Berserk

Berserk is an extraordinary work by mangaka Miura Kentaro. The storyline is excellently paced, with the first chapter drawing readers in perfectly through hardcore action scenes and creating mystery with its many unanswered questions. It began as a seinen (men's) manga around 23 years ago in 1989 and has consistently remained in the top 5 of the seinen list. The story's flow never bores the audience. Unlike many series that lose direction, Berserk maintains its momentum. One minor gripe is that despite Miura releasing only one chapter every two or three months, the manga continues to move towards an eventual conclusion. The primary issue is the infrequent updates, which feel like they happen once in a blue moon.

Currently, Berserk holds the #1 spot in the Top 10 Best Rated (Bayesian Estimate), #2 in the Top 10 Best Rated (Weighted Average), and #9 on the Top 10 Most Popular list. It has also gained public recognition in the USA, though it would remain a masterpiece even if it ranked last in any poll. Beyond its engaging plot and intense action, what truly stands out is the artwork. The shading, strokes, and clarity in character design are breathtaking achievements by Miura.

Guts, known as the Black Swordsman, wanders through a medieval-like era driven by vengeance. He searches for Griffith, who branded him as an unholy sacrifice. His journey separates him from humanity as he must slay demons drawn to the mark on his neck. Berserk is a dark, brooding tale about outrageous swordplay, fate, and dreams.

The Golden Age Arc details Guts' life before becoming "The Black Swordsman." In this arc, he travels through various locations within the Chuder and Midland Empires, battling over 30 Apostles, primarily during the Eclipse. Among the three major Apostles he encounters, he kills one, grievously wounds another, and barely survives against the third. Guts meets characters like Gambino, Griffith, Casca, and the Band of the Hawk, along with various other allies and enemies. Throughout these encounters, Guts loses only a few fights—against Griffith, Zodd, Adon Coborlwitz, and ultimately to the Apostles during the Eclipse—showing that Berserk is not a one-sided narrative.

Overall, I haven't found many flaws in the story; the art is detailed, and it's hard to imagine finding a better seinen manga than Berserk. All credit goes to Kentarou Miura, whose genius shines through in character development.

Story - 10

The story of Berserk isn't a marvel of creativity like Made in Abyss, nor is it particularly unique like Mononoke. However, Berserk excels not through originality but through masterful execution. Any score lower than ten would be unjust. Kentaro Miura's storytelling prowess lies in his pacing—while some arcs, like the Conviction arc, drag on a bit, his ability to make an arc feel incredibly intricate despite its brevity is remarkable.

Art - 10

Berserk boasts excellent art, but it’s more nuanced than just that. Its legendary status is partly due to its incredible paneling, which often features fewer but larger panels compared to other manga. This technique mimics cinematic direction, making Berserk feel more refined and easier to follow. The art isn't confined to battle scenes; it's frequent, consistent, and emotionally nuanced, often conveying more than words alone can.

Characters - 10

I adored the protagonists and their development. What truly surprised me were two aspects: first, the complexity of side characters like Luca and Nina, who have deeply layered desires and internal struggles; second, how characters interact with each other. It doesn’t feel forced or artificial—they aren’t just thrown together as a group that loves each other by design. Instead, they are individuals who have come together almost by chance.

Enjoyment - 10

Certain double or single-page spreads, and even some smaller panels, made me squeal with delight. But Berserk isn’t just visually stunning or a series of battles. It’s a masterpiece journey that I’m thrilled to have experienced.

There are some light spoilers.

I love Berserk. It has my favorite story, my favorite character and protagonist of all time in any work of fiction—Guts. The antagonist is brilliant, the side characters are compelling, the art is superb, the action scenes are breathtaking, and the character moments are deeply meaningful.

Many objective reviews explain why Berserk is considered the greatest of all time (GOAT), and I wholeheartedly agree with them. For me, Berserk holds a special place because it has inspired me numerous times to strive to be better than I am. Instead of merely complaining about my circumstances and hoping for things to improve without taking action, Berserk encourages me to actively increase the possibility of positive outcomes.

Guts is the kind of person I have always aspired to be. Regardless of his circumstances, he never complains. He doesn't act to impress others; he does what he believes is necessary and doesn't meddle in other people's affairs unless it becomes essential or unavoidable.

I've been fortunate in my upbringing, facing few significant struggles. As a result, trivial issues often caused me discomfort and anxiety. I even developed a victim mentality, believing my problems were not my fault and that I could do nothing about them. Then, I encountered Guts, a human who achieves incredible feats through sheer willpower. While far from perfect, his flaws draw me deeper into his story.

