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ベルセルク [Berserk] #10
Berserk, Vol. 10
Warrior supreme Guts has returned, and just in time to save the weakened Band of the Hawk from certain destruction… and to form an intimate bond with the beautiful warrior Casca. But job one is to find a way to free Griffith, the Hawks' leader, from the dank dungeons and round-the-clock tortures of the Hawks' former benefactor, the King of Midland. But while the flayed and starved Griffith may be in isolation, he is not alone. Horrors beyond imagination await Guts and the Hawks in the catacombs, and those who die may just be the lucky ones!
237 pages, Paperback
First published September 30, 1995
About the author
Kentaro Miura
377 books2,198 followersKentarou Miura (三浦建太郎) was born in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, in 1966. He is left-handed. In 1976, at the early age of 10, Miura made his first Manga, entitled "Miuranger", that was published for his classmates in a school publication; the manga ended up spanning 40 volumes. In 1977, Miura created his second manga called Ken e no michi (剣への道 The Way to the Sword), using Indian ink for the first time. When he was in middle school in 1979, Miura's drawing techniques improved greatly as he started using professional drawing techniques. His first dōjinshi was published, with the help of friends, in a magazine in 1982.
That same year, in 1982, Miura enrolled in an artistic curriculum in high school, where he and his classmates started publishing their works in school booklets, as well as having his first dōjinshi published in a fan-produced magazine. In 1985, Miura applied for the entrance examination of an art college in Nihon University. He submitted Futanabi for examination and was granted admission. This project was later nominated Best New Author work in Weekly Shōnen Magazine. Another Miura manga Noa was published in Weekly Shōnen Magazine the very same year. Due to a disagreement with one of the editors, the manga was stalled and eventually dropped altogether. This is approximately where Miura's career hit a slump.
In 1988, Miura bounced back with a 48-page manga known as Berserk Prototype, as an introduction to the current Berserk fantasy world. It went on to win Miura a prize from the Comi Manga School. In 1989, after receiving a doctorate degree, Kentarou started a project titled King of Wolves (王狼, ōrō?) based on a script by Buronson, writer of Hokuto no Ken. It was published in the monthly Japanese Animal House magazine in issues 5 and 7 of that year.
In 1990, a sequel is made to Ourou entitled Ourou Den (王狼伝 ōrō den, The Legend of the Wolf King) that was published as a prequel to the original in Young Animal Magazine. In the same year, the 10th issue of Animal House witnesses the first volume of the solo project Berserk was released with a relatively limited success. Miura again collaborated with Buronson on manga titled Japan, that was published in Young Animal House from the 1st issue to the 8th of 1992, and was later released as a stand-alone tankōbon. Miura's fame grew after Berserk was serialized in Young Animal in 1992 with the release of "The Golden Age" story arc and the huge success of his masterpiece made of him one of the most prominent contemporary mangakas. At this time Miura dedicates himself solely to be working on Berserk. He has indicated, however, that he intends to publish more manga in the future.
In 1997, Miura supervised the production of 25 anime episodes of Berserk that aired in the same year on NTV. Various art books and supplemental materials by Miura based on Berserk are also released. In 1999, Miura made minor contributions to the Dreamcast video game Sword of the Berserk: Guts' Rage. 2004 saw the release of yet another video game adaptation entitled Berserk Millennium Falcon Arc: Chapter of the Record of the Holy Demon War.
Since that time, the Berserk manga has spanned 34 tankōbon with no end in sight. The series has also spawned a whole host of merchandise, both official and fan-made, ranging from statues, action figures to key rings, video games, and a trading card game. In 2002, Kentarou Miura received the second place in the Osamu Tezuka Culture Award of Excellence for Berserk.[1]
Miura provided the design for the Vocaloid Kamui Gakupo, whose voice is taken from the Japanese singer and actor, Gackt.
Miura passed away on May 6, 2021 at 2:48 p.m. due to acute aortic dissection.
That same year, in 1982, Miura enrolled in an artistic curriculum in high school, where he and his classmates started publishing their works in school booklets, as well as having his first dōjinshi published in a fan-produced magazine. In 1985, Miura applied for the entrance examination of an art college in Nihon University. He submitted Futanabi for examination and was granted admission. This project was later nominated Best New Author work in Weekly Shōnen Magazine. Another Miura manga Noa was published in Weekly Shōnen Magazine the very same year. Due to a disagreement with one of the editors, the manga was stalled and eventually dropped altogether. This is approximately where Miura's career hit a slump.
In 1988, Miura bounced back with a 48-page manga known as Berserk Prototype, as an introduction to the current Berserk fantasy world. It went on to win Miura a prize from the Comi Manga School. In 1989, after receiving a doctorate degree, Kentarou started a project titled King of Wolves (王狼, ōrō?) based on a script by Buronson, writer of Hokuto no Ken. It was published in the monthly Japanese Animal House magazine in issues 5 and 7 of that year.
In 1990, a sequel is made to Ourou entitled Ourou Den (王狼伝 ōrō den, The Legend of the Wolf King) that was published as a prequel to the original in Young Animal Magazine. In the same year, the 10th issue of Animal House witnesses the first volume of the solo project Berserk was released with a relatively limited success. Miura again collaborated with Buronson on manga titled Japan, that was published in Young Animal House from the 1st issue to the 8th of 1992, and was later released as a stand-alone tankōbon. Miura's fame grew after Berserk was serialized in Young Animal in 1992 with the release of "The Golden Age" story arc and the huge success of his masterpiece made of him one of the most prominent contemporary mangakas. At this time Miura dedicates himself solely to be working on Berserk. He has indicated, however, that he intends to publish more manga in the future.
In 1997, Miura supervised the production of 25 anime episodes of Berserk that aired in the same year on NTV. Various art books and supplemental materials by Miura based on Berserk are also released. In 1999, Miura made minor contributions to the Dreamcast video game Sword of the Berserk: Guts' Rage. 2004 saw the release of yet another video game adaptation entitled Berserk Millennium Falcon Arc: Chapter of the Record of the Holy Demon War.
Since that time, the Berserk manga has spanned 34 tankōbon with no end in sight. The series has also spawned a whole host of merchandise, both official and fan-made, ranging from statues, action figures to key rings, video games, and a trading card game. In 2002, Kentarou Miura received the second place in the Osamu Tezuka Culture Award of Excellence for Berserk.[1]
Miura provided the design for the Vocaloid Kamui Gakupo, whose voice is taken from the Japanese singer and actor, Gackt.
Miura passed away on May 6, 2021 at 2:48 p.m. due to acute aortic dissection.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 323 reviews
June 7, 2023
I was thinking that there is like 10 Manga series out there, that are worth reading, but then i found out, that there is so much more which is crazy! and promises of a lot of fun reads in the future.
Manga is by far or at least the two series i have read, are the best fast paced amazing story, and amazing ideas books out there, they are just beautiful pieces of art.
I liked that little piece of Griffith origin, i loved it! just a little kid playing in the back alleys of the kingdom, who loves shiny treasures above all else, and collects all kind of scrap like every poor child does (i was one of them) and he notices the ever glowing castle, and decides that's what he wants he wants the whole castle.
Finally a relationship between Casca and Guts, but Casca is breaking his heart already it seems! with her longing for Griffith, its not a secret that in the future Casca, and all the hawks will die, not sure how yet, my guess is it will be a sacrifice issued by Griffith to become the god we saw him become, and it would be really sad to lose Casca, since she is my favorite girl in this manga, naked and clothed really...
I like the new Charlotte, i mean she always have been cute, and lovable but the new attitude she is putting on, for the sake of her love for Griffith is amazing.
