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Berserk Deluxe Edition #4
Berserk Deluxe Edition, Volume 4
The acclaimed adult fantasy/horror manga now in 7x10 deluxe hardcover editions!
Guts, the feared Black Swordsman, has saved the Band of the Hawk mercenaries from annihilation at the hands of the army of Midland, but he must now descend into the dungeons of Windham Castle to liberate Griffith, the Hawks' charismatic leader. Imprisoned and tortured for his tryst with the King of Midland's daughter, the flayed and starved Griffith may be in isolation, but he is far from alone. Unspeakable horrors dwell within the dank catacombs, where the living may truly envy the dead! Collects Berserk volumes 10-12.
Kentaro Miura's Berserk has ruled in hell for three decades, creating an international horde of disciples and inspiring anime TV series and feature films, video and card games, and a blizzard of related products. And now, the entire Berserk series is being released in handsome oversized bookshelf editions, each collecting three volumes of the original manga.
Collects Berserk Volume 10, 11, and 12.
Guts, the feared Black Swordsman, has saved the Band of the Hawk mercenaries from annihilation at the hands of the army of Midland, but he must now descend into the dungeons of Windham Castle to liberate Griffith, the Hawks' charismatic leader. Imprisoned and tortured for his tryst with the King of Midland's daughter, the flayed and starved Griffith may be in isolation, but he is far from alone. Unspeakable horrors dwell within the dank catacombs, where the living may truly envy the dead! Collects Berserk volumes 10-12.
Kentaro Miura's Berserk has ruled in hell for three decades, creating an international horde of disciples and inspiring anime TV series and feature films, video and card games, and a blizzard of related products. And now, the entire Berserk series is being released in handsome oversized bookshelf editions, each collecting three volumes of the original manga.
Collects Berserk Volume 10, 11, and 12.
704 pages, Leather Bound
First published March 10, 2020
167 people are currently reading
1863 people want to read
About the author
Kentaro Miura
372 books2,737 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 448 reviews
August 13, 2024
4.75/5
I still can’t comprehend how a human mind could come up with such a story and such art, but this manga is seriously out of this world. It’s one of the most insane and terrifying—if not the most—stories I have ever read in my life. And I’ve read a lot. It’s a trigger warnings galore, so it’s definitely not for everyone, as it’s an extremely heavy read, but if you have no problem reading a story with some of the most disturbing and even disgusting things that exist on this earth, I definitely recommend it. It’s not that this manga glorifies them—quite the opposite—but be aware.
These three volumes finally revealed the truth about Griffith, a truth that made me hate this man even more, and I guess we’re slowly returning to the time when the first volumes were set. I’m equally terrified and excited to read the next chapters, but I know I’ll devour them anyway.
I still can’t comprehend how a human mind could come up with such a story and such art, but this manga is seriously out of this world. It’s one of the most insane and terrifying—if not the most—stories I have ever read in my life. And I’ve read a lot. It’s a trigger warnings galore, so it’s definitely not for everyone, as it’s an extremely heavy read, but if you have no problem reading a story with some of the most disturbing and even disgusting things that exist on this earth, I definitely recommend it. It’s not that this manga glorifies them—quite the opposite—but be aware.
These three volumes finally revealed the truth about Griffith, a truth that made me hate this man even more, and I guess we’re slowly returning to the time when the first volumes were set. I’m equally terrified and excited to read the next chapters, but I know I’ll devour them anyway.
September 30, 2020
Well well well, I just read a 700-page manga in one sitting! (Literally. I didn't even get up for a snack or sip of water or anything. It was THAT engrossing.) So yeah, goes without saying, this series is golden.
It has everything. There are battles galore, monsters, intense interpersonal dramas, as well as deep & complex characters. I also can't forget to mention the plethora of sex, torture, and exceedingly traumatic events that span as far as the eye can see.
This just happens to be everything I want in a grimdark/horror fantasy. Would definitely recommend the series if you're into more graphic/mature art styles. The artwork here continues to be stunning. I can't wait to sink my teeth into the next bind-up.
It has everything. There are battles galore, monsters, intense interpersonal dramas, as well as deep & complex characters. I also can't forget to mention the plethora of sex, torture, and exceedingly traumatic events that span as far as the eye can see.
This just happens to be everything I want in a grimdark/horror fantasy. Would definitely recommend the series if you're into more graphic/mature art styles. The artwork here continues to be stunning. I can't wait to sink my teeth into the next bind-up.
December 30, 2022
There's so much to say about this story.
Someday I'll say it.
For now, just know if you haven't read it, you need to.
Someday I'll say it.
For now, just know if you haven't read it, you need to.
August 30, 2020
Lordy, I suppose this is where Berserk truly arrives. All the buildup, yowza, a seriously slow burn with an incredible payoff. A truly unique vision, the visceral brutality and distilled SADNESS is palpable. There's not much I could say that hasn't already been said, but I'm very positive going into the next volume.
September 2, 2023
I will never recover from this emotional damage lol
September 15, 2021
Berserk heats up to getting to the climax of the second major arc but man does it have some bloody good times before getting there.
Guts agreed with the Band of Hawks to rescue Griffith. So the first part of this book is actually them heading down the dark and gloomy castle to save their friend. This actually has some really funny moments with Casca and Guts that made me smile or laugh out loud. It helps lighten up the mood and keep it fresh. Which is good because...
We get into the cellar of the castle and Griffith is tortured to hell. Nails ripped off, flesh cut so he can't walk anymore or hold a sword. Basically a bag of bones and little meat. This sends Guts into a berserk rage as he tells them to grab him and starts to slaughter everyone in his way up the castle, leading to some epic as fuck fights.
We then get to Wyald crazy ass. If you've only seen the anime, this guy is new to you. Sick as fuck, this gigantic monkey type creature goes around raping woman and murdering people like it is nothing. He is sent after Guts and his band which results in a bloody but excellent fight.
Then the Eclipse event begins, everything Guts thought he knew about his best friend is washed away, leading to a horror show that just begins at the very end of this volume.