I see an imperfect man, initially without a dream or companions, gradually develop into someone seeking purpose and forming meaningful relationships. I observe him consumed by rage yet repeatedly saved by those with whom he has forged strong bonds. His growth teaches him that there are more important things in life than revenge.

I see him on the seashore, understanding Schierke’s feelings about her mistress, expressing gratitude to Farnese for caring for Casca, and showing trust in Isidro’s abilities in the Troll Cave. This shows how far the lone Black Swordsman has come, transforming from someone seemingly devoid of compassion to a figure capable of empathy and kindness.

In my own life, I’ve often craved praise and attention for small achievements. Although I still desire validation from others, reading Berserk has shown me many instances where Guts had opportunities to seek such recognition but chose not to. He simply acts without expecting gratitude in return.

Farnese is another character I can relate to. Like her, I’ve felt useless and underestimated my efforts. Through her journey, I recognized similarities between us and saw how she grows and learns to appreciate herself in a healthy way, which has also inspired me.

Other characters keep me engaged, from Puck’s comedic relief to Griffith’s ambition. Everything feels perfectly crafted to me.

Berserk may have its flaws, and that’s okay. I won’t claim this story is for everyone, but it means a great deal to someone like me.

I could go on and on, but I just want to thank Miura Sensei for creating this masterpiece that has taught me so much. I will forever be grateful for having the opportunity to read Berserk. RIP, sensei.

Berserk is a complete masterpiece and the best manga I’ve ever read. It has its flaws and ups and downs, but when it reaches its heights, no other manga even comes close. As decades pass, only about 5% (being generous) of mangas and authors will be remembered. Among those, Miura and his creation Berserk will stand the test of time and serve as an example of the heights that manga can achieve—a work that will remain forever.

The creation of the world, how everything interlaces, the richness of each character, the drawings, the battles, and most especially those quiet, calm, and reflective moments make Berserk something truly unique.

Consider the sheer power of Griffith's mentality and determination. To have someone as strong as Guts following him blindly first because he was defeated in a duel, and later out of admiration and realization that Griffith was superior to him in every way, is impressive. Guts is strong physically, in survival, and stoic, while Griffith excels in all aspects. He embodies a conqueror's mentality, similar to what Mike Tyson described—driven by ambition so extreme that you believe the world is yours and nothing can change that destiny. You feel like the center of the universe, so whatever you decide becomes reality. One can't be around people like him thinking you're friends, because their entire life revolves around fitting pieces into their ultimate objective. If you become one of those pieces, even if you're a friend, you'll be eliminated if you stand in their path.

Griffith isn't a struggler; he's an achiever. The only time he struggled, he turned the situation around to his definitive step, becoming a god.

One of the best characters ever created, Griffith exemplifies one of Berserk's greatest virtues: having an antagonist as compelling as him. A story's greatness often hinges on the strength of its villain, which drives the main character to grow, oppose him, and develop into someone with a rich background and personality.

People reading Berserk at a slow pace might have noticed pacing issues, but these aren't as apparent when reading without long breaks. There are some mini-arcs, like the pirates and the Sea God, that were a bit boring but didn't feel as drawn out as they might if one stayed in the same situation for years. Also, the story hasn't ended with Guts' revenge towards Griffith. Currently, Guts is no match for Griffith. If he tried, he could face Zodd or other apostles under Griffith in the new Band of the Hawk.

A lot needs to happen for Guts to even stand a chance against Griffith. When the Skull Knight couldn’t defeat him and is already miles ahead of Guts in experience and power, saving him many times and guiding him through a path he’s already walked due to his history.

After Casca regained her memories, Guts questions whether his path should involve killing Griffith or staying with her now that she might recover. The Skull Knight mentioned this in the last chapters, talking about the void he faced for a thousand years after seeking vengeance for losing everything. Guts isn't in that situation, and pursuing that vengeance could leave him feeling meaningless and cause him to lose everything he has and his soul in the process. It all depends on Griffith’s next objective and how it affects Guts and the world.

I’m not saying what will happen, but if Miura were here, things wouldn’t be as clear. The end of Berserk is far from near; there are many things to explain and resolve in ways that can’t be a shounen fast power-up by divine will. I doubt this could have ended satisfactorily in less than ten more volumes. With the Fantasia arc, the new reality of Guts, Casca, and the group, the wizards of Elfheim, Griffith's wedding, Falconia, The God Hand, and their stories, it’s evident that we’re not yet at the conclusion, and many things need to develop.

