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Berserk Deluxe Edition #1
Berserk Deluxe Edition, Vol. 1
Have you got the Guts? Kentaro Miura's Berserk has outraged, horrified, and delighted manga and anime fanatics since 1989, creating an international legion of hardcore devotees and inspiring a plethora of TV series, feature films, and video games. And now the badass champion of adult fantasy manga is presented in an oversized 7" x 10" deluxe hardcover edition, nearly 700 pages amassing the first three Berserk volumes, with following volumes to come to serve up the entire series in handsome bookshelf collections. No Guts, no glory!
689 pages, Hardcover
First published February 27, 2019
1067 people are currently reading
7073 people want to read
About the author
Kentaro Miura
370 books2,731 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,515 reviews
January 28, 2022
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's 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 readers and thousands of artists all over the world.
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's 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 readers and thousands of artists all over the world.
January 22, 2023
If you just came here to know whether you should read this, then yes. Or rather, it depends. If you think you can handle heavy themes like rape, murder, graphic examples of violence and attacks, gore, and rape (I know I said it twice but believe me, it's important), then yes, you should read it. Check all trigger warnings first though.
This first volume contains The Black Swordsman Arc.
Here we are introduced to our main character, Guts. Guts is an angry-looking fellow all dressed in black, with a metal hand and a single eye, and a sword that is way too huge for anyone to wield.
From the very first scene, we are told many things. First, there are demons in this medieval world. Second, Guts is definitely not scared of getting close and *clears throat* personal with them if it means he can kill them.
Third, and maybe most importantly, this story is NOT for the faint of heart. Really, guys, I can't stress that enough. If you can't stomach the very first scene, you better tap out while you're ahead🤣
Very early on we are also introduced to the ONLY comic relief we get throughout most of the story: Puck.
Puck is an elf who meets Guts by chance and decides to stick with him even if Guts is the worst possible companion. Why does he stick to him, you ask? Because as I said, without Puck this story would be almost impossible to read. I used to find him very annoying, but then I realized something. He brings a little comic relief, (which the story needs) but his importance is more than that. See, Puck has the ability to sense other people's emotions. This is a great tool and I'll tell you why.
Guts is not a likable character in this first Arc. He mostly comes off as a psychopathic, sadistic killer with a huge sword. He does and says questionable things, and most of the time he seems not to care about the people around him. But in some cases, there's a little spark of sadness that Puck can feel. A moment, maybe just one little moment in which he looks in disarray, and that's the beauty of Puck. He's a great way to show the audience what Guts is feeling, even when he works hard to bury it all down.
In the Black Swordsman Arc, we are not sure who Guts is or how he got there. Kentaro Miura himself said that by the time he wrote this Arc, he was still not sure where the story was going to go, so this first arc is pretty simple. Guts hunts some ugly-looking demons, some of which seem to be humans up until the second they are not. These are called Apostles, but more on those later.
We are also introduced to The God Hand, a group of very powerful demons. We know nothing about these guys, except for one thing. Guts is FURIOUS with them.
He is raging mad with one, in particular, Femto.
Guts sees Femto and immediately, he tries to kill him. He screams at him, calling him Griffith.
But then they disappear, and we are left wondering what the hell just happened.
That's a story for another day.
This Arc is the shortest on all of Berserk, I think. It works to introduce to the world, the characters, and to the themes of the story. It's a very simple storyline, but it works. Even though I've rated it 5 stars (because I love this story ok? It's hard for me to be objective) this arc is the weakest in the manga. As Miura said, he wasn't sure what to do with the story yet, and it shows. First of all, Guts comes off as underdeveloped. He's the gritty anti-hero with a thing for killing demons. We don't see him as an emotionally complex and dynamic character until we've read the second Arc in the manga. It's only after you read it that you can look back at this Arc and see everything fall into place. Enjoy the bliss of ignorance while you can.
This Arc has also the weakest artwork. You might not know it by looking at it if you've never seen anything from Berserk before. The Black Swordsman has incredible artwork, and I'm sure you'll be impressed. But later in the story, there are such intricate battlefields that it will take your breath away. Here it seems like Miura was still discovering his style and compared to future arcs, this is simple.
The stakes and the worldbuilding is minimal in this arc, but it's a short arc ok? Believe me, we'll get there. It holds well in my opinion, but it's nothing compared to what's to come.
