(no subject)
A quick word: My
manga is scanlation only because I’m rather poor at the moment. So, any quotes
are not guaranteed to be 100% accurate to the English translation. My
apologies.
First Mystery, I Believe: An Intro to Hellsing and the Iscariot Organization
The England portrayed in the Hellsing manga is a nightmarish one. Vampires and ghouls roam the countryside, waiting for any hapless mortal to snack on. It’s a veritable monster hoard, and it’s a wonder that anyone can feel safe at night.
Then again, there are safeguards against that. Like the Iscariot Organization, a group of assassins sent out to scourge the word of the undead and nonbelievers by the Vatican... the Catholic Church. Also known as Section XIII, it is named for the traitorous apostle, granting them the powers to annihilate the Church’s opposition... and be damned in the process. They are handled in a rather hushed manner in regards to the other Sections.
So, there are quite a few nuns and priests running around. Two nuns in particular stand out, with their own spin-off manga entitled “Crossfire”. Heinkel and Yumiko, as guessed from the title. Their appearances in the actually main storyline are brief so far, but meaningful.
Second Mystery, Our Father: Looking Under the Characters’ Cloth
In Crossfire and Hellsing itself, Heinkel and Yumiko are partners. They are assigned to each other as a team to eliminate threats and generally kill a lot of people. Each have very interestingly different roles in this partnership... but first, they must be examined individually.
Wolfe Heinkel: Nun in Priest’s Clothing
It’s never stated why Heinkel is allowed to ignore the dress code of the Faith which she serves. Despite this seeming glitch in the Catholic doctrine, the simple matter of her apparel explains a lot about her character. Her beauty is understated, something that comes out at the oddest of times despite her boyish haircut and domineering posture. She’s a bit mysterious, focused, and hardly ever flippant. She’s quiet, steadfast, and deadly accurate with her gun, making her one of the better fighters in the series.
She is also intensely devoted to serving God in her own quiet special way... usually involving the business end of a Desert Eagle at the base of a heretic’s skull. She has a controlled way of dealing with anger and aggression, and keeps a level head. The only time she ever seems to lose her cool involves Integral Hellsing... the grand dame heretic herself. So it’s no surprise that Heinkel would have a slight distain for her.
But for the most part, Heinkel remains a mystery. She’s not as vocal about her faith as Yumiko (though she will pray a bit while killing people) but she certainly gets the point across. Sometimes, she seems more frightening than... well, Yumiko’s complicated.
Yumiko Tagaki: Sister Jekyll and Berserker Hyde
A cute, kind, and emotional girl, Yumiko is the paragon of being a nun, with the exception of her tendency to rant sometimes. At first glance, she might appear normal... but a fearful personality lives within.
Yumiko Tagaki, simply, suffers from Disassociative Identity Disorder... multiple personalities.
It is never said how she came to have a second personality, but whenever the aptly named “Yumie” emerges, the difference is clear. Gone is the cute and almost childlike look about her... she loses the habit (cloth on top of her head), removes the glasses, and has an odd animalistic sexual appeal. But, she’s also... a berserker, and a fearsome swordswoman, making her one of the best human fighters in the manga. Her bloodlust is nearly insatiable, and she gains a bit of a potty mouth in regards to silly pagans that just won’t convert.
In other words, she’s the perfect weapon.
Her only problem is she seems to waiver when “waking” Yumie up... she knows what her other side does (though, it’s hard to tell if she remembers exactly) and doesn’t like the idea of killing people, even if for the great and wonderful religion that she believes so fervently.
Third Mystery, Hail Mary: There is Beauty in the Subtext
First off, these two ladies are always together, it seems. In Hellsing, and in Crossfire, you don’t get one, and not the other. They’re partners, and they seem to take this fact very seriously.
