Berserk

One of the first manga I've read, and possibly one of the best-looking art styles I've encountered in manga. The artwork, both in quality and style, is the pinnacle of what the manga has to offer—absolutely breathtaking. The author has also done an incredible job with character development, which is truly impressive. The Golden Age arc is one of my favorite arcs in all of fiction, not just in manga. However, after that, the quality starts to decline, which eventually led me to drop it around the Conviction arc. I didn't enjoy it as much after the Golden Age arc.

I read Berserk even though I knew it was incomplete due to Miura's tragic passing. I just really needed a quality story to satisfy me after the disaster that was AoT. Suffice to say, I binge-read 363 chapters in a week.

Berserk is such a unique manga. It could be 1000 chapters long and it wouldn't feel padded at all. The story, characters, and art are simply impeccable. Miura was truly a genius.

I haven't had a story genuinely move me emotionally in a while. The story is VERY dark. There are mature elements like murder and gore, but there are also disturbing elements like torture and rape. If you're an anime veteran, some parts can feel fairly straightforward, but there are enough twists to make the story exciting.

I can't talk about Berserk without mentioning the art. It starts off decent but quickly escalates to being unparalleled in the manga industry. It's honestly overwhelming, which might explain why Berserk didn't finish despite debuting in 1990. I never knew how high-quality art could have such a tremendous emotional impact.

In many ways, the story is just getting started, and I want to experience more of this fresh and creative world. I do think the manga ends at a "lull," so I'm ultimately satisfied and don't regret having read Berserk in the first place. Even though it's incomplete, I'm breaking my personal criteria for what a 10/10 manga is by making Berserk the lone exception.

This is the greatest thing you will ever read, and if you give it a fair shot, you will receive so much in return. If you find you aren't interested at the beginning, just skip to the golden arc; it's not that big a deal. However, reading this is so worth it that you cannot give up. If you get bored, just skip a few chapters, and it will get better again, so go for it.

Berserk is about such honest human agony that you'll want to rip the books apart and throw them away because your heart can't stand caring anymore. The story has multiple arcs that blend together, keeping you engaged throughout. The start is slow due to detailed character development, which sets up crucial elements that come back to haunt you later. The raw emotions and characters worm their way into your heart until you feel like every single character and even empathize with background characters.

The author makes you think: while the gore happens around these characters, you are often reminded that even though this is just a book, you are cheering on slaughter and mayhem. The reality is so horrible, but that's why you keep reading and hope for something to go right for once.

If you watch the art while you read, you'll be pleased to see it develop alongside the story and characters. The current art surpasses anything I've seen in any manga. The artist completely understands human expression and the emotions being felt. As you read and feel hope, anguish, despair, love, hatred, joy, and taste bitter tears, the artist captures all those same things in one expression. The emotions and expressions are all realistic and often scared and hurt while calculating the best move for survival.

Survival is a huge theme in this series. Often, you wish all the characters would do what's best for themselves and just give up and die.

Despite how this may sound, reading Berserk is the best decision I ever made. The honesty and truth in the story, characters, art, emotions, and everything put together are so enjoyable that you can't stop. It is brutal to read but changes your perspective on everything around you. You start to care so much, and the enjoyment just escalates with the depth of the story and characters.

Art - 9.6 The artwork in the early volumes of Berserk may not impress today's manga readers, but when the series was first serialized in 1992, it was well above average. Those initial volumes feature unique character designs, especially for the apostles, and a high level of detail. Miura's ability to create crisp, clear, and fluid fight scenes showcases his artistic talents early on. One downside of the early volumes is the simple shading techniques Miura used. Sometimes, character faces look slightly off, which can be distracting. However, these minor issues were likely due to time constraints rather than the artist's fault. As the series progresses, the artwork evolves significantly. As we learn more about the characters and their world, the visual details become richer. The simple shading is replaced by a hand-shading technique, giving the series a grittier and surreal feel. Character designs become crisper, and facial expressions are so vivid that one glance can reveal a character's thoughts. By volumes 20 and beyond, Miura makes it clear that Berserk is intended to be both a work of art and a masterfully epic story. In my experience, very few other manga series can match Berserk's later volumes artistically, and I doubt I'll ever find its equal.