I know this review might feel like it ends without a conclusion, and that's because this Arc ends the same way. We still have 12 more volumes to go, and I have A LOT to say about this manga so if you like to read my rants, don't worry, there will be more. If you don't, I'm so sorry, I don't know what to tell you 🤣
I am in love with the complexity of this story, and if you don't get sickened by this first Arc, I think you might love it too.
Hold on to your belts though, because next is the Golden Age Arc.
And believe me, it's not as gleeful as it sounds.
This first volume contains The Black Swordsman Arc.
Here we are introduced to our main character, Guts. Guts is an angry-looking fellow all dressed in black, with a metal hand and a single eye, and a sword that is way too huge for anyone to wield.
From the very first scene, we are told many things. First, there are demons in this medieval world. Second, Guts is definitely not scared of getting close and *clears throat* personal with them if it means he can kill them.
Third, and maybe most importantly, this story is NOT for the faint of heart. Really, guys, I can't stress that enough. If you can't stomach the very first scene, you better tap out while you're ahead🤣
Very early on we are also introduced to the ONLY comic relief we get throughout most of the story: Puck.
Puck is an elf who meets Guts by chance and decides to stick with him even if Guts is the worst possible companion. Why does he stick to him, you ask? Because as I said, without Puck this story would be almost impossible to read. I used to find him very annoying, but then I realized something. He brings a little comic relief, (which the story needs) but his importance is more than that. See, Puck has the ability to sense other people's emotions. This is a great tool and I'll tell you why.
Guts is not a likable character in this first Arc. He mostly comes off as a psychopathic, sadistic killer with a huge sword. He does and says questionable things, and most of the time he seems not to care about the people around him. But in some cases, there's a little spark of sadness that Puck can feel. A moment, maybe just one little moment in which he looks in disarray, and that's the beauty of Puck. He's a great way to show the audience what Guts is feeling, even when he works hard to bury it all down.
In the Black Swordsman Arc, we are not sure who Guts is or how he got there. Kentaro Miura himself said that by the time he wrote this Arc, he was still not sure where the story was going to go, so this first arc is pretty simple. Guts hunts some ugly-looking demons, some of which seem to be humans up until the second they are not. These are called Apostles, but more on those later.
We are also introduced to The God Hand, a group of very powerful demons. We know nothing about these guys, except for one thing. Guts is FURIOUS with them.
He is raging mad with one, in particular, Femto.
Guts sees Femto and immediately, he tries to kill him. He screams at him, calling him Griffith.
But then they disappear, and we are left wondering what the hell just happened.
That's a story for another day.
This Arc is the shortest on all of Berserk, I think. It works to introduce to the world, the characters, and to the themes of the story. It's a very simple storyline, but it works. Even though I've rated it 5 stars (because I love this story ok? It's hard for me to be objective) this arc is the weakest in the manga. As Miura said, he wasn't sure what to do with the story yet, and it shows. First of all, Guts comes off as underdeveloped. He's the gritty anti-hero with a thing for killing demons. We don't see him as an emotionally complex and dynamic character until we've read the second Arc in the manga. It's only after you read it that you can look back at this Arc and see everything fall into place. Enjoy the bliss of ignorance while you can.
This Arc has also the weakest artwork. You might not know it by looking at it if you've never seen anything from Berserk before. The Black Swordsman has incredible artwork, and I'm sure you'll be impressed. But later in the story, there are such intricate battlefields that it will take your breath away. Here it seems like Miura was still discovering his style and compared to future arcs, this is simple.
The stakes and the worldbuilding is minimal in this arc, but it's a short arc ok? Believe me, we'll get there. It holds well in my opinion, but it's nothing compared to what's to come.
I know this review might feel like it ends without a conclusion, and that's because this Arc ends the same way. We still have 12 more volumes to go, and I have A LOT to say about this manga so if you like to read my rants, don't worry, there will be more. If you don't, I'm so sorry, I don't know what to tell you 🤣
I am in love with the complexity of this story, and if you don't get sickened by this first Arc, I think you might love it too.
Hold on to your belts though, because next is the Golden Age Arc.
And believe me, it's not as gleeful as it sounds.
Read
October 11, 2025Oh. Honey. Chatting about it on YT.
August 11, 2024
4.25/5
Brutal, violent, ruthless, immoral.. yeah I loved it!!
Brutal, violent, ruthless, immoral.. yeah I loved it!!
