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Sir Arthur Hellsing 《アーサー・ヘルシング卿,Āsā Herushingu-Kyō》 is a pivotal posthumous character in the Hellsing series created by Kohta Hirano, and one of the three main characters in Hellsing: The Dawn, alongside Walter C. Dornez and Alucard. In both anime adaptations of Hellsing, he is voiced by Chikao Ōtsuka in the Japanese sub and John E. Breen in the English dub. Daisuke Namikawa provided his voice for his younger iteration in Hellsing: The Dawn.
He was the head of the Hellsing family and was the one who made his daughter, Sir Integra Hellsing, the head of the Hellsing Organisation, wary of his younger brother Richard Hellsing. An efficient, but cocky leader, Arthur was well respected by everyone and eventually as he grew older, he became wiser and better understood the true nature of vampires. As a result, Arthur became a philosopher, much like his father, Abraham Van Helsing.
A youthful, young man, Arthur closely resembled his father in terms of facial and external features, most notably the two little hairs that stick up which resemble horns. He also had a thick high-arching eyebrow, and a slicked, short, albeit messy hair, and was a tall man with an average build. By 1989, Arthur had grown old. He had grown a mustache and a goatee; his hair, which was slicked to the back, now has an upward bangs that falls to the left side of his head. Like all businessmen during the 1940s in England, Arthur dressed in formal business attire; which consisted of a long-sleeved shirt with an added tie, along with a vest and covered with an open suit, which matched his dress pants and was finished with a pair of business shoes and gloves.
Personality[]
Arthur was cocky and amorous as a young man, with women he'd invite over sometimes briefly interrupting important conversations, as seen in The Dawn.[2] He also seemed sloppy, as the library was in a state of disarray as well as having dirty crockery stacked and strewn about the place.[3] Furthermore, he was shown smiling during a serious conversation with the Round Table Council about the discovery of the Nazis working on something dangerous, and had they succeeded, they would've won World War II.[4] Still, despite his cockiness, however, he ran the organisation efficiently and was particularly wary about using Alucard for missions.
Arthur was a man with extraordinary confidence in what he does, and in the soldiers he sends during missions. Primarily, while the Round Table Council questioned his decision to send in 14-year-old Walter C. Dornez to infiltrate an enemy base, Arthur stood his ground and was confident that Walter with his legendary nickname could finish the mission with the vampire Alucard.[5]Sir Irons in particular criticized Arthur for his careless and brash attitude.[6]
Becoming wiser as he gets older, he eventually earns the respect of his comrade, and has a lot more in common with his father than anybody might think; as they are both clumsy, sarcastic and don't take serious situations too seriously and both confident in their decisions of handling things.[7][8] In addition, he was an expert in the occult, and his philosophy taught Integra to understand the true nature of vampires that goes much deeper than the surface.[9]
Despite his confident outlook and careless personality, he was shown to be paranoid when it comes to the use of Alucard. His paranoia led to the sealing of Alucard decades after the events of The Dawn, and before the events of Hellsing.[10][11] Much like his daughter, Arthur smokes a bunch even during his last days.[12] However, unlike Integra, Arthur is a drinker. He drank so much so that Irons criticized him for drinking in an urgent matter. Arthur later poured a bottle of liquor to Irons cup as a response.[13]
History[]
Little is known about Arthur. He was the oldest son of Abraham Van Hellsing and had a younger brother named Richard Hellsing. When he was a young man, he became friends with his future colleagues Sir Hugh Irons and Sir Shelby M. Penwood during their early days in Oxford.[14] He would eventually succeed as the Hellsing family's new head.
During the events of The Dawn, he assigned 14-year-old Walter C. Dornez and Alucard to destroy a vampire research facility in Warsaw, Poland to stop the Nazis from deploying experimental ghouls into battle. If allowed to continue, the ghouls would keep growing infinitely, as defeated human infantries would have become ghouls. Despite doubt from members of the Round Table, Arthur was sure that Walter would succeed in the mission. After the mission proved somewhat successful, and decades later, according to Sir Hugh Irons, Arthur came to believe that Alucard was a "drastic medicine; too dangerous to use as an elixir", and Alucard was sealed and locked in the Hellsing Mansion's dungeon in 1968.