Overall, this is horrifying, scary, sad, and amazing all in one. One of the best arcs of Berserk really gets to shine here and Miura handles grief and loss so well.
A 5 out of 5.
Guts agreed with the Band of Hawks to rescue Griffith. So the first part of this book is actually them heading down the dark and gloomy castle to save their friend. This actually has some really funny moments with Casca and Guts that made me smile or laugh out loud. It helps lighten up the mood and keep it fresh. Which is good because...
We get into the cellar of the castle and Griffith is tortured to hell. Nails ripped off, flesh cut so he can't walk anymore or hold a sword. Basically a bag of bones and little meat. This sends Guts into a berserk rage as he tells them to grab him and starts to slaughter everyone in his way up the castle, leading to some epic as fuck fights.
We then get to Wyald crazy ass. If you've only seen the anime, this guy is new to you. Sick as fuck, this gigantic monkey type creature goes around raping woman and murdering people like it is nothing. He is sent after Guts and his band which results in a bloody but excellent fight.
Then the Eclipse event begins, everything Guts thought he knew about his best friend is washed away, leading to a horror show that just begins at the very end of this volume.
Overall, this is horrifying, scary, sad, and amazing all in one. One of the best arcs of Berserk really gets to shine here and Miura handles grief and loss so well.
A 5 out of 5.
December 23, 2020
Woah this was crazy. Dark dark and more darkness..amazing battle scenes
December 27, 2023
I had a fair few nitpicks regarding the first two volumes within this but the ending sure made up for them. Damn.
December 14, 2021
Hellraiser + Conan the Barbarian + Game of Thrones + Ash vs Evil Dead + Elric of Melnibone + Macbeth = Berserk.
Guts is a severely traumatized vigilante that wanders the world, throwing himself into one battle after another in hopes of finding a meaning in the tremendous suffering he's endured. His sword is his only trusted companion and he's consumed by a lust for vengeance. Griffith is a charismatic mercenary with dreams of ending a hundred year war in hopes of attaining his own kingdom. Little do his comrades and enemies know, he's not the flawless hero many believe him to be. When the paths of these two men clash, the entire world drastically evolves around the earth-shattering conflict between their indomitable wills.
A grimdark epic with compelling protagonists, stomach-churning horror, heartbreaking drama and a lovecraftian sense of metaphysical worldbuilding that's as fascinating as it is terrifying. Berserk has been my favorite manga, fantasy story and perhaps favorite story ever made for over a decade now and I was really sad to hear that the man behind the masterpiece passed away earlier this year.
Berserk is infamous for being the most gratuitously dark, brutal, shocking and depressing fantasy story ever written, but it is also rich with intense human emotion, philosophical depth, perseverance through unimaginable suffering and horrifyingly realistic depictions of psychological trauma. The series tackles the complex nature of morality vs. primal nature, fate and causality vs. free will, resilience against soulcrushing trauma that would cause most people to become broken or twisted. The definitions of good an evil are blurred beyond recognition, the heroes are just as flawed and capable of terrible deeds as the villains. The lead characters Guts and Griffith consistently challenge these themes and definitions through their shocking yet horrifyingly human actions.
This manga has inspired many famous works of art that are popular in today’s media such as the Dark Souls franchise, Final Fantasy, Attack on Titan, Evangelion, Castlevania, as well as countless fantasy novels, comics, manga, movies, tv shows, video games, musicians, artists, illustrators and so much more.
Miura inspired me as well and I regard him for being the person who taught me just how influential, meaningful and life changing art and literature can be when I first read his series over a decade ago. He changed the way I view entertainment and taught me how to appreciate the deeper meanings in everything I experience.
Berserk is to me what Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings is to millions of others.
Rest In Peace to a legendary man.
***
Above is my completely spoiler free review showing my appreciation for this series and its characters.
Below is a review of the entire series, broken down arc by arc. I originally wrote these individual reviews back during my first reading of the series, so keep that in mind. Each part contains mild spoilers, I would advise not looking any further than the arcs you’re currently reading or have already read.
***
The Black Swordsman Arc: Volumes 1-3
The first arc is only the tip of the iceberg of a very complex, dark and violent tragedy. If you find yourself to be not too impressed with the first volume, I highly recommend reading until at least volume 4 before deciding if this series is for you or not. The first three volumes serve as an interlude to help prepare you for the atrocities to come and may seem somewhat underwhelming in terms of plot, but believe me when I say the payoff is highly rewarding and memorable.
The Black Swordsman arc is awesome for fans returning to the series or rereading the series, but it often gives newcomers the wrong impression. It’s not that it’s bad, it’s just extremely different from the rest of the series and it’s set in the middle of the story rather than the beginning. This is done to set the dark tone of the series, bombarding you with shocking and upsetting content to make sure you know what you’re getting into before delving back to the beginning. For newcomers, this arc is a confusing yet exciting sword and sorcery tale of a vengeful barbarian warrior hunting demons in hopes of settling the score with his mortal enemy Griffith, and the evil lovecraftian beings that govern the world from the abyss known only as the Godhand. For returning readers, the Black Swordsman arc is much deeper than it seems, packed with genius foreshadowing, subtle character depth and truly impressive worldbuilding that will probably fly over the heads of newcomers.
Guts seems like a simplistic, edgy anti-hero at first glance, but he's so much more than that. Guts is one of the greatest characters the fantasy genre has to offer. Sigmund Freud could probably write a novel-length psychological analysis of this severely troubled and broken man. Guts is more complex than he leads people to believe as well. He's not a sociopathic antihero, he's a man that has no choice but to lie to himself to keep his emotions from crushing his spirit and getting innocent people involved with his deadly affairs. He's cruel and harsh for the greater good. It's the only way he can keep himself from going insane and continue to put up a good fight against terrifying creatures that are far stronger than he is. There's a bit of a joke in the Berserk community that says that no matter how bad your life might be, Guts will always have it worse. It's really not that hard to believe after you've read a bit of the series. His life was one big catastrophe literally from the moment he was born.
