Berserk

Hi, I know no one will read this, but I just want to express my controversial feelings about Berserk into the void. So here goes nothing.

I find Berserk to be horrifically overrated. People act like Kentaro Miura is the second coming of Jesus, but in my opinion, his work doesn't live up to the hype, and here's why:

I was initially drawn in by the admittedly very good art style in the first few chapters, especially considering they're from the late 1980s. The unusually dark themes and haunting medieval setting made it an interesting and enticing read. Because of those first few chapters, I thought Berserk was brimming with potential. Unfortunately, I quickly concluded that Miura failed to utilize it effectively.

It begins with the characters. As much as I want to like Guts, he's barely more than a two-dimensional trope of the "strong and silent type who ends up unwillingly collecting a rag-tag group of people who follow him." While I usually enjoy these types of characters, he becomes stale very fast. He has likeable attributes, and his backstory and the Golden Age Arc make him somewhat interesting, but it doesn't cancel out the fact that he has next to no character development or meaningful dialogue.

The antagonist Griffith... annoys me very much, to put it politely. He is ugly and a bad character. Griffith is given absolutely no reason for doing any of the horrible deeds he does throughout the story, except that "he wants to rule his own country." But why? I guess it doesn't really matter to Miura. He's a bad and boring antagonist, and I want to punch him in the face.

In addition to being flat like Griffith, every female character is barely more than a glorified sex toy, which leads me to my next point: Miura's apparent rape fetish.

Initially, the series' gore and rape were striking because they seemed to serve a purpose—to show how gritty and cruel the reality of Guts' world and life is, and to illustrate how horrible the people (and monsters) inhabiting this horrific world really are, even if they hide under a pleasant facade. But as the series progresses, it becomes apparent that Miura simply likes drawing grotesque scenes and enjoys seeing every female character he creates being sexually assaulted in increasingly perverse and weird scenarios. As the saying goes, there can be too much of a good thing, which is the case here. Miura completely desensitizes readers to the violence and gore, making it lose its impact.

The action scenes also lose their appeal as the series progresses; in fact, they become downright ridiculous. Guts' sword alone is so comically large and heavy that it makes every feat he performs with it seem hilarious. The battles themselves are very rinse-and-repeat: Guts encounters incredibly OP enemies, gets beaten within an inch of his life and injured so horrifically that it's almost funny, yet he never seems to carry any lasting consequences and somehow recovers to near-perfect health every time. The gore and battles become boring in their predictability. Add to this the fact that some arcs are badly paced and drag painfully at times, and you have the perfect formula for underwhelming storytelling.

In conclusion, Berserk had potential but decided to waste it on essentially becoming the boring embodiment of Kentaro Miura's rape fetish. I can't understand why it is as highly regarded as it is.

BERSERK, from a personal point of view, feels like meeting my ultimate love—the one I've always sought. It's been two years since I first read it, and I still revisit it occasionally, sometimes while eating.

Why do I love it so much? BERSERK is the story of an ordinary man, with extraordinarily bad luck, born from a dead mother and raised in a mercenary troop. Every day he fights for his life, losing everything. When he finally finds something meaningful and special, it is taken from him in the most horrific way imaginable. It's the tale of a man battling against his own destiny and the fate of all humanity, against forces far beyond his control (or perhaps not? :p).

ART: 10/10
Kentaro Miura has one of the most remarkable and unique art styles out there. His work is instantly recognizable, and no one else can replicate what he does. Although it takes him a long time to produce new chapters, this is because he pays meticulous attention to each one and puts immense effort into them. Each page is a masterpiece, plain and simple.

STORY: 9/10
The core of the story is straightforward: VENGEANCE. What makes it exceptional are the characters he meets along the way, the unexpected twists and turns, the scenes, the deaths—everything that unfolds. It’s truly unique, and you never know what will happen next.

CHARACTERS: 10/10
Characters are probably the reason why Berserk has achieved such success. Each character has a distinct personality and thinks differently. The character designs also reflect their personalities well, making them all unique and impactful to the story. But the most important of them all is GUTS! Guts (not Gatssu) is arguably one of the most charismatic characters out there. At first glance, he seems like just another badass who smashes everything in his path, but once you follow his journey from birth and understand everything he's endured, you become deeply attached to that character.

ENJOYMENT: 10/10
I simply adore it. Since discovering it two years ago, I've reread it multiple times. It's the manga I've always been searching for. Simple as that.

Now, I have just two things to tell you: go read it! You won't regret it. However, be warned—if you're sensitive to violence, explicit sexual scenes, strong language, or anything that reveals the raw, brutal side of humanity, then this might not be for you.

PS: Sorry if my English isn't perfect at times. Thanks! ;)

Berserk feels like two different series.

The first, the "Golden Age" arc, is where its acclaim rightly comes from. It easily stands alone as the single best manga arc I've ever read. Deserves 10s across the board. Reading Berserk is absolutely worthwhile for that experience alone—superb, mature characters, fiendishly inventive plot twists, and some beautiful world-building. The way it ends is absolutely heartbreaking.