Also loved the origins story of Midland, and since we know the skull knight is real, it will not be the last we know of this story, a lot more to be unfold in the future.
The Bakiraka were amazing at first glance, i thought there is no way they would pose any threat to the group, and that Guts would kill them all with one blow of his sword, but then their assassination fighting style unfolds before us, and its a piece of art!
Manga is by far or at least the two series i have read, are the best fast paced amazing story, and amazing ideas books out there, they are just beautiful pieces of art.
I liked that little piece of Griffith origin, i loved it! just a little kid playing in the back alleys of the kingdom, who loves shiny treasures above all else, and collects all kind of scrap like every poor child does (i was one of them) and he notices the ever glowing castle, and decides that's what he wants he wants the whole castle.
Finally a relationship between Casca and Guts, but Casca is breaking his heart already it seems! with her longing for Griffith, its not a secret that in the future Casca, and all the hawks will die, not sure how yet, my guess is it will be a sacrifice issued by Griffith to become the god we saw him become, and it would be really sad to lose Casca, since she is my favorite girl in this manga, naked and clothed really...
I like the new Charlotte, i mean she always have been cute, and lovable but the new attitude she is putting on, for the sake of her love for Griffith is amazing.
Also loved the origins story of Midland, and since we know the skull knight is real, it will not be the last we know of this story, a lot more to be unfold in the future.
The Bakiraka were amazing at first glance, i thought there is no way they would pose any threat to the group, and that Guts would kill them all with one blow of his sword, but then their assassination fighting style unfolds before us, and its a piece of art!
June 20, 2022
It's the beginning of the end. There's some good fights in this volume, the Bakiraka assassins the highest point by far - and yet what I like about it all the more is the dark atmosphere, the ominous dread crawling at them the whole time on. We get a bit more backstory of the setting and its people and the Skull Knight, and get a clear view of the old city... and at the same time, a view of the future. They're not branded for a couple more volumes, but they might as well have been.
But at the opposite end, the first chapter is one of the most beautiful and contemplating in the entire manga. It gave me a lot to think about the human nature and talent and how we all end up doing what we do in our lives. Godo's words will surely resonate with anyone in the world that's ever sought to create or master anything, an art or craft.
I also like the few tender moments between Guts and Casca. This one volume goes a long way building them up as a couple, and reaffirming their relationship and chemistry. There's a couple laughs, some bickering, but ultimately, real feelings and affection and unshakeable bonds. I only wish they'd gotten a little more of that before it was all stripped away.
But at the opposite end, the first chapter is one of the most beautiful and contemplating in the entire manga. It gave me a lot to think about the human nature and talent and how we all end up doing what we do in our lives. Godo's words will surely resonate with anyone in the world that's ever sought to create or master anything, an art or craft.
I also like the few tender moments between Guts and Casca. This one volume goes a long way building them up as a couple, and reaffirming their relationship and chemistry. There's a couple laughs, some bickering, but ultimately, real feelings and affection and unshakeable bonds. I only wish they'd gotten a little more of that before it was all stripped away.
May 7, 2024
عملیات نجات انجام شده و کسوف داره شروع میشه(یا شده؟!)
احساسات گریفیث با نهایت هوشمندی، فقط با آرت داره بیان میشه و این عالیه.
یه بکاستوری هم از میدلند گرفتیم که اگه یکی از جزئیاتش همونی باشه که بهش فکر میکنم بهشدت خفن میشه.
همه چیز داره بدتر و بهتر میشه. بدتر از لحاظ وضعیت کارکترها و دنیای برزرک و بهتر از لحاظ داستانی.
پینوشت
امروز که این ولیوم رو خوندم و دارم راجعش مینویسم، کمی بیشتر از سه سال از مرگ میورا سنسی گذشته. نمیخواستم اینا رو اینجا بگم و میخواستم توی همون ریویو کلی ازشون بنویسم با این حال الان که یه روز از سالگردشون میگذره حیفم میاد ازشون تشکر نکنم. مرگ ایشون خیلی غیرمنتظره و ناگهانی بود و چند وقتی کل جامعه مانگاخون رو دچار شک کرد. من اینطور موقعها بلد نیستم زیاد حرف بزنم و احساساتم رو بیان کنم ولی ممنونم میورا سنسی که بیشتر از سی سال برامون مانگا کشیدی و داستانی گفتی که نگین و قلهی مانگاهای دنیاست. کاش میشد که خودت، پایان شاهکارت رو بکشی...
در آرامش باشی🖤
احساسات گریفیث با نهایت هوشمندی، فقط با آرت داره بیان میشه و این عالیه.
یه بکاستوری هم از میدلند گرفتیم که اگه یکی از جزئیاتش همونی باشه که بهش فکر میکنم بهشدت خفن میشه.
همه چیز داره بدتر و بهتر میشه. بدتر از لحاظ وضعیت کارکترها و دنیای برزرک و بهتر از لحاظ داستانی.
پینوشت
امروز که این ولیوم رو خوندم و دارم راجعش مینویسم، کمی بیشتر از سه سال از مرگ میورا سنسی گذشته. نمیخواستم اینا رو اینجا بگم و میخواستم توی همون ریویو کلی ازشون بنویسم با این حال الان که یه روز از سالگردشون میگذره حیفم میاد ازشون تشکر نکنم. مرگ ایشون خیلی غیرمنتظره و ناگهانی بود و چند وقتی کل جامعه مانگاخون رو دچار شک کرد. من اینطور موقعها بلد نیستم زیاد حرف بزنم و احساساتم رو بیان کنم ولی ممنونم میورا سنسی که بیشتر از سی سال برامون مانگا کشیدی و داستانی گفتی که نگین و قلهی مانگاهای دنیاست. کاش میشد که خودت، پایان شاهکارت رو بکشی...
در آرامش باشی🖤
December 21, 2015
Omg I'm going to cry. This is the last volume my library has.
May 20, 2021
Rest in Peace, Kentaro Miura! You left behind a legendary legacy.
April 11, 2023
It’s insane how terrifying Griffith’s presence in this volume, especially considering he should be at his lowest after being tortured, beaten and silenced. Muira’s talent is off the charts; even with only an eye visible through his helmet, Griffith’s expressions feel incredibly piercing. This series is taking an even darker turn, and I have a feeling there’s no going back now.
(Casca and Guts’ banter and little couple-y moments are my only happiness!!)
(Casca and Guts’ banter and little couple-y moments are my only happiness!!)
January 25, 2019
Finally I’m 1/4 through the series (I think). Considering I read volume one in September 2017 and it’s not available through my local library or anything so I had to buy almost every volume (I say almost because this one was a gift), the fact that I read volume 10 in January 2019 should say something about the quality!
What’s it about?
Umm... I’d have to spoil stuff in order to explain that so I’m gonna skip that.
Why it gets 5 stars:
The story continues to be interesting and intense. I love that because in some series, the story begins to not be as interesting after however many volumes, this one can still be awesome after at least ten so Miura is clearly doing something right!
The art gets better and better every volume! I know I keep saying it but Berserk has the best art I’ve ever seen in manga and I read quite a bit of manga!
The characters are very interesting. Added to the most interesting characters list for this series is Charlotte. Too often these royal characters are either not interesting or assholes but not Charlotte!
The action scenes are awesome. At first I thought this was going to be a volume that has a bit of action but not piles while still being interesting. While this isn’t the most action packed volume there’s still a lot of great action and one scene in particular... holy shit, it’s amazing! I don’t want to say too much but there’s an action scene that takes place in a dungeon and it’s probably the best (and goriest) scene in the series. It’s so good that if I were to rank best action scenes in comics it would probably be somewhere in the top five!