Not to mention his rival Griffith who is equally complex and incredibly rich with psychological depth, but there will be more on that as you delve further in. I would strongly recommend this series for hardcore fans of fantasy and horror, so long as you're prepared to be traumatized for life by the disgustingly harsh nature of its content.
This arc mainly serves to set up a lot of future plot points by introducing us to the Behilit, the God Hand, and the fact that even the demonic apostles are capable of emotions and having a family. Nothing is as it seems and no one is safe or innocent. It might not seem like it in the beginning, but the Black Swordsman arc is arguably one of the most important as it solidifies the themes of struggle, survival and wavering humanity that Guts deals with on a daily basis and sets up the flow of the rest of the story. It peels back the layers and reveals little by little how Guts grew up to be such a mentally broken and morally outraged character. It makes you sympathize with him and understand why he acts the way he does.
***
The Golden Age Arc: Volumes 4-13
The Golden Age Arc is where the story truly begins.
We return to the origins of Guts and learn about the series of battles, traumas and conflicts he gets himself wrapped in one after the other. We get introduced to a wonderfully intense group of mercenaries that go by the name of The Band of the Hawk. Among the Hawks are Casca the hot-headed female warrior, Judeau the smooth talking assassin, Corkus the drunken realist, Pippin the gentle giant, Rickert the blacksmith and of course, the infamous leader of men named Griffith.
Griffith is the most interesting of the motley crew as he is very complex and unpredictable. He has a playful side, a merciless side, a charismatic side and a childish yet vulnerable side. He can't be put into any single category. The gallant and elegant master of the sword has more layers than an onion. His brotherly rivalry with Guts is also a lovely and dementedly joyful sight to behold. This is the major turning point of the series and it only gets better and better from here.
After a life of grief and trauma, Guts reluctantly joins Griffith on his quest to attain his own kingdom while simultaneously struggling to come to terms with his own identity. We get to see a side of Guts we’ve never experienced up until this point. We see his vulnerability, his wounded soul, his ability to show affection to others, his role as a battle commander, and his blossoming relationships with Casca and Griffith; the two people who end up having the biggest impact on his entire life for very different reasons.
This is the arc that has the most in common with Game of Thrones, focusing on personal character dramas rather than constant brutal battles, action and lovecraftian horror being thrown at you left and right. While the battles and action sequences in Berserk are amazing, where it truly shines are its quiet moments of vulnerability where we get to see the most raw, heart-wrenching and introspective emotions of the severely damaged cast of protagonists.
Guts is an unstoppable badass, but he constantly suffers and contemplates his meaning in life. His sheer strength and relentless rage can’t hide the wounded little boy deep inside him. Casca is more fierce than most male soldiers on the battlefield and she has an attitude to match, so when we see her more feminine and loving side it makes her complex journey of self-realization all the more powerful. Griffith is a godlike war hero that millions of people worship, yet he has the deepest flaws, insecurities and inner darkness than any other character in the entire series. Most of all, they’re painfully human. These three represent the absolute best and absolute worst in all of us. That’s what makes them equally compelling, empathetic and utterly repulsive at times.
After an incredible display of war, romance, political drama, moral and philosophical musings, heartbreaking trauma, fascinating worldbuilding and chilling foreshadowing, the Golden Age arc ends on the single most shocking, depressing and mind blowing finale I’ve ever witnessed in a fantasy story. The Eclipse marks the major turning point in the story from Game of Thrones style medieval drama to the lovecraftian nightmare fest that we only get a small taste of in the Black Swordsman arc.
***
The Lost Children Arc: 14 - 16
Ah, the end of the Golden Age and the beginning of the Age of Darkness. This is where the horror elements of Berserk are dialed up to the absolute extreme. You thought the story was gruesome and horrifying before? You haven't seen anything yet. The Lost Children arc is not only arguably the most gruesome of them all, but it also completely wrecks your emotions as well. The relationship between Guts and Jill shows us that Guts is still in touch with his human side after the atrocities of the Black Swordsman arc may have convinced us otherwise. It solidifies his bond with his unlikely companion Puck, explores the lasting effects of trauma inflicted on him by the Eclipse and by Casca's heartbreaking condition and there's a rollercoaster of action, horror and small glimpses of hope in a sea of darkness. I've always loved how Jill and Puck brought Guts's humanity back to the surface after being stuck in such a devastating and harmful state for so long. This arc also humanizes the act of becoming an apostle which adds a layer of emotional depth to their depraved existence and makes the antagonists feel like more than simple fodder for Guts to slash through.
The Lost Children arc feels a bit underwhelming in a few areas compared to the shocking finale of the Golden Age arc, but the ending of this arc finishes with quite a few shockers of its own to bring back the hype and despair of the series. This arc is one of my favorites for a few reasons. It shows that apostles can be victims in their own right by exploring the sad life of Rosine who only sought to escape abuse and had to resort to inhumane methods to bring this about. This is made further relatable by contrasting her situation with that of Jill's as she's also severely abused by her father and wants nothing more than to escape from that life.
It also shows that Guts still has a human side. Despite how broken and full of hate and bloodlust he is, he still cares for Jill and throws himself in harm's way multiple times to protect her. Considering how tragic and terrifying Guts's childhood was, it's not too surprising that he would have a soft spot for kids that also happen to be suffering from abuse.
After the arc is done, we're thrown into another great arc which introduces us to the Holy Iron Chain Knights. Farnese and Serpico are fascinating characters, Azan is a cool guy and the shadiness of the group as a whole raises a lot of red flags. Guts and Puck also become much closer during this time which solidifies their companionship.
The Lost Children arc is often written off as a short filler mini-arc, but I think it serves its purpose more than well in just 3 volumes.
***
The Conviction Arc: 17 - 21
My favorite arc of Berserk in many ways.