Then, after the first ~110 chapters? There's, ah, the rest.

The post-Golden Age arc is still enjoyable—and the magnificent art style, if anything, has gotten even better. The problem is with the setting and pacing—it scarcely feels like the storyline has any idea where it wants to go anymore. The serious, heartfelt tone of the Golden Age arc has faded away, replaced with something much closer to a standard shōnen plotline. Guts and Griffith are still around, and the relationship between the two is still fantastic—but just about everything that made the Golden Age arc so distinctive has been vastly reduced. The world-building is still spectacularly creative, the sparse moments of actual plot development are interesting, and the characters from the original arc are still present, developing in unexpected ways—but the feeling of close camaraderie that made the Band of the Hawk's stories so wonderful to read about is just gone. What's in its place is a pretty, formulaic string of sequences—roughly summed up as "Guts et al. wander into new setting, mysterious phenomenon transforms into eldritch abomination, the party thwacks it with magical weapons for a few chapters, then Guts screams and gravely injures himself destroying the monster of the week." That's it—the overarching, beautifully written story of the Golden Age arc has been replaced by something that feels distinctly less... human? Berserk has become a story dominated by spectacle rather than characters—which, unfortunately, has entailed jettisoning a huge part of what made it so wonderful in the first place.

The plot has meandered along at a glacial pace for almost two hundred chapters now. Given the slow rate of chapter releases (three hundred chapters over twenty years?), it's hard to imagine the plot getting anywhere soon.

Scored a "7" with a heavy heart. The Golden Age arc on its own deserves "10"s across the board—but the latter two-thirds of the story drag the score down. The soul just isn't there anymore.

Read it, absolutely. Just expect to find the magic trailing off after a certain point.

What can I say that hasn't been said before? This manga is simply a great masterpiece. However, bear in mind that this story isn't for everyone; it's more suited for those with a strong heart. The narrative unfolds in a dark fantasy setting where the main character must fight numerous demons to survive. Yet, his greatest challenge will be confronting his dark past, compelling him never to surrender and to keep fighting until the end.

The main character will make many friends or comrades along his journey, some of whom may or may not aid him. A significant plot development revolves around the protagonist questioning the worthiness of his own life—whether he deserves to live or should give up entirely. Complicating matters further, he must wonder if the people around him can truly be trusted.

The art in this manga is among the best out there. Every detail, from the characters to the environment, is rendered realistically, making the story more credible and enjoyable. The main character stands out as one of the most awe-inspiring figures in manga history, making me cheer for him every time he's in a tight spot. Other characters are also well-crafted, each with distinct personalities and significant development throughout the story.

The only downside to this series is its hiatus status, leaving the story at a standstill for quite some time, with no clear indication of when it will continue. Nevertheless, this remains a great masterpiece that any manga reader should experience. Be warned, though, it contains high adult content that may not appeal to everyone, as mentioned earlier.

Berserk, in my view, is the greatest story ever crafted in all of fiction. It surpasses The Lord of the Rings, A Song of Ice and Fire, and any other narrative you might think of. Berserk isn't merely a manga; it resonates with me on a deeply personal level. The character of Guts should be studied for generations to come. His depth rivals that of characters like Geralt. He endures so much, even descends into hell, yet he persists. He holds onto hope that tomorrow will be better.

I might just be one among many praising this story, but I want to express my gratitude. Thank you, Mira, for creating this masterpiece.

Initially, my first impression upon starting to read was, "What about the context of the story?" However, it did come later in the subsequent chapters. I was so eager to understand the story that I kept asking myself, "What's next, what's next?" The main character appears to be a cold-hearted man, killing without hesitation, but that's precisely what "Berserk" is all about. Guts has endured a life full of suffering, born from a corpse and walking a path of blood with his sword from a young age. Pain, pleasure, agony, and wickedness are central themes of this story, especially when he meets Griffith, his best friend who shares his dream of becoming the future king of Midland and uses Guts' power to achieve that goal. Eventually, you'll understand just how much Griffith betrays Guts. I truly recommend reading this manga; it holds nothing back, everything is explicit, and it touches on issues from the past related to wars and abuse at all levels. It’s a powerful story with artwork that evolves and improves over time.

Spoiler-Free Review:

Among all the TV shows, movies, and books I've completed, Berserk stands out as the most comprehensive and captivating. The art is meticulous; I've heard stories that the creator of the manga, Kentaro Miura, drew panels pixel by pixel when working digitally. If that's the level of detail in the artwork, imagine the depth and intricacy of the story and character development. A crucial aspect that makes Berserk exceptional is its realism. You've likely heard others mention how dark and mature Berserk is. While this is certainly true, I wouldn't describe it as purposefully edgy like many mediocre mangas attempt to be. Everything feels purposeful, and characters in Berserk must deal with real consequences. Not everything turns out the way you might hope. I don't know why you're still reading this review. Just go ahead and read Berserk. If you're new to manga like I was and aren't sure if you'll enjoy the experience, start with the 1997 anime, get hooked on the story, and you'll find yourself compelled to read the manga.