This volume is pretty suspenseful. There are some parts that are fairly predictable but others that are unexpected and have me really wondering what’s next for the series.
This volume has more comic relief than usual. Do not get me wrong, it’s still no comedy but there are some great chuckle worthy moments. I especially loved the part where
There’s some horror stuff and it’s so well done. Expect grotesque monsters and piles of gore in this volume!
As always with Berserk, this book is very well written and emotional.
The ending, even though it’s disturbing and weird, is a good cliffhanger.
Overall:
This series is still my favorite fantasy story and favorite manga! I’m not entirely sure if I could pick a favorite volume but this one is possibly my favorite in the series so far. I love it so much! If you like epic stories, horror, gory action, interesting characters and excellent writing read this (that is if you don’t mind explicit content at all, it makes sense in context but there’s a lot). Miura wrote one of the best masterpieces seen in comics!
5/5
What’s it about?
Umm... I’d have to spoil stuff in order to explain that so I’m gonna skip that.
Why it gets 5 stars:
The story continues to be interesting and intense. I love that because in some series, the story begins to not be as interesting after however many volumes, this one can still be awesome after at least ten so Miura is clearly doing something right!
The art gets better and better every volume! I know I keep saying it but Berserk has the best art I’ve ever seen in manga and I read quite a bit of manga!
The characters are very interesting. Added to the most interesting characters list for this series is Charlotte. Too often these royal characters are either not interesting or assholes but not Charlotte!
The action scenes are awesome. At first I thought this was going to be a volume that has a bit of action but not piles while still being interesting. While this isn’t the most action packed volume there’s still a lot of great action and one scene in particular... holy shit, it’s amazing! I don’t want to say too much but there’s an action scene that takes place in a dungeon and it’s probably the best (and goriest) scene in the series. It’s so good that if I were to rank best action scenes in comics it would probably be somewhere in the top five!
This volume is pretty suspenseful. There are some parts that are fairly predictable but others that are unexpected and have me really wondering what’s next for the series.
This volume has more comic relief than usual. Do not get me wrong, it’s still no comedy but there are some great chuckle worthy moments. I especially loved the part where
There’s some horror stuff and it’s so well done. Expect grotesque monsters and piles of gore in this volume!
As always with Berserk, this book is very well written and emotional.
The ending, even though it’s disturbing and weird, is a good cliffhanger.
Overall:
This series is still my favorite fantasy story and favorite manga! I’m not entirely sure if I could pick a favorite volume but this one is possibly my favorite in the series so far. I love it so much! If you like epic stories, horror, gory action, interesting characters and excellent writing read this (that is if you don’t mind explicit content at all, it makes sense in context but there’s a lot). Miura wrote one of the best masterpieces seen in comics!
5/5
April 19, 2023
Another fantastic volume. Guts is back, Casca is the leader of the Hawks. But they still need to bust out Griffith! So off they go, they have an inside man who helps them get into the dungeon.
You may be able to guess who their inside man is (hint: its not a man).
The dungeon is terrifying and goes far into the Earth. It has an origin story that sounds similar to the Tower of Babel.
The eventually find Griffith, but he's in much worse shape than I could have imagined.
When I started this series, the long length turned me off... but now I'm worried I'm burning through it too quickly.
You may be able to guess who their inside man is (hint: its not a man).
The dungeon is terrifying and goes far into the Earth. It has an origin story that sounds similar to the Tower of Babel.
The eventually find Griffith, but he's in much worse shape than I could have imagined.
When I started this series, the long length turned me off... but now I'm worried I'm burning through it too quickly.
December 27, 2023
I feel something bad is about to happen...
November 29, 2022
8/10 stars
A good volume, fast-paced and filled with tension. The mysteries are crowding the protagonists and are slowly becoming suffocating - and while the moments of triumph are already marred by tragedy, the foreshadowing of future calamities becomes here very pronounced indeed.
Just imagine, though - had they not rescued Griffith, they wouldn't have signed their own death warrant. Although Miura makes Griffith's subsequent "ascension" an inevitable result of the determinist forces, rooted as much in Griffith's psychological profile as in his choices that reflect it throughout his life, Griffith rotting in the cell without his stupid behelit wouldn't have been able to do anything.
The supernatural elements are becoming very pronounced, veering ever more sharply toward horror. The Golden Age has ended, even if none of the protagonists is ready to admit it.
A good volume, fast-paced and filled with tension. The mysteries are crowding the protagonists and are slowly becoming suffocating - and while the moments of triumph are already marred by tragedy, the foreshadowing of future calamities becomes here very pronounced indeed.
Just imagine, though - had they not rescued Griffith, they wouldn't have signed their own death warrant. Although Miura makes Griffith's subsequent "ascension" an inevitable result of the determinist forces, rooted as much in Griffith's psychological profile as in his choices that reflect it throughout his life, Griffith rotting in the cell without his stupid behelit wouldn't have been able to do anything.
The supernatural elements are becoming very pronounced, veering ever more sharply toward horror. The Golden Age has ended, even if none of the protagonists is ready to admit it.
October 31, 2018
Its simple. I read a Volume of Berserk. I rate it a 5. Even the slower paced sections of this manga are expertly handled.
September 11, 2019
good to get some backstory on Griffith.
That guy is mysterious af
That guy is mysterious af
March 26, 2021
Things are about to get much much worse for the characters...
March 14, 2021
This one was quite good as we have Guts and Casca rescue Griffith and yes there is the case with the annoying princess and then there is another one where they have to fight through the guards and some people called the Bakiraka who seem to be enhanced people and the way they fight through them is amazing and the next thing after another and Guts being awesome and brutal! We get the legend of the Skull Knight and the mystery behind him and a city before Midland and more stuff happens! Up next: Black Dog Knights and their leader Wyard after Guts! And some panels are so detailed that t will give you chills even reading them wow!
January 17, 2018
So I’ll probably give every volume in this series 5 stars just because it’s so engrossing and strange. As others have noted, a lot happens in this particular volume. Some lose ends sort of, kind of get resolved, but then again, in the Bersek universe, unending agony is always on the itenerary. For now at least a small cadre including Guts, Casca, Pippen, Judeau and the Princess were able to abscond with the imprisoned Griffith. However, the vindictive King of Midland sets some interesting villains upon them...and so it continues into the next volume that I’ll start reading...now.
December 27, 2021
اپدیت ۷ دی ۴۰۰:
چیزی که از این جلد اهمیتشو میس کرده بودم سری پیش بکاستوری شوالیه اسکلتی بود، چهار فرشتهای که نازل شدن و اسکلت قربانیها و حضور قدرتمندی که نسبت به شیاطین عادی داره، این احتمال رو تقویت میکنه که خودشم بهلیت سرخ رو داشته. ولی سوال ایجاد میشه که خوب چرا از گاد هند جدائه و یا چرا تو افسانه مورد غصب فرشتههاست، این سوالات بیشتر از قبل باعث میشن حرص بخورم چرا بزرگوار مرد.
از قلب شکستهام برای گریفیث نمینویسم دیگه (╯︵╰,)
چیزی که از این جلد اهمیتشو میس کرده بودم سری پیش بکاستوری شوالیه اسکلتی بود، چهار فرشتهای که نازل شدن و اسکلت قربانیها و حضور قدرتمندی که نسبت به شیاطین عادی داره، این احتمال رو تقویت میکنه که خودشم بهلیت سرخ رو داشته. ولی سوال ایجاد میشه که خوب چرا از گاد هند جدائه و یا چرا تو افسانه مورد غصب فرشتههاست، این سوالات بیشتر از قبل باعث میشن حرص بخورم چرا بزرگوار مرد.