In the first volume of Crossfire, Yumiko almost sounds worried that Heinkel has shown up to help her take care of the “pagans” that are holding up a missionary. She was grabbed as leverage, if Heinkel doesn’t give the terrorists money, her head will be blown “all the way to heaven”. The look that Heinkel gives in regards to this threat is almost worried. But she takes care of that, actually punching Yumiko and bringing out Yumie to kick some major terrorist ass. So much, in fact, that they pretty much kill ALL of them.
Also, when Yumie awakens, she specifically calls to Heinkel, saying, “Where’s the prey, Heinkel? I’ll help you!” This can be taken as Yumie being a bloodthirsty berserker (which she is) but also that she, in a way, defers to Heinkel. The “partnership” comes out even in her chaotic and violent personality. It also implies that Heinkel, for all her silence and cool attitude, is the more dominant of the two.
The second volume has one of the more obvious instances. The two are sent to take care of some Communists that attacked a church. The leader, a woman with a knife, actually manages to get Heinkel into a stranglehold Not one frame later, Yumie is upon her and looks rather pissed off. Almost... possessively so. She goes on to say, “No Heinkel! Stay out of this! I’ll kill her!”. This is a good example of the protectiveness that they both seem to have for each other just under the surface. It also illustrates that Yumie holds grudges... as does Yumiko.
It is also interesting to note that the partnership intensifies when Yumiko is Yumie... and since they are really parts of the same person, it can be deduced that Yumie is a more intense version of Yumiko’s feelings. Her dislike of pagans becomes a hatred, and her liking of Heinkel (in a friendly sense) becomes an almost possessive partnership. And all the while, Heinkel stays steady, treating both Yumiko and Yumie appropriately.
And Yumie doesn’t end up killing the woman... Heinkel finishes her off, after a philosophical shout out between her and Yumie which ends with Yumie slicing her eyes out. The look on Heinkel’s face after killing the woman is very odd. There are some issues underneath her façade that only Yumie or Yumiko seem to be around to see.
The third and final volume doesn’t have much subtext. It does a good job of showing how badass and fanatical they are, but not much other than what was established. The very end is cute, with the two of them fighting and mocking each other due to a phone call and them being sent off on a mission right away. Yumiko complains about killing people, and Heinkel calls her a “multiple personality berserker” as if it’s supposed to offend her. It’s almost flirtatious, the way they banter.
In the Hellsing manga, they are more cameo than anything. It’s almost sad how little panel time they get. Then again, that explains why they got a three volume “extra” manga.
Fourth Mystery, Glory Be: Converting to the Pairing
I started out in the fandom mostly being a het supporter. I wasn’t much into shounen-ai, or any such guy/guy pairings, simply because I don’t tend to get into the stuff most girls my age do. I’m silly like that.
Then I saw the dynamic of these two... they just seemed, well, perfect for each other. A harmony, a balance. Once I realized this, I started to read Crossfire specifically looking to see the subtext. And it was almost amusing.
In fact, it opened the gateway for liking a lot of lesbian or bi pairings. Not that gay men are terrible, but there’s a certain realism that I see with the women... as they are often written by women. That and they tended to stay away from the needless screwing, and out of character gender bending.
The specific appeal of these two is the subtlety to their relationship. They are nuns, after all, so there is a certain amount of wrongness getting them into anything too physical. Then again, they are Iscariot, and the impression of that group is that they don’t necessarily have to follow the doctrine. It’s open ended, but most of all, it’s based on friendship and togetherness... mushy, in a way, but it gets the point across.
Fifth Mystery, O My Jesus: Satisfying Your Curiosity
By Some Great Writers:
Socius Criminus
Sinner
The Usual
By...er... me:
Sacrament
Of Flesh
There are some stories out there where they are an implied minor pairing... but that’s A LOT to try and shift through.