Hellsing[]
Over the course of the next 2 decades, Arthur had a daughter named Integra Hellsing. In 1988, Arthur contracted an incurable disease. Before his inevitable death, Arthur put much focus on preparing Integra for her future as the head of the Hellsing Organisation. He taught her almost everything he knew before he passed away.[15][16] Wary about his younger brother's antics and motivation, Arthur crowned Integra as the head of the organisation while pleading with his brother to take care of his daughter.[17]
Legacy[]
Arthur's skepticism proved correct, as Richard later hunted down Integra in hopes of being the organisation's head before the ceremony began.[18] Arthur's friend, Sir Irons was also suspicious about Arthur's younger brother and had previously told Hellsing Family butler Walter C. Dornez to watch over her, but he was suspiciously nowhere to be found.[19] As Integra grew older, she had a deeper understanding of what Arthur taught her about the nature of vampires and ghouls.[20] Arthur's close friends miss him dearly, and each taught Integra how to become a great leader like her father. After the catastrophic event in 1999, Irons visited the graves of Penwood and Arthur to reminisce about the past for the last time, shortly before parting ways.[21]
Arthur's findings about the secret Nazi subsidiary working to make artificial vampires, and sending Alucard and Walter to infiltrate their base directly caused the chains of events that led to the battle of London.[22][23] The event also caused an intense rivalry between Alucard and Walter.[24][25]
Relationships[]
Familial[]
Sir Integral Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing: Ever since his wife's implied death, Arthur taught and took care of Integra. It was not until he was diagnosed with an incurable disease that Integra took his full priority.[26] Before his inevitable death, Arthur taught Integra almost everything he knew and introduced her to his close friends who would gladly help her if the time needed.[27] Unfortunately, Arthur died sooner than expected. Before Arthur's death, Arthur told Integra one more philosophy about vampires, and that if she ever finds herself in a real crisis, then she should go underground to the forgotten dungeons; there lies one of the fruits of the Hellsing family labors, and it will be her protection.[28][29]
Mere seconds before his death, Arthur entrusts Integra with the heavy burden of becoming the head of the Hellsing Organisation. Though he had suspicions of his younger brother, Richard, he pleaded for Richard to take care of Integra for him. He told Integra that there were still so many things he wanted to teach her and that he wanted to keep watching over her and taking pride.[30] Arthur passed away, and from his teachings, Integra learned a lot. Integra follows his father's footsteps and uses everything she learned and inherits from him to great use.[31][32][33]
Richard Hellsing: Though the two had a seemingly normal sibling relationship when Arthur was alive, Arthur secretly had a distrust over his young brother, which is displayed when he kept Alucard's existence a secret from his younger brother, but told Integra the whereabouts of the Hellsing family's greatest legacy. This also means that Arthur was predicting the future, and took careful consideration over who would become the headmaster for Hellsing, that is, his daughter. While the decision made Richard incredibly angry at his brother, stating that he had waited 20 years for his brother to die just for him to crown his daughter as Hellsing's official headmaster, Arthur does love his brother. He trusted him dearly and pleaded for Richard to care for his daughter after he passed away, which shows that he truly does consider Richard as his younger brother.[34]
Allies[]
Sir Hugh Irons: Irons and Arthur were, although drastically different in personality, close friends. They had been friends since their early days in Oxford.[35] In their conversion in The Dawn, their conflicting personality are in full display; Arthur is very laid back and confident, even in serious situations which Irons described as a "state of national emergency," while Irons is all serious and about business.[36] Arthur, Irons, and Penwood were inseparable during their younger years.[37]
