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ベルセルク [Berserk] #23
Berserk, Volumen 23
Después de haber resucitado en este mundo, Griffith reveló a Gatsu su sueño, "conseguir su propio reino".
Después dejó abrumados a los Kushana, los cuales estaban devastando Midland. Poco a poco, fueron llegando a su lado varios guerreros atraídos por una revelación.
Por otro lado, como la cueva de la mina de Godo, el único lugar seguro que tenían, fue destruída, Gatsu partió hacia el hogar de Pack, Elfhelm, pensando en la seguridad de Kiasca. Gatsu jura que nunca perderá a Kiasca, pero...
Después dejó abrumados a los Kushana, los cuales estaban devastando Midland. Poco a poco, fueron llegando a su lado varios guerreros atraídos por una revelación.
Por otro lado, como la cueva de la mina de Godo, el único lugar seguro que tenían, fue destruída, Gatsu partió hacia el hogar de Pack, Elfhelm, pensando en la seguridad de Kiasca. Gatsu jura que nunca perderá a Kiasca, pero...
200 pages, Paperback
First published July 5, 2002
287 people are currently reading
1395 people want to read
About the author
Kentaro Miura
373 books2,719 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.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 225 reviews
July 3, 2023
Guts is still fighting his demons, and caring for Casca but it all goes wrong when he loses control, and chokes her, and she gets scared of him, and hates him but Isidiro, Farnese, Serpico, and puck saves the day when they join guts, and it seems everything goes back to normal again even better than normal..
What about Casca killing those bandits who tried to rape her! she still has her skills but not her old self not yet.
i don't even know if Casca will ever be back, it might be very unlikely to happen since the theme of the manga is Guts against the world, if Casca comes back she will be great help for him, and Kentaro will probably kill her off, probably by Griffith's too to make the grudge even bigger, But let's not get ahead of the story lol.
Griffith is still on his campaign to fight off the Kushan, and retain Midland he gathered some legendary heroes around him, and he is using apostles, and demons to fight in his army as well, he is so damn powerful, that it's very unlikely that guts can get to him at this level...
What about Casca killing those bandits who tried to rape her! she still has her skills but not her old self not yet.
i don't even know if Casca will ever be back, it might be very unlikely to happen since the theme of the manga is Guts against the world, if Casca comes back she will be great help for him, and Kentaro will probably kill her off, probably by Griffith's too to make the grudge even bigger, But let's not get ahead of the story lol.
Griffith is still on his campaign to fight off the Kushan, and retain Midland he gathered some legendary heroes around him, and he is using apostles, and demons to fight in his army as well, he is so damn powerful, that it's very unlikely that guts can get to him at this level...
March 2, 2021
This is where some of Berserk's later-years issues begin to first manifest. The story splits into two parts and both of those parts start to drag on and take their time, further worsened by the author's sporadic release schedule. Plus, I never cared much for Griffith's side of things - it's not fun seeing him godmode his way through every challenge, and Sonia is annoying.
I think Miura could have cut that part down by quite a bit.
I think Miura could have cut that part down by quite a bit.
December 9, 2015
Love this manga. Going to be buying the entire manga this christmas.
May 20, 2024
این ولیوم رو خیلی دوست داشتم.
درگیریها، ناامیدی و کشمکشهای درونی گاتس چیزیه داستان لازم داشت و خوشحال شدم به این بخشها پرداخته شد. درامهای اینطوری و کوچیک رو به هزارتا موقعیت شلوغ و باشکوه و دارک ترجیح میدم.
گریفیث رو دوباره در اوج شکوه و اقتدار میبینیم که داره رویای خودش رو میسازه منتها هنوزم لابهلای پنلهای درخشان و خوشگلش میشه دارک بودن رو دید.
بخش فارنیز هم اوکی بود و خوشحالم داره به خودشناسی میرسه و عوض میشه. از این چیزا دوست دارم.
درگیریها، ناامیدی و کشمکشهای درونی گاتس چیزیه داستان لازم داشت و خوشحال شدم به این بخشها پرداخته شد. درامهای اینطوری و کوچیک رو به هزارتا موقعیت شلوغ و باشکوه و دارک ترجیح میدم.
