Berserk

At first, the manga seems like a typical story. A big guy with a massive sword fighting terrifying demons...blah blah blah!

Then you reach The Golden Arc, and that's when it really hooks you in!

Berserk is a tale brimming with betrayal, anger, revenge, sadness, and humanity's sins.

The series is packed with gore, extreme violence, and incredibly disturbing scenes! It features some of the most unique heroes like Guts, Skull Knight, and Puck, as well as horrifying villains such as The God Hands and The Apostles!

If you enjoy well-written sagas and intense action, this is a great read for you!

It will make you addicted to the extreme awesomeness of Berserk.

A narrative centered on the flawed, to put it mildly, protagonist's journey of growth and management through trauma, hardship, relationships, and the harsh reality of determinism.

Warning: Extremely explicit, gruesome, and depicting everything wrong you can imagine and a lot that you couldn't. Not for the faint of heart.

The story begins with a shocking event to filter out those who cannot handle its intensity. Initially, it might seem like just another slasher manga, hard to comprehend. However, as the story unfolds, it brilliantly showcases the events leading up to this point, evoking profound empathy and emotional impact when the inevitable occurs.

Following this moment, you are taken on a journey of growth and struggle against unimaginable forces from within and without, subtly mirroring struggles many of us face, though ours pale in comparison. As the narrative progresses, we delve deeper into the fantastical and grand elements of this beautifully vast world, never compromising on philosophical depth and excellent character development.

In terms of art, no manga comes close, and it would be challenging to find illustrations in any medium better executed.

Note: This review was written after reading 286 chapters. Therefore, not everything mentioned may hold true beyond this point.

I feel compelled to write a review about this manga because it is truly a masterpiece. Everything about Berserk is 10/10. However, my intention is not to justify why it's great, but rather to highlight how disgustingly realistic it is compared to the real world and the valuable lessons it imparts.

What resonates with me most in this story revolves around the saying, "The end justifies the means."

The narrative showcases Griffith, (SLIGHT SPOILERS) a warrior who will do anything to establish his own kingdom, by any means necessary. Throughout the story, he is revered as a god or an angel by religious characters. However, the way he attained his heavenly appearance and power was diabolical. It's important to note that this manga is far from over. Furthermore, if Griffith does achieve his goal and rules as a holy king, will this justify the slaughter and betrayal of his friends? That is for the reader to decide, but I believe most would disagree.

This can be related back to real life where the public is often unaware of what transpired for someone to gain publicity and praise (a one-sided story).

Berserk also portrays an immense amount of suffering through Guts' character. In the end, what will he have suffered for? What will he achieve? All I can think of is revenge, self-justification, and peace. This mirrors how sometimes people work and suffer for extended periods without reaching their goals or being disappointed with the outcome.

Another topic Berserk addresses is time and mistakes. Guts made many errors at the beginning of the story that led to his friends' deaths and his own suffering. Undoubtedly, he would change what he did in the past if he could. However, that is impossible. The story illustrates how once something is said, it cannot be taken back, and once something is done, it cannot be undone. Guts understands this and continues living without dwelling on his past mistakes, which is a profound lesson provided by the story.

A distinguishing feature of Berserk is the monster attempting to overcome Guts. I believe the monster symbolizes all of the protagonist's pain, suffering, anger, and hatred. It represents malice, feelings that exist within every human. Berserk essentially conveys that these feelings are inevitable and must be dealt with, which is true. There is no way to eliminate them, but one must keep their wits and fight. No other piece of literature I've read or seen has portrayed this as effectively.

Finally, the last aspect that makes Berserk such a great piece of literature is Guts and his friends' resolve. No matter what, Guts never broke down throughout the story and never gave up. This is another crucial lesson provided by the manga. It demonstrates how if Guts had given up, he would have died with his friends, but instead, his tenacity paid off, and he lived. Despite all the pain and suffering Guts has endured, he is still alive.

10/10 This will forever be a masterpiece!

The manga certainly has its strengths, such as its art and visual storytelling. I also agree to some extent that the character writing tends to be good.

However, I never really feel that the manga justifies being as violent as it is. It doesn't seem to have much of a point to make, and at times, the needlessly detailed depictions of sexual violence make it seem like Miura might have been a bit of a sex pervert (and no, just because he is dead doesn't mean he can't be criticized).

Again, that isn't to say that the manga as a whole is bad; there are certainly stretches of chapters that for a while are almost perfect. But then you inevitably reach a certain point where it feels like Miura couldn't keep his dick in his pants and had to meticulously depict women getting raped. And it never stopped leaving a bad taste in my mouth. I get that certain scenes involving sexual violence actually play a part in the story (the eclipse, Guts' childhood, etc.), but there are just as many if not more scenes that really feel quite pointless and just kind of creepy (Black Dogs, rape horse, etc.).