از قلب شکستهام برای گریفیث نمینویسم دیگه (╯︵╰,)
December 14, 2021
Hellraiser + Conan the Barbarian + Game of Thrones + Ash vs Evil Dead + Elric of Melnibone + Macbeth = Berserk.
Guts is a severely traumatized vigilante that wanders the world, throwing himself into one battle after another in hopes of finding a meaning in the tremendous suffering he's endured. His sword is his only trusted companion and he's consumed by a lust for vengeance. Griffith is a charismatic mercenary with dreams of ending a hundred year war in hopes of attaining his own kingdom. Little do his comrades and enemies know, he's not the flawless hero many believe him to be. When the paths of these two men clash, the entire world drastically evolves around the earth-shattering conflict between their indomitable wills.
A grimdark epic with compelling protagonists, stomach-churning horror, heartbreaking drama and a lovecraftian sense of metaphysical worldbuilding that's as fascinating as it is terrifying. Berserk has been my favorite manga, fantasy story and perhaps favorite story ever made for over a decade now and I was really sad to hear that the man behind the masterpiece passed away earlier this year.
Berserk is infamous for being the most gratuitously dark, brutal, shocking and depressing fantasy story ever written, but it is also rich with intense human emotion, philosophical depth, perseverance through unimaginable suffering and horrifyingly realistic depictions of psychological trauma. The series tackles the complex nature of morality vs. primal nature, fate and causality vs. free will, resilience against soulcrushing trauma that would cause most people to become broken or twisted. The definitions of good an evil are blurred beyond recognition, the heroes are just as flawed and capable of terrible deeds as the villains. The lead characters Guts and Griffith consistently challenge these themes and definitions through their shocking yet horrifyingly human actions.
This manga has inspired many famous works of art that are popular in today’s media such as the Dark Souls franchise, Final Fantasy, Attack on Titan, Evangelion, Castlevania, as well as countless fantasy novels, comics, manga, movies, tv shows, video games, musicians, artists, illustrators and so much more.
Miura inspired me as well and I regard him for being the person who taught me just how influential, meaningful and life changing art and literature can be when I first read his series over a decade ago. He changed the way I view entertainment and taught me how to appreciate the deeper meanings in everything I experience.
Berserk is to me what Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings is to millions of others.
Rest In Peace to a legendary man.
***
Above is my completely spoiler free review showing my appreciation for this series and its characters.
Below is a review of the entire series, broken down arc by arc. I originally wrote these individual reviews back during my first reading of the series, so keep that in mind. Each part contains mild spoilers, I would advise not looking any further than the arcs you’re currently reading or have already read.
***
The Black Swordsman Arc: Volumes 1-3
The first arc is only the tip of the iceberg of a very complex, dark and violent tragedy. If you find yourself to be not too impressed with the first volume, I highly recommend reading until at least volume 4 before deciding if this series is for you or not. The first three volumes serve as an interlude to help prepare you for the atrocities to come and may seem somewhat underwhelming in terms of plot, but believe me when I say the payoff is highly rewarding and memorable.
The Black Swordsman arc is awesome for fans returning to the series or rereading the series, but it often gives newcomers the wrong impression. It’s not that it’s bad, it’s just extremely different from the rest of the series and it’s set in the middle of the story rather than the beginning. This is done to set the dark tone of the series, bombarding you with shocking and upsetting content to make sure you know what you’re getting into before delving back to the beginning. For newcomers, this arc is a confusing yet exciting sword and sorcery tale of a vengeful barbarian warrior hunting demons in hopes of settling the score with his mortal enemy Griffith, and the evil lovecraftian beings that govern the world from the abyss known only as the Godhand. For returning readers, the Black Swordsman arc is much deeper than it seems, packed with genius foreshadowing, subtle character depth and truly impressive worldbuilding that will probably fly over the heads of newcomers.
Guts seems like a simplistic, edgy anti-hero at first glance, but he's so much more than that. Guts is one of the greatest characters the fantasy genre has to offer. Sigmund Freud could probably write a novel-length psychological analysis of this severely troubled and broken man. Guts is more complex than he leads people to believe as well. He's not a sociopathic antihero, he's a man that has no choice but to lie to himself to keep his emotions from crushing his spirit and getting innocent people involved with his deadly affairs. He's cruel and harsh for the greater good. It's the only way he can keep himself from going insane and continue to put up a good fight against terrifying creatures that are far stronger than he is. There's a bit of a joke in the Berserk community that says that no matter how bad your life might be, Guts will always have it worse. It's really not that hard to believe after you've read a bit of the series. His life was one big catastrophe literally from the moment he was born.
Not to mention his rival Griffith who is equally complex and incredibly rich with psychological depth, but there will be more on that as you delve further in. I would strongly recommend this series for hardcore fans of fantasy and horror, so long as you're prepared to be traumatized for life by the disgustingly harsh nature of its content.
This arc mainly serves to set up a lot of future plot points by introducing us to the Behilit, the God Hand, and the fact that even the demonic apostles are capable of emotions and having a family. Nothing is as it seems and no one is safe or innocent. It might not seem like it in the beginning, but the Black Swordsman arc is arguably one of the most important as it solidifies the themes of struggle, survival and wavering humanity that Guts deals with on a daily basis and sets up the flow of the rest of the story. It peels back the layers and reveals little by little how Guts grew up to be such a mentally broken and morally outraged character. It makes you sympathize with him and understand why he acts the way he does.
***
The Golden Age Arc: Volumes 4-13
The Golden Age Arc is where the story truly begins.
We return to the origins of Guts and learn about the series of battles, traumas and conflicts he gets himself wrapped in one after the other. We get introduced to a wonderfully intense group of mercenaries that go by the name of The Band of the Hawk. Among the Hawks are Casca the hot-headed female warrior, Judeau the smooth talking assassin, Corkus the drunken realist, Pippin the gentle giant, Rickert the blacksmith and of course, the infamous leader of men named Griffith.
Griffith is the most interesting of the motley crew as he is very complex and unpredictable. He has a playful side, a merciless side, a charismatic side and a childish yet vulnerable side. He can't be put into any single category. The gallant and elegant master of the sword has more layers than an onion. His brotherly rivalry with Guts is also a lovely and dementedly joyful sight to behold. This is the major turning point of the series and it only gets better and better from here.
After a life of grief and trauma, Guts reluctantly joins Griffith on his quest to attain his own kingdom while simultaneously struggling to come to terms with his own identity. We get to see a side of Guts we’ve never experienced up until this point. We see his vulnerability, his wounded soul, his ability to show affection to others, his role as a battle commander, and his blossoming relationships with Casca and Griffith; the two people who end up having the biggest impact on his entire life for very different reasons.
This is the arc that has the most in common with Game of Thrones, focusing on personal character dramas rather than constant brutal battles, action and lovecraftian horror being thrown at you left and right. While the battles and action sequences in Berserk are amazing, where it truly shines are its quiet moments of vulnerability where we get to see the most raw, heart-wrenching and introspective emotions of the severely damaged cast of protagonists.
Guts is an unstoppable badass, but he constantly suffers and contemplates his meaning in life. His sheer strength and relentless rage can’t hide the wounded little boy deep inside him. Casca is more fierce than most male soldiers on the battlefield and she has an attitude to match, so when we see her more feminine and loving side it makes her complex journey of self-realization all the more powerful. Griffith is a godlike war hero that millions of people worship, yet he has the deepest flaws, insecurities and inner darkness than any other character in the entire series. Most of all, they’re painfully human. These three represent the absolute best and absolute worst in all of us. That’s what makes them equally compelling, empathetic and utterly repulsive at times.
