The Major (Hellsing)
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The Major is a character in the manga and OVA series Hellsing. He is the main antagonist of the series and is the leader of Millennium. His is voiced in Japanese by Nobuo Tobita, and in English by Gildart Jackson. He appears briefly in the trailer for Gonzo's TV series, along with Doc and the Captain.
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 to 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. 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.
In Chapter 83 WarCraft, another part of his past is shown, and he is revealed to be fully human (however, it remains unknown as to why he hasn't aged in the last 55 years). He is shot and nearly killed by Russian soldiers while fighting at Brandenburg Gate during the Fall of Berlin, and lies dying in a position very much like Alucard's position before he became a vampire. Blood is shown flowing towards him, apparently offering him something, but the Major refuses it, stating that, "My heart, my soul, and my life belong to me". By refusing immortality solely for the sake of his humanity (or rather, his love of himself and his hatred of what it really means to be a vampire), the Major becomes an ironic fulfillment of Alucard's definition for a "true human" - the only kind of person Alucard believes is capable of killing a "true monster".
In chapter 84, he called Alucard a greedy king and a tyrant, he has also stated that tyrants are stereotypically killed by poison while watching Alucard gather all the blood that has been spilled in London to himself.
In Chapter 87 Wolffang (2) Integra finally confronts the Major in his (now abandoned) command center, and wastes no time in drawing her gun and shooting him. However, the Major is protected by some kind of an inter-dimensional barrier that deflects her shots. Integra draws her sword after running out of ammunition and attempts to stab him, but, upon piercing the barrier, the blade reverses direction and comes out at the opposite angle at which it went in. Whether this barrier is the result of the Doctor's technology (fully possible, considering the Doctor also created Schrödinger and built other unusual functions into the Major's chair) or some form of occult ability the Major possesses is currently unknown.
The Major says that there is going to be a "glorious show" and that he intends to sit alone with Integra in the first row.
In Chapter 88 Black Onyx (1) Walter begs the Major to stop with his plan, as he want's to defeat Alucard alone. The Major and the Doc says that it's too late now, as the remains of Schrödinger are consumed by Alucard. The Major then says "Victory".
In Chapter 89 Black Onyx (2) The Major and Integra then watch on the monitors as Alucard's eyes close and the Major quotes Shakespeare, saying "Out, out, brief candle! Life is but a walking shadow". Integra demands that the Major explains what is happening. The Major says that Schrödinger "carried the will of the self-observing Schrödinger's Cat" and "as long as he recognizes himself, he's everywhere and nowhere." But now that Schrödinger is consumed by Alucard and is mixed with millions of other minds, he can no longer recognize himself. Schrödinger is no longer present anywhere, and thus also Alucard. The Major says that by now Alucard is "no more than a set of imaginary numbers". Alucard seems to recognize his defeat, says farewell to Integra, and seems to disappear into thin air, leaving only the bloody Hellsing-pentagram on the ground.
In the newer chapters, 90 and 91, Major seems unsatisfied with his "easy" victory and questions if this is how it is supposed to end. He becomes excited again though, when Seras comes to Integras aid. Major says that it will be they who will kill him and smiles as Integra orders Seras to attack him.
In Chapter 92, after being shot with an 88 mm artillery cannon by Seras, it is revealed that the Major is in fact a cyborg. This accounts for how he survived being shot by a Russian execution squad. This also explains why he hasn't aged in the fifty years since Millennium's first confrontation with Hellsing (so it would seem that the Doc is a cyborg too.) Integra than draws her pistol as the major does likewise. He shoots Integra in the eye and she shoots in the forehead and a fire then rips through the halls of the zepplin (possibly ignited by the major's dead body.)
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