Montana Max (Hellsing)

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Major/SS-Sturmbannführer Montana Max (モンティナ・マックス少佐, Major Montina Makkusu^?) is a character in the manga Hellsing. While he only appears in the promotional piece made before the series itself began production, he is the leader of Millennium in the manga and OVA, (in which he is voiced by Nobuo Tobita) and is constantly scheming from the shadows.

A former first lieutenant of the SS, Adolf Hitler issued a special order (#666) placing him in charge of a top-secret project, the main focus of which was the perfection of an artificial vampirization process. The success of this project would allow the Nazis to utilize vampires in battle and turn the tide of the war in their favor. The operation was attacked and shut down by a young Walter and Alucard in 1944. However, the defeat proved to be only a minor setback, as the Major and his subordinates managed escape to South America unharmed. There they resumed their research.

Although other Nazi officers with higher ranks accompanied Millennium to their South American hideout and attempted to exert their authority, the vampire officers loyal to the Major quickly put an end to it (and them). Depending on the translation used, the Major is variously a sub-commander or the founder of Millennium, as well as the leader of a Werwolf special force.

The original purpose of the Nazi vampire research was to ensure Germany's victory in World War II and to create a Reich that would last for a thousand years (hence the name "Millennium"), but the Major claims that he has "no purpose". He states that he simply wishes to start an endless war. In his famous "I Love War" speech, he elaborates on his love for all facets of war, regardless of which side is winning. While addressing Integra Hellsing's question as to his specific goal, he says that he has no goal. He explains that while others settle on no means in obtaining their goals, he will settle on no goals in obtaining his means. Exactly what this means remains to be seen, although his dialogue in recent chapters point to the imminent conclusion of his hidden agenda (a fan-theory speculates that his grand plan is simply an elaborate suicide-attempt, meant to leave a lasting mark on the world).

In Chapter 70 Castlevania, a tantalizing glimpse of his past was offered. The chapter itself was a flashback to Alucard's life as a nobleman, ending with his execution and transformation into an undead. In one of the panels, cross-cut with Alucard facing his executioner, is the Major, clad in his SS uniform, bloodied and bruised and with a gun to his head. This may be Hirano's way of connecting the two men, by hinting that they faced similar circumstances and ultimately chose to become monsters to extend their lives. In the Major's case this would probably have been during Operation Barbarossa, as the gun held to his head is of a Russian make, and he was said to have contacted Vatican officials to support Millennium, after this campaign. His shoulder insignia denotes him as Obersturmführer (First Lieutenant), which is consistent with the corrupt Vatican bishop's remarks in volume 4. It also confirms that the scene took place before the events of The Dawn, which is set in September of 1944, at which point Max had already been promoted to the rank of Major.

Famously short and chubby, he is shown in the OVA trailer eating, to the amusement of fans. When he is seen with a swastika in the OVA tralier, he has a cup of tea in his hands as well.

• The Major's name, "Montana Max," can be seen written in "Engrish", along with the Captain's name, in a frame consisting of jumbled text, early on in volume 4. His ID card is displayed on the back of volume 5. "Montana Max" was a Major prototype character seen in both Angel Dust and Coyote (two of Hirano's earlier Ero-mangas). Although some believe this is just an in-joke and not to be taken canonically (due to Hirano's frequent obscure movie and TV references), the use of it on his ID could be taken at face value, unless outright stated to be a joke.

[edit] Trivia

• Montana Max was also the name of a character from the 1990s television series Tiny Toon Adventures, who was known for being incredibly rich and arrogant, as well as very short. It's possible Hirano chose to use this name for the character due to their similar traits.

• The choice of Nobuo Tobita as the voice of the Major may be an insider joke; Tobita once voiced a character whose dressing and mannerisms are similar to Alucard's (Akabane Kuroudo in GetBackers). Also, in Gankutsuou (an anime by GONZO, who produced the first Hellsing anime), Tobita's character (Baptistin) was a right hand man of Nakata's (the Count of Monte Cristo).