After an incredible display of war, romance, political drama, moral and philosophical musings, heartbreaking trauma, fascinating worldbuilding and chilling foreshadowing, the Golden Age arc ends on the single most shocking, depressing and mind blowing finale I’ve ever witnessed in a fantasy story. The Eclipse marks the major turning point in the story from Game of Thrones style medieval drama to the lovecraftian nightmare fest that we only get a small taste of in the Black Swordsman arc.
***
The Lost Children Arc: 14 - 16
Ah, the end of the Golden Age and the beginning of the Age of Darkness. This is where the horror elements of Berserk are dialed up to the absolute extreme. You thought the story was gruesome and horrifying before? You haven't seen anything yet. The Lost Children arc is not only arguably the most gruesome of them all, but it also completely wrecks your emotions as well. The relationship between Guts and Jill shows us that Guts is still in touch with his human side after the atrocities of the Black Swordsman arc may have convinced us otherwise. It solidifies his bond with his unlikely companion Puck, explores the lasting effects of trauma inflicted on him by the Eclipse and by Casca's heartbreaking condition and there's a rollercoaster of action, horror and small glimpses of hope in a sea of darkness. I've always loved how Jill and Puck brought Guts's humanity back to the surface after being stuck in such a devastating and harmful state for so long. This arc also humanizes the act of becoming an apostle which adds a layer of emotional depth to their depraved existence and makes the antagonists feel like more than simple fodder for Guts to slash through.
The Lost Children arc feels a bit underwhelming in a few areas compared to the shocking finale of the Golden Age arc, but the ending of this arc finishes with quite a few shockers of its own to bring back the hype and despair of the series. This arc is one of my favorites for a few reasons. It shows that apostles can be victims in their own right by exploring the sad life of Rosine who only sought to escape abuse and had to resort to inhumane methods to bring this about. This is made further relatable by contrasting her situation with that of Jill's as she's also severely abused by her father and wants nothing more than to escape from that life.
It also shows that Guts still has a human side. Despite how broken and full of hate and bloodlust he is, he still cares for Jill and throws himself in harm's way multiple times to protect her. Considering how tragic and terrifying Guts's childhood was, it's not too surprising that he would have a soft spot for kids that also happen to be suffering from abuse.
After the arc is done, we're thrown into another great arc which introduces us to the Holy Iron Chain Knights. Farnese and Serpico are fascinating characters, Azan is a cool guy and the shadiness of the group as a whole raises a lot of red flags. Guts and Puck also become much closer during this time which solidifies their companionship.
The Lost Children arc is often written off as a short filler mini-arc, but I think it serves its purpose more than well in just 3 volumes.
***
The Conviction Arc: 17 - 21
My favorite arc of Berserk in many ways.
The amount of story packed into these few volumes is incredible. Griffith is manipulating people's dreams from the beyond while a plague ravages the entire country. The people see this as a sign that the foretold messiah will soon come to save the world from darkness when really it's just Griffith leading them to believe that. After being visited by an omen in his dreams, Guts decides to return to Casca after not seeing her for two years because he's been going on a murderous rampage. After the tragic outcome of the Lost Children arc, Guts begins to accept that his quest for vengeance is futile, and that there are more important things in his life than violence.
This is where the arc gets really emotional. Figuratively speaking, Guts receives the harsh scolding and the much-needed therapy he's needed for a long time from Godo the blacksmith. Rickert, Erika and Puck are also there to knock some sense back into Guts's thick skull, giving him the mental and emotional support and guidance he desperately needed to get back on his feet after the tragedy of the eclipse. After regaining his compassion and conviction, Guts sets out to find the missing Caska, the woman who set the spark on his self-destructive quest in the first place to try and redeem his life from all the horrible things he’s been through and all the detestable things he’s done in the name of love.
We're then introduced to a horrifying priest that loves unreasonable torture, genocide and bashing people's brains out with a bible. The Holy Iron Chain Knights mean business and there's tragedy and death all over the world. Guts's path to redemption, the mad religion dedicated to a false messiah, the foreshadowing of Griffith's return, this arc is packed full of all kinds of heavy emotions.
On top of all the heart-wrenching emotions in this arc, it’s also by far the most terrifying. Religious tyranny, satanic orgy cults, cannibalism do to starvation, extreme torture methods using real historical tools such as the Judas Cradle, breaking wheels, rack torture, flaying and burning at the stake, etc. And that’s just a small taste.
We’re introduced to a group of prostitutes with strong character development. Luca is a saint and Nina is a sinner, yet Luca brings everyone together and loves them all unconditionally. Though she’s a prostitute, she has more love, kindness and motherly instinct in her than the entirety of the Holy Iron Chain Knights and their religious order which makes me respect her character a lot.
Overall an explosive arc that’s equally horrifying and beautiful. It has one of the most satisfying reunions and redemption plots of all time.
***
The Millennium Falcon Arc: Volumes 22-35
After the shocking ending of the previous arc, Griffith returns to the spotlight once more.
This is the most complex arc of the series as it's split into multiple perspectives which hasn’t really been done up until this point. Guts has reunited with his beloved Casca and her mind is still in shambles from the trauma she experienced during the Eclipse. With a new band of loyal companions at his side, Guts begins to learn how to trust, grow and love as he once did during his time in the Band of the Hawk while struggling to reconcile with his inner darkness and his hatred towards his former friend Griffith.
Schierke is a young witch that serves to explain the more magical, fantastical and metaphysical elements of the world of Berserk while aiding Guts’s crew in their journey to fight against the alarming uprising of demonic creatures overrunning the land.
The Kushan Empire has risen to power and is waging war with the unguarded kingdom of Midland. As if the deadly plague, religious crusades and rampant demon invasions weren’t enough, Emperor Ganishka of the Kushan Empire is making life an even greater hell for anyone that’s in his path of conquest.
Griffith is back in the human world, building an army of knights, demons, apostles and any other willing companions in his journey to 'save' the world from war to fulfill his dream of attaining his own kingdom no matter the sacrifices and immoral actions he must commit to make his dream a reality.
Not my favorite arc, but definitely the most chaotic, action-packed and lore heavy of them all. The fantasy, paranormal and existential elements of the story really ramp up in this arc and there’s all kinds of mindblowing chaos at work.
***
The Fantasia Arc: Volumes 36-41
It’s difficult to review this arc because it was left unfinished after the author’s untimely passing.
The Fantasia arc marked another major turning point of the series. If Lost Children and Conviction were the age of darkness, this was the beginning of the age of misguided light. Griffith changed the world in truly remarkable ways, both fascinating and terrible.
Guts and his crew set out to Elf Island to restore Casca’s memories before deciding how to settle the score with Griffith once and for all. The arc was tying up loose ends at a very nice pace, answering questions that many readers have been contemplating since the beginning of the series such as the identity of Skull Knight, the origins of the God Hand, Griffith true motives, how Casca confronts her trauma, the purpose of the Berserker Armor, Guts finding the answer to his life’s purpose, the secret history and lore of the greater universe and much more.
Just as the arc was heading for a climactic buildup to the finale, it ends on a tear jerking cliffhanger that serves as the untimely ending of the series as a whole. It’s a shame that Miura’s masterpiece wasn’t able to be finished, but he’s created the most influential manga of all time that heavily impacted millions of reads and thousands of artists all over the world.
***
If you're looking for some dark ambient music for reading horror, dark fantasy and other books like this one, then be sure to check out my YouTube Channel called Nightmarish Compositions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPs...