گریفیث رو دوباره در اوج شکوه و اقتدار میبینیم که داره رویای خودش رو میسازه منتها هنوزم لابهلای پنلهای درخشان و خوشگلش میشه دارک بودن رو دید.
بخش فارنیز هم اوکی بود و خوشحالم داره به خودشناسی میرسه و عوض میشه. از این چیزا دوست دارم.
July 23, 2025
This is a Griffith hater account
August 21, 2024
Songes mensongers
On y suit la progression de la nouvelle troupe du Faucon rassemblée autour de Griffith réincarné, qui n'a jamais été aussi fixé sur son rêve et dont on sent bien qu'il lui sacrifierait le monde une deuxième fois s'il était à ce prix. Il s'acquiert le concours d'alliés étranges, plus monstrueux les uns que les autres et dont certains laissent supposer qu'il s'agit d'apôtres.
Tandis que le groupe de héros s'aggrandit en intégrant Farnèse et Serpico, depuis quelques tomes, on s'inquiète d'observer en Guts le progrès insidieux d'une sorte de démon de la perversité qui le mine et s'acharne tout spécialement à le pousser à blesser et à détruire ceux qui l'entourent pour ne laisser subsister qu'une haine dévorante à l'endroit de Griffith... Comme un reflet inversé du rêve de Griffith, et plus corrupteur encore. C'est certainement l'adversaire le plus angoissant qui ait croisé sa route jusqu'ici.
On y suit la progression de la nouvelle troupe du Faucon rassemblée autour de Griffith réincarné, qui n'a jamais été aussi fixé sur son rêve et dont on sent bien qu'il lui sacrifierait le monde une deuxième fois s'il était à ce prix. Il s'acquiert le concours d'alliés étranges, plus monstrueux les uns que les autres et dont certains laissent supposer qu'il s'agit d'apôtres.
Tandis que le groupe de héros s'aggrandit en intégrant Farnèse et Serpico, depuis quelques tomes, on s'inquiète d'observer en Guts le progrès insidieux d'une sorte de démon de la perversité qui le mine et s'acharne tout spécialement à le pousser à blesser et à détruire ceux qui l'entourent pour ne laisser subsister qu'une haine dévorante à l'endroit de Griffith... Comme un reflet inversé du rêve de Griffith, et plus corrupteur encore. C'est certainement l'adversaire le plus angoissant qui ait croisé sa route jusqu'ici.
March 3, 2022
It hasn't been an easy journey for Guts till now; he has been through a lot of physical as well as mental pain and torture.
At least, he has his own crew now. A fellowship of a sort. Really excited to see where the story goes from now. However,
I wasn't as excited to read Griffith's part as much aw I was of Guts. Maybe that's his entire problem after all, always to be behind Guts.
At least, he has his own crew now. A fellowship of a sort. Really excited to see where the story goes from now. However,
I wasn't as excited to read Griffith's part as much aw I was of Guts. Maybe that's his entire problem after all, always to be behind Guts.
February 27, 2018
poor caska just can't get a fair shake. on the flipside, griffith crushing it against the pseudomughals was pretty awesome, and looks like farnese, serpico and isidro are turning into (semi)permanent party members
October 26, 2021
Oh look, Casca's getting raped again. And some boring exposition on Griffith and his Power Rangers.
July 20, 2019
the art is gorgeous and i am in love with every panel of griffith.
however, what has happened to casca and between casca and guts in this volume was disturbing, repetetive and annoying. i hope that after serpico, farneze and yelly boy joined the trio, things will get better, guts will get better.
i am hoping in vain for casca to get better but i doubt it will happen any time soon.
however, what has happened to casca and between casca and guts in this volume was disturbing, repetetive and annoying. i hope that after serpico, farneze and yelly boy joined the trio, things will get better, guts will get better.
i am hoping in vain for casca to get better but i doubt it will happen any time soon.
April 23, 2021
The Griffith sections are amazing, as usual. The Guts sections are okay.
May 29, 2023
Continuing the Falcon of the Millennium Empire Arc - The Holy Evil War Chapter
Guts and co. are journeying towards the sea, and hopefully going to an island where elves live. Guts is experiencing some mental issues - it seems like something wants Guts to sacrifice Casca in order to get closer to Griffith.
