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Berserk Deluxe Edition #2
Berserk Deluxe Edition, Vol. 2
The reigning king of adult fantasy manga now in deluxe 7x10 hardcover editions! Born in tragedy, raised in abuse and neglect, young Guts is hardened into a warrior of fearsome prowess and fearless will, drawing the attention of the charismatic Griffith, commander of the elite mercenary legion, the Band of the Hawk. This crossroad will take Guts to fame and glory . . . and to damnation!
Kentaro Miura's Berserk has cast its enormous shadow for three decades, creating an international legion of acolytes and inspiring a parade of TV series, feature films, and video games. And now celebrating its thirtieth anniversary, the entire Berserk series is being released in handsome oversized bookshelf format, each collecting three volumes of the original manga.
Kentaro Miura's Berserk has cast its enormous shadow for three decades, creating an international legion of acolytes and inspiring a parade of TV series, feature films, and video games. And now celebrating its thirtieth anniversary, the entire Berserk series is being released in handsome oversized bookshelf format, each collecting three volumes of the original manga.
704 pages, Hardcover
First published July 9, 2019
409 people are currently reading
2101 people want to read
About the author
Kentaro Miura
372 books2,738 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 621 reviews
October 20, 2025
So I was going to wait a bit to read this volume but decided to rip the bandaid off and just go for it. It’s definitely heavier and more traumatic than the first volume I read. It’s also a lot more war orientated than I was expecting.
I still really liked the volume, I just found it a little slow at times but still really enjoyable!
I still really liked the volume, I just found it a little slow at times but still really enjoyable!
August 11, 2024
4.25/5
It's a bit hard to write a full review of this volume since so much has happened, and my thoughts are all over the place — I’m also a bit too lazy to write it, so instead, I'll just share some of my thoughts on it.
— First and foremost, the art is absolutely amazing — it's crazy how detailed some panels are. They literally deserve to be displayed in some art gallery, because they are just gorgeous. Most of them are quite terrifying — or even a lot — but the fact that Miura could come up with such ideas and then bring them to life through his art is incredible.
— Guts' story, from his birth through his teenage years and into the age he is in the early chapters, is one of the most heartbreaking and brutal stories I have ever read in my life. Seriously. This guy has no peace in his life. Does he even have a day when someone doesn’t want to kill him?
— My favorite character so far is definitely Casca. Griffith is shady as hell, and Guts is Guts. To be honest, I didn’t understand why he did some things in the first three volumes, but after reading his backstory, I completely understand his actions.
Anyway, I can’t wait to read the next volumes!
It's a bit hard to write a full review of this volume since so much has happened, and my thoughts are all over the place — I’m also a bit too lazy to write it, so instead, I'll just share some of my thoughts on it.
— First and foremost, the art is absolutely amazing — it's crazy how detailed some panels are. They literally deserve to be displayed in some art gallery, because they are just gorgeous. Most of them are quite terrifying — or even a lot — but the fact that Miura could come up with such ideas and then bring them to life through his art is incredible.
— Guts' story, from his birth through his teenage years and into the age he is in the early chapters, is one of the most heartbreaking and brutal stories I have ever read in my life. Seriously. This guy has no peace in his life. Does he even have a day when someone doesn’t want to kill him?
— My favorite character so far is definitely Casca. Griffith is shady as hell, and Guts is Guts. To be honest, I didn’t understand why he did some things in the first three volumes, but after reading his backstory, I completely understand his actions.
Anyway, I can’t wait to read the next volumes!
August 1, 2019
You can tell this was written 30 years ago. There's some homophobia, misogyny, and rape in this book that would not pass with today's readers. This collection was all about Guts past. Reading this, I think I determined what part of my problem is with reading Manga. It tends to just be one long drawn out fight sequence for 20 or 30 pages which you can get desensitized too real quick (even with the ultra violence found within). I found myself with glazed over eyes during long passages of this book.
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.
March 14, 2023
9/10
I am thoroughly enjoying the Golden Age Arc so far.
I am thoroughly enjoying the Golden Age Arc so far.