I can never really recommend Berserk to anyone because I don't want them to think I'm a creep. And it's really quite sad because there are definitely great things in Berserk. But there are just as many pointlessly edgy things that really feel less like a mature story and more like a 13-year-old's fantasy.

Whenever people talk about Berserk, it's like they only focus on the good things and never bring up the bad stuff. While part of Berserk might be that "perfect" bit of storytelling that people pretend it is, at least a quarter, if not half of Berserk is just kind of edgy nonsense. There are entire chapters of Berserk that you could just remove and it wouldn't change the story one bit. And they always tend to be the edgiest.

I know some people will act like I don't like Berserk because it is "too violent." The Goblin Slayer fanbase method of defending a shit story. But no, I love the Eclipse and most of the Golden Age arc with little criticism. It's just that if you are going to depict scenes of terrible violence, I tend to want there to be a point to it. There is a difference between a movie like "Prisoners" and a movie like "Saw." Both are very violent, but "Prisoners" is a genuinely good movie, and "Saw" is just violence porn. And Berserk can at times feel less like "Prisoners" and more like "Saw," mindless edgy violence.

So it has finally come to this. As I watched this anime, I felt compelled to review it; in fact, I've mentally drafted numerous reviews many times over. Each time, a new thought or realization emerged, further enhancing its greatness in my mind. The reason behind this is likely that Clannad managed to amplify every single story arc, making it feel grand, perfect, and complete. It was around the midpoint of After Story that I realized I was in way over my head. This masterpiece does not deserve to be dissected and reviewed like some flawed piece of garbage. No, sir.

In 2016, a friend introduced me to Berserk, claiming it was the greatest manga he had ever read. I was surprised by his enthusiasm. After four years of persistent urging, I finally started reading it in April 2020 but stopped after 114 chapters. A year later, I resumed and finished it just a week ago. I can confidently say that Berserk is one of the greatest manga ever created. Here's why.

Story:
Set in a ruthless medieval world, we follow the adventures of Guts, also known as the Struggler. Beyond being visually stunning, Berserk is an ode to imagination, mythology, and a deeply rich universe filled with symbolism and multiple layers of interpretation. It’s a harrowing experience, a profound and ambitious work among the best in its medium and fantasy genre.

The incredible arcs of Berserk are noteworthy. The Black Swordsman arc introduces us to the cruelty of Berserk’s world. The atmosphere is heavy, and we see Guts on a vengeful rampage. This arc hints at the relationship between Guts and Griffith and introduces the God Hand.

The Golden Age arc is arguably the fan favorite. It truly begins Guts' journey, showing more of the world's brutality. Guts faces rape, torture, and forced military service. Joining the Band of the Hawk gives him a sense of family and purpose, especially with Casca. Griffith’s betrayal during the Eclipse is one of the most heartbreaking moments in manga history. The Golden Age arc is both terrible and captivating.

The Conviction arc is split into two parts: Lost Children and Birth Ceremony. Lost Children, often underrated, shows Guts’ mental state post-Eclipse and his nightly battles with apostles. Birth Ceremony introduces iconic characters like Farnese, Serpico, and the terrifying Mozgus. Here, Guts prioritizes Casca’s safety over revenge, showcasing a more barbaric side.

The Millennium Falcon Empire arc has a unique atmosphere as Guts forms a new team with Isidro, Farnese, Serpico, Casca, Puck, Schierke, and Ivarella. The team helps him become calmer and less obsessed with Griffith. This arc introduces the Berserker Armor, enhancing Guts' strength at a great cost. Griffith's return adds excitement to the story.

The final Fantasia arc is more tranquil, though still dangerous. Guts continues his quest to restore Casca's memory. The Sea God mini-arc offers good action but feels somewhat unnecessary. The arc builds intrigue slowly compared to others, making it the weakest Berserk arc, yet still enjoyable.

Art:
Kentarou Miura’s artistry is unparalleled. Berserk features some of the most detailed panels in manga history. Even early chapters are impressive, and the evolution of the artwork is fascinating. Few manga can match the quality of Berserk’s later chapters.

Characters:
Throughout his journey, Guts meets many characters, each playing their roles well. I’ll focus on Guts and Griffith.

Guts, the Black Swordsman, wanders through darkness seeking apostles. More than a berserker with an iconic sword, Guts embodies compassion, loyalty, kindness, and an unbreakable will. He’s a struggling hero, known as the Struggler, who has endured immense suffering.