Characters - 9.5 The first character you meet in Berserk is Guts, the "Black Swordsman" with a dark past and a vendetta against demonic enemies. While he may seem unoriginal at first, Guts quickly becomes one of the most believable and human characters I've ever encountered. As the story unfolds, you follow Guts through his past, witnessing his personality changes during his constant battle against fate. You see him endure waves of despair and hardship, offset only by fleeting moments of friendship and trust. Eventually, Guts becomes a maelstrom of conflicting emotions, raising the question: will he continue on his path of all-consuming revenge, even if it means losing everything he cares about? Other characters throughout the story come in various forms and play their roles perfectly. Important supporting characters, whether protagonists or antagonists, are layered with depth, making them solid pillars and interesting elements within the plot. From Griffith's burning ambition to the skulduggery of the God Hand, from Puck and Isidro's antics to Farnese's troubled past and uncertain future, each character feels vivid and alive. They all have their own emotions, personalities, and ambitions, appearing as actual players in Berserk's grand game, not just passive plot devices. With such a strong cast of vibrant, living characters, Berserk easily earns a top score in this category.

Enjoyment - 10 The fact that I read all 295 chapters of this exquisite manga in one sitting should justify the perfect score for enjoyment! The manga features great characters—heroes you root for and empathize with, villains you can't help but admire for their ruthlessness and charisma. The artwork is dark, brooding, and gruesome, complementing the story well. And what a riveting story it is—it hooks you from the first chapter and sets the stage for the most intriguing revenge-themed manga on the market. Its success is a testament to its quality. My only complaint is the excruciating waits between chapters. A cautionary note: this manga is definitely not for the faint-hearted. There is considerable nudity, sex, gore, violence, and, for lack of a better word, bad-assery!

Overall - 9.69 This review is the result of a team from the "Critics and Connoisseurs" club. The team members were: - 8GaugeBrett - Who wrote the Art section and combined the individual parts into a whole. - Amaity - Who wrote the Enjoyment section. - Baman - Who wrote the Character section. - Ianmessku - Who wrote the Story section. Here are their individual scores for the Manga: Category - 8GaugeBrett, Amaity, Baman, Ianmessku Story - 9, 10, 9, 9.5 Art - 10, 9, 10, 9.5 Character - 9, 9, 10, 10 Enjoyment - 10, 10, 10, 10 Overall - 10, 9, 10, 9.75 In the club-wide poll for Berserk, it received an average overall rating of 9.53.

Berserk is widely regarded as one of the highest-rated works on this platform and is often hailed as a critically acclaimed masterpiece. With the untimely death of Miura, it seems the story might be left unfinished. If that's the case, my review might change, but for now, I'll discuss why Berserk transitioned from a masterpiece to a directionless spectacle, including spoilers.

The first three volumes, known as the Black Swordsman Arc, are quite cliché. It’s decent but not particularly remarkable. The protagonist Guts fits the stereotype of a 'tough guy with a heart of gold,' Puck serves as comic relief, and the only standout feature is the shock value in the artwork. There’s debate over whether this arc detracts from the overall narrative by prematurely revealing Griffith's betrayal. The next arc, the Golden Age, delves into what exactly Griffith did and how it all unfolded. While shocking, it would have been even more impactful if Miura hadn't structured the story this way. A short and inconsequential arc follows, which reintroduces Guts and Puck, but it feels like wasted time.

I don’t dislike the Black Swordsman Arc, but it leads into the Golden Age, which is by far the best part of the series and arguably one of the greatest works of art ever. Here, Guts is re-characterized as a vulnerable teenager who can only express himself through combat. His journey involves learning to love others before his world collapses. Every character, even minor ones, has a distinct personality. Gaston, though minor, has dreams of opening a clothing store. However, the focus remains on Guts, Griffith, and Casca. Casca’s obsession with Griffith and the dynamics between them are unique and intriguing. My favorite character is Griffith due to the ambiguity surrounding his motivations. Was he always a villain, or was he pushed to sacrifice his friends and rape Casca? The Eclipse, the climax of the Golden Age, is one of the most horrifying things I’ve ever seen, both in terms of writing and art. The artwork here is incredible, with detailed illustrations and unmatched expression, making the series even better. Some panels of Guts’ pure rage are unforgettable. While the paneling isn’t perfect, it’s still very good. The Golden Age is a masterpiece, deserving a 10 out of 10 on MAL’s arbitrary scale. Unfortunately, the series only goes downhill from here.