Guts is a severely traumatized vigilante that wanders the world, throwing himself into one battle after another in hopes of finding a meaning in the tremendous suffering he's endured. His sword is his only trusted companion and he's consumed by a lust for vengeance. Griffith is a charismatic mercenary with dreams of ending a hundred year war in hopes of attaining his own kingdom. Little do his comrades and enemies know, he's not the flawless hero many believe him to be. When the paths of these two men clash, the entire world drastically evolves around the earth-shattering conflict between their indomitable wills.
A grimdark epic with compelling protagonists, stomach-churning horror, heartbreaking drama and a lovecraftian sense of metaphysical worldbuilding that's as fascinating as it is terrifying. Berserk has been my favorite manga, fantasy story and perhaps favorite story ever made for over a decade now and I was really sad to hear that the man behind the masterpiece passed away earlier this year.
Berserk is infamous for being the most gratuitously dark, brutal, shocking and depressing fantasy story ever written, but it is also rich with intense human emotion, philosophical depth, perseverance through unimaginable suffering and horrifyingly realistic depictions of psychological trauma. The series tackles the complex nature of morality vs. primal nature, fate and causality vs. free will, resilience against soulcrushing trauma that would cause most people to become broken or twisted. The definitions of good an evil are blurred beyond recognition, the heroes are just as flawed and capable of terrible deeds as the villains. The lead characters Guts and Griffith consistently challenge these themes and definitions through their shocking yet horrifyingly human actions.
This manga has inspired many famous works of art that are popular in today’s media such as the Dark Souls franchise, Final Fantasy, Attack on Titan, Evangelion, Castlevania, as well as countless fantasy novels, comics, manga, movies, tv shows, video games, musicians, artists, illustrators and so much more.
Miura inspired me as well and I regard him for being the person who taught me just how influential, meaningful and life changing art and literature can be when I first read his series over a decade ago. He changed the way I view entertainment and taught me how to appreciate the deeper meanings in everything I experience.
Berserk is to me what Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings is to millions of others.
Rest In Peace to a legendary man.
***
Above is my completely spoiler free review showing my appreciation for this series and its characters.
Below is a review of the entire series, broken down arc by arc. I originally wrote these individual reviews back during my first reading of the series, so keep that in mind. Each part contains mild spoilers, I would advise not looking any further than the arcs you’re currently reading or have already read.
***
The Black Swordsman Arc: Volumes 1-3
The first arc is only the tip of the iceberg of a very complex, dark and violent tragedy. If you find yourself to be not too impressed with the first volume, I highly recommend reading until at least volume 4 before deciding if this series is for you or not. The first three volumes serve as an interlude to help prepare you for the atrocities to come and may seem somewhat underwhelming in terms of plot, but believe me when I say the payoff is highly rewarding and memorable.
The Black Swordsman arc is awesome for fans returning to the series or rereading the series, but it often gives newcomers the wrong impression. It’s not that it’s bad, it’s just extremely different from the rest of the series and it’s set in the middle of the story rather than the beginning. This is done to set the dark tone of the series, bombarding you with shocking and upsetting content to make sure you know what you’re getting into before delving back to the beginning. For newcomers, this arc is a confusing yet exciting sword and sorcery tale of a vengeful barbarian warrior hunting demons in hopes of settling the score with his mortal enemy Griffith, and the evil lovecraftian beings that govern the world from the abyss known only as the Godhand. For returning readers, the Black Swordsman arc is much deeper than it seems, packed with genius foreshadowing, subtle character depth and truly impressive worldbuilding that will probably fly over the heads of newcomers.
Guts seems like a simplistic, edgy anti-hero at first glance, but he's so much more than that. Guts is one of the greatest characters the fantasy genre has to offer. Sigmund Freud could probably write a novel-length psychological analysis of this severely troubled and broken man. Guts is more complex than he leads people to believe as well. He's not a sociopathic antihero, he's a man that has no choice but to lie to himself to keep his emotions from crushing his spirit and getting innocent people involved with his deadly affairs. He's cruel and harsh for the greater good. It's the only way he can keep himself from going insane and continue to put up a good fight against terrifying creatures that are far stronger than he is. There's a bit of a joke in the Berserk community that says that no matter how bad your life might be, Guts will always have it worse. It's really not that hard to believe after you've read a bit of the series. His life was one big catastrophe literally from the moment he was born.
Not to mention his rival Griffith who is equally complex and incredibly rich with psychological depth, but there will be more on that as you delve further in. I would strongly recommend this series for hardcore fans of fantasy and horror, so long as you're prepared to be traumatized for life by the disgustingly harsh nature of its content.
This arc mainly serves to set up a lot of future plot points by introducing us to the Behilit, the God Hand, and the fact that even the demonic apostles are capable of emotions and having a family. Nothing is as it seems and no one is safe or innocent. It might not seem like it in the beginning, but the Black Swordsman arc is arguably one of the most important as it solidifies the themes of struggle, survival and wavering humanity that Guts deals with on a daily basis and sets up the flow of the rest of the story. It peels back the layers and reveals little by little how Guts grew up to be such a mentally broken and morally outraged character. It makes you sympathize with him and understand why he acts the way he does.
***
The Golden Age Arc: Volumes 4-13
The Golden Age Arc is where the story truly begins.
We return to the origins of Guts and learn about the series of battles, traumas and conflicts he gets himself wrapped in one after the other. We get introduced to a wonderfully intense group of mercenaries that go by the name of The Band of the Hawk. Among the Hawks are Casca the hot-headed female warrior, Judeau the smooth talking assassin, Corkus the drunken realist, Pippin the gentle giant, Rickert the blacksmith and of course, the infamous leader of men named Griffith.
Griffith is the most interesting of the motley crew as he is very complex and unpredictable. He has a playful side, a merciless side, a charismatic side and a childish yet vulnerable side. He can't be put into any single category. The gallant and elegant master of the sword has more layers than an onion. His brotherly rivalry with Guts is also a lovely and dementedly joyful sight to behold. This is the major turning point of the series and it only gets better and better from here.
After a life of grief and trauma, Guts reluctantly joins Griffith on his quest to attain his own kingdom while simultaneously struggling to come to terms with his own identity. We get to see a side of Guts we’ve never experienced up until this point. We see his vulnerability, his wounded soul, his ability to show affection to others, his role as a battle commander, and his blossoming relationships with Casca and Griffith; the two people who end up having the biggest impact on his entire life for very different reasons.
This is the arc that has the most in common with Game of Thrones, focusing on personal character dramas rather than constant brutal battles, action and lovecraftian horror being thrown at you left and right. While the battles and action sequences in Berserk are amazing, where it truly shines are its quiet moments of vulnerability where we get to see the most raw, heart-wrenching and introspective emotions of the severely damaged cast of protagonists.
Guts is an unstoppable badass, but he constantly suffers and contemplates his meaning in life. His sheer strength and relentless rage can’t hide the wounded little boy deep inside him. Casca is more fierce than most male soldiers on the battlefield and she has an attitude to match, so when we see her more feminine and loving side it makes her complex journey of self-realization all the more powerful. Griffith is a godlike war hero that millions of people worship, yet he has the deepest flaws, insecurities and inner darkness than any other character in the entire series. Most of all, they’re painfully human. These three represent the absolute best and absolute worst in all of us. That’s what makes them equally compelling, empathetic and utterly repulsive at times.
After an incredible display of war, romance, political drama, moral and philosophical musings, heartbreaking trauma, fascinating worldbuilding and chilling foreshadowing, the Golden Age arc ends on the single most shocking, depressing and mind blowing finale I’ve ever witnessed in a fantasy story. The Eclipse marks the major turning point in the story from Game of Thrones style medieval drama to the lovecraftian nightmare fest that we only get a small taste of in the Black Swordsman arc.
