I found this fair-condition softcover at the Used Book Superstore, and as it's the first volume of this series I decided to give it a try. Alternate-history vampire secret service? Sure!

"His name is Alucard. When it comes to monsters... yes, especially vampires... no one is more expert than him." And so we're introduced to the main character, who is in fact an insanely powerful vampire himself. How and why he's working for the Secret Service Hellsing - well, that's all part of the story (and a nicely gruesome back-story it is).

We see just how gleefully he goes about his work - and how he copes with the villain-hiding-behind-human-hostage situation, which itself sets off a major character arc for young Victoria. But eventually he faces a foe who knows exactly how to deal with him; if this weren't Volume One, I might actually be worried for him {wry grin}.

[There's an extensive TV Tropes page about the manga that may be of interest.]

I left this book, bagged against the elements, on a tree stump at the junction of Locust Ave. and Old Kendall Road, at around 1 or so. [It's near a picturesque cemetery - and just down the road from an even more picturesque tumble-down barn, which I included in the photo.] Hope the finder enjoys the book!

*** Released as part of the 2013 Halloween Spooktacular release challenge, for the embedded "hell" in the title. ***