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Captain Pip Vernedeadピップ・ベルナドット隊長, Pippu Berunadotto Taichō, OVA: Pip Bernadotte is a major supporting character in the Hellsing series created by Kohta Hirano. He is voiced by Hiroaki Hirata in the Japanese sub and Yuri Lowenthal in the English dub. Hiromi Igarashi and Karen Strassman in Japanese and English respectively provided their voice for her younger iteration appearing in flashbacks.

He is the leader of the group of mercenaries known as the Wild Geese. A shallow, perverted, and chainsmoking French mercenary, he and his squad, The Wild Geese, were hired by the Hellsing Agency after Hellsing lost its own troops in the Valentine attack. Vernedead is a well-experienced soldier and fares surprisingly well against the undead he was put against.

Appearance[]

Vernedead was a man of slightly above-average height and build, with ginger hair and green eyes. His hair was messy, thick and tied up in a long braid, which he sometimes curled around his neck. He had sharp features and supported a bandage on the bridge of his nose. His right eye appears to be damaged, so he covered it with bandages up to the events of Rio; where he replaced the bandages with a black eyepatch instead.[6][7]

He wore a dark beige t-shirt under a brown military jacket with its sleeves rolled up to his shoulder. The jacket's collar supported many badges and a flag. Upon being employed in the Hellsing Agency, Vernedead's jacket supported the Hellsing badge. He also wore baggy military pants with a belt, and a pair of black boots. Perhaps his most notable accessories were his slouched hat with the Wild Geese badge. He also wore an orangish-red folded scarf.

Personality[]

Initially, Vernedead was portrayed as a narrow-minded and somewhat shallow, pervert whose sole pursuit was that of gaining money, and therefore proved to be an experienced, excellent mercenary.[8] His carefree attitude is shown whenever the members of the Wild Geese feel like they are in a hopeless situation, where Vernedead soon lightens up the mood and motivates his men.[9][10] He's charismatic in his speeches, and he treats his Wild Geese members as actual, close friends rather than nameless soldiers.[11][12] However, whenever the time does seem bleak, Vernedead could be quite serious.[13][14]

However his sarcastic nature greatly overshadowed his battle intellect, leading some to greatly underestimate him for the genius he was in strategy and tactics.[15] He's prideful, and despite being portrayed as a womanizer, Vernedead was loyal especially towards Seras, whom he told his crew that if they ever let a woman like her die, then they'd be a disgrace, something his crew agrees with.[16] His playful and carefree attitude, along with his great leadership, is what drove the Wild Geese to be incredibly loyal towards Vernedead.[17]

A man with respect and honor, Vernedead admitted that his concern with the battle was not out of money, but for revenge over the innocent civilians of London, despite it being a city that he hates, does not deserve to partake in a bloody "war" they had nothing to do with; stating that Millennium's act of bombing and turning London into something synonymous with hell is an act he couldn't forgive. Though shallow and perverted on the surface, Vernedead was kind at heart; forcing himself to eat a cuisine he found to be so "greasy" because he didn't want to break an old lady's heart.[18]

Vernedead was also a compulsive smoker. He was shown with a cigarette hanging in his mouth even in death.[19] Seras also commented on this by saying "Would you please stop smoking cigarettes inside me?."[20]

Relationships[]

Allies[]

  • Seras Victoria: Upon Vernedead's and Seras' first meeting, she was introduced to him as a "vampire," something Vernedead doesn't believe in and just simply shrugged her off.[21] After the revelation and the hiring of the Geese, Vernedead and his crew were to be trained under Seras Victoria, whom Vernedead found to be attractive and later took particular interest in.[22] He teased her so much so that during training, Seras burst out into a room with Walter and Alucard reporting that Vernedead had been sexually harassing her; Vernedead followed her into the room singing and continued the flirting, much to Seras' dismay.[23] As the story progresses, Seras and Vernedead soon start to be more and more friendly towards one another, in OVA IV they are seen having fun outside and buying food.[24][25]

    By the time the attack on the Hellsing Manor by subsidiaries of the Last Battalion under the orders of Zorin Blitz happened, Vernedead and Seras had grown to be close friends.[26] Vernedead's loyalty towards Seras is apparent; stating that if the Geese ever let a girl like her die, then they'd be nothing sort of a disgrace.[27] When Zorin prepared to execute Seras, Vernedead stepped in and attacked Zorin head-on, which caused his inevitable death for doing so. However, he did so with no regrets, Vernedead died with a laugh on his face after he had finally stolen a kiss from Seras, with his final request being for Seras to "feed on him," which Seras accepts after Zorin had insulted him, in order to defeat Zorin "together."[28][29] After Vernedead returned as Seras' familiar, he became her advisor and encouraged her in desperate situations which gave her a boost of motivation.[30] Within the time skip, Vernedead is referred to as Seras' shadow and has covered the Hellsing Manor as a watcher.[31]
  • Wild Geese Deputy: Vernedead and the Deputy were particularly close friends, having known each other since before the war in Uganda.[32][33] The Deputy was someone Vernedead could rely on in reporting situations and the conditions of members of the Geese. When the Deputy was in a near-death state, Vernedead was saddened and let him rest in peace, bidding farewell.[34]