October 26, 2023
Really loving my foray into Berserk. I'm feeling an obsession growing. The Band of the Hawk are brilliant and I am mega impressed with the level of character motivation and development that is going on and there is a huge sense that there is so much more to come.
January 27, 2026
EN At this point, I find it very hard to believe that Berserk will ever get anything less than 5 stars from me. It just seems extremely unlikely.
Kentaro Miura is an absolute beast—in the best possible sense—when it comes to both storytelling and illustration.
Reading Berserk is simply a wonderful experience.
In this volume, we go back to a time before the events of the first volume, delving deeper into the origins of our main protagonist, Guts, and gaining a clearer understanding of the path that shaped him.
--
PT A este ponto, é muito difícil para mim acreditar que Berserk alguma vez venha a receber menos de 5 estrelas da minha parte. Parece-me simplesmente muito improvável.
Kentaro Miura é um verdadeiro monstro — no melhor sentido da palavra — tanto na forma como conta a história como na ilustração.
Ler Berserk é, pura e simplesmente, uma experiência maravilhosa.
Neste volume, regressamos a um período anterior aos acontecimentos do primeiro volume. Ficamos a conhecer melhor a origem do nosso protagonista, Guts, e a compreender com mais clareza o caminho que o moldou.
Kentaro Miura is an absolute beast—in the best possible sense—when it comes to both storytelling and illustration.
Reading Berserk is simply a wonderful experience.
In this volume, we go back to a time before the events of the first volume, delving deeper into the origins of our main protagonist, Guts, and gaining a clearer understanding of the path that shaped him.
--
PT A este ponto, é muito difícil para mim acreditar que Berserk alguma vez venha a receber menos de 5 estrelas da minha parte. Parece-me simplesmente muito improvável.
Kentaro Miura é um verdadeiro monstro — no melhor sentido da palavra — tanto na forma como conta a história como na ilustração.
Ler Berserk é, pura e simplesmente, uma experiência maravilhosa.
Neste volume, regressamos a um período anterior aos acontecimentos do primeiro volume. Ficamos a conhecer melhor a origem do nosso protagonista, Guts, e a compreender com mais clareza o caminho que o moldou.
November 1, 2025
Finally after years I’m sitting down to write a review for this. I’ve re read it so many times but the amount of thoughts I have are just too many I don't know if I can be coherent.
Let’s try anyway.
So you survived The Black Swordsman Arc. Congrats!
That means you’ve got the stomach for this, which is good, because things are about to get much more intense. Whatever trigger warning I listed before, it’s gonna get so much worse so if you scare easily, you should leave while you’re ahead.
This is the Golden Age Arc, the longest and the defining arc of Berserk.
And let me tell you upfront: the title is a lie.
This is not golden, cheerful, or nostalgic. This is a tragic backstory arc disguised as a medieval war epic.
You will laugh, yes, you will feel happy at times, but that happiness will haunt you forever.
I’m sounding really dramatic but this manga is like my Roman Empire. I swear I think about it so often.
So what’s going on in this arc?
We jump back in time to Guts’ childhood and young adulthood. Gone is the mysterious, mean spirited, one-eyed demon slayer with the big sword.
Here we meet a boy born from a literal corpse, raised on the battlefield, and shaped by trauma.
Through a mix of misfortune and sheer skill, Guts ends up joining the Band of the Hawk, led by Griffith, a charismatic, skilled and otherworldly leader. We also meet Casca, the only woman in the band.
What follows is a war saga: bloody battles, political intrigue, betrayals, friendships, and love tangled up with ambition. If Black Swordsman was a horror short story, this is more of a medieval war epic. There aren’t any demons, it’s just awful people.
Themes & Characters
Guts: Here Guts starts to feel like a person. We see his vulnerabilities, his need for belonging, and his struggle to define himself.
Griffith: One of the best characters in manga ever (don’t take my word for it, I’m sure there has to be a rank somewhere). He’s beautiful, brilliant, ruthless. He is a master manipulator and inspires absolute loyalty, even from the reader. Every smile he gives feels like it hides a knife. Everyone wants to be in his orbit.
Casca: She’s tough and passionate, and at this time it’s pretty obvious she has a huge crush on Griffith.