Here lies the problem: sadly, Miura is no longer with us. One might think the best approach is to stop Berserk and leave it as it is now. This seems respectful to him, honoring his legacy and not continuing his creation without him. But Berserk was his life project, incomparable to someone working on a movie or book for a few years. Miura dedicated his entire life to this project, creating highly detailed double-page panels, increasing his workload and level of detail over the years instead of decreasing it.

Berserk was his life's work, significant beyond our comprehension. I believe someone in that situation couldn’t rest knowing that all that effort didn’t have a proper ending and development of everything he created.

The issue is whether he left a document or talked with his assistants or a friend about the direction of the story. If that didn’t happen, then the respectful thing would be to leave Berserk as it is since it was Miura’s creation, and no one else can claim the right to continue it. If he did leave instructions, then the deepest show of respect would be to continue it, even if it doesn’t reach Miura’s extremely high level of detail and quality. It’s a huge responsibility that one might not want to face, and that’s understandable. Let’s see what time decides.

Rest in peace, Miura. Thank you for sharing your dream. You are a true and real legend.

Berserk begins as an imaginative, gripping, emotional challenge that leaves the reader always wondering what could occur next. For the first time in manga history, we're with a protagonist who had truly "gone through it," and yet as the story progressed, the value was slowly siphoned out of the characters we had come to know. It began as such a unique and engaging story that left us rooting for individuals we usually wouldn't feel compelled to support in such a setting. The art was incredible, the characters were believable, the writing was on another level of sophistication, and even to this day, I've never read anything quite like the slow roll that was the first quarter of Berserk.

However, as Berserk continued, it all slowly deteriorated. I have some issues with the pacing and focus of the story, which is what I'll be focusing on.

I would have given Berserk a 10/10 if the story ended at the "You Know What" but it did not. I will still give Berserk a rather high rating outside of my overall score. However, despite how Berserk retained its life for another arc or two post-"You Know What," I really cannot give it much credit. I reread it twice and had a hard time keeping myself attentive and interested in the aftermath.

I can't speak for the future of Berserk as a franchise, but as things stand right now, I can only give it an above-average rating. Best of luck to you if you'd like to read Berserk to its completion; I wasn't able to maintain my enthusiasm, save for a few critical moments in its continuation.

I still very much recommend it for readers looking to experience something different, though longevity isn't exactly its strong suit, in my opinion.

Starting Berserk with high expectations, given its top rating on MAL, I found that Miura indeed delivers a compelling story with well-developed characters. However, the manga does suffer from some overarching issues at certain points.

Story - 8/10:

Berserk has a relatively slow start. Personally, I think it would have been more interesting and suspenseful if it had begun with Guts' childhood. Nonetheless, the Golden Age Arc quickly makes up for any initial shortcomings. This arc is where Berserk truly excels, featuring meaningful fights, character interactions, and excellent world-building, all infused with philosophical messages. Miura conveys these themes beautifully through imagery like the "Campfire of Dreams" and character monologues. The use of a narrator sometimes made the series feel like a novel, enhancing the reading experience. The main issue detracting from my score here was consistency, especially in later parts where some encounters felt drawn out and added little to the overall plot. Despite this, the story and world-building are excellent.

Art - 9/10:

The art improves as the manga progresses. Miura masterfully contrasts light and dark shades throughout, particularly in his character designs. The imagery of light surrounding Griffith's character contrasts sharply with the dark imagery associated with Guts, reflecting the complexity of morality. This could also be interpreted as a critique of religion and idolatry. There are many ways to interpret Berserk, making it a joy to analyze. Overall, the style fits the morbid tone of the series perfectly.

Character - 8/10:

While the two main characters are well-developed and intriguing, some side characters are overly archetypal and one-dimensional. Puck and Isidro, for example, provide unnecessary comedic relief that disrupts the manga's tone. Berserk's vast array of side characters mirrors its expansive world, leading to varying levels of likability. My favorite side character is Serpico, whose backstory and character growth are wonderfully written. Griffith stands out as the most interesting character, embodying everything an antagonist should be—complex and enigmatic without a cliché sob story behind his motives.

Enjoyment - 8/10:

Berserk is highly enjoyable overall. The only factors detracting from my enjoyment were the shallow humor and some elongated encounters. I would certainly reread my favorite segments, as I'm sure I'd pick up on more symbolic details upon a second read.

In conclusion, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Berserk. Despite its flaws, at its peak, Berserk is unrivaled.