By the time of Arthur's death, Irons, just like Arthur, was very wary of Richard Hellsing. Irons told Hellsing family butler Walter C. Dornez to watch over Integra and keep an eye out for Richard's suspicious activities. However, when the time eventually came for Richard to hunt down Integra, Walter was nowhere to be found. In a desperate attempt to save herself, Integra awoke the Hellsing family vampire Alucard.[38] In the end, after the war had ended, Irons visited the graves of Penwood and Arthur; reminiscing about the past with his best friends for the last time.[39]
Sir Shelby M. Penwood: Though the two never interacted in the manga, Penwood stated that Arthur would come up and make "unreasonable" demands and that he's always up to something in a sarcastic and clumsy tone towards Integra's daughter, in which Integra responded back by saying that she won't lose out to her father when it comes to asking for things, which made Penwood shiver.[40] Penwood was the clumsiest of the trio and was often the butt of the joke. Penwood's grave was placed close next to Arthur's, which Iron visited some time after the catastrophe in London had ended for the last time before disappearing.[41]
Alucard: Alucard and Arthur's relationship was very vague, with Arthur being cautious of the usage of Alucard in missions; opting instead to send in Walter C. Dornez, considering Alucard's power as some sort of a powerful elixir, and a dangerous one to be used.[42] Arthur's paranoia had gotten so far that Alucard was sealed in the underground decades prior to his death.[43] Although he had a deep understanding of Alucard's true nature and even pitied him for losing everything he once had.[44]
Walter C. Dornez: Arthur thought highly of Walter, being the one who gave him the nickname, the "Angel of Death" when he was still just fourteen of age. In addition to his respect for Walter being visibly enormous, Arthur was so confident about Walter's skill that he called Walter the strongest human of the Hellsing Organisation's militants in the field qualified to deal with inhuman forces, including Ghouls and Vampires.[45] Walter was highly critical of Arthur's behavior and pestered him relentlessly for his perverted nature.[46] Arthur eventually sent Walter on a mission with Alucard to destroy the secret project the Nazis was working on, in addition; the Round Table members doubted that he could do it, stating that Walter was too young, as he was just a child. Arthur, however, opposed them and was confident in the boy's skills.[47][48]
Abilities[]
Abilities and Skills
Intelligence: Being an Oxford graduate and the son of Abraham Van Helsing, Arthur's intelligence was relatively higher compared to that of an average human. He was able to found the secret operation of the Nazis in Warsaw, and eventually "delay" their operation for decades.[49] His prediction was top-notch, as his intuition and suspicion of his younger brother was proven correct when Richard hunted down Integra who became the headmaster for Hellsing as Arthur had a distrust over his brother.[50]
Occult Knowledge: His occult knowledge of vampires and ghouls likely stems from his father. He had a deep knowledge of the supernatural. He acknowledged that vampires are more than creatures who roam the night[51][52], and that ghouls shouldn't be terribly underestimated because of their capabilities.[53] He also knew how to seal Alucard underground, though it is unknown if Alucard went out of control or if he had simply accepted to be sealed.[54][55]
Tactical Genius: When finding out that the Nazis had secret operation in Warsaw that involves the creation of Artificial Vampires and ghouls, Arthur devised a simple plan and ruined the plans of the subsidiary; allowing the allies to win the war; had the operation been successful, then the Nazis would effectively sweep and win the war.[56][57]
Control Over Alucard
As the former head of the Hellsing Organisation, Alucard pledged absolute loyalty towards Arthur, and Arthur gained absolute control over Alucard. He had full access to his restrictions, including the ultimate restriction which requires Arthur's direct permission in order to unlock.[58] However, Arthur used Alucard sparingly and cautiously; only when needed.[59] As a result, Alucard as bound onto his coffin most of the time when Arthur was the director of Hellsing.[60] Eventually, Arthur sealed Alucard in the forgotten dungeon beneath the Hellsing manor, as he considered him a drastic medicine.[61][62]
Philosophy[]
In general, Arthur does inherit some of Van Helsing's philosophical nature, which made him a genius and an eventual philosopher at an old age.