The arc explores themes of ambition, friendship, loyalty, betrayal, and fate. It asks a very simple question… how much of yourself are you willing to sacrifice for your dreams?
This is where Miura’s artwork levels up. The battles are grander, the armor and landscapes more intricate, and the emotional beats sharper. You can see the images moving almost moving with how much detail they hold.
Why This Arc Matters
Well, simply because it's the foundation of everything in the story.
If the Golden Arc hadn't happened (oh how I wish it hadn't) the story would be completely different.
There probably wouldn't be much of a story.
The Golden Age is a flashback that explain how we got to the previous arc, but it’s also the emotional core of the entire series. Everything Guts becomes later is shaped here. The relationships forged (and broken) in these few volumes give weight to every brutal moment that comes after. I think if you got here, you will not be able to stop. The hook is just too good.
Final Thoughts
I've managed to write a review without spoilers!
It's gonna be harder for the next volume.
I’ll be honest, this arc will hurt you. It’s violent, yes, but worse, it’s emotional. You’ll get attached to these characters, and that’s exactly why Miura spends so much time developing them. He wants you to care. And when you care, Berserk has you in its claws forever.
So if you made it this far and you think “okay, I can take it,” then buckle up. Because this ride isn’t just violent one-dimensional fantasy anymore. It’s an exploration of human ambition, love, and despair. If you aren’t spoiled yet, you will never see what’s coming.
And I don't think you’re ready for it.
Let’s try anyway.
So you survived The Black Swordsman Arc. Congrats!
That means you’ve got the stomach for this, which is good, because things are about to get much more intense. Whatever trigger warning I listed before, it’s gonna get so much worse so if you scare easily, you should leave while you’re ahead.
This is the Golden Age Arc, the longest and the defining arc of Berserk.
And let me tell you upfront: the title is a lie.
This is not golden, cheerful, or nostalgic. This is a tragic backstory arc disguised as a medieval war epic.
You will laugh, yes, you will feel happy at times, but that happiness will haunt you forever.
I’m sounding really dramatic but this manga is like my Roman Empire. I swear I think about it so often.
So what’s going on in this arc?
We jump back in time to Guts’ childhood and young adulthood. Gone is the mysterious, mean spirited, one-eyed demon slayer with the big sword.
Here we meet a boy born from a literal corpse, raised on the battlefield, and shaped by trauma.
Through a mix of misfortune and sheer skill, Guts ends up joining the Band of the Hawk, led by Griffith, a charismatic, skilled and otherworldly leader. We also meet Casca, the only woman in the band.
What follows is a war saga: bloody battles, political intrigue, betrayals, friendships, and love tangled up with ambition. If Black Swordsman was a horror short story, this is more of a medieval war epic. There aren’t any demons, it’s just awful people.
Themes & Characters
Guts: Here Guts starts to feel like a person. We see his vulnerabilities, his need for belonging, and his struggle to define himself.
Griffith: One of the best characters in manga ever (don’t take my word for it, I’m sure there has to be a rank somewhere). He’s beautiful, brilliant, ruthless. He is a master manipulator and inspires absolute loyalty, even from the reader. Every smile he gives feels like it hides a knife. Everyone wants to be in his orbit.
Casca: She’s tough and passionate, and at this time it’s pretty obvious she has a huge crush on Griffith.
The arc explores themes of ambition, friendship, loyalty, betrayal, and fate. It asks a very simple question… how much of yourself are you willing to sacrifice for your dreams?
This is where Miura’s artwork levels up. The battles are grander, the armor and landscapes more intricate, and the emotional beats sharper. You can see the images moving almost moving with how much detail they hold.
Why This Arc Matters
Well, simply because it's the foundation of everything in the story.
If the Golden Arc hadn't happened (oh how I wish it hadn't) the story would be completely different.
There probably wouldn't be much of a story.
The Golden Age is a flashback that explain how we got to the previous arc, but it’s also the emotional core of the entire series. Everything Guts becomes later is shaped here. The relationships forged (and broken) in these few volumes give weight to every brutal moment that comes after. I think if you got here, you will not be able to stop. The hook is just too good.