The amount of story packed into these few volumes is incredible. Griffith is manipulating people's dreams from the beyond while a plague ravages the entire country. The people see this as a sign that the foretold messiah will soon come to save the world from darkness when really it's just Griffith leading them to believe that. After being visited by an omen in his dreams, Guts decides to return to Casca after not seeing her for two years because he's been going on a murderous rampage. After the tragic outcome of the Lost Children arc, Guts begins to accept that his quest for vengeance is futile, and that there are more important things in his life than violence.
This is where the arc gets really emotional. Figuratively speaking, Guts receives the harsh scolding and the much-needed therapy he's needed for a long time from Godo the blacksmith. Rickert, Erika and Puck are also there to knock some sense back into Guts's thick skull, giving him the mental and emotional support and guidance he desperately needed to get back on his feet after the tragedy of the eclipse. After regaining his compassion and conviction, Guts sets out to find the missing Caska, the woman who set the spark on his self-destructive quest in the first place to try and redeem his life from all the horrible things he’s been through and all the detestable things he’s done in the name of love.
We're then introduced to a horrifying priest that loves unreasonable torture, genocide and bashing people's brains out with a bible. The Holy Iron Chain Knights mean business and there's tragedy and death all over the world. Guts's path to redemption, the mad religion dedicated to a false messiah, the foreshadowing of Griffith's return, this arc is packed full of all kinds of heavy emotions.
On top of all the heart-wrenching emotions in this arc, it’s also by far the most terrifying. Religious tyranny, satanic orgy cults, cannibalism do to starvation, extreme torture methods using real historical tools such as the Judas Cradle, breaking wheels, rack torture, flaying and burning at the stake, etc. And that’s just a small taste.
We’re introduced to a group of prostitutes with strong character development. Luca is a saint and Nina is a sinner, yet Luca brings everyone together and loves them all unconditionally. Though she’s a prostitute, she has more love, kindness and motherly instinct in her than the entirety of the Holy Iron Chain Knights and their religious order which makes me respect her character a lot.
Overall an explosive arc that’s equally horrifying and beautiful. It has one of the most satisfying reunions and redemption plots of all time.
***
The Millennium Falcon Arc: Volumes 22-35
After the shocking ending of the previous arc, Griffith returns to the spotlight once more.
This is the most complex arc of the series as it's split into multiple perspectives which hasn’t really been done up until this point. Guts has reunited with his beloved Casca and her mind is still in shambles from the trauma she experienced during the Eclipse. With a new band of loyal companions at his side, Guts begins to learn how to trust, grow and love as he once did during his time in the Band of the Hawk while struggling to reconcile with his inner darkness and his hatred towards his former friend Griffith.
Schierke is a young witch that serves to explain the more magical, fantastical and metaphysical elements of the world of Berserk while aiding Guts’s crew in their journey to fight against the alarming uprising of demonic creatures overrunning the land.
The Kushan Empire has risen to power and is waging war with the unguarded kingdom of Midland. As if the deadly plague, religious crusades and rampant demon invasions weren’t enough, Emperor Ganishka of the Kushan Empire is making life an even greater hell for anyone that’s in his path of conquest.
Griffith is back in the human world, building an army of knights, demons, apostles and any other willing companions in his journey to 'save' the world from war to fulfill his dream of attaining his own kingdom no matter the sacrifices and immoral actions he must commit to make his dream a reality.
Not my favorite arc, but definitely the most chaotic, action-packed and lore heavy of them all. The fantasy, paranormal and existential elements of the story really ramp up in this arc and there’s all kinds of mindblowing chaos at work.
***
The Fantasia Arc: Volumes 36-41
It’s difficult to review this arc because it was left unfinished after the author’s untimely passing.
The Fantasia arc marked another major turning point of the series. If Lost Children and Conviction were the age of darkness, this was the beginning of the age of misguided light. Griffith changed the world in truly remarkable ways, both fascinating and terrible.
Guts and his crew set out to Elf Island to restore Casca’s memories before deciding how to settle the score with Griffith once and for all. The arc was tying up loose ends at a very nice pace, answering questions that many readers have been contemplating since the beginning of the series such as the identity of Skull Knight, the origins of the God Hand, Griffith true motives, how Casca confronts her trauma, the purpose of the Berserker Armor, Guts finding the answer to his life’s purpose, the secret history and lore of the greater universe and much more.
Just as the arc was heading for a climactic buildup to the finale, it ends on a tear jerking cliffhanger that serves as the untimely ending of the series as a whole. It’s a shame that Miura’s masterpiece wasn’t able to be finished, but he’s created the most influential manga of all time that heavily impacted millions of reads and thousands of artists all over the world.
***
If you're looking for some dark ambient music for reading horror, dark fantasy and other books like this one, then be sure to check out my YouTube Channel called Nightmarish Compositions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPs...
Guts is a severely traumatized vigilante that wanders the world, throwing himself into one battle after another in hopes of finding a meaning in the tremendous suffering he's endured. His sword is his only trusted companion and he's consumed by a lust for vengeance. Griffith is a charismatic mercenary with dreams of ending a hundred year war in hopes of attaining his own kingdom. Little do his comrades and enemies know, he's not the flawless hero many believe him to be. When the paths of these two men clash, the entire world drastically evolves around the earth-shattering conflict between their indomitable wills.
A grimdark epic with compelling protagonists, stomach-churning horror, heartbreaking drama and a lovecraftian sense of metaphysical worldbuilding that's as fascinating as it is terrifying. Berserk has been my favorite manga, fantasy story and perhaps favorite story ever made for over a decade now and I was really sad to hear that the man behind the masterpiece passed away earlier this year.
Berserk is infamous for being the most gratuitously dark, brutal, shocking and depressing fantasy story ever written, but it is also rich with intense human emotion, philosophical depth, perseverance through unimaginable suffering and horrifyingly realistic depictions of psychological trauma. The series tackles the complex nature of morality vs. primal nature, fate and causality vs. free will, resilience against soulcrushing trauma that would cause most people to become broken or twisted. The definitions of good an evil are blurred beyond recognition, the heroes are just as flawed and capable of terrible deeds as the villains. The lead characters Guts and Griffith consistently challenge these themes and definitions through their shocking yet horrifyingly human actions.