***
The Lost Children Arc: 14 - 16
Ah, the end of the Golden Age and the beginning of the Age of Darkness. This is where the horror elements of Berserk are dialed up to the absolute extreme. You thought the story was gruesome and horrifying before? You haven't seen anything yet. The Lost Children arc is not only arguably the most gruesome of them all, but it also completely wrecks your emotions as well. The relationship between Guts and Jill shows us that Guts is still in touch with his human side after the atrocities of the Black Swordsman arc may have convinced us otherwise. It solidifies his bond with his unlikely companion Puck, explores the lasting effects of trauma inflicted on him by the Eclipse and by Casca's heartbreaking condition and there's a rollercoaster of action, horror and small glimpses of hope in a sea of darkness. I've always loved how Jill and Puck brought Guts's humanity back to the surface after being stuck in such a devastating and harmful state for so long. This arc also humanizes the act of becoming an apostle which adds a layer of emotional depth to their depraved existence and makes the antagonists feel like more than simple fodder for Guts to slash through.
The Lost Children arc feels a bit underwhelming in a few areas compared to the shocking finale of the Golden Age arc, but the ending of this arc finishes with quite a few shockers of its own to bring back the hype and despair of the series. This arc is one of my favorites for a few reasons. It shows that apostles can be victims in their own right by exploring the sad life of Rosine who only sought to escape abuse and had to resort to inhumane methods to bring this about. This is made further relatable by contrasting her situation with that of Jill's as she's also severely abused by her father and wants nothing more than to escape from that life.
It also shows that Guts still has a human side. Despite how broken and full of hate and bloodlust he is, he still cares for Jill and throws himself in harm's way multiple times to protect her. Considering how tragic and terrifying Guts's childhood was, it's not too surprising that he would have a soft spot for kids that also happen to be suffering from abuse.
After the arc is done, we're thrown into another great arc which introduces us to the Holy Iron Chain Knights. Farnese and Serpico are fascinating characters, Azan is a cool guy and the shadiness of the group as a whole raises a lot of red flags. Guts and Puck also become much closer during this time which solidifies their companionship.
The Lost Children arc is often written off as a short filler mini-arc, but I think it serves its purpose more than well in just 3 volumes.
***
The Conviction Arc: 17 - 21
My favorite arc of Berserk in many ways.
The amount of story packed into these few volumes is incredible. Griffith is manipulating people's dreams from the beyond while a plague ravages the entire country. The people see this as a sign that the foretold messiah will soon come to save the world from darkness when really it's just Griffith leading them to believe that. After being visited by an omen in his dreams, Guts decides to return to Casca after not seeing her for two years because he's been going on a murderous rampage. After the tragic outcome of the Lost Children arc, Guts begins to accept that his quest for vengeance is futile, and that there are more important things in his life than violence.
This is where the arc gets really emotional. Figuratively speaking, Guts receives the harsh scolding and the much-needed therapy he's needed for a long time from Godo the blacksmith. Rickert, Erika and Puck are also there to knock some sense back into Guts's thick skull, giving him the mental and emotional support and guidance he desperately needed to get back on his feet after the tragedy of the eclipse. After regaining his compassion and conviction, Guts sets out to find the missing Caska, the woman who set the spark on his self-destructive quest in the first place to try and redeem his life from all the horrible things he’s been through and all the detestable things he’s done in the name of love.
We're then introduced to a horrifying priest that loves unreasonable torture, genocide and bashing people's brains out with a bible. The Holy Iron Chain Knights mean business and there's tragedy and death all over the world. Guts's path to redemption, the mad religion dedicated to a false messiah, the foreshadowing of Griffith's return, this arc is packed full of all kinds of heavy emotions.
On top of all the heart-wrenching emotions in this arc, it’s also by far the most terrifying. Religious tyranny, satanic orgy cults, cannibalism do to starvation, extreme torture methods using real historical tools such as the Judas Cradle, breaking wheels, rack torture, flaying and burning at the stake, etc. And that’s just a small taste.
We’re introduced to a group of prostitutes with strong character development. Luca is a saint and Nina is a sinner, yet Luca brings everyone together and loves them all unconditionally. Though she’s a prostitute, she has more love, kindness and motherly instinct in her than the entirety of the Holy Iron Chain Knights and their religious order which makes me respect her character a lot.
Overall an explosive arc that’s equally horrifying and beautiful. It has one of the most satisfying reunions and redemption plots of all time.
***
The Millennium Falcon Arc: Volumes 22-35
After the shocking ending of the previous arc, Griffith returns to the spotlight once more.
This is the most complex arc of the series as it's split into multiple perspectives which hasn’t really been done up until this point. Guts has reunited with his beloved Casca and her mind is still in shambles from the trauma she experienced during the Eclipse. With a new band of loyal companions at his side, Guts begins to learn how to trust, grow and love as he once did during his time in the Band of the Hawk while struggling to reconcile with his inner darkness and his hatred towards his former friend Griffith.
Schierke is a young witch that serves to explain the more magical, fantastical and metaphysical elements of the world of Berserk while aiding Guts’s crew in their journey to fight against the alarming uprising of demonic creatures overrunning the land.
The Kushan Empire has risen to power and is waging war with the unguarded kingdom of Midland. As if the deadly plague, religious crusades and rampant demon invasions weren’t enough, Emperor Ganishka of the Kushan Empire is making life an even greater hell for anyone that’s in his path of conquest.
Griffith is back in the human world, building an army of knights, demons, apostles and any other willing companions in his journey to 'save' the world from war to fulfill his dream of attaining his own kingdom no matter the sacrifices and immoral actions he must commit to make his dream a reality.
Not my favorite arc, but definitely the most chaotic, action-packed and lore heavy of them all. The fantasy, paranormal and existential elements of the story really ramp up in this arc and there’s all kinds of mindblowing chaos at work.
***
The Fantasia Arc: Volumes 36-41
It’s difficult to review this arc because it was left unfinished after the author’s untimely passing.
The Fantasia arc marked another major turning point of the series. If Lost Children and Conviction were the age of darkness, this was the beginning of the age of misguided light. Griffith changed the world in truly remarkable ways, both fascinating and terrible.
Guts and his crew set out to Elf Island to restore Casca’s memories before deciding how to settle the score with Griffith once and for all. The arc was tying up loose ends at a very nice pace, answering questions that many readers have been contemplating since the beginning of the series such as the identity of Skull Knight, the origins of the God Hand, Griffith true motives, how Casca confronts her trauma, the purpose of the Berserker Armor, Guts finding the answer to his life’s purpose, the secret history and lore of the greater universe and much more.
Just as the arc was heading for a climactic buildup to the finale, it ends on a tear jerking cliffhanger that serves as the untimely ending of the series as a whole. It’s a shame that Miura’s masterpiece wasn’t able to be finished, but he’s created the most influential manga of all time that heavily impacted millions of reads and thousands of artists all over the world.
***
If you're looking for some dark ambient music for reading horror, dark fantasy and other books like this one, then be sure to check out my YouTube Channel called Nightmarish Compositions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPs...
December 4, 2021
Mola mucho el descenso al Midland enterrado para rescatar a Griffith. Saca a la luz un pasado mítico y terrible a través de unas ruinas y una leyenda que sugieren más de lo que muestran. Me ha gustado también el enfrentamiento con los Bakiraka, el clan de asesinos al servicio del rey. Una pandilla de freaks que se sobreponen a lo confuso de parte de la narración.