Final Thoughts
I've managed to write a review without spoilers!
It's gonna be harder for the next volume.
I’ll be honest, this arc will hurt you. It’s violent, yes, but worse, it’s emotional. You’ll get attached to these characters, and that’s exactly why Miura spends so much time developing them. He wants you to care. And when you care, Berserk has you in its claws forever.
So if you made it this far and you think “okay, I can take it,” then buckle up. Because this ride isn’t just violent one-dimensional fantasy anymore. It’s an exploration of human ambition, love, and despair. If you aren’t spoiled yet, you will never see what’s coming.
And I don't think you’re ready for it.
August 1, 2023
This was a massive step up in quality for the first book. I really enjoyed it
May 14, 2021
This volume gets deeper into Guts life as we go through various stages.
The opening is pretty brutal as we see a ugly events get worse. Guts is sold for a night of "pleasure" to a dirty disgusting man and the poor boy, despite his try to fight back, doesn't do it. So after that we're introduced to Guts losing hope in people around him. This leads to him basically wanting to be on his own...Till the band of hawks comes up.
This is really a sad tale in some ways. Guts is almost always thrown to the side after being used by someone. And though this is the start of a "family" for guts with the band of hawks, we all know Griffith will betray him due to seeing him in the first arc. So Guts has no choice but to move forward in what seems to be good times with the people he cares for even if we know it won't end well.
Meeting the band of hawks is great with lots of wonderful characters. Casca is by far my favorite, and her backstory only makes her a even more interesting character. Strong, brave, fearless, motivational, she is clearly one of my favorite lead female characters.
Getting to see Zod too helps build for more of the supernatural side of it, and like before, it is horrifying. The art really gets to showcase here as the battle is fast and brutal as hell.
Overall, fantastic look into Guts and his life. This is when Berserk becomes one of the greatest of all time. A 5 out of 5.
The opening is pretty brutal as we see a ugly events get worse. Guts is sold for a night of "pleasure" to a dirty disgusting man and the poor boy, despite his try to fight back, doesn't do it. So after that we're introduced to Guts losing hope in people around him. This leads to him basically wanting to be on his own...Till the band of hawks comes up.
This is really a sad tale in some ways. Guts is almost always thrown to the side after being used by someone. And though this is the start of a "family" for guts with the band of hawks, we all know Griffith will betray him due to seeing him in the first arc. So Guts has no choice but to move forward in what seems to be good times with the people he cares for even if we know it won't end well.
Meeting the band of hawks is great with lots of wonderful characters. Casca is by far my favorite, and her backstory only makes her a even more interesting character. Strong, brave, fearless, motivational, she is clearly one of my favorite lead female characters.
Getting to see Zod too helps build for more of the supernatural side of it, and like before, it is horrifying. The art really gets to showcase here as the battle is fast and brutal as hell.
Overall, fantastic look into Guts and his life. This is when Berserk becomes one of the greatest of all time. A 5 out of 5.
September 8, 2023
whenever I’m at the gym I just think of how much Guts has suffered and how buff he is and that’s the only motivation I need
July 11, 2019
Berserk is an absolute masterpiece and this second volume of the omnibus edition is no different.
February 27, 2023
A brutally delicious tale about the dark side of human ambition. A part two in the world of Berserk, where the genuine art of horror is displayed in every panel. Grim. Witty. And seductive to the core. You will see that Guts will do all he can for the dreams of someone else. Someone he will surely regret in time.
This collection of manga is nothing short of broken teeth and suffering. Legendary artwork here.
F. D. Gross
This collection of manga is nothing short of broken teeth and suffering. Legendary artwork here.
F. D. Gross
September 30, 2023
This is the part where on my first read I started struggling. Except for Nosferatu Zodd there is no epic fight and it's just Griffith's politicking and hinting at how he doesn't respect anyone who follows him.
August 14, 2019
Kind of an «origin» story. After having a look at his adult life, we started this one with Guts has a kid and follow him through his younger years, until around maybe 18 ears old or something, not sure how old he is... Still very good and don,t get fool by the fact that he his younger, this book has a lot of action!! It also allows us to get deeper into some characters and that's a good thing. Really good and waiting for the next one to come out to buy it!!