This manga has inspired many famous works of art that are popular in today’s media such as the Dark Souls franchise, Final Fantasy, Attack on Titan, Evangelion, Castlevania, as well as countless fantasy novels, comics, manga, movies, tv shows, video games, musicians, artists, illustrators and so much more.
Miura inspired me as well and I regard him for being the person who taught me just how influential, meaningful and life changing art and literature can be when I first read his series over a decade ago. He changed the way I view entertainment and taught me how to appreciate the deeper meanings in everything I experience.
Berserk is to me what Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings is to millions of others.
Rest In Peace to a legendary man.
***
Above is my completely spoiler free review showing my appreciation for this series and its characters.
Below is a review of the entire series, broken down arc by arc. I originally wrote these individual reviews back during my first reading of the series, so keep that in mind. Each part contains mild spoilers, I would advise not looking any further than the arcs you’re currently reading or have already read.
***
The Black Swordsman Arc: Volumes 1-3
The first arc is only the tip of the iceberg of a very complex, dark and violent tragedy. If you find yourself to be not too impressed with the first volume, I highly recommend reading until at least volume 4 before deciding if this series is for you or not. The first three volumes serve as an interlude to help prepare you for the atrocities to come and may seem somewhat underwhelming in terms of plot, but believe me when I say the payoff is highly rewarding and memorable.
The Black Swordsman arc is awesome for fans returning to the series or rereading the series, but it often gives newcomers the wrong impression. It’s not that it’s bad, it’s just extremely different from the rest of the series and it’s set in the middle of the story rather than the beginning. This is done to set the dark tone of the series, bombarding you with shocking and upsetting content to make sure you know what you’re getting into before delving back to the beginning. For newcomers, this arc is a confusing yet exciting sword and sorcery tale of a vengeful barbarian warrior hunting demons in hopes of settling the score with his mortal enemy Griffith, and the evil lovecraftian beings that govern the world from the abyss known only as the Godhand. For returning readers, the Black Swordsman arc is much deeper than it seems, packed with genius foreshadowing, subtle character depth and truly impressive worldbuilding that will probably fly over the heads of newcomers.
Guts seems like a simplistic, edgy anti-hero at first glance, but he's so much more than that. Guts is one of the greatest characters the fantasy genre has to offer. Sigmund Freud could probably write a novel-length psychological analysis of this severely troubled and broken man. Guts is more complex than he leads people to believe as well. He's not a sociopathic antihero, he's a man that has no choice but to lie to himself to keep his emotions from crushing his spirit and getting innocent people involved with his deadly affairs. He's cruel and harsh for the greater good. It's the only way he can keep himself from going insane and continue to put up a good fight against terrifying creatures that are far stronger than he is. There's a bit of a joke in the Berserk community that says that no matter how bad your life might be, Guts will always have it worse. It's really not that hard to believe after you've read a bit of the series. His life was one big catastrophe literally from the moment he was born.
Not to mention his rival Griffith who is equally complex and incredibly rich with psychological depth, but there will be more on that as you delve further in. I would strongly recommend this series for hardcore fans of fantasy and horror, so long as you're prepared to be traumatized for life by the disgustingly harsh nature of its content.
This arc mainly serves to set up a lot of future plot points by introducing us to the Behilit, the God Hand, and the fact that even the demonic apostles are capable of emotions and having a family. Nothing is as it seems and no one is safe or innocent. It might not seem like it in the beginning, but the Black Swordsman arc is arguably one of the most important as it solidifies the themes of struggle, survival and wavering humanity that Guts deals with on a daily basis and sets up the flow of the rest of the story. It peels back the layers and reveals little by little how Guts grew up to be such a mentally broken and morally outraged character. It makes you sympathize with him and understand why he acts the way he does.
***
The Golden Age Arc: Volumes 4-13
The Golden Age Arc is where the story truly begins.
We return to the origins of Guts and learn about the series of battles, traumas and conflicts he gets himself wrapped in one after the other. We get introduced to a wonderfully intense group of mercenaries that go by the name of The Band of the Hawk. Among the Hawks are Casca the hot-headed female warrior, Judeau the smooth talking assassin, Corkus the drunken realist, Pippin the gentle giant, Rickert the blacksmith and of course, the infamous leader of men named Griffith.
Griffith is the most interesting of the motley crew as he is very complex and unpredictable. He has a playful side, a merciless side, a charismatic side and a childish yet vulnerable side. He can't be put into any single category. The gallant and elegant master of the sword has more layers than an onion. His brotherly rivalry with Guts is also a lovely and dementedly joyful sight to behold. This is the major turning point of the series and it only gets better and better from here.
After a life of grief and trauma, Guts reluctantly joins Griffith on his quest to attain his own kingdom while simultaneously struggling to come to terms with his own identity. We get to see a side of Guts we’ve never experienced up until this point. We see his vulnerability, his wounded soul, his ability to show affection to others, his role as a battle commander, and his blossoming relationships with Casca and Griffith; the two people who end up having the biggest impact on his entire life for very different reasons.
This is the arc that has the most in common with Game of Thrones, focusing on personal character dramas rather than constant brutal battles, action and lovecraftian horror being thrown at you left and right. While the battles and action sequences in Berserk are amazing, where it truly shines are its quiet moments of vulnerability where we get to see the most raw, heart-wrenching and introspective emotions of the severely damaged cast of protagonists.
Guts is an unstoppable badass, but he constantly suffers and contemplates his meaning in life. His sheer strength and relentless rage can’t hide the wounded little boy deep inside him. Casca is more fierce than most male soldiers on the battlefield and she has an attitude to match, so when we see her more feminine and loving side it makes her complex journey of self-realization all the more powerful. Griffith is a godlike war hero that millions of people worship, yet he has the deepest flaws, insecurities and inner darkness than any other character in the entire series. Most of all, they’re painfully human. These three represent the absolute best and absolute worst in all of us. That’s what makes them equally compelling, empathetic and utterly repulsive at times.