Griffith, the Falcon of Light, is arrogant, heartless, and manipulative. He discards anyone opposing his dream or orders. His charisma and decisions manipulate the entire world, with few knowing the truth about him.

Conclusion:
Berserk is a pinnacle manga. Rest in peace, Kentarou Miura.

Overall Ratings:
Story: 10/10
Art: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Overall: 10/10

The following review is based on my personal opinion and will be in two languages: Spanish and English.

By the way, my English is really bad, and this is also my first review.

English

Story: 10/10.

There is no better story than Berserk. It encompasses all the amazing elements I've seen in adventure genres, interesting aspects of the Middle Ages, horror genres, and existential philosophy. Combine perfect and detailed art, exquisite drama brought by surprisingly charismatic and well-written characters, a story that is both raw and imaginative, truly shocking action and gore scenes, and a rich mythology, theology, and philosophy in constant development amidst a gigantic and complex universe, and you get Berserk.

The Golden Age arc is undoubtedly the best part of Berserk, featuring truly epic scenes, bloody battles, intense rape scenes, and a complex story aimed at an adult audience or those with incredible maturity to appreciate Berserk.

Characters: 10/10.

In my opinion, the characters in this manga are spectacular in every way. The protagonist is undoubtedly one of the best, excelling in attitude, personality, and appearance. The characters introduced later in the manga also help the protagonist retain his humanity and provide humorous situations that don't feel out of place.

Guts' development is sensational, with noticeable changes from the beginning to the present. The main characters accompanying Guts are also well-crafted, everything has a reason, and it is certainly very well done.

The antagonist, despite being disliked, is one of Berserk's best characters, being a truly evil villain who would not hesitate to do even the cruelest things to fulfill his dream.

Art: 10/10.

Berserk's art is simply spectacular. Initially, I liked it a lot, but as time went by, Kentarou Miura's art improved significantly. The detail, shading, and backgrounds look fantastic.

The art is essential in truly epic scenes such as battles, dramatic moments, and the way expressions and characters' clothing are drawn is excellent. Personally, I am quite fascinated by the detail in Griffith and Berserk's armor.

Enjoyment: 10/10.

The most epic story I've ever read, with sensational art, well-crafted characters, a story with truly fascinating plot twists, and rather strong violence make Berserk my favorite manga.

If you're a fan of Berserk, you might find this review offensive. Proceed with caution.

STORY: 6/10

Berserk has a weak start. A man with a massive sword and a mechanical arm slaughters numerous people and grotesque monsters. While I enjoy gore, there needs to be some semblance of a story or reasoning behind it. Initially, the main character, Guts, seems to wander around killing hideous creatures for no reason other than his apparent love for bloodshed.

Then comes the Golden Age arc... This, my friends, is one of the greatest arcs in manga history. It feels as if the mangaka stepped away and let God himself write this part of the story. The characters deepen, the gruesome fights gain meaning, and everything is executed flawlessly. Sadly, after about a hundred chapters, it ends. God hands the pen back to the original mangaka, who then makes Guts kill countless ugly snake-penis monsters for hundreds of chapters. Only 25% of this manga is pure gold; the remaining 75% is garbage.

ART: 10/10

Besides the Golden Age arc, Berserk's strongest point is its artwork. I mentioned disgusting monsters earlier, and trust me—they are DISGUSTING. They have rows of razor-sharp teeth, dirty fur, ooze slime, drool, and all have snakes for penises. The level of detail put into these creatures can make you queasy—in a good way. The artwork is flawless and not up for debate.

CHARACTER: 7/10

The rivalry between Guts and Griffith is legendary. During the Golden Age arc, both characters receive extensive development, making readers genuinely care for them. Most characters from this arc are given enough screen time for readers to become attached. Unfortunately, outside of the Golden Age arc, male characters aside from Guts receive minimal development, and most female characters are merely victims of sexual violence. Despite this, the Golden Age arc was so good that I'm giving the characters a higher score than they deserve. Honestly, most of this manga is bad.

ENJOYMENT: 3/10

To clarify, enjoyment during the Golden Age arc = 10. The rest of Berserk is essentially repetitive, just with different ugly monsters. Here’s a brief rundown of every chapter:

Guts enters a city.
Mutant panda bears are raping 900 women with their snake penises.
Guts kills the panda bears with his oversized sword.
Everything is depressing.
End.

OVERALL: 6/10

Drop the series after the Golden Age arc. It doesn't just decline; it plummets off a cliff and lands in a pile of dog vomit... with snake penises.

Berserk is a masterpiece within its genre, a dark and deeply philosophical epic that draws readers into a world marked by harrowing violence yet rich in complexity. From the very first page, it becomes evident that this is not a tale for the faint of heart or those seeking a shallow narrative.