November 14, 2022
The first Berserk deluxe edition doesn't necessarily start as "best manga" material, but this collection of the legendary manga reveals the fascinating artistic evolution of Kentaro Miura. At first, it has just one character, the unlikable Guts, but episode after episode, u see how the drawing and storytelling improve. Miura is telling a very dark story and, for a time, it gets stuck in black, gothic imagery. However, at the end of this first collection, he finds the light ( tone), the smile. Somehow, the story was never darker and the journey has just begun.
October 14, 2025
This book definitely lived up to the hype! I’ve heard a lot about this one but was worried that it wasn’t going to be as good as everyone said but it was SOOO good!
I went into this completely blind cause I thought it would be more fun and I’m glad I did!
I went into this completely blind cause I thought it would be more fun and I’m glad I did!
April 6, 2019
I'm not much into Manga but I thought this was pretty good. I'm not exactly sure where the story is headed but so far this is packed with the Black Swordsman cleaving lots of demons in half. Very graphic, gory, and dark with a large horror element. The art, while very detailed, sometimes is too busy and leaves me puzzled as to what is happening.
Received a review copy from Dark Horse and Edelweiss. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
Received a review copy from Dark Horse and Edelweiss. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
December 23, 2021
A totally unlikeable protagonist grudgingly hangs with the world's creepiest and most discomfiting sidekick: a tiny, androgynous, naked flying elf with no genitals but sporting a frequently displayed butt crack.
The story is thin, with our hero Guts (!?!?) wandering around angry, killing most everyone especially humans possessed by demons -- for revenge-y reasons, I guess. This usually involves cutting them in half with his improbably large penis, er, I mean, sword. The big villain this time fights back with his improbably large penis, er, I mean, oh wait, yes, that is indeed his penis:
The imagery is too over-the-top for me while the story underwhelms. I do believe I'm done with this series.
The story is thin, with our hero Guts (!?!?) wandering around angry, killing most everyone especially humans possessed by demons -- for revenge-y reasons, I guess. This usually involves cutting them in half with his improbably large penis, er, I mean, sword. The big villain this time fights back with his improbably large penis, er, I mean, oh wait, yes, that is indeed his penis:
The imagery is too over-the-top for me while the story underwhelms. I do believe I'm done with this series.
Read
March 10, 2023Idk if it’s just because I’m so used to Junji Ito and AOT, but this seemed kinda dark? Dark as in disturbing yes, but like actually dark in that it’s kinda hard to make out certain scenes. I enjoyed it though!
February 25, 2023
Berserk is often hailed as one of if not the best manga series of all time and I must admit, it's a banger. Right from the go we are introduced to Guts, a morally grey, not-so-chatty, and pretty unlikeable protagonist. In some ways Guts reminds me of Geralt (from The Witcher series), at least in the initial acquaintance. They both are loners, have shady pasts, hunt monsters/demons, like to brood when they are not killing monsters, have comic relief sidekicks, and both carry big swords.
Trigger warning - there is gruesome violence, murder, nudity, rape, body horror, foul language, and more.
I'm invested enough into this eery world to continue on with the series, and since I hear this only gets better.
Overall: 3.5/5 - Volume 1: 3/5 + Volume 2: 3.5/5 + Volume 3: 4/5
“That thing was too big to be called a sword. Too big, too thick, too heavy, and too rough, it was more like a large hunk of iron.”Regardless of the similarities, both are leagues apart in terms of the story that's being told. Volumes 1 to 3 or the Black Swordsman arc is quite straightforward where we follow Guts as he hunts ugly-looking demons (or Apostles - demons disguised as humans) in a quest for revenge.
Trigger warning - there is gruesome violence, murder, nudity, rape, body horror, foul language, and more.
I'm invested enough into this eery world to continue on with the series, and since I hear this only gets better.
Overall: 3.5/5 - Volume 1: 3/5 + Volume 2: 3.5/5 + Volume 3: 4/5
November 11, 2020
Berserk is probably one of the first major animes I watched as a kid. Between Guyver and Dragon Ball Z getting pushed here as a child I stumbled upon Berserk in the 90's as a kid. Fell in love with the anime right away and watched it a few times growing up. HOWEVER the manga I stopped reading around 20 and just never went back to it. Now because it was bad, I still collect the series, I just didn't start reading them again.