Feel free to send me any! ^_^
The links seem to be broken... not sure why. The raw html addresses are here:
Look: http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/cendrillo/worried_Heinkel_hostage_Yumiko.jpg
Stranglehold: http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/cendrillo/Heinkel_choke.jpg
Upon Her: http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/cendrillo/Yumie_my_woman.jpg
Look(reprise): http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/cendrillo/Heinkel_sexy_bloody.jpg
Banter: http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/cendrillo/banter.jpg
First Mystery, I Believe: An Intro to Hellsing and the Iscariot Organization
The England portrayed in the Hellsing manga is a nightmarish one. Vampires and ghouls roam the countryside, waiting for any hapless mortal to snack on. It’s a veritable monster hoard, and it’s a wonder that anyone can feel safe at night.
Then again, there are safeguards against that. Like the Iscariot Organization, a group of assassins sent out to scourge the word of the undead and nonbelievers by the Vatican... the Catholic Church. Also known as Section XIII, it is named for the traitorous apostle, granting them the powers to annihilate the Church’s opposition... and be damned in the process. They are handled in a rather hushed manner in regards to the other Sections.
So, there are quite a few nuns and priests running around. Two nuns in particular stand out, with their own spin-off manga entitled “Crossfire”. Heinkel and Yumiko, as guessed from the title. Their appearances in the actually main storyline are brief so far, but meaningful.
Second Mystery, Our Father: Looking Under the Characters’ Cloth
In Crossfire and Hellsing itself, Heinkel and Yumiko are partners. They are assigned to each other as a team to eliminate threats and generally kill a lot of people. Each have very interestingly different roles in this partnership... but first, they must be examined individually.
Wolfe Heinkel: Nun in Priest’s Clothing
It’s never stated why Heinkel is allowed to ignore the dress code of the Faith which she serves. Despite this seeming glitch in the Catholic doctrine, the simple matter of her apparel explains a lot about her character. Her beauty is understated, something that comes out at the oddest of times despite her boyish haircut and domineering posture. She’s a bit mysterious, focused, and hardly ever flippant. She’s quiet, steadfast, and deadly accurate with her gun, making her one of the better fighters in the series.
She is also intensely devoted to serving God in her own quiet special way... usually involving the business end of a Desert Eagle at the base of a heretic’s skull. She has a controlled way of dealing with anger and aggression, and keeps a level head. The only time she ever seems to lose her cool involves Integral Hellsing... the grand dame heretic herself. So it’s no surprise that Heinkel would have a slight distain for her.
But for the most part, Heinkel remains a mystery. She’s not as vocal about her faith as Yumiko (though she will pray a bit while killing people) but she certainly gets the point across. Sometimes, she seems more frightening than... well, Yumiko’s complicated.
Yumiko Tagaki: Sister Jekyll and Berserker Hyde
A cute, kind, and emotional girl, Yumiko is the paragon of being a nun, with the exception of her tendency to rant sometimes. At first glance, she might appear normal... but a fearful personality lives within.
Yumiko Tagaki, simply, suffers from Disassociative Identity Disorder... multiple personalities.
It is never said how she came to have a second personality, but whenever the aptly named “Yumie” emerges, the difference is clear. Gone is the cute and almost childlike look about her... she loses the habit (cloth on top of her head), removes the glasses, and has an odd animalistic sexual appeal. But, she’s also... a berserker, and a fearsome swordswoman, making her one of the best human fighters in the manga. Her bloodlust is nearly insatiable, and she gains a bit of a potty mouth in regards to silly pagans that just won’t convert.
In other words, she’s the perfect weapon.
Her only problem is she seems to waiver when “waking” Yumie up... she knows what her other side does (though, it’s hard to tell if she remembers exactly) and doesn’t like the idea of killing people, even if for the great and wonderful religion that she believes so fervently.
Third Mystery, Hail Mary: There is Beauty in the Subtext
First off, these two ladies are always together, it seems. In Hellsing, and in Crossfire, you don’t get one, and not the other. They’re partners, and they seem to take this fact very seriously.
In the first volume of Crossfire, Yumiko almost sounds worried that Heinkel has shown up to help her take care of the “pagans” that are holding up a missionary. She was grabbed as leverage, if Heinkel doesn’t give the terrorists money, her head will be blown “all the way to heaven”. The look that Heinkel gives in regards to this threat is almost worried. But she takes care of that, actually punching Yumiko and bringing out Yumie to kick some major terrorist ass. So much, in fact, that they pretty much kill ALL of them.