Casca again almost gets assaulted this time by a group of military men.
Guts accepts Lady Farnese, Serpico, and Isidro to join him on his journey.
Sonia joins Griffith's new Band of the Hawk. The Hawk's are recruiting from captured Kushans.
Guts and co. are journeying towards the sea, and hopefully going to an island where elves live. Guts is experiencing some mental issues - it seems like something wants Guts to sacrifice Casca in order to get closer to Griffith.
Casca again almost gets assaulted this time by a group of military men.
Guts accepts Lady Farnese, Serpico, and Isidro to join him on his journey.
Sonia joins Griffith's new Band of the Hawk. The Hawk's are recruiting from captured Kushans.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2023
"Ser expuesta al terror todas las noches me hizo darme cuenta lo diminuta que es mi existencia..."
Me encantó el desarrollo de Farnese. Como siempre, el arte de otro mundo
Me encantó el desarrollo de Farnese. Como siempre, el arte de otro mundo
July 16, 2023
This was a volume filled with gore , and explicit content , and it changed the course of the tale and set stride on to a new tale, however the events here were complicated and really hard to go through and it even made me as a reader question at one point whether Guts is a nice guy or whether Griffith is truly what Guts believe him to be .
We are also now setting our sights away from Guts desire to battle and moving towards Griffith fulfilling his dream for an empire of his own , and this latter plot is something thats both impressive and terrifying.
Also it was fun to read Hindi words being used in the book , albeit also offensive to see it being used by Kusdaq , but then again there are no good guys in this dark and deary world .
The negative from me for the book was the unnecessary explicitiveness
We are also now setting our sights away from Guts desire to battle and moving towards Griffith fulfilling his dream for an empire of his own , and this latter plot is something thats both impressive and terrifying.
Also it was fun to read Hindi words being used in the book , albeit also offensive to see it being used by Kusdaq , but then again there are no good guys in this dark and deary world .
The negative from me for the book was the unnecessary explicitiveness
May 3, 2023
I felt this one.
March 13, 2022
“And it’s not just about completely protecting Casca because my death will result in her death. I’m used to fighting to survive. But what grows worse daily is the pressure not to die. Have I ever before wielded a sword so heavy?”
Again another tremendous volume focusing on character development, especially for Guts. A lot of aspects of this volume just hurt my heart because it's so difficult to see Guts not only struggling with himself but also trying to protect Casca when she is a fraction of her former self. We see a lot of introspection from Guts as he recognizes that he really is not in a good place mentally or physically along with seeing the burdens of constantly having to take care and protect someone who is powerless to take care of themselves.
“For the first time I’m counting on complete strangers for help. I’m shuddering at my own sinisterness. I’m beaten down by my own powerlessness. When was the last time she smiled?”
I love the parallels Miura is making between Guts and Griffith again. As Guts is struggling and worn out, Griffith is only rising up and enchanting everyone around him as he sets out on his quest. Forming his new Band of the Hawk, (honestly, him calling it that again is just a knife to the chest) Griffith is more enigmatic than ever, gathering a formidable army.
“Even doing that there was no way to wipe away the years I left her behind. There’s no way to make up for all the time I left her in darkness. All the time I spent wandering. All the time I left her there alone. I’ve become estranged from her.”
I have previously mentioned that the volumes focusing on character development and slowing down the pace from rampant action are always my favorite ones. This volume was extremely emotional to read and my heart just breaks for Guts, after everything he has been through he finally thought he could find a piece of light to cling to but it's never that easy, and he never gets a break from fighting for it.
October 26, 2016
Gatts scopre che il viaggio con Caska in queste condizioni è molto più difficile del previsto, tra gli attacchi costanti dei demoni, lo stato di Caska e il suo stesso lato oscuro che sembra spingerlo contro la ragazza e verso Griffith. Utilissimo in questo senso il ritorno del trio abbandonato dopo la torre, con Farneze che dovrà maturare in fretta adesso.
Il Falco nel frattempo, più lentamente di quanto non pensassi, sta guidando con il suo esercito di creature assurde la riconquista di Midland.