Ghouls[]
"Though ghouls are relative failures, they're still monsters. Meaning, they can't be killed easily. It takes a shot to the head or heart to effectively put them down. The other problem is that if you're attacked by a ghoul, you then become a ghoul yourself. That's how they grow infinitely." — Arthur Hellsing[63]
Though Arthur was much more of a genius as he got older, Arthur's younger nature does hold some philosophical aspect in him despite on the surface, he appears to just be a cocky womanizer. Though he had a much more understanding of vampires, Arthur knew the capabilities of ghouls very well. He realizes that although ghouls are relatively no problem, the problem arises if one is attacked by a ghoul, as they'd become a ghoul themselves. If this continues, it'll create a cycle in which a ghoul would grow indefinitely. Arthur describes ghouls as an "endless plague."[64]
Vampires[]
"Integra. There are many undying monsters in the world. Here's what I wonder when I see them. Do they really desire immortality as their existence? Many of them crave conflict. Gory struggles. It becomes something akin to weeping, longing. Their screams are not born of a desire for combat, but a desire for death. You see, to me, Integra, vampires, those dreadful undying monsters who control the world of the night... Look like terribly pitiful, pathetic children who might simply break down and cry feebly." — Arthur Hellsing[65]
Arthur's general philosophy about vampires is that vampires are terribly pitiful, pathetic children who might simply break down and cry feebly. Arthur sometimes wonders if they really desire immortality as their existence. He comes to the conclusion that many of them simply just crave conflict and that their screams are not a desire for combat, but rather a desire for death.[66] In vampire's terrifying wide range of abilities, Arthur realizes that the most terrifying vampires are the ones who realize the full extent of their abilities.[67] Arthur taught these qualities of a vampire to his daughter, Integra, and Arthur is one of the only people to view vampires as something much deeper than them just simply being a "terrifying monster who roams the night."[68]
Trivia[]
Arthur's eyes had, in different media, been one of three colors brown, yellow, and finally blue.
Along with Irons, Arthur and he are the only ones in Hellsing who died naturally or from a disease.
Arthur, Penwood, Maxwell, Rip Van Winkle, Schrödinger, and Yumie Takagi are some of the only characters in Hellsing that don't have many name variants across Japanese sources and official translations.
The special issue of Young King OURs that mentions the skin tone of Integra
In a special issue of Young King OURs featuring character profiles of Integra, the then-unnamed Seras Victoria, and Alucard, Integra's skin is described by Hirano as to that being of an "Indian." This implies that her mother, Arthur's unnamed wife, is Indian.[69] The Hellsing anime goes further in-depth with this and features a photo of Integra's mother in a flashback sequence. Based on her outfit and appearance, she resembles an Indian.[70]
↑Order 02: Master of Monster p. 3. "Integra, there's only one thing I can leave behind to you. If you ever find yourself in a real crisis! If some unbeatable enemy has you in a right mess! Go underground! To the forgotten dungeon! There lies one of the fruits of the Hellsing family's labors. It will be your protection."
↑The Dawn - 1 p. 5. "Child or not, he's the strongest human of our existing militants in the field qualified to deal with such inhuman foes. Unquestionably."
↑The Dawn - 2 p. 5. "Stuff it and piss off!! Walter, who pesters me to no end, is finally away. Therefore, this is the perfect opportunity for the mouse to play. Right?!"
↑Order 20: Age of Empire (1) pp. 5-6. "The ability to place ghouls at the front lines would have been fearful indeed. Had the program not be destroyed... by Hellsing."
↑HELLSING official guide book p. 007. "敵の能力 に伴う段階までは自ら解放することができるが、最後の砦とも言 える「零号」だけは、主人の指示がない限り解放不可 (Translation: He can release his own restrictions up to the level associated with those of his enemies, but "Zero," the last restraint, cannot be released unless his master instructs him to do so.)
↑HELLSING Catalogue YKO 97 #30 "20代中ほど。ハダカインド人み たいなかんじな いんしょうをうける。 HELLSING 機関 機関長。 (Rough Translation: Mid 20s. She has a skin tone similar to that of a mere-Indian. Hellsing Organisation Director.")