Also, when Yumie awakens, she specifically calls to Heinkel, saying, “Where’s the prey, Heinkel? I’ll help you!” This can be taken as Yumie being a bloodthirsty berserker (which she is) but also that she, in a way, defers to Heinkel. The “partnership” comes out even in her chaotic and violent personality. It also implies that Heinkel, for all her silence and cool attitude, is the more dominant of the two.
The second volume has one of the more obvious instances. The two are sent to take care of some Communists that attacked a church. The leader, a woman with a knife, actually manages to get Heinkel into a stranglehold Not one frame later, Yumie is upon her and looks rather pissed off. Almost... possessively so. She goes on to say, “No Heinkel! Stay out of this! I’ll kill her!”. This is a good example of the protectiveness that they both seem to have for each other just under the surface. It also illustrates that Yumie holds grudges... as does Yumiko.
It is also interesting to note that the partnership intensifies when Yumiko is Yumie... and since they are really parts of the same person, it can be deduced that Yumie is a more intense version of Yumiko’s feelings. Her dislike of pagans becomes a hatred, and her liking of Heinkel (in a friendly sense) becomes an almost possessive partnership. And all the while, Heinkel stays steady, treating both Yumiko and Yumie appropriately.
And Yumie doesn’t end up killing the woman... Heinkel finishes her off, after a philosophical shout out between her and Yumie which ends with Yumie slicing her eyes out. The look on Heinkel’s face after killing the woman is very odd. There are some issues underneath her façade that only Yumie or Yumiko seem to be around to see.
The third and final volume doesn’t have much subtext. It does a good job of showing how badass and fanatical they are, but not much other than what was established. The very end is cute, with the two of them fighting and mocking each other due to a phone call and them being sent off on a mission right away. Yumiko complains about killing people, and Heinkel calls her a “multiple personality berserker” as if it’s supposed to offend her. It’s almost flirtatious, the way they banter.
In the Hellsing manga, they are more cameo than anything. It’s almost sad how little panel time they get. Then again, that explains why they got a three volume “extra” manga.
Fourth Mystery, Glory Be: Converting to the Pairing
I started out in the fandom mostly being a het supporter. I wasn’t much into shounen-ai, or any such guy/guy pairings, simply because I don’t tend to get into the stuff most girls my age do. I’m silly like that.
Then I saw the dynamic of these two... they just seemed, well, perfect for each other. A harmony, a balance. Once I realized this, I started to read Crossfire specifically looking to see the subtext. And it was almost amusing.
In fact, it opened the gateway for liking a lot of lesbian or bi pairings. Not that gay men are terrible, but there’s a certain realism that I see with the women... as they are often written by women. That and they tended to stay away from the needless screwing, and out of character gender bending.
The specific appeal of these two is the subtlety to their relationship. They are nuns, after all, so there is a certain amount of wrongness getting them into anything too physical. Then again, they are Iscariot, and the impression of that group is that they don’t necessarily have to follow the doctrine. It’s open ended, but most of all, it’s based on friendship and togetherness... mushy, in a way, but it gets the point across.
Fifth Mystery, O My Jesus: Satisfying Your Curiosity
By Some Great Writers:
Socius Criminus
Sinner
The Usual
By...er... me:
Sacrament
Of Flesh
There are some stories out there where they are an implied minor pairing... but that’s A LOT to try and shift through.
Feel free to send me any! ^_^
The links seem to be broken... not sure why. The raw html addresses are here:
Look: http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/cendrillo/worried_Heinkel_hostage_Yumiko.jpg
Stranglehold: http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/cendrillo/Heinkel_choke.jpg
Upon Her: http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/cendrillo/Yumie_my_woman.jpg
Look(reprise): http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/cendrillo/Heinkel_sexy_bloody.jpg
Banter: http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/cendrillo/banter.jpg