Kentaro Miura crafts a universe where violence and brutality are commonplace, but where profound existential themes are also intricately woven into the fabric of the story. Through the eyes of Guts, the protagonist, we witness an ongoing struggle between light and darkness, both within himself and in the world around him. Contrary to what many might mistakenly assume, Berserk is not merely a bloody saga of revenge; it is a powerful narrative about self-overcoming.

Guts faces a cruel and unforgiving fate from birth. Despite unimaginable trauma, loss, and suffering, he endures. His unwavering will and intense desire to live drive him forward, even when the entire world seems against him. Throughout his journey, he forms bonds with other characters who become his comrades, adding layers of emotional depth and complexity to the story.

The recent and tragic passing of Kentaro Miura has left a void in the manga community, but his legacy will continue through works like Berserk. While the responsibility of completing the series now falls to Kouji Mori, it is understandable that fans feel some anxiety. However, despite this uncertainty, Berserk remains an almost perfect work that deserves to be read and appreciated.

I initially got into this story because of my interest in medieval themes and the intense dislike many people had for Griffith. Before that, I hadn't even heard of Berserk and was mostly into Shonen anime. After watching the 1997 adaptation of Berserk, I was shocked that the series just ended so abruptly. So, I started reading the manga from the beginning to catch up on parts of the story that were left out, and HOLY SHIT, was I surprised at how good it was. Everything the anime did well, the manga did 100 times better. Guts is seriously such a badass character, and his backstory is nothing but PAIN. This truly is a masterpiece.

Overall: 9.75

Everyone has good things to say about Berserk, but no one really recommends it for what it truly is. Berserk is an incredible epic fantasy series, comparable to A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones) or The Lord of the Rings. Its world-building is as expansive, and its story is just as compelling. Additionally, the artwork is stunningly beautiful. If this doesn't sound appealing, I'm not sure what would. However, some readers may want to steer clear due to its graphic content. There are scenes of sex, violence, and particularly, sexual violence, especially in the first half of the series. Reader discretion is strongly advised.

Besides the graphic content, another reason to hesitate might be that Berserk is an ongoing series. It has been running for about 20 years now and could continue for another 15-20 more. This is partly due to frequent, long hiatuses and its irregular publication schedule. But if you let this deter you, you're missing out on one of the most amazing stories ever told.

Story:
I won't go into too much detail beyond the MAL summary. It's best if you let the story surprise you. Trust me!

Art:
Did I mention how insanely good the art is? Because it is. Berserk has been running for around 20 years, and the artist's skill has evolved from pretty solid to very good, and eventually to a perfect 11/10.

Characters:
The protagonist, Guts, is one of the best-written characters I've ever encountered in fiction. Some of the other main characters are also brilliantly crafted. However, later in the series, some side characters are introduced who can come off as somewhat one-dimensional. This is why some people feel Berserk loses some of its shine after the Golden Age arc. In my view, it remains just as good, albeit in a different way. You'll have to judge that for yourself.

Here's my take after reading 352 chapters of the phenomenon known as Berserk by Kentarou Miura.

When we look at the different media like Anime, Manga, movies, and gaming today, it's clear they've come a long way. While many innovations have been made, there are also plenty of recycled ideas and concepts reused over and over again.

If I ask most people what comes to mind when they think of a man wielding a gigantic sword, they quickly refer to Cloud from Final Fantasy VII, the greatsword from Monster Hunter, or Kisame’s Samehada from Naruto. However, most don't realize that these characters owe their origins to Guts, who started it all and made it popular!

Berserk was among the first to innovate in terms of storytelling and character development. It also created one of the most memorable and amazing plot twists with Guts and Griffith, which I won’t spoil here. These two are some of the best-developed and fleshed-out characters you’ll ever encounter.

The supporting cast is crucial in lifting main characters to their zenith, and Berserk excels in this area with characters like Casca, Farnese, Serpico, Zodd, Schierke, and the Skull Knight.

Every arc of Berserk stands out on its own because it is masterfully written. No page serves as filler; every panel of every page of every chapter of every volume is a great read. It’s action-packed to the very essence of the word "Action".

The art of Berserk is like fine wine; it just gets better with age, especially now that it is serialized monthly. Kentarou Miura produces some of the greatest manga panels, and his work only improves over time.

If there is one downside to Berserk for most readers, it's that Kentarou Miura has a condition known as Togashi Syndrome, characterized by frequent hiatuses. However, for me, this ensures the quality of the manga, making it worth the wait in the end.

All in all, if you want a great action manga full of blood, gore, and pure unadulterated battles, I would suggest giving Berserk a read.

I’m giving Berserk 10 perfect Schierke Spells out of 10.