After an incredible display of war, romance, political drama, moral and philosophical musings, heartbreaking trauma, fascinating worldbuilding and chilling foreshadowing, the Golden Age arc ends on the single most shocking, depressing and mind blowing finale I’ve ever witnessed in a fantasy story. The Eclipse marks the major turning point in the story from Game of Thrones style medieval drama to the lovecraftian nightmare fest that we only get a small taste of in the Black Swordsman arc.
***
The Lost Children Arc: 14 - 16
Ah, the end of the Golden Age and the beginning of the Age of Darkness. This is where the horror elements of Berserk are dialed up to the absolute extreme. You thought the story was gruesome and horrifying before? You haven't seen anything yet. The Lost Children arc is not only arguably the most gruesome of them all, but it also completely wrecks your emotions as well. The relationship between Guts and Jill shows us that Guts is still in touch with his human side after the atrocities of the Black Swordsman arc may have convinced us otherwise. It solidifies his bond with his unlikely companion Puck, explores the lasting effects of trauma inflicted on him by the Eclipse and by Casca's heartbreaking condition and there's a rollercoaster of action, horror and small glimpses of hope in a sea of darkness. I've always loved how Jill and Puck brought Guts's humanity back to the surface after being stuck in such a devastating and harmful state for so long. This arc also humanizes the act of becoming an apostle which adds a layer of emotional depth to their depraved existence and makes the antagonists feel like more than simple fodder for Guts to slash through.
The Lost Children arc feels a bit underwhelming in a few areas compared to the shocking finale of the Golden Age arc, but the ending of this arc finishes with quite a few shockers of its own to bring back the hype and despair of the series. This arc is one of my favorites for a few reasons. It shows that apostles can be victims in their own right by exploring the sad life of Rosine who only sought to escape abuse and had to resort to inhumane methods to bring this about. This is made further relatable by contrasting her situation with that of Jill's as she's also severely abused by her father and wants nothing more than to escape from that life.
It also shows that Guts still has a human side. Despite how broken and full of hate and bloodlust he is, he still cares for Jill and throws himself in harm's way multiple times to protect her. Considering how tragic and terrifying Guts's childhood was, it's not too surprising that he would have a soft spot for kids that also happen to be suffering from abuse.
After the arc is done, we're thrown into another great arc which introduces us to the Holy Iron Chain Knights. Farnese and Serpico are fascinating characters, Azan is a cool guy and the shadiness of the group as a whole raises a lot of red flags. Guts and Puck also become much closer during this time which solidifies their companionship.
The Lost Children arc is often written off as a short filler mini-arc, but I think it serves its purpose more than well in just 3 volumes.
***
The Conviction Arc: 17 - 21
My favorite arc of Berserk in many ways.
The amount of story packed into these few volumes is incredible. Griffith is manipulating people's dreams from the beyond while a plague ravages the entire country. The people see this as a sign that the foretold messiah will soon come to save the world from darkness when really it's just Griffith leading them to believe that. After being visited by an omen in his dreams, Guts decides to return to Casca after not seeing her for two years because he's been going on a murderous rampage. After the tragic outcome of the Lost Children arc, Guts begins to accept that his quest for vengeance is futile, and that there are more important things in his life than violence.
This is where the arc gets really emotional. Figuratively speaking, Guts receives the harsh scolding and the much-needed therapy he's needed for a long time from Godo the blacksmith. Rickert, Erika and Puck are also there to knock some sense back into Guts's thick skull, giving him the mental and emotional support and guidance he desperately needed to get back on his feet after the tragedy of the eclipse. After regaining his compassion and conviction, Guts sets out to find the missing Caska, the woman who set the spark on his self-destructive quest in the first place to try and redeem his life from all the horrible things he’s been through and all the detestable things he’s done in the name of love.
We're then introduced to a horrifying priest that loves unreasonable torture, genocide and bashing people's brains out with a bible. The Holy Iron Chain Knights mean business and there's tragedy and death all over the world. Guts's path to redemption, the mad religion dedicated to a false messiah, the foreshadowing of Griffith's return, this arc is packed full of all kinds of heavy emotions.
On top of all the heart-wrenching emotions in this arc, it’s also by far the most terrifying. Religious tyranny, satanic orgy cults, cannibalism do to starvation, extreme torture methods using real historical tools such as the Judas Cradle, breaking wheels, rack torture, flaying and burning at the stake, etc. And that’s just a small taste.
We’re introduced to a group of prostitutes with strong character development. Luca is a saint and Nina is a sinner, yet Luca brings everyone together and loves them all unconditionally. Though she’s a prostitute, she has more love, kindness and motherly instinct in her than the entirety of the Holy Iron Chain Knights and their religious order which makes me respect her character a lot.
Overall an explosive arc that’s equally horrifying and beautiful. It has one of the most satisfying reunions and redemption plots of all time.
***
The Millennium Falcon Arc: Volumes 22-35
After the shocking ending of the previous arc, Griffith returns to the spotlight once more.
This is the most complex arc of the series as it's split into multiple perspectives which hasn’t really been done up until this point. Guts has reunited with his beloved Casca and her mind is still in shambles from the trauma she experienced during the Eclipse. With a new band of loyal companions at his side, Guts begins to learn how to trust, grow and love as he once did during his time in the Band of the Hawk while struggling to reconcile with his inner darkness and his hatred towards his former friend Griffith.
Schierke is a young witch that serves to explain the more magical, fantastical and metaphysical elements of the world of Berserk while aiding Guts’s crew in their journey to fight against the alarming uprising of demonic creatures overrunning the land.
The Kushan Empire has risen to power and is waging war with the unguarded kingdom of Midland. As if the deadly plague, religious crusades and rampant demon invasions weren’t enough, Emperor Ganishka of the Kushan Empire is making life an even greater hell for anyone that’s in his path of conquest.
Griffith is back in the human world, building an army of knights, demons, apostles and any other willing companions in his journey to 'save' the world from war to fulfill his dream of attaining his own kingdom no matter the sacrifices and immoral actions he must commit to make his dream a reality.
