Drifters: Volume 1

by Kohta Hirano, 211 pages

History's greatest warriors are being plucked from their times and transported to a strange world, but by whom and for what purpose? Craziness, backtalk, and action abound in Hellsing creator Hirano's newest series.

Please read my full review at NoFlyingNoTights!

Hellsing: Volume 10

by Kohta Hirano, 191 pages

Ultimately, all the immortals in this series want the same thing. Alucard is just particular as to the manner in which he gets it. Those of us who've grown the teeniest bit fond of him (despite the gruesome insanity that generally accompanies his existence) should be thankful for that pickiness, as he quite vocally does not approve of the means by which his various opponents offer to grant his request and, so, refuses to take them up on it.

This is the final volume of the series. While I have enjoyed it overall and will miss Alucard's unique presence, I think my limited tolerance for wanton bloodshed and seemingly random plotting also means I'm a little relieved. Some elements I would have liked to see fleshed out never get addressed after they're introduced, while others seem to wrap up too quickly and neatly. And yet some bits are really creative and thought-provoking. And many others make me laugh, though some uncomfortably so. In the end, I'll always think of Alucard and his cohorts with a chuckle...and a wide-eyed headshake for the sheer madness of it all.

Hellsing: Volume 9

by Kohta Hirano, 231 pages

Alucard and Father Anderson have their big showdown, but it's not what our whacked out, weary vampire had hoped for. And neither, certainly, is the follow-up confrontation, which none of them saw coming, even though it's been brewing in front of their noses for fifty years.

As the Major celebrates his perfectly executed plans and Police Girl battles a werewolf who seems to want her to take him out permanently, Alucard throws himself into his own altercations with all the glee, cold bitterness, and disappointment he can muster--which is rather a lot.

I must admit, I was a little sad at the big reveal in this volume. But I shouldn't have been surprised, given the creator's preference for defying convention and thwarting reader expectations. This series is all about the craziness and unpleasantness that comes with being a blood-sucking fiend, even if that blood-sucking fiend has a sense of humor and is under contract with the disturbingly pragmatic forces of good.

Hellsing: Volume 8

by Kohta Hirano, 207 pages

Iscariot and Millennium take turns destroying London and one another until Alucard finally comes home and asks Integra for his orders, which of course are to erase all enemies in sight--which he sets about doing with a great big grin on his face. There is one "person," however, who believes Alucard is an even greater danger to all things under heaven than those the vampire is gleefully squashing. Has Alucard met his match? And why's the crazy fiend so happy at the prospect?

Oh, the mess. There are flashbacks and massacres and some crazy personal holy war business. And why does Alucard suddenly have facial hair?! And only for a few (not all together contiguous) pages?? At least Police Girl notices, too, and comments on it, so it's not just me.... :P

Hellsing: Volume 7

by Kohta Hirano, 190 pages

Millennium brings the fight to Hellsing's HQ and things are not going well for the defenders. But sending Police Girl over the edge may not work out so well for the invaders, considering her vampire sire's identity. Meanwhile, over the ravaged streets of London, Iscariot's on the move. But they're not here to save the day. Their leader, Maxwell, is well and truly insane. And while Father Anderson isn't exactly the most sane man, either, he takes exception to his superior's twisting of their group's mission and takes matters into his own hands. Unfortunately, the Major hasn't been idle while his dirigibles have been raining doom on the city below...and I don't think Alucard is going to appreciate the Major's tinkering. At all.

Ooh, I do not like the baddies and look forward to the walloping they're going to get. Although I don't know that I need to see it in all its gory detail....

Hellsing: Volume 6

by Kohta Hirano, 191 pages

Millennium is cutting a bloody swath through England's metropolitan centers, leaving a trail of wanton destruction and newly minted zombies in its wake. Having smelled death on the wind, Alucard is on his way, but magically-propelled aircraft carriers with surveillance planes intentionally flown nose-first into their decks aren't the fastest mode of transportation. In the meantime, Integra will have to rely on the dubious assistance of Iscariot's Father Anderson while Police Girl and Hellsing's remaining recruits fend off illusion-wielding invaders with her high-powered, custom weaponry and Alucard's recalled advice.

Dude, the first fifteen pages are nothing but heavily-inked, gruesome images of Millennium's attack on the London populace accompanied by the lyrics to some anthem of evil called "Devil Stockings." *gah* I was much happier once I got to Integra chomping on her cigar, looking bored, and talking trash to the slightly confused uniformed vampires trying to take her into custody. That, and Police Girl stubbornly shouldering a rocket launcher-looking gun about three times bigger than she is and blowing Millennium's dirigible-of-doom right out of the sky.

Hellsing: Volume 5

by Kohta Hirano, 205 pages

Millennium has created a distraction in the Atlantic while they secretly send a bunch of giant airships armed with bombs and a hungry undead army to attack the English homeland.