Many people say everything after the Golden Age is terrible, but I disagree. The Lost Children Arc, following the Golden Age, is basic but has its merits. First, the villain’s relationship with an arc-exclusive supporting character adds suspense and drama. Second, Guts and Puck develop a sense of camaraderie. Elf dust, introduced in the Golden Age, becomes a plot device here, used frequently but then forgotten. While convenient, it could have been a useful tool for Puck if limited.

The Conviction Arc is actually pretty good despite its flaws. Characters like Serpico and Farnese are introduced. Serpico is a cool rival for Guts, while Farnese represents interesting aspects of religion and masochism. The main villain is a religious zealot resembling Minecraft’s Steve. Isidro, a young boy, also joins, showing potential but mostly serving as comic relief. One issue is the overuse of rape, which loses its impact over time. Casca, now childlike due to trauma, becomes a mere plot device. Despite these issues, I’d rate this arc an 8 or 9 out of 10, but it starts to decline towards the end, leading into the Millennium Falcon and Fantasia arcs, which I find mediocre.

Guts inexplicably allows Farnese, Isidro, and Serpico to join him, which could have paralleled Griffith’s leadership but is underdeveloped. This move is uncharacteristic of Guts, who seems indifferent. Relationships are crucial in the Golden Age, but there’s no camaraderie here. Most characters regress: Farnese falls in love with Guts, Serpico becomes support, and Isidro fails to live up to his potential. Schierke, a loli witch, and her elf Ivalera are introduced, adding magic to the series. While interesting conceptually, it raises the power ceiling without being engaging. Schierke loves Guts, adding to the harem-like dynamic. Ivalera is another comic relief character, making three out of eight main characters devoted to humor in a grimdark manga. Detractors claim Berserk becomes shounen-like, which is true; comedy relief, a borderline harem, and slapstick jokes create a huge tonal shift.

Another problem arises: antagonists become uninteresting demons, many unable to speak. Even when Guts fights actual characters, the other party members rarely engage. The first fight between Guts and Griffith was great because it established their characters perfectly. Later fights focus on spectacle rather than substance. However, there are some redeeming qualities. A small arc focused on Rickert, a former subordinate of Griffith, showcases strategic fights and well-used side characters.

The final chapters hint at Casca regaining her memory, creating an incredible moment before the cliffhanger ending. With Miura’s death, no continuation has been announced, leaving the series’ fate uncertain. Overall, Berserk starts decently, becomes a masterpiece, and then declines exponentially (except for consistently excellent art). You should definitely read up to the end of the Golden Age, but once it stops entertaining you, consider dropping it. For now, I’d give it an 8, but if confirmed finished, a 7 might be more appropriate. Avoid any adaptations; they don’t do the manga justice.

EDIT: It’s been confirmed that the story will continue. The last two chapters provide little insight into future writing, but I’ll update this review once the story concludes.

To me, "perfect" is an apt description for Berserk. I don't think I've ever been this captivated by a manga before. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading them. The storytelling is exceptionally well-crafted, and the artwork is second to none, with perhaps only Vagabond as its rival; moreover, the art quality improves over time. If there's one oddity, it's the arrangement of the arcs. I found it challenging to follow the chronology, but this can be easily resolved with a bit of research. Additionally, Casca can become incredibly frustrating towards the end, but I suppose a great manga should evoke strong emotions.

Rest In Peace, Kentarou Miura.

Berserk is a highly acclaimed manga by a vast portion of the manga reading community, and I wholeheartedly agree with this praise.

Berserk is renowned for many aspects. Its art is unparalleled in my experience with manga. The artwork is beautiful yet grotesque, bizarre yet stylish, horrifying yet calming. It strikes a balance that is both stylistic and realistic, creating a style that feels uniquely comfortable in various ways. Another notable feature of Berserk is its main character, Guts. In my opinion, Guts is one of the best protagonists in manga. His character undergoes significant development throughout the story, embodying a true struggler within his world.

