† A Look at Father Anderson †

Alexander Anderson is so much more than a crazed Knight Templar who shouts AAAAAAMEEEEEEN constantly (something they toyed around with when adapting the OVA series cause Norio “Memetic God” Wakamoto was voicing him)

Anderson is a man of devotion…devotion to his cause of exterminating the ‘evils’ of the world, devotion to his belief in Catholicism, devotion in his role in the Iscariot Organization, devotion in his fellow Iscariot members, etc. He is one of the most assured and comfortable characters in the series; essentially meaning he never puts his duty, his job, his goals, his faith into question. This is one of several reasons why he is respected as much he is feared…

It would be wrong to discredit or ignore his…tendencies when on the clock. He takes great, almost insane pleasure in delivering his own brand of justice upon heathens and does not have much in the way of mercy for them as he believes them to be pure sin. This violent, overly righteous side is the one that tends to get the most focus because he is technically the ‘evil counterpart’ to Alucard. However that is not the real introduction to the character…

Earlier on Anderson is introduced as the seemingly kind and fatherly (no pun intended) director of a huge orphanage. While he quickly turns kinda psycho when Father Renaldo brings up the Protestant-based Hellsing Organization this love and generosity for the children and is an equally strong characteristic. This is driven further as the secondary characters of Heinkel and Yumie are introduced and together with Maxwell, were all raised at the orphanage by Anderson (who at this point is revealed to be at least much older than he seems thanks to the Regenerator abilities built into him). He has a big soft side for his students turned fellow Organization members–and for the latter the Organization’s director. Speaking of Maxwell…

We go back to Anderson being strongly devoted to his faith and his role. When Maxwell goes power-crazy and murderous due to his ascension to Archbishop status and command over the Ninth Crusade, Anderson knows that his student, his friend, his BOSS has crossed the line and he (rather sorrowfully) has to put him down. While he does so in a very harsh manner it is like he is showing Maxwell that although he is a man of power…he is not a god and he will pay for attempting be such.

Anderson’s huge final fight with Alucard has him reveal an interesting philosophy; that he believes himself to be simply a ‘tool’, a ‘weapon’, an ‘instrument’ of God. While Alucard is pleading for him not to use Helena’s Nail on himself which would rob him of his humanity and turn him into a ‘monster’ just like him, Anderson admits that he sees himself less as a human and more of a “bayonet” like the ones he uses in spades. Again, he is sure of himself, his role, his duty, his philosophy and not even a centuries-old vampire king can convince him otherwise.

The final part of my rambling about the Judas Priest is that of ‘respect’. Anderson, while very dangerous, and his sanity could come into question…he is able to command the respect of those around him. Whether it be his loyal fellow Iscariot members, the children he raised and even his enemies they all by the end respect him. Alucard, formerly a savage ruler who abandoned God ages ago and became a ‘sinful monster’ considers Anderson to be one of the greatest of humans, calling him his ‘beloved enemy’ and even echoes his catchphrase “Amen” as he passes away. Integra, someone who Anderson had threatened with death and bloody murder a few times, puts a sword in the ground resembling a cross as to honor the man.

And even the other way around Anderson himself shows respect to his enemies. He admires Integra for her strength, resolve and ability to tame a powerful entity, he shows some form of pride seeing Seras becoming a full Draculina and has adoration for his rival for being a monster who has lived and suffered for so long and telling him not to cry over his death.

LONG STORY SHORT Alexander Anderson is a great character and is one of the many reasons to love Hellsing

THANK YOU SO MUCH IF YOU READ THIS WHOLE SMATTERING OF WORDS AND ATTEMPTED GRAMMAR!! Hope you enjoyed it and I may make more of these long analyses if they catch on.

~ AMEN ~