Ew. Alucard's dispatching of Rip Van, the crazy, super-powered, gun-toting, aircraft carrier-hijacking distraction, is neither quick nor painless. Meanwhile, things have rather gone to h-e-double-hockey-sticks on the mainland. Without Alucard, will Integra, Police Girl, and the rest of Hellsing be able to fend off the vile invaders?

Hellsing: Volume 4

by Kohta Hirano, 205 pages

After the mess in South America, Integra recalls Alucard and the gang back to England for an audience with the Queen, Iscariot's Maxwell, and other behind-the-scenes bigwigs. But their war-room briefing is interrupted by a cheerful messenger from Millennium's man in charge. The "Major" is anything but modest as he boasts, via video conferencing, of his plan to defeat Alucard and take over the world with his army of Nazi vampires--starting with those snotty Brits.

Whenever I think this story's sole focus is to see how much bloody action it can cram into one book, it surprises me with hints at a deeper element by wiping the crazy, self-satisfied smile off Alucard's face and replacing it with something more complex and troubled. Last time, it was in his reactions to Police Girl's hesitation to kill and to a human opponent's unexpected suicide. This time, it appears in his disoriented, frustrated face upon waking from a memory-haunted dream. Now I'm curious! The reader gets so distracted by the present undead Nazi threat that she forgets the colorful lead must have an intriguing past to mine. How did a seemingly unstoppable monster like Alucard become the Hellsing family's "man" in the first place? Who--and what--was he before?

Hellsing: Volume 3

by Kohta Hirano, 191 pages

Integra sends Alucard, Police Girl, and a contingent of new Hellsing recruits off to South America to start tracking down the evil Millennium group. But the bad guys are eagerly awaiting their arrival and set in motion a bloody game to test their opponents. Meanwhile, Iscariot is up to its own shadowy doings.

Goodness, there's a lot of collateral damage to the local police force in this volume. And it isn't pretty. Let's just say that Alucard appears to make a little homage to his historical namesake (or himself--we're still not sure) from Transylvania...one that involves spikes. *shudder* Despite the violence (and there is an awful lot of it), there's still the barest hint of moral ambiguity, as even Alucard pauses--however briefly--to question his methods. But when Integra considers their true enemy, she gives the order--and Alucard won't question her.

Hellsing: Volume 2

by Kohta Hirano, 189 pages

The Hellsing organization's headquarters suffer a debilitating surprise attack at the hands (and fangs and claws and guns) of a foul-mouthed pair of undead brothers and their horde of cannibal ghouls. Sir Integra dispatches Alucard and the others to combat the invaders, but she soon learns she'll have to face more than just her present unsavory visitors; there's also the matter of the greater evil that sent them. To accomplish that, she must find out everything she can about the mysterious "Millennium" group, even if it means sharing information with (the devoutly Church of England) Hellsing's despised rival, Iscariot--the Vatican's own secret anti-forces-of-darkness division. To say the two do not get on well would be an understatement. But as neither of them are fans of occult-obsessed Nazis, they may be able to hold back the urge to destroy each other just a wee bit longer. Maybe.

This series just gets bloodier and nuttier. One of the hooligans in the surprise attack looks confusingly similar to Integra, but that small quibble is overshadowed by the exceedingly eager Alucard's crazy-scary transformation into...something...else. Yikes! Also, Police Girl's desperate tactic to stop Alucard and Iscariot's Father Anderson from coming to disastrous blows in the British Museum is pretty funny.

Not for the sensitive, this, but fun just the same.

Hellsing: Volume 1

by Kohta Hirano, 204 pages

When vampires, ghouls, and the like run amok on English soil, the ill-equipped authorities call the experts. And then, if they're smart, they get out of the way, as the experts' pistol-wielding secret weapon has as sharp a tongue as he does teeth and, as a general rule, doesn't hesitate to use either.

Ten years ago, Sir Integra inherited the leadership of the Hellsing organization from her father. She also inherited Alucard (look at that name--now look at it backwards...), the ultimate vampire hunter, product of generations of development, sworn to serve and protect his master, who is in turn sworn to protect crown and country from the denizens of darkness. And there have been an awful lot of them popping up lately.

Alucard is a great anti-hero. He's witty. He's got mad skillz. And he's kinda evil. All of which come in handy when he's taking on the unruly undead and other interfering agents. Sardonic Integra, naive Police Girl (she has a name, Alucard just chooses not to use it), scary Father Anderson, and the rest of the cast are equally good fits (though Anderson's heavy Irish dialect can be a little difficult to follow--reading it out loud helps!). The art is also ideal for the plot and personalities, steeped as they are in darkness, action, and irreverence--as well as a good deal of blood (we are talking about vampires here, after all). So, if you're not too squeamish and like your vampires darkly insane rather than sparkly romantic, you might consider giving Alucard a look...from a safe distance.