"If you're always worried about crushing the ants beneath you, you won't be able to walk." - Guts

Berserk is very realistic. The plot armor is very thin, so even some of the main cast can die. Berserk shows real-life problems.

10/10

The only problem is that the first 3 volumes might discourage reading Berserk because it's the prologue. But it makes sense once finished. Below I list each topic out of 10 for Berserk:

MC - 10/10

Side cast - 10/10

Villain - 10/10

Character development - 10/10

Art - 10/10

Story - 10/10

Enjoyment - 10/10

Fights - 10/10

Events - 10/10

Sadness - 9/10

OSTs - 9/10

Just know Berserk isn't number one and rated 9.44/10 on my anime list for no reason.

Berserk, a truly remarkable manga. The artwork is stunning, the story is engaging, and it features plenty of nudity and gore. I enjoy it, definitely. If you've ever read Shin Angyo Onshi (I believe that's how it's spelled), Berserk is quite similar. The main character has a glorious past but was betrayed by his comrade, who later attained godly strength. Now, the protagonist seeks revenge on this nearly invincible villain.

I forgot the name of the main character, but he wields an enormous sword. It seems like he has 60 gallons of blood inside him. He can be struck by lightning, burned by fire, hit by cannons, and more, yet he still survives. In my opinion, he might as well be undead.

The story's villain, the final boss, starts off as a charismatic, almost effeminate pretty boy whose charm is strong enough to attract both men and women. He eventually achieves godhood and becomes the ultimate goal for the protagonist.

It's a great read.

I'm writing this review for those who have heard about how amazing this manga is but are still on the fence about starting it. Let me tell you, YOU ARE MISSING OUT. Most people know by now that Guts is an incredible character and Griffith is a fantastic antagonist. When I first picked up this manga, I dropped it after the third chapter. I saw no sign of the much-hyped Griffith, and Guts just seemed like a tough, badass character. However, a few months later, with nothing else to read, I decided to give it another shot.

The first arc turned out to be surprisingly better than I had expected. Then, the story flashed back to Guts' backstory... This particular arc might be one of the best-written arcs in all of fiction. Even though you have some idea of how it will end, the way it's presented keeps you eagerly turning each page. Each character is meticulously crafted, and the interactions between the main characters make the story incredibly enjoyable. It was so well done that words can't do it justice—just read it for yourself.

I highly recommend reading at least the first two arcs before deciding whether to drop it. If you don't like it by then, well, I have nothing more to say. This story is one of the best I've ever read! 10/10

This is it. This is the real deal, folks. Not only is it top-tier manga, but I would rank it alongside some of the greatest works of modern fiction. It has helped define the dark fantasy genre, and its influence can be seen in many other classics, like the Dark Souls games. The Golden Age arc is masterfully crafted, arguably the best in manga. Griffith stands as the ultimate villain in manga, while Guts serves as his perfect mirror and contrast. The themes explored in this work go beyond surface-level storytelling, resulting in a tale that invites endless reflection. Every issue contains panels that could be displayed in the Louvre, with artwork so stunning that it's hard to believe it was created by a human. On the surface, it may seem like just another story about a guy with a big sword wreaking havoc, and it is that. But it is also so much more. A journey truly worth embarking on.

When it comes to revenge stories, many have been done poorly and are overly generic. However, Berserk transforms what could have been a straightforward revenge tale about one lone man taking away the newfound happiness of another very broken man into a consistently compelling and complex narrative. Many might initially view Guts as just another generic manga fantasy hero: quiet, carrying a massive sword bigger than himself, with a mechanical arm that can also be used as a cannon. However, there is much more to him than meets the eye.

Guts is a lone warrior shattered by tragedy. Without delving into spoilers for new readers, everything he has ever had in his life has been brutally taken from him. Despite everything he goes through, he always fights and pushes forward, never giving in, which I find truly remarkable. It shows you that no matter what you go through, you must always push forward. Additionally, given that the world and atmosphere of Berserk are filled with twisted creatures destroying the world they inhabit, there are many legendary, badass fight scenes involving Guts and his companions against some intimidating opponents. None of these scenes disappoint.

Beyond the amazing fight scenes, the story is heavily driven by the relationships between the characters, mainly Guts and Griffith. Even early on, we see Griffith unaware of what transpired between him and Guts, and from there, we witness the relationship that grew between them before the chaos that ensued in the series. If you're looking for a legendary series that follows vengeance, features scary monsters, big swords, and incredible art, there is none other like Berserk.