Then I saw these Deluxe books coming out. I very rarely buy books again that I own. Even when it released I kind of ignored it. But then walking through books a million I saw this and I was blown away. The size of it, the hardcover...the feel. It was like screaming for me to purchase. But 50$ is a hefty pricetag. So I went online, saw they were doing buy 2 get 1 free, and then had a 20% off coupon for books a million this week and so I bought berserk deluxe volume 1-6 for half the prices they normally are.
Anyway you're like "James, I don't care why you got it. Is it good?" Well the point I was making is it's good enough for me to rebuy, so yes...it is that good.
See, Berserk is a dark series. Filled with dark themes, and I'm talking Rape, incest, mutilation's, child murder, and much more. So it is NOT for everyone and that's okay. It never really needed to be. Even drawn in the 80's all these years later the art is fantastic.
Guts starts his adventures on the first page fucking a demon. Just when the demon goes to kill him he blasts her face off. This sets the tone right away. Gritty, fucked up, and a world filled with loss. We then Meet Puck, a elf, who helps guts in the adventure. Luckily Puck gives some much needed humor inbetween the darkness of the series. The first arc here is mostly focused on learning the world and why it is filled with demons, meeting guts main enemy Griffith, and then ending the book with the Golden Age Arc which covers Guts childhood and this is the first maybe 9 years of his life, leaving it off with a horrible cliffhanger (Not bad, but terrible what happens).
While not the strongest arc it is a wonderful showcase to the art, action, and brutalness of the series. While the only negative of this arc is it is a little action heavy not getting TOO big of a story yet. It also shows more tender moments that you'll get later on. If you love Dark Fantasy and you've heard about Berserk, THIS is the version to pick up. Pages double the size and they look amazing. A 4 out of 5.
Then I saw these Deluxe books coming out. I very rarely buy books again that I own. Even when it released I kind of ignored it. But then walking through books a million I saw this and I was blown away. The size of it, the hardcover...the feel. It was like screaming for me to purchase. But 50$ is a hefty pricetag. So I went online, saw they were doing buy 2 get 1 free, and then had a 20% off coupon for books a million this week and so I bought berserk deluxe volume 1-6 for half the prices they normally are.
Anyway you're like "James, I don't care why you got it. Is it good?" Well the point I was making is it's good enough for me to rebuy, so yes...it is that good.
See, Berserk is a dark series. Filled with dark themes, and I'm talking Rape, incest, mutilation's, child murder, and much more. So it is NOT for everyone and that's okay. It never really needed to be. Even drawn in the 80's all these years later the art is fantastic.
Guts starts his adventures on the first page fucking a demon. Just when the demon goes to kill him he blasts her face off. This sets the tone right away. Gritty, fucked up, and a world filled with loss. We then Meet Puck, a elf, who helps guts in the adventure. Luckily Puck gives some much needed humor inbetween the darkness of the series. The first arc here is mostly focused on learning the world and why it is filled with demons, meeting guts main enemy Griffith, and then ending the book with the Golden Age Arc which covers Guts childhood and this is the first maybe 9 years of his life, leaving it off with a horrible cliffhanger (Not bad, but terrible what happens).
While not the strongest arc it is a wonderful showcase to the art, action, and brutalness of the series. While the only negative of this arc is it is a little action heavy not getting TOO big of a story yet. It also shows more tender moments that you'll get later on. If you love Dark Fantasy and you've heard about Berserk, THIS is the version to pick up. Pages double the size and they look amazing. A 4 out of 5.
December 7, 2025
*Just did a reread off this before it goes back to the library. thats how much I enjoyed it*
Well this was absolutely brilliant. A great chunk of quality manga. Great story and fast paced, a dark horror which can be brutal. Maybe not for the faint hearted.
The artwork is fantastic. For such a big book I got through this so fast.
These deluxe hardback editions are great quality as well. It's quite heavy and looks good in all black.
This was a loan from the library, but I will certainly be buying these deluxe ones.
Possibly the best artwork I've seen in manga. I'm hooked.
Well this was absolutely brilliant. A great chunk of quality manga. Great story and fast paced, a dark horror which can be brutal. Maybe not for the faint hearted.
The artwork is fantastic. For such a big book I got through this so fast.
These deluxe hardback editions are great quality as well. It's quite heavy and looks good in all black.
This was a loan from the library, but I will certainly be buying these deluxe ones.
