha, eat your heart out (alucard would)

as the series goes on the story gets extreme and unique and it brilliant and well worth a read above any other modern vampire story.