Not my favorite arc, but definitely the most chaotic, action-packed and lore heavy of them all. The fantasy, paranormal and existential elements of the story really ramp up in this arc and there’s all kinds of mindblowing chaos at work.
***
The Fantasia Arc: Volumes 36-41
It’s difficult to review this arc because it was left unfinished after the author’s untimely passing.
The Fantasia arc marked another major turning point of the series. If Lost Children and Conviction were the age of darkness, this was the beginning of the age of misguided light. Griffith changed the world in truly remarkable ways, both fascinating and terrible.
Guts and his crew set out to Elf Island to restore Casca’s memories before deciding how to settle the score with Griffith once and for all. The arc was tying up loose ends at a very nice pace, answering questions that many readers have been contemplating since the beginning of the series such as the identity of Skull Knight, the origins of the God Hand, Griffith true motives, how Casca confronts her trauma, the purpose of the Berserker Armor, Guts finding the answer to his life’s purpose, the secret history and lore of the greater universe and much more.
Just as the arc was heading for a climactic buildup to the finale, it ends on a tear jerking cliffhanger that serves as the untimely ending of the series as a whole. It’s a shame that Miura’s masterpiece wasn’t able to be finished, but he’s created the most influential manga of all time that heavily impacted millions of reads and thousands of artists all over the world.
***
If you're looking for some dark ambient music for reading horror, dark fantasy and other books like this one, then be sure to check out my YouTube Channel called Nightmarish Compositions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPs...
February 28, 2023
Give Casca a break Jesus Christ
January 29, 2026
EN It’s been almost two years since I read volume 3 of Berserk. Time really does fly…
I already knew that Berserk was excellent, but honestly, I had forgotten just how good it truly is. For anyone who reads manga and has already experienced Berserk, it is almost certain to rank among the top three greatest manga of all time. I would even go so far as to say that Berserk can easily be considered the greatest manga ever made.
The artwork in Berserk is simply something out of this world. I can’t even begin to imagine the monumental amount of work that must have gone into producing these volumes. Kentaro Miura is a legend, and there are many good reasons for that. This artwork, combined with a story that keeps us completely hooked from beginning to end, makes this series something truly extraordinary.
--
PT Já passaram quase dois anos desde que li o volume 3 de Berserk. O tempo passa mesmo a voar…
Eu já sabia que Berserk era excelente, mas, sinceramente, tinha-me esquecido de quão bom é realmente. Para quem lê manga e já teve contacto com Berserk, é quase certo que este título figure no top 3 dos melhores mangás de sempre. Diria até que pode, sem grande esforço, ser considerado o melhor mangá alguma vez feito.
A arte de Berserk é simplesmente algo fora deste mundo. Nem quero imaginar o trabalho hercúleo que a produção destes volumes exigiu. Kentaro Miura é uma lenda, e há muitas e boas razões para isso. Essa arte, aliada a uma narrativa que nos mantém completamente agarrados do início ao fim, faz desta série algo verdadeiramente fora de série.
I already knew that Berserk was excellent, but honestly, I had forgotten just how good it truly is. For anyone who reads manga and has already experienced Berserk, it is almost certain to rank among the top three greatest manga of all time. I would even go so far as to say that Berserk can easily be considered the greatest manga ever made.
The artwork in Berserk is simply something out of this world. I can’t even begin to imagine the monumental amount of work that must have gone into producing these volumes. Kentaro Miura is a legend, and there are many good reasons for that. This artwork, combined with a story that keeps us completely hooked from beginning to end, makes this series something truly extraordinary.
--
PT Já passaram quase dois anos desde que li o volume 3 de Berserk. O tempo passa mesmo a voar…
Eu já sabia que Berserk era excelente, mas, sinceramente, tinha-me esquecido de quão bom é realmente. Para quem lê manga e já teve contacto com Berserk, é quase certo que este título figure no top 3 dos melhores mangás de sempre. Diria até que pode, sem grande esforço, ser considerado o melhor mangá alguma vez feito.
A arte de Berserk é simplesmente algo fora deste mundo. Nem quero imaginar o trabalho hercúleo que a produção destes volumes exigiu. Kentaro Miura é uma lenda, e há muitas e boas razões para isso. Essa arte, aliada a uma narrativa que nos mantém completamente agarrados do início ao fim, faz desta série algo verdadeiramente fora de série.
July 22, 2023
Gimme all the imagery
April 20, 2020
I'm not sure what I can really say about this volume that would do it justice. It's exhilarating, heartbreaking, poignant, and shocking, and when it brings things full-circle to where the series started off, it ends on one hell of a cliffhanger. I'm going to keep this review short, because the only thing you need to know is that Berserk is a singularly amazing example of dark fantasy. Read it.
August 12, 2024
I can not get enough of this story and all parts involved!!! My only negative is that this volume ended on a cliffhanger, and I can't seem to get to the next one quick enough! Guts still holds as a favorite character and I'm rooting harder and harder for him despite already knowing a little bit of his future.
October 22, 2025
Are you kidding me right now with the cliffhanger? This book is constantly finding new ways to traumatize me.
April 20, 2025
plot drives really fast and perhaps the strongest volume so far. a lot of things fall into place and it's far more character driven that I would have expected it to.
Griffith for the most part exists but the power of his existence is something that's powerful on pages.
Griffith for the most part exists but the power of his existence is something that's powerful on pages.
November 28, 2022
ECLIPSE HAS COME!!!!
OH MY GOD THIS VOLUME WAS...
A M A Z I N G !!!
I'm not one for romance but oh my god I love Guts and Casca. Casca is a woman blinded by love. Her conundrum between Griffith and Guts is surprisingly engaging. She loves Griffith but not the way that she used to because of Guts. For this she feels guilty especially after Griffiths current condition. There was one scene where Griffith is jealous over Guts and when Casca goes to check on Griffith he tries to have sex with her. It's a sad moment because Casca realises she doesn't love him in that manner and just tries to comfort him by hugging him.