Possibly the best artwork I've seen in manga. I'm hooked.
January 29, 2023
This is an intriguing collection of dark fantasy Manga. The main character, Guts, is mysterious and enigmatic. He wields a giant black sword, has a mechanical arm, and displays a burning diabolical brand on his neck that symbolizes that Guts is marked for demonic sacrifice. The world of this series is brutal, reminiscent of 12th-c. Europe, particularly Italy (there doesn't seem to be a cohesive government but a lot of independent city states with lawless land in-between). There are some intriguing supporting characters, particularly Guts tenacious Elf friend, who personality foils Guts' nihilism and selfishness with idealism and altruism. The art is really captivating. In this collection, the art is consistent until the last 75 pages or so, when a new storyline begins. Otherwise, there is a mixture between high contrast black and white work with some black and white pages with heavy shading. Is that conventional in manga? It seemed like a cool and somewhat novel choice to me, but I am not to familiar with the medium. In terms of theme: I think this is similar in spirit to the sword and sorcery work of Karl Edward Wagner. It's very Gothic, unforgiving, and bloody, and the protagonist teeters on the line separating villain and hero.
July 23, 2019
I'd avoided picking up Berserk for a good long while, largely because of the anime adaptation from the '90s. Based on that, I thought the series was sort of an anime version of Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice & Fire for purists). That is, a lot of corrupt lords, bandits, and such--people versus people, when I tend to like my dark fantasy a little more on the monstrous side. Then, I learned that Berserk was a huge inspiration for the Dark Souls games, and decided to bite the bullet on this nearly 700-page omnibus.
I'm so sorry I waited this long.
Right out of the gate, Guts has an...erm, "encounter" with a demon, and that really sets the tone for the rest of the book. The art and pacing are a little rough at first, but once the series finds its footing, it turns into one of the most darkly intriguing, brutal, and flat-out metal manga I've ever seen. It's less George R. R. Martin, and more Glen Cook and Sam Sykes (though, ironically, I'm sure they owe more to Kentaro Miura, than the other way around), with some Clive Barker and M. C. Escher unexpectedly thrown in.
Guts is a hard character to root for, because he's kind of an awful human being, but the things he's hunting are even worse. Plus, we're given a glimpse of his childhood right at the end of this volume, which helps humanize him a little. This, despite him being almost unstoppable--a trait I normally dislike in a protagonist, but Guts gets the crap beaten out of him so often on the road to victory (and vengeance), that I don't mind it too much here.
I suppose I should do a basic plot synopsis, since this is the beginning of the series: Guts is a mysterious swordsman who carries a cursed brand on his neck. He's on a quest for revenge against the immortal beings who put it on him, and he really doesn't give a damn about anyone or anything else. He's extremely unlikable, but it's hard not to get caught up in his fight, because of how great the art becomes (plus, the creature designs are incredibly cool).
Bottom line: Berserk is an awesome series if you like dark fantasy. (I'd add "and if you're not squeamish," but if you're into this genre, you probably aren't easily rattled.) It has a bit of a rocky start, but once you get to the "Guardians of Desire" story arc, things shift into high gear, and they don't really stop. I really can't recommend it highly enough to anyone who likes grim, unflinching fantasy stories.
I'm so sorry I waited this long.
Right out of the gate, Guts has an...erm, "encounter" with a demon, and that really sets the tone for the rest of the book. The art and pacing are a little rough at first, but once the series finds its footing, it turns into one of the most darkly intriguing, brutal, and flat-out metal manga I've ever seen. It's less George R. R. Martin, and more Glen Cook and Sam Sykes (though, ironically, I'm sure they owe more to Kentaro Miura, than the other way around), with some Clive Barker and M. C. Escher unexpectedly thrown in.
Guts is a hard character to root for, because he's kind of an awful human being, but the things he's hunting are even worse. Plus, we're given a glimpse of his childhood right at the end of this volume, which helps humanize him a little. This, despite him being almost unstoppable--a trait I normally dislike in a protagonist, but Guts gets the crap beaten out of him so often on the road to victory (and vengeance), that I don't mind it too much here.
I suppose I should do a basic plot synopsis, since this is the beginning of the series: Guts is a mysterious swordsman who carries a cursed brand on his neck. He's on a quest for revenge against the immortal beings who put it on him, and he really doesn't give a damn about anyone or anything else. He's extremely unlikable, but it's hard not to get caught up in his fight, because of how great the art becomes (plus, the creature designs are incredibly cool).
