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Well, I have to say I'm pleased to see how this thread has revived.
Anyway, I'll give my two cents since it's been awhile since I posted here.

As you all probably know, I started with the anime. Integra was cool, and she became my second favorite character. However, during the first few eps she wasn't a very deep character. But as the series progressed, you really got to see what she was made of: the Valentine bros' attack, the incidents with Incognito and his other minions... She was very driven, but she kept her human-ness.

In the manga, I find the characterization is deeper earlier. I also find that, like it's been said, she accepts Alucard more. She doesn't lose her temper that often with him, and she seems to understand him more. Overall, though, I see her as a darker personality. I think it's due to what she's forced to do. Remember, she had to decide if Alucard should kill those Brazil police. She's had to be a lot more ruthless in the manga, 'cause a lot more treason and devastation has occured. She seems stronger, more driven - closer to Alucard's character, really. She will do what needs to be done with hardly a second's hesitation, even if that means ordering the death of Walter.

I don't have a preference for one over the other, though. OA Integra seemed more to have a more human side, more vulnerabilities, less control at some points. Manga Integra seemed more single minded but at times more feminine. Both show different sides of the character, and I don't think one is inherently better than the other.

Manga!Integra didn't hesitate that much. Alucard called her, she asked about the situation, he explained it and went on rambled on for awhile, then Integra lit of a cigar and ordered him to search and destroy. There wasn't exactly much wavering there. And just a sidenote, I really don't see what the anime trailer has to do with it, since the scene in it wasn't even in the OA.

Oh, I'd say there's still a lot of Catholic hate in M!Integra. When reading the scene with Maxwell, one doesn't get the feeling that she's pro-Vatican.

I agree about what you said on the vulnerabilities. Different directions.

In the Manga, her lips are shaking when she lights the cigar. The cigar is trembling She's stunned to Alucard's demand for orders. Before giving them, she's also troubled and sweating anxiously. Then, after she handles her orders, she second guesses herself and askes Walter if she did the right thing or not.

http://www.onemanga.com/Hellsing/16/04/

Onwards.

OVA!Integra, as contrast, has the reaction you describe. She has a one dimensional characterization to me. As if Ueda wanted to remove all the layers the Manga gave her to make her flat out "badass". One of the reasons I dislike the OVA is for this. However, Manga!Integra is troubled by the whole idea, it carries in volume 4 where she isn't calm when speaking to Alucard over the phone, but has a nervouness (sweating, pausing, etc). Alucard crosses the line when he assumed she felt a sexual thrill about the slaughter.

Where's the Catholic hate in M!Integra? She only faced Iscariot because they were about to trigger a religious war she wanted to avoid. Then badmouthed Maxwell because two men were murdered by his subordinate and almost got her killed, all in the wake of the Valentine's attack. Furthermore, she was willing to negotiate and listen to him. She didn't intent for Alucard show up and threaten him in the Manga. She was shocked at his actions. Her comment of him being a "Catholic swine" wasn't serious, either. She wasn't rubbing off her victory or superiority, simply saying they were in similar circumstances.

Now, Manga!Maxwell does have a case of protestant hate or hatred in general that Manga!Integra lacks.

Plus, she respected Anderson in the end and counted on him as semi ally. There's a lack of Catholic hatred except targetted to those who attack her people. Likely because Hirano took in account that Abraham van Helsing was Catholic.

Hesitation or inexperience. When Anime Integra as a grown woman had to warrant the order to kill a human being, she coldly delivered the sentence without second thoughts (Order 4) because the law of men wasn't enough punishment. Manga Integra couldn't even believe Alucard was killing humans or readily give them, she had to think about it and the circumsntances could have been bad for Seras or Pip if she didn't. She was a continent away, what can she assest for what's happening? She took her servant's word over the media because she trusts Alucard. In the circumstances in which she had to shoot down and bury her own men recently? She didn't know what could happen.

Sure Alucard would survive, but Seras or Pip? It's not like Alucard would bother to "protect" them.

Anyway, I think everybody except Pip handled the Rio situation sloppily: Walter's (who we know is a traitor) neglectment, Alucard's manipulation, Integra's bad decision, Seras' compliance to follow Alucard's orders. Sure, Integra and Seras hesitated and disagreed with Alucard, but they ended up doing what he wanted. Pip was the only person who acted like a professional. He targetted the source of the problem (the corrupted leaders) and not killed people in vain or followed what Alucard wanted. He even secured the escape. Pip doesn't get enough credit but he's seriously very resourceful and with a good head on his shoulders.

But I'm getting out of topic.

When has Alucard *protected* Seras that Integra knew? Let's evalue this: last time Seras was nearly killed was in Ireland by Anderson and who arrived to protect her? Certainly not Alucard. It was *Integra* who saved her from Anderson back then. The fact Seras was gunned down by Alucard himself isn't a very encouraging precedent that he'll protect her.

Furthermore Alucard didn't say WHAT ammo the cops were using. For what Integra knew, it could have been silver and Seras could have been toast against them. Because if Integra didn't think Alucard would kill humans? The tought of Seras Victoria (who couldn't open fire at the regenerator in Ireland OR face the former ghouled members of Hellsing without losing her marbles - and again, who stopped her when she lost control? Alucard? No, Integra herself and she was a continent away) lifting a finger against them wouldn't even cross her mind. Seras, back then, was a doble edge-weapon whom Integra looked after. Post v7, it's different another story. But by v3-4, she was a starved vampire who wasn't ready to battle of this type, emotionally or physically.

As for Pip. Mercenary or not, Integra wanted to move heaven and earth to return to the Mansion and give them orders back in v6. Even uncaring if Heinkel and the other Iscariots shot her. Because they are her men, thus, her responsability as commanding officer.