February 22, 2022
Berserk Deluxe 2, really takes the time to show us Guts’ backstory, from his devastatingly sad childhood, to his first run in with Griffith and the Band of the Hawk.
Once again, immaculate artwork throughout and lots of character depth made for such an excellent reading experience.
Once again, immaculate artwork throughout and lots of character depth made for such an excellent reading experience.
December 22, 2022
I had to take a break after the eclipse storyline, but by chapter ~130-150 I was just completely enjoying Berserk with no caveats. It’s actually really exciting to see the process of Kentaro Miura becoming much more thoughtful about the characters and the themes he’s trying to convey. There’s no longer any weird horny ambiguity to scenes that are supposed to be horrifying, and he eventually finds a way less exhausting tonal balance with the introduction of a comic-relief child character. And women are people now!!!! I know everyone loves the conflicted holy knight Farnese, but it was specifically when Miura introduced the group of sympathetic prostitutes that I was like…okay. Maybe I can finally open my heart up to Berserk. And I’m glad I did! Even just as a piece of art made largely by one person over 30 years, Berserk really IS beautiful and astounding. I can genuinely understand why it’s considered a masterpiece.
Unfortunately even with pretty specific trigger warnings for all the big plot-relevant stuff, there’s still just SO much flavor text background sexual violence, especially in the first ~100 chapters, that if you’re someone who simply Does Not read stuff with rape in it, I think the Berserk manga is probably just not going to be for you. Which is fine!! I put off Berserk for a long time because of this, and I don’t think I would’ve been able to get through it even a few years ago.
I’m around chapter ~200-ish, which as far as I know is the last kind of major Questionable scene of sexual violence, but 200 chapters is just SO much to ask of anyone. I know the animated adaptations DO tone down a lot of it, so I’d recommend looking more into the 1997 anime if you’re still interested in Berserk, and then try to maintain a pretty healthy awareness in the lead-up to the golden arc’s eclipse rape scene.
(side note: I absolutely hate reviewing comics volume by volume on goodreads lol. I'd normally wait until I'd finished the entire series, especially since my opinion on berserk is clearly developing as I go, and these reviews aren't even matching up with the actual chapters of the deluxe volumes!!!!! I'm in hell!!!!!!)
Unfortunately even with pretty specific trigger warnings for all the big plot-relevant stuff, there’s still just SO much flavor text background sexual violence, especially in the first ~100 chapters, that if you’re someone who simply Does Not read stuff with rape in it, I think the Berserk manga is probably just not going to be for you. Which is fine!! I put off Berserk for a long time because of this, and I don’t think I would’ve been able to get through it even a few years ago.
I’m around chapter ~200-ish, which as far as I know is the last kind of major Questionable scene of sexual violence, but 200 chapters is just SO much to ask of anyone. I know the animated adaptations DO tone down a lot of it, so I’d recommend looking more into the 1997 anime if you’re still interested in Berserk, and then try to maintain a pretty healthy awareness in the lead-up to the golden arc’s eclipse rape scene.
(side note: I absolutely hate reviewing comics volume by volume on goodreads lol. I'd normally wait until I'd finished the entire series, especially since my opinion on berserk is clearly developing as I go, and these reviews aren't even matching up with the actual chapters of the deluxe volumes!!!!! I'm in hell!!!!!!)
January 7, 2020
It's all about Guts & glory, my friends, Guts & glory!
TW: ALL the things. This isn't for sensitive readers.
TW: ALL the things. This isn't for sensitive readers.
June 20, 2023
“Man takes up the sword in order to shield the small wound in his heart sustained in a far-off time beyond remembrance.
Man wields the sword so that he may die smiling in some far-off time beyond perception.”
The deluxe edition for the second volume of Berserk is the start of the Golden Age Arc. I went into this volume extremely excited to see where it all started for Guts. Through hardship, sheer will, and tragedy, Guts is becoming the man that he is. His past, although a bit defining, helped to understand why he was the way that he was in the first volume (future events).