Bottom line: Berserk is an awesome series if you like dark fantasy. (I'd add "and if you're not squeamish," but if you're into this genre, you probably aren't easily rattled.) It has a bit of a rocky start, but once you get to the "Guardians of Desire" story arc, things shift into high gear, and they don't really stop. I really can't recommend it highly enough to anyone who likes grim, unflinching fantasy stories.
July 31, 2019
This deluxe edition is gorgeous. Way above art and illustrations quality that we usually get in manga, paper quality is also better! That being said, this story/series is so good!! It has a lot, but a lot, of violence and action, but it also have a solid story, maybe not the most original, but well done, everything is put into place smoothly and I really enjoy reading it. The character is one hell of «hero» that's for sure! Can't wait to continue!! Fantastic new discovery!
November 12, 2021
I reviewed this on my booktube channel, link below!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9nyu...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9nyu...
June 8, 2023
I can tell there is a depth to guts that has yet to be revealed! Sure he’s an ass but I’m curious as this volume ends with the start of the golden arc and I hear it’s amazing
March 18, 2021
A dark and visceral journey of sadistic and masochistic enlightenment. It’s quite possible you may not have the “GUTS” to make it through this read. The imagery is full of imaginative pain, horror, and death, which can make one think just how far hate will drive a man beyond his limitation. This tome is certainly one for the collections, especially for those familiar with the Berserk series. Over large printed pages allows the generous artwork to stand out and crush your ribs into dust. Cringe with every turn of the page. It is no wonder why this beloved manga has become a standard horror classic. To simply put it, there are no “boundaries” in the artwork. The artist truly understand the human anatomy as well as demons, showcasing that which most humans could never fathom if they forced to come face to face with the one place most people never want to go. Hell.
5 out of 5 stars.
Author F. D. Gross
5 out of 5 stars.
Author F. D. Gross
September 13, 2023
My third attempt to read Berserk. Since new chapter was just announced I think it's a good time to give it another try. I always stopped in Griffith's arc as I just don't give a damn about Guts's past and the flashbacks seemed endless. I'd much rather see what happens after the end of Guardians of Desire but skipping is unacceptable.
November 14, 2022
I have a lot of respect for Berserk. Kentaro Miura’s influence on fantasy is undeniable, and even just as a Dark Souls-head I can appreciate how Fromsoft owes like, everything to him lol. I don’t think the story’s quite AS emotionally complex as people make it sound, and the first arc wasn’t SUPER compelling to me personally, but once Griffith and Casca are introduced it starts to snowball really quickly.
All that said, I was surprised by how genuinely tasteless a lot of the rape scenes in this felt. It actually feels weirdly complicated, because I don’t have a moral issue with rape in fiction, and there’s an obvious case to be made with its presence in a hyper-violent medieval war world or whatever, especially when a lot of Guts’ character trauma clearly stems from childhood sexual abuse. I do think having your main female character get graphically raped primarily for the emotional tug of war of her two closest friends is its own can of worms, and a lot of the rape scenes are upsettingly drawn and dragged out in a way that seems like it’s supposed to be sexually titillating, but even THEN, there’s an obvious layer of helplessness and disgust at having to watch it happen that does technically add texture to the horror of Berserk? I guess it’s mostly complicated because I don’t think Miura is like, a pervert, but I do think he uses rape as a thematic shorthand, and while I’m only on chapter ~120, I was relieved to hear he does eventually ease up on it.
All that said, I was surprised by how genuinely tasteless a lot of the rape scenes in this felt. It actually feels weirdly complicated, because I don’t have a moral issue with rape in fiction, and there’s an obvious case to be made with its presence in a hyper-violent medieval war world or whatever, especially when a lot of Guts’ character trauma clearly stems from childhood sexual abuse. I do think having your main female character get graphically raped primarily for the emotional tug of war of her two closest friends is its own can of worms, and a lot of the rape scenes are upsettingly drawn and dragged out in a way that seems like it’s supposed to be sexually titillating, but even THEN, there’s an obvious layer of helplessness and disgust at having to watch it happen that does technically add texture to the horror of Berserk? I guess it’s mostly complicated because I don’t think Miura is like, a pervert, but I do think he uses rape as a thematic shorthand, and while I’m only on chapter ~120, I was relieved to hear he does eventually ease up on it.