Il Falco nel frattempo, più lentamente di quanto non pensassi, sta guidando con il suo esercito di creature assurde la riconquista di Midland.
October 4, 2019
i'm not going to lie when i say this volume had me shocked. i honestly didn't know whether i sympathised or i hated a character i was so connected to at this point of the story.
the story must go on and when that, the negative tension between two characters appears for good reason. (broad so i don't spoil anything)
the story must go on and when that, the negative tension between two characters appears for good reason. (broad so i don't spoil anything)
January 3, 2025
بخش هایی که داستان تو شخصیت گاتس عمیق میشه رو دوست دارم. اینجوری کاراکترش از یه شمشیرِ-صرف-بودن فاصله میگیره و ابعاد انسانیش و نگرانیهاش برمیگرده
گریفیث داره گیجم میکنه... نمیفهمم چی میخواد
گریفیث داره گیجم میکنه... نمیفهمم چی میخواد
April 14, 2025
Il gruppo che si è formato mi piace tantissimo e credo che finalmente Gatsu avrà modo di affidarsi al prossimo.
Inutile dire che non vedo l'ora di proseguire nella lettura.
Inutile dire che non vedo l'ora di proseguire nella lettura.
December 3, 2017
This is the 23rd volume in the Berserk series. In this volume Guts is struggling to take care of Casca when Lady Farnese, Serpico and Isidro join him; for once Guts appreciates the help.
We also meet Lord Mule who ends up being saved by Griffith’s new band of the Hawk and joins Griffith on his mission to take over the Kushan kingdom.
After that it is back to Guts and his companions, where Lady Farnese is feeling very useless as she struggles to do basic chores.
Overall I really enjoyed this volume in the Berserk series. It’s a bit of a transition volume but I enjoyed the new characters that we meet and I love where the story is heading. This whole series is recommended to those who enjoy fantasy horror manga.
We also meet Lord Mule who ends up being saved by Griffith’s new band of the Hawk and joins Griffith on his mission to take over the Kushan kingdom.
After that it is back to Guts and his companions, where Lady Farnese is feeling very useless as she struggles to do basic chores.
Overall I really enjoyed this volume in the Berserk series. It’s a bit of a transition volume but I enjoyed the new characters that we meet and I love where the story is heading. This whole series is recommended to those who enjoy fantasy horror manga.
July 21, 2023
"Is she not precious only because she's...the wound Griffith left, because you want to keep feeling that pain he caused you?" GODDAMNNN.
"This shadow of who you used to be keeps reminding me...of all those days and how they were shattered." All this struggle man.. and he still keeps going. "i'm beaten down..by my own powerlessness.
When was...the last time she smiled?" :(
"This shadow of who you used to be keeps reminding me...of all those days and how they were shattered." All this struggle man.. and he still keeps going. "i'm beaten down..by my own powerlessness.
When was...the last time she smiled?" :(
April 19, 2013
Berserk's always been good, but man, this volume gave me major feels.
June 20, 2025
I swear, if it's revealed that the war demons are somehow twisted versions of the original Band of the Hawk, I'm going to LOSE IT
February 12, 2025
4⭐️
“when was the last time you saw her smile?”
“when was the last time you saw her smile?”
February 15, 2025
This is starting a new arc in the story, so it was a little slow, but understandably so since it's setting things up. I like the contrast between Griffith's new Band of the Hawk and Guts's small and loyal crew. There's one thing that's not making this higher for me, though... *clears throat* for the love of all that is holy STOP SEXUALLY ASSAULTING CASCA!!! I understand how it contributes to the plot and how it shows a turning point in Guts's character development but STILL there are other ways to show this without assaulting a character who has already been repeatedly assaulted in the storyline. There are other traumas out there to choose from if that's the desired mechanic to enact change, you know?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2021
A few great chapters, and it moved the plot forward. Nothing exceptional tho
June 10, 2022
اینکه اعتقاد کورکورانه بدبخت میکنه رو خوب نشون میده ها.
April 6, 2024
This dude seriously reincarnated himself back into his old human form just to wage a race-war against fantasy-Turks...!
Glad Farnese cut her hair.
Glad Farnese cut her hair.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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...
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