December 12, 2023
The entertainment is real. But I know this isn't the worst of it, and that just makes me warier of what's to come.
October 15, 2017
This is the tenth book in the Berserk series by Miura. A ton happens in this book. Guts and a small group of the Band of the Hawk go to save Griffith from Midland’s dungeons. Meanwhile things are getting dangerously crazy outside Midland; Ricket and the rest of the Bank of Hawk are beset upon by evil and vicious demons.
This is the book where things really start to turn away from politics and war and back towards the demonic horror we saw in the first couple books. Things are going south quickly for everyone in this book and disaster is just on the horizon.
I continue to be very impressed with how much story is in each volume of this series. The illustration continues to be amazing. I am always completely sucked into these books. As with previous books this is a manga for mature audiences only.
Overall another amazing installment in the Berserk series. I would recommend to mature fantasy horror fans who love their manga action-packed. I can’t wait to see what the next volume holds!
This is the book where things really start to turn away from politics and war and back towards the demonic horror we saw in the first couple books. Things are going south quickly for everyone in this book and disaster is just on the horizon.
I continue to be very impressed with how much story is in each volume of this series. The illustration continues to be amazing. I am always completely sucked into these books. As with previous books this is a manga for mature audiences only.
Overall another amazing installment in the Berserk series. I would recommend to mature fantasy horror fans who love their manga action-packed. I can’t wait to see what the next volume holds!
March 27, 2017
Here the seeming disparate threads start to weave, and Muira reconnects to the original Black swordsman arc. Griffith tortured and partially flayed and in prison deep in Windham Castle's catacombs, the king of Midland rotting with his kingdom and corrupting his own daughter. Supernatural elements beyond Skull Knight and Nosferatu Zod start to appear: Bakiraka and demonic and inhuman Wyald. Wyald's army whose are some of the most despicable knights in the Midland. Guts vaguely realizes that something is going wrong but compelled by friendship and love, he descends down to find Griffith, who has been forced to confront the darkest parts of himself as well.
April 14, 2021
The realest and rawest characters you will find in any manga. I could talk for hours about how each of them are feeling, because their actions tell us so much. The way they treat each other, or even themselves, tell more about their struggle than pages of dialogue ever could. This is peak storytelling for any medium. Period.
Edit: Oh, and by the way, if you ever want the perfect example of why relationships need good communication, look no further. Every terrible thing that follows these events could've been avoided if Guts and Griffith just talked about their goddamn feelings. It all goes downhill from here, even though they both do what they do because they care about each other. They just aren't talking. Relationships, people. Use your words.
Edit: Oh, and by the way, if you ever want the perfect example of why relationships need good communication, look no further. Every terrible thing that follows these events could've been avoided if Guts and Griffith just talked about their goddamn feelings. It all goes downhill from here, even though they both do what they do because they care about each other. They just aren't talking. Relationships, people. Use your words.
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August 12, 2023im traumatised (but the drawings r insane though)
June 23, 2024
Golden Age Arc#10..
And it gets more intense.
Guts and Casco are off to rescue Griffith..
But Princess Charlotte is a complication
And when they find Griffith!!
Plus the King of Midland hasn't finished yet!!
And it gets more intense.
Guts and Casco are off to rescue Griffith..
But Princess Charlotte is a complication
And when they find Griffith!!
Plus the King of Midland hasn't finished yet!!
July 12, 2021
2021 reread:
guts and casca are adorable together, i can't wait to see them live happily ever after
Content warnings (for Berserk overall): extreme gore, extreme violence, body horror, mutilation, psychological horror, rape (some against children), sexual assault (some against children), disturbing imagery, abuse.
This volume in particular is pretty disturbing with body horror and torture.
guts and casca are adorable together, i can't wait to see them live happily ever after
Content warnings (for Berserk overall): extreme gore, extreme violence, body horror, mutilation, psychological horror, rape (some against children), sexual assault (some against children), disturbing imagery, abuse.
This volume in particular is pretty disturbing with body horror and torture.
March 7, 2022
You might think you've seen enough darkness in this series, but that's never enough in berserk...
May 6, 2024
Exploration des profondeurs
Tandis que les liens se resserrent entre Guts et Casca dans des scènes véritablement touchantes, on en apprend ici bien davantage sur les motifs primordiaux qui ont conduit Griffith à sa poursuite effrénée d'un rêve personnel, dont il a fait la clé de toutes ses actions, le ressort premier de son existence. Ce rêve s'est d'abord incarné dans un château, juché sur sa corniche, infiniment au-dessus des ruelles. Et puis il y a eu la rencontre avec Guts, qui a renversé cet ordre de grandeurs, fracassé cette mécanique sublime et délicate. Et le départ de Guts de la troupe, contre l'interdiction établie par Griffith.
On rencontre aussi les premières véritables prémices de l'Occultation, terriblement bien amenées dans le récit de Berserk... On fait la découverte de son immonde avant-garde à travers le regard de Rickert, le cadet de la troupe du Faucon, rescapé d'une boucherie causée par des entités inhumaines.
Lors de l'expédition de libération de Griffith fait prisonnier par le roi de Midland, on fait ensuite la connaissance des sinistres Bakikara, des irréguliers de Midland dédiés aux basses œuvres. Le royaume de Midland n'est pas aussi propret qu'on aurait pu le penser à ses ors et sa pourpre immaculés.
Enfin, Judo, un de mes membres favoris de la troupe connaît son moment de gloire en tirant le commando assailli d'affaire grâce à ruse tactique peu conventionnelle...
Tandis que les liens se resserrent entre Guts et Casca dans des scènes véritablement touchantes, on en apprend ici bien davantage sur les motifs primordiaux qui ont conduit Griffith à sa poursuite effrénée d'un rêve personnel, dont il a fait la clé de toutes ses actions, le ressort premier de son existence. Ce rêve s'est d'abord incarné dans un château, juché sur sa corniche, infiniment au-dessus des ruelles. Et puis il y a eu la rencontre avec Guts, qui a renversé cet ordre de grandeurs, fracassé cette mécanique sublime et délicate. Et le départ de Guts de la troupe, contre l'interdiction établie par Griffith.
'Le jeu d'antan auquel je m'adonnais sur les pavés des ruelles n'a-t-il donc jamais pris fin ? [...] Ah, les petites guerres déclarées sur les pavés de mon enfance. La petite renommée acquise. Le clinquant butin de guerre dérobé. A la tombée de la nuit... je le voyais en levant les yeux dans ces ruelles de bordels et de bars, où la lumière du joue ne se frayait jamais son chemin. A la lueur du crépuscule, il était à mes yeux la chose qui brillait d'un éclat incomparable.'
On rencontre aussi les premières véritables prémices de l'Occultation, terriblement bien amenées dans le récit de Berserk... On fait la découverte de son immonde avant-garde à travers le regard de Rickert, le cadet de la troupe du Faucon, rescapé d'une boucherie causée par des entités inhumaines.
Lors de l'expédition de libération de Griffith fait prisonnier par le roi de Midland, on fait ensuite la connaissance des sinistres Bakikara, des irréguliers de Midland dédiés aux basses œuvres. Le royaume de Midland n'est pas aussi propret qu'on aurait pu le penser à ses ors et sa pourpre immaculés.
Enfin, Judo, un de mes membres favoris de la troupe connaît son moment de gloire en tirant le commando assailli d'affaire grâce à ruse tactique peu conventionnelle...
June 20, 2019
4.5 stars
oh wow I am speechless.
oh wow I am speechless.
August 4, 2022
this was brutal at times and what comes next is even worse…
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