Enemies[]

  • Zorin Blitz: Zorin and Vernedead despise each other, more on Zorin's side who belittles him at every chance she has.[35] Though Vernedead made no attempt to underestimate her as he was very aware of her great capabilities as an artificial vampire of Millennium, Vernedead briefly insulted her by calling her a "hag" as he continuously struck her without giving her any room to breathe. In the end, of Zorin's scythe in which she threw, Vernedead died as Zorin calls him an "insect," enraging Seras and dooming Zorin as a result of her overestimating herself.[36][37][38]

Abilities[]

Abilities and Skills
Tactical Genius: With Vernedead's family history being infamous for being a group of mercenaries, Vernedead's tactical genius may be inherited from his family.[39] For instance, he was the one who planned the minefield tactic had Zorin and her army escaped from the zeppelin unscathed; the plan worked for the most part, forcing Zorin to use her illusionary powers early on.[40][41] As a familiar, Vernedead became Seras' tactician and helped her greatly during the fight with The Captain; deducing his true nature as a werewolf[42], why The Captain threw a silver tooth at Seras[43], and the tactic used to precisely put an end to the werewolf.[44][45]

PipPainSupressionOVA

PipPainSupressionManga

Even though he's bleeding profusely from multiple shots, Vernedead suppresses his pain and strides forward to bring Seras into safety until he was stopped by Zorin

Indomitable Will: Even when faced with the inevitable, painful death at the hands of Zorin's military, Vernedead never back down and instead puts up quite a challenge, and trouble for Zorin and her army.[46][47] Even when he was shot at while trying to carry Seras to safety, he still tried his hardest to stride forward and get Seras back to safety; suppressing his pain before Zorin put a stop to it by throwing her scythe at Vernedead's spine.[48]

Pain Suppression: As he carried Seras back to safety after the torturous beating she received from Zorin, Vernedead was shot at by a member of Zorin's forces who was still alive; before any further damage, the battalion member was quickly put down before any more further damage to Vernedead could be done. Bleeding profusely, a combination of his pride and incredible will, he suppressed his pain and strides forward despite the damage.[49]

PipMarksmanshipOVA

PipMarksmanshipManga

Vernedead shoots the commanders of the GATE officers with incredible precision

Marksmanship: With hardly any difficulty and with such precision and speed, Vernedead was able to dispel any GATE commanders working for Tubalcain using just a silenced pistol; hitting headshots with every shot he fired.[50] In the OVA, with his incredible precision and reflex, he was able to throw a knife toward a man just as the man was about to shoot a spray of bullets toward him.[51]

PipCombatOVA

PipCombatManga

Without giving Zorin any time to react, Vernedead strikes her down and later empties his Colt revolver on Zorin

Combat Experience: His origins and being born into a life of mercenary, and his past experiences with warfare; Vernedead proved himself to be quite an exceptional combatant.[52][53] With no difficulty, he was able to silently approach, and catch Zorin off-guard just before relentlessly striking her; not giving any time nor chance for her to react, and later shooting her at point-blank range, which allowed him to buy some time for him, the remaining members of the Geese, and Seras to recover.[54][55] The scene was slightly altered in the OVA; the initial attack stays the same, but Zorin briefly managed to try and retaliate, however, Vernedead managed to block the attack and retaliated by shooting her at point-blank range with his revolver.[56]

Weapons[]

Concept and Creation[]

In order to balance out the dynamic of the cast, Vernedead was created to be paired up with Seras, as Seras and Alucard's "combo" wasn't possible.[57] Despite his creation to serve as to pair-up with Seras, Hirano noted that he was supposed to die early on in the story.[58] However, Hirano stated that Seras deciding whether or not to drink Vernedead's battle was decided on from the "very beginning."[59]

Hirano based Vernedead's design off of an earlier hentai manga he did years before Hellsing went into production.[60] Throughout Volume 2 until Volume 3, Vernedead's design wasn't yet finalized. Early on, his eyepatch was instead a bandage that wrapped around his damaged left eye, and it was not until Chapter 14 that his bandages were replaced by an eyepatch.[61][62] His jacket also appeared to be much more exaggerated before it was then simplified in Volume 6, similar to how Seras' outfit was also simplified from her first Hellsing military outfit in a special issue of Young King OURs.