The new characters that we meet somehow are unforgettable (even the minor ones). The major characters are top-tier bad asses with complex histories and personalities. Between Griffith and Casca, I struggle to find my favorite supporting character. The interpersonal relationships are interesting and keep you on your toes. A romance between Guts and Griffith seems to be sprouting...maybe?
The action is incredible, with vivid scenes through both the writing and artistic ability. There were times I could not put down the volumes mid-way since it was so captivating.
The story and villains are great, with minimal confusion on what's going on. I do admit that I do struggle to see where the plot is going though.
My only criticism would be the changing art style as you go from volume to volume (maybe this is intentional?).
I'm so excited to continue reading through this magnus opus!
December 12, 2025
absolutely brilliant. dark, brutal horror with some of the best artwork in Manga.
October 5, 2025
I’m totally hooked on Berserk! I’m committed to the full story at this point.
April 28, 2024
The Golden Age, where Guts finds a friend in Griffith, before the Behelit and power sinks its teeth fully into our beautiful hero. This started off brutally, and ended the same, with Adonis being an unforeseen casualty of politics, corruption, and unchecked reactionary impulses from Guts. I already have Volume 3 on hold.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2021
It's mind-blowing that this was published around 1996-1997 since it holds up perfectly.
The art style is exceptional and the amount of detail taking place is more than immense.
These three volumes are straight-up foreshadowing later events of the story and it's amazing how smooth and right the dialogue between characters feels.
I can't help but address the emphasis given to Griffith's character in these volumes.
Griffith's character is very well written and very interesting. His ideals about friends and dreams although cruel make perfect sense but the way they are mentioned after Caska's back story and Gut's "puppy-like" order following shows that he is a true villain. Griffith is someone who wants to succeed without care about what happens to anyone around him.
Also in the last volume included in this edition, Caska's backstory is revealed. This is one of the reasons this manga holds up till today. Caska is a woman that was born in a cruel world ruled by men that see women as nothing more than tools. She wishes she was born a man but despite that, she still can beat anyone that's on a high horse telling her that a woman's place isn't on the battlefield.
The art style is exceptional and the amount of detail taking place is more than immense.
These three volumes are straight-up foreshadowing later events of the story and it's amazing how smooth and right the dialogue between characters feels.
I can't help but address the emphasis given to Griffith's character in these volumes.
Griffith's character is very well written and very interesting. His ideals about friends and dreams although cruel make perfect sense but the way they are mentioned after Caska's back story and Gut's "puppy-like" order following shows that he is a true villain. Griffith is someone who wants to succeed without care about what happens to anyone around him.
Also in the last volume included in this edition, Caska's backstory is revealed. This is one of the reasons this manga holds up till today. Caska is a woman that was born in a cruel world ruled by men that see women as nothing more than tools. She wishes she was born a man but despite that, she still can beat anyone that's on a high horse telling her that a woman's place isn't on the battlefield.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2019
This volume is somewhat surprisingly an origin story, that lasts the entire width of this hardcover. (And likely beyond) I imagine this would drive me nuts as a weekly reader, but really I'm stoked to finally understand the Band of the Hawk. The characters are extremely well developed, with some major points here and there that really helped me understand the heart of our cast. It's dated in the sorts of themes it deals with, but I knew that going in, and was fully prepared for something that pushed the boundaries of decency during its original publication. I am very excited for the next hardcover, and pleased we get such an intimate look at the main antagonist so early.
February 13, 2021
Exquisite. Berserk really comes into it’s own in these volumes. Storytelling-wise, artistically, characters, everything takes a dramatic step up in terms of quality. Beautiful, artful hyper-violence, tonally different from the previous deluxe volume, but no less brutal in it’s depiction of evils men wrought on one another. Also fantastically establishes Guts’ origin, his traumatic upbringing, how it informs his relationships to all other characters going forward and why Griffith is such an outlier in this world and Guts’ development. A+
March 13, 2022
I think I have to collect them all now 🗡️
May 4, 2025
I am frightened, unnerved, scared, grossed out, conflicted, sad, and OBSESSED
February 8, 2024
This really picks up in the final (sixth) volume. With better art, FAR better dialogue and character development, and plot beats that aren’t just battles-for-pacing. But that also is not the case until the very end of this omnibus. Perhaps the last 100 pages, if I was being generous. Overall, I expect the next one to be of 4 star quality, though, so I’ll be pushing on, for sure.