There are numerous elements of Berserk that make it great and reasons why I consider it a masterpiece. While there are flaws, as expected in any work, they do not detract from its overall quality. The primary issues include an unfinished storyline, some characters not having as much impact on the story as they could, and occasional out-of-place moments that, while good, don't fit well within the narrative. There are other minor issues, but these are what I perceive as the main concerns within the manga.

All in all, I believe Berserk is a manga experience that everyone should at least try. However, be warned that many themes within the story are mature and may not be suitable for all audiences.

This is my first review, so here goes nothing.

Berserk is probably the closest thing you'll get to perfection in any manga, in my honest opinion.

Story: The narrative centers on Guts, a swordsman trained from childhood who encounters Casca and Griffith. These two drastically alter his life by inviting him to join their group, the Band of the Hawk. Without giving away spoilers, Guts now harbors an intense hatred for Griffith. He assembles a team to help Casca overcome her mental state and to defeat Griffith, who has acquired new abilities from the Godhand.

Art: The gritty and realistic art style perfectly complements the story, especially as Guts becomes more worn and weary in later chapters. The manga's art is so well-crafted that it inspired areas in the game Dark Souls. Noteworthy are the character armors like Guts' Berserker armor, Grunbeld’s armor, and Locus’ armor, all meticulously detailed and visually pleasing. The massive stone castles and mountains depicted are also marvels to behold, with the Kushan Empire's castles being a prime example.

Characters: Guts and Griffith stand out as multidimensional characters whose motivations you may question or support as you read. Other characters like Casca, Serpico, and Farnese are also thoroughly developed. The original Band of the Hawk includes lovable characters such as Rickert and Judeau. All main characters are memorable, while enemies like Nosferatu Zodd, Grunbeld, and Femto are particularly intimidating. Visually, all characters are well-designed, especially the ruggedly handsome Guts.

Enjoyment: This series has been a perfect experience from start to the most recently released chapter. With Miura returning to writing after finishing Idolmaster, now is the perfect time to dive into Berserk. It’s an exceptionally crafted manga that immerses readers in a world so dark yet engaging that they won't be able to put it down after just one volume.

Berserk is such an amazing series,
I believe just hearing about it should make you want to dive deep into its lore.

I started Berserk in my early years of manga reading. I saw the first page and decided not at that time. I picked up Berserk a couple of months ago and read all the way up to the Golden Age Arc.

Just wow....

I don't think I've ever truly hated a character in fiction like I do with the characters in Berserk. Hate is such a strong word, but it makes me want to keep reading because I need to know what happens next after each chapter.

The art is next level, possibly some of the best I've seen in any piece of reading fiction. You will be blown away by the art alone.

The story is truly a masterpiece. As I've said, I have only read up to the Golden Age Arc, but I can confidently say Berserk continues to grow more compelling with each and every chapter.

Please, if you're looking for a new series to read or planning to start something new,
READ BERSERK!!!!

I remember watching the anime and I loved it. But then I found out it never got more seasons. Then came Berserk 2016-17, and it was terrible. Even though I hadn't read the manga, I felt the adaptation was awful. Now that I've finished school and am working, my financial situation has improved, so I started buying manga. Berserk is the first and only one I have bought so far, and I love it. The story is awesome, but you need to get through the first three volumes to really get into it.

The character development is incredibly good. Honestly, the story and character development are so well done that I can't understand how Kentaro Miura managed to write such a compelling narrative. And the art is absolutely stunning.

Overall, I think most people should give this manga a try until volume four, and then they will be hooked. I just hope Kentaro releases more volumes soon and can't wait to see how the ending will turn out.

Thank you. There has never been a more compelling story told, even if it remains unfinished. I have never encountered characters as intricate as yours—so vivid that it felt like they were living their own lives, with you merely sketching the world around them. They never seemed like figments of someone's imagination. But it was all your creation. It was an absolute privilege to read your work while you were still here, and I only truly appreciate that now that you're gone. Rest in peace.