Still, even if they got their reasons (inexperience being one of them), I think both Integra and Seras acted very sloppily and allowed Alucard drag them in this mess.



...That's what I'm telling about. In the Manga, Integra HAS that human empathy that sometimes OA lacks. That while she has given more death warrants, the circumstances didn't make her look completely ruthless but simply wanting her do the right thing for the sake of her men. While her sentence to Kim in the Anime was far more coldhearted and ruthless, even if it was just one being who died. The point Ace of Death and I are discussing about is who is more ruthless and I'm of the opinion that, if OA!Integra had the Brazil situation on her hands, she'll be less hesitating and second guessing herself to issue the SWAT Team excecutions.

Of course she idealized him, but Alucard is Integra's knight in shining armor, not Seras'. He has never been a savior to Seras (the opposite) and Integra knew this (see Ireland). She didn't think him a monster, but was aware of other shortcomings (volume 2 Geese meeting?). While he would always protect Integra, even from an insult, he wouldn't do the same with Seras.

There's another fun fact you forget: Integra doesn't know how did the journey overseas have affected Seras.

Integra was worried about the the situation in Brazil, as she was worried of the situation in Ireland, not because what Alucard does but because what the fighting would provoke (and yes, she was worried about Seras). It's not that Hirano wanted her in the "scene". It's a foreshadowing that Integra and Seras NEEDED to grow up and stop relying on Alucard and they did! Look at the newest chapters. Because it'll be just them (and Pip...) in the end. He only came back in the last minute when Integra was truly in danger. And I hope this isn't another foreshadowing...

So yes, it was character development for Integra and Seras.

The thing is that the exact moment when Anderson's bayonets are down, Integra fires at them. Alucard chose not to save her. Why would he? He was pushing her to be a True Nosferatu. If she couldn't do it, she would be a waste of time. Remember that, at this point, Alucard felt little attachment to Seras Victoria. If he was able to leave her to bleed to death with an uncaring smirk (and she would have died if SHE didn't choose vampirism) a few weeks ago. While the OVA chose to portray this interaction "softer", the Manga is harsher.

This evolves for the better and real twisted affection on his side, but to me, in volume 1, Alucard only saw Seras as a tool-heir, trial-error. This changed slowly beginning in volume 2.



I don't think Alucard hid her. He wanted her to see something "amusing" after all. We don't see any scene Alucard urges her to hide, rather the opposite, he awakes her to join this. He could have let her sleep through the whole incident if he didn't do it. If he was actually looking after her well-being, he wouldn't have her see the slaughter of COPS (trauma anyone) after she exits the closet.

The only time Alucard has been actually decent to Seras where at the end: is when he pats her head, when he takes the spear from her hand and pushes her away (although it was mostly to face Anderson himself than for Seras, his attention was on the Paladin) and when he told her to go and conquer with Integra.



And this is mine (mind you, just my take):

In the anime series, IMO, Integra is a woman struggling with power, the fascination with vampirism (which is in her profile) and has lived at the shadow of a father she both loves and misses, but resents his memory. She is far more prideful, cold and arrogant, she has a value of her personal honor. In many ways, her harsh treatment of Seras reminds me to Manga Alucard. They are both "mean" (although Manga Alucard is far worse than Anime Integra). She begins as the unapproachable Iron Maiden and is slowly giving "cracks" in her armor.

In the OVA, Integra is a mix between Anime and Manga (and so is Seras). Young Integra is totally the young Integra from the Anime, lacking any of the vulnerabilities of her Manga counterpart. She even glares at the gun on her face like her OA version did. My problem with OA Integra is that they made her "cool" Iron Maiden in v1 ever since Y Integra and gave her Manga Integra's humor. She's too perfect and her flaws and development (whichw as the focus of development of the first half of the manga) was compeletly erased. Giving her cracks in OVA 2 and taking them away in OVA 4 & 3 (no shaking fist?) is proof the script writer is even worse as character development than Hirano.

OVA Integra seems like a mess to me. In hopes to make her less flawed than OA, they take away the humanity that made her Manga self so enjoyable to me. Once they messed up young Integra and her nervousness in episode 1, they failed to develop her right.

In the Manga, Integra begins her journey as a profoundly feminine girl who is burdened by tragedy and wants a knight to save her from danger. She is a classical romantic heroine as a 12 years old girl. BUT the moment she fires that gun, she changes. She decides to save herself and begins a journey to become her own "knight" pretty much and the knight of her people. Knight as leader of an organization, as protector of her people, etc. She has to slowly become an adult (let's not forget Seras and Integra are around the same age, Integra's like 2 or 3 years older), embracing all her responsabilities, she gains experience, she losses her innocence, but ultimately becomes the true human figure of the story.

Integra in the OA was tempted by vampirism and hinted she accepted this, she was bitter against her losses, she was used and violated, her allies of the RT betrayed her, Walter was always the kind father figure, she turned to Alucard in the very end. Alucard and Integra have a disturbing symbiotic relationship and affects their personality a great deal. While, in the Manga, Integra grows in a complete different direction: her chastity is inquestionable, she recovers from her losses (she watched her city burn to the ground, no less. OA!Integra shattered for less), she is never used and her allies regard her as an icon who they trust blindly, Walter (the father figure) betrays her, and Alucard is taken from her. But she endures that. Because Integra has learned to rely by herself and trusts other new people (Seras and Pip). She's the new generation just like Seras.

The narrative shows them very different people. From the warm concern Integra has toward Seras to her denial to Alucard's monster nature and eventual realization and acceptance of what he is without strains, just sorrow and a quiet understanding.

*reads the past... I dunno...two pages*


stare
I'm not going to involve myself in this....I'm just not...

Hmmm~ I like the manga and the OVA Integral, I'm no too fond of the anime one, although she has her moments... 3nodding