April 20, 2025
So, I want to preface this review by saying that I’ve never read a manga before. This is my first, previously have read graphic novels which are similar but I’m sure everyone knows, not the same. I don’t think manga is for me. This was very hard to follow and I’m sure I lost things in the translation. But I loved Puck! The art was very detailed and I enjoyed that aspect. The plot and core of the story wasn’t for me though.
April 18, 2019
Reading Berserk for the first time, and first off, let me just say, these books as a physical product are awesome! Super nice to hold in the hand, sewn spine, ribbon bookmark, I am pleased as punch to own and display this volume, and will be collecting the rest.
As for the manga, well yeah, it's consensus that Berserk is pretty incredible. I don't know if I have the stomach for some of the depraved depths it reaches eventually, but right here, this is an incredible universe with some truly wild layers of good and evil. Its most incredible feat as an introductory arc is presenting Guts as a total dickwad, and having him look comparatively heroic next to his enemies. This was a lot of fun to read, and I admire Miura's art. Very excited to read more.
As for the manga, well yeah, it's consensus that Berserk is pretty incredible. I don't know if I have the stomach for some of the depraved depths it reaches eventually, but right here, this is an incredible universe with some truly wild layers of good and evil. Its most incredible feat as an introductory arc is presenting Guts as a total dickwad, and having him look comparatively heroic next to his enemies. This was a lot of fun to read, and I admire Miura's art. Very excited to read more.
August 2, 2019
The anime I watched as a teen seems to have been very close to the source material. Fun stuff!
March 14, 2024
I get why Hidetaka Miyazaki was doing tricks on it.
March 14, 2025
Everytime I reread any part of the story, but especially the Golden Age arc, I become all the more certain that nothing will ever hit me quite like Berserk does even after 3 years of having read it
November 15, 2023
Avevo un po' timore a iniziare a leggere Berserk perché ne conoscevo la storia di Gatsu a somme righe, sapevo che si trattava di un dark fantasy e che sarebbe stato un pugno nello stomaco, e infatti è stato così. È innegabile il talento figurativo e narrativo di Miura, un maestro. Ogni pagina è una tavola di inestimabile valore. Forse la crudezza della storia non incontra il mio gusto personale, ma è indubbiamente una storia da recuperare, non vedo l'ora che mi arrivi il secondo volume.
December 24, 2023
12/24/2023 Reread #1
Rereading this masterpiece so that I can finally continue and finish the whole series by early 2024. Still amazing, if not even better the second time around
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Just finished watching the 1997 anime around a week ago and as per anyone's advice, I am now planning to read all of the Manga that are out as of today! I currently own all the Deluxe leather hardcover edition
This first Deluxe edition I believe tackles other arcs compared to the 1997 anime (maybe the last arc was in the anime, I vaguely remember). I'm not a huge manga reader, actually I barely read manga but I'm a heavy anime watcher. Despite that, the manga of Berserk is truly on a different league compared to the anime. I can't wait to read the next ones
Rereading this masterpiece so that I can finally continue and finish the whole series by early 2024. Still amazing, if not even better the second time around
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Just finished watching the 1997 anime around a week ago and as per anyone's advice, I am now planning to read all of the Manga that are out as of today! I currently own all the Deluxe leather hardcover edition
This first Deluxe edition I believe tackles other arcs compared to the 1997 anime (maybe the last arc was in the anime, I vaguely remember). I'm not a huge manga reader, actually I barely read manga but I'm a heavy anime watcher. Despite that, the manga of Berserk is truly on a different league compared to the anime. I can't wait to read the next ones
December 31, 2021
I loved this, not only do I enjoy the art style but this story has me completely hooked. How will I manage until vol2 arrives.
Guts is so fun to read, having a character so dark gives the story a chance to be impredictable to the max extent, so enjoyable to read. Can't wait to continue and discover more about Puck, Griffin, ... I'm officially hooked 😱
Guts is so fun to read, having a character so dark gives the story a chance to be impredictable to the max extent, so enjoyable to read. Can't wait to continue and discover more about Puck, Griffin, ... I'm officially hooked 😱
March 29, 2023
a masterpiece.
October 26, 2023
A great first few volumes of Berserk, growing stronger each page. The artwork is brutal and gorgeous and the characters are showing that there is much more to this series than what meets the eye.
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