Name[]

He is never referred to as "Pip" in the manga but is credited as "Pip Bernadotte" in the credits of the OVA.[63] The English dub of the OVA pronounced Pip's last name as "Bernadotte." However, Chapter 52 of the manga's chapter cover features Pip, and writing behind Pip on the wall says "Pip Vern."[64] In addition, the official English translation of the manga by Dark Horse Comics wrote his last name as "Vernedead." The guidebook page specifically for Pip also uses "Vernedead," although an extra "D" was added in, resulting in it being "Vernedeadd."[65] Both surnames, "Bernadotte" and "Vernedead" are technically correct; as they've all been used in official media in some way or another. It should be noted that in the original English release of Volume 2 by Dark Horse Comics, Pip's surname is written as "Bernadette" instead.[66]

Quotes[]

"Now, then. Let's go and die, dogs. Let's die while yelling 'fuck, fuck.' As we take gut-shots, as we writhe in agony. Make no mistake. No mistake about it."
— Pip Vernedead[67]
"Where do you plan to go? Your grave's right here. Your tombstone's this ruddy huge mansion. Your grave keeper's that terrifying girl, Integra. Your epitaph goes like this: 'Here, the mercenaries had at the evil Nazis in high style and here they sleep in high style.' But because of your bawling, it's your fault it gets changed. 'Wasted and Gutless, they die like bugs while weeping like women.'"
— Pip Vernedead[68]
"Monsieur Wolfman. Here's payback from someone, somewhere, fifty years ago. Keep the change. That's what you get for messing with a bloke's bird! And you lost your collar. Adieu, war dog."
— Pip Vernedead[69][70]

Trivia[]

  • It appears that on his left collar, he has a patch of the flag of Romania.
    • It could also be a faded French flag.
  • The brand of cigarettes Vernedead smoked before he died is "Lucky Strike."[71]
  • It's implied that Vernedead was raised in the United States in his youth. In the seventh episode of the OVA during his grandfather's speech, a shot shows Mr. Vernedead's newspaper and is readable. The newspaper he is reading is called "NEW YORK FINANCIAL NEWS" and another page talks has a headline about trade disputes and another saying an Alabama injunction led to a factory closing.

References[]

  1. Order 80: Wolf Fang (1) p. 5
  2. Hellsing: Volume 6 Character Introduction
  3. Order 13: Balance of Power (3) p. 12
  4. HELLSING official guide book p. 016
  5. Order 11: Balance of Power (1)
  6. Order 11: Balance of Power (1)
  7. Order 17: Elevator Action
  8. Hellsing: Ultimate III
  9. Order 48: Soldier of Fortune (4)
  10. Order 50: Soldier of Fortune (6)
  11. Order 47: Soldier of Fortune (3)
  12. Hellsing: Ultimate VIII
  13. Order 49: Soldier of Fortune (5)
  14. Order 52: Get Away
  15. Order 45: Soldier of Fortune (1)
  16. Order 48: Soldier of Fortune (4)
  17. Hellsing: Ultimate VIII
  18. Order 44: Balloon Fight pp. 1-3
  19. Hellsing: Ultimate VIII
  20. Order 80: Wolf Fang (1) p. 5
  21. Order 11: Balance of Power (1) pp. 9-12
  22. Hellsing: Ultimate III
  23. Order 13: Balance of Power (3) pp. 12, and 17
  24. Hellsing: Ultimate IV
  25. Order 21: Age of Empire (2) pp. 11-12
  26. Hellsing: Ultimate VI
  27. Order 48: Soldier of Fortune (4)
  28. Order 52: Get Away
  29. Order 53: Yaksa
  30. Hellsing: Ultimate IX
  31. Order 89: Romancia
  32. Order 50: Soldier of Fortune (6) prologue
  33. Hellsing: Ultimate VII ending sequence
  34. Order 50: Soldier of Fortune (6) pp. 1-2
  35. Hellsing: Ultimate VII
  36. Order 52: Get Away
  37. Order 53: Yaksa
  38. Order 55: Ogre Battle
  39. Order 45: Soldier of Fortune (1)
  40. Order 46: Soldier of Fortune (2)
  41. Order 47: Soldier of Fortune (3)
  42. Order 79: Warcraft (2)
  43. Order 80: Wolf Fang (1) pp. 3-4
  44. Order 80: Wolf Fang (1)
  45. Order 81: Wolf Fang (2)
  46. Hellsing: Ultimate VI
  47. Hellsing: Ultimate VIII
  48. Order 52: Get Away pp. 4-14
  49. Order 52: Get Away pp. 4-14
  50. Order 18: Elevator Action (5) p. 20
  51. Hellsing: Ultimate III
  52. Order 45: Soldier of Fortune (1)
  53. HELLSING official guide book p. 016
  54. Order 52: Get Away
  55. Order 53: Yaksa
  56. Hellsing: Ultimate VIII
  57. HELLSING official guide book Battle 03
  58. Hellsing: Volume 7 Character Introduction
  59. HELLSING official guide book Battle 03
  60. Hellsing: Volume 6 Character Introduction
  61. Order 11: Balance of Power (1)
  62. Order 14: Elevator Action (1)
  63. Hellsing: Ultimate X ending credits
  64. Order 52: Get Away chapter cover
  65. HELLSING official guide book p. 016
  66. Order 11: Balance of Power (1) p. 6
  67. Order 47: Soldier of Fortune (3) p. 17
  68. Order 48: Soldier of Fortune (4) p. 3
  69. Order 80: Wolf Fang (1) p. 16
  70. Order 81: Wolf Fang (2) chapter cover
  71. Hellsing: Ultimate VII
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