There is a definite misogynistic, juvenile tinge to this that is a product of its time. It’s going away though. Slowly but surely, it is getting more mature. Even Casca is finally getting some character development. Stagnant Guts, too.
In this volume, there’s some interesting questions being begged of the reader: Is this future, then, a nightmare born of Griffith’s ambition? The toad-like, glutenous count is mirrored in the nobleman who helps plot the attempt on Griffith. A demon? possibly? As seen in the future, makes a first appearance here and elides the fight because of the Necklace Griffith has, which we’ve seen in the future. I think Guts’ was wearing it maybe, but I can’t recall now.
If this future is completely due to the whims of the powerful attempting to co-opt Griffith, even as he looses his ambitions to transform it into a living hell—that actually is pretty interesting as a concept. Thematically, it would at least be attempting to say more than most dark fantasy, the genre tending towards writers who tend to have really juvenile ideas about pessimism and related areas, and communicate them via their “dark” world just being about rape and murder and almost always just trying to say morality isn’t “real”. Here’s hoping this aspires to more. It seems to.
There is a definite misogynistic, juvenile tinge to this that is a product of its time. It’s going away though. Slowly but surely, it is getting more mature. Even Casca is finally getting some character development. Stagnant Guts, too.
In this volume, there’s some interesting questions being begged of the reader: Is this future, then, a nightmare born of Griffith’s ambition? The toad-like, glutenous count is mirrored in the nobleman who helps plot the attempt on Griffith. A demon? possibly? As seen in the future, makes a first appearance here and elides the fight because of the Necklace Griffith has, which we’ve seen in the future. I think Guts’ was wearing it maybe, but I can’t recall now.
If this future is completely due to the whims of the powerful attempting to co-opt Griffith, even as he looses his ambitions to transform it into a living hell—that actually is pretty interesting as a concept. Thematically, it would at least be attempting to say more than most dark fantasy, the genre tending towards writers who tend to have really juvenile ideas about pessimism and related areas, and communicate them via their “dark” world just being about rape and murder and almost always just trying to say morality isn’t “real”. Here’s hoping this aspires to more. It seems to.
September 6, 2024
This is such a huge leap in quality from the first collection that I sort of feel like I should have rated that one 3 stars rather than 4. On the other hand, "The Black Swordsman" arc does read a little better when you factor in the material that comes before it chronologically in the narrative, so I do feel 4 stars is more accurate to my feelings, even though I can see why I initially bounced off Berserk when I first picked it up years ago. The material here, though-- "The Golden Age," "Casca," etc.-- is just so much subtler, more intricate and nuanced, full of such compelling character and story beats that whether you're reading it for the first or hundredth time it is rarely less than jaw-droppingly good. Also, Miura's artwork-- already excellent in the earlier material-- has improved dramatically here. In particular his ability to suggest oceans of deep, complex emotion with subtle, slight alterations of facial expression, posture, etc., is really a sight to behold. In short, there's a reason that in a series spanning a few hundred chapters, "The Golden Age" is so often championed by critics and manga enthusiasts (and the arc focused on for anime adaptation).
October 15, 2019
I really got into the mood to re-enter the world of Berserk. I love this series and hate that I have barely scratched the surface as far as the story goes. The new deluxe edition is a beautiful upgrade of the original series and looks great!
The series is known for it very graphic violence and sexual scenes but don't let that deter you in picking up this series. It's also very thought provoking and delves into the minds self-conscious with all of its characters. Author Kentaro Miura even said he saw the series more as a shoujo (girl's comics) because of its over arching theme of love and despair. I don't know if I can agree with that, I mean has Miura ever read shoujo? The only commonality is love and rape... Yeah for some reason that's in shoujo a lot...
I do think this series is one of the best ever, I don't think I'm over stating that. It's something that you would be missing if you didn't at least check it out.
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