Oh dude, don't get me started on that badass battle with Wylad or whatever the hell it's name was. Guts is a total badass.
I do have one complaint about this series and it's how horribly it treats women. Women are very sexualized in this series and it gets uncomfortable to read. Hopefully this changes further on. There was a part where the fucking knight dogs guy tries to do something with Casca and she looses 75% of her clothing (I'm sure you can see where it was going.) And guts said "Go now, you'll distract me looking like that." 😐 that pissed me off so much. Other than that it was an amazing volume.
P.s. Nudity doesn't bother me, it's the context that bothers me.
This may be one of my favorite series! I'm so god damn excited!!!!
OH MY GOD THIS VOLUME WAS...
A M A Z I N G !!!
I'm not one for romance but oh my god I love Guts and Casca. Casca is a woman blinded by love. Her conundrum between Griffith and Guts is surprisingly engaging. She loves Griffith but not the way that she used to because of Guts. For this she feels guilty especially after Griffiths current condition. There was one scene where Griffith is jealous over Guts and when Casca goes to check on Griffith he tries to have sex with her. It's a sad moment because Casca realises she doesn't love him in that manner and just tries to comfort him by hugging him.
Oh dude, don't get me started on that badass battle with Wylad or whatever the hell it's name was. Guts is a total badass.
I do have one complaint about this series and it's how horribly it treats women. Women are very sexualized in this series and it gets uncomfortable to read. Hopefully this changes further on. There was a part where the fucking knight dogs guy tries to do something with Casca and she looses 75% of her clothing (I'm sure you can see where it was going.) And guts said "Go now, you'll distract me looking like that." 😐 that pissed me off so much. Other than that it was an amazing volume.
P.s. Nudity doesn't bother me, it's the context that bothers me.
This may be one of my favorite series! I'm so god damn excited!!!!
March 24, 2023
This is the volume where i asked myself "wtf am i reading?" And i also realized the story being told is a masterclass in human perseverance, tragedy, and the pursuit of a dream.
January 10, 2023
Bu seri için ne desem boş. Daha iyi bir hikaye okumadım.
February 9, 2025
It’s just like the story keeps getting better and better. The art is always absolutely impressive and beautiful as always.
November 19, 2024
So many feelings and it's so late and I should've stopped before that damn eclipse.
March 15, 2020
Another fantastic volume. Darkest one yet!
September 26, 2020
God hand shoved its fist up me bum. What a wild eclipse!
July 6, 2023
“Even if we painstakingly piece together something lost, it doesn’t mean things will ever go back to how they were.”
My favorite part of Berserk so far. Not only are a lot of the characters growing into their own shoes, but relationships are getting damaged and the feelings of our characters are getting more complex. It's insane that Kentaro Miura is able to show us how the trauma affects the characters to this extent.
Griffith is in an irreparable state after being tortured for a year causing some tension between Guts and Casca. While on the run from an evil mercenary group, Guts is forced to face the newest abomination. The Band of the Hawk is broken and running on fumes until the unimaginable happens. The Eclipse.
The monster design is as always, top tier. You will be itching to move forward but reluctant to turn the page because of the stunning art. Tragedy unfolds and our characters are tested. WIll any of our favorite characters be okay again?
Please note that there is a ton of violence and sexual assaults in the volume and would advise against reading it if you may be sensitive to those topics.
December 18, 2024
The Golden Age (the last 2.5 ish deluxe editions i didn't review) have been really good and really slow burning up to this. FINALLY got to the Eclipse and it is crazy, definitely my favorite books so far in this edition.
July 21, 2024
This is another fantastic volume of horror, demons, and tentacle porn! Kentaro Miura is definitely not holding back. I enjoyed the character development and world-building, but let's be honest, the reason I read Berserk is for the horror and crazy madness. A good story and characters are just a bonus. And this volume has it all. Griffith is rotting in his cell (good riddance), and Guts is reuniting with Casca and the rest of the Hawks to free Mr. White Asshole by Infiltrating Windham. The Festival Eve brings some sweet previews of demonic horror that got me thinking: is Death on a horse a positive character? It may not be as evil as the rest, but who knows. Our heroes save the tortured Griffith, and the action-packed segment doesn't stop until the end of the volume. The Bakiraka group was interesting, but they got their ass kicked too quickly. It was the Devil Dogs with their disgusting leader who took the spotlight until the end. I really liked Wyald; he was a good combination of horror, pathos, and comedy. And yes, Guts is slicing him to pieces for almost the whole volume 11. Griffith behaves like a manipulator (even broken and enveloped in bandages), and shortens the leash on Casca. I don't really know what he tried to do in the Warrior of Twilight, but I saw it as rape. He may be too injured and weak to go through with it, but he tries. And then comes HELL itself. We finally see the God Hand again and witness the branding and sacrifice of all the surviving Hawks, ending with an amazing Feast.
I'm pretty much hooked and want more.
-----------------------------
Second read impression: Reading Berserk is always a treat. I remember that during my first read of Volume 4, I was quite impatient. I wanted to see more demons and Griffith's horrible transformation as soon as possible. And I got plenty of that by the end – it concludes with a horrific scene of a feast on the remains of Griffith's "friends." But this time I also enjoyed the build-up. I don’t really think that story-wise Berserk is that amazing (at least so far), but the graphic visualization is incredible. From the dark catacombs battle of Bakiraka, through the encounter with the amazingly disgusting Wyald, into hell itself with the devilish God Hand. Yeah, Berserk is amazing.
I'm pretty much hooked and want more.
-----------------------------
Second read impression: Reading Berserk is always a treat. I remember that during my first read of Volume 4, I was quite impatient. I wanted to see more demons and Griffith's horrible transformation as soon as possible. And I got plenty of that by the end – it concludes with a horrific scene of a feast on the remains of Griffith's "friends." But this time I also enjoyed the build-up. I don’t really think that story-wise Berserk is that amazing (at least so far), but the graphic visualization is incredible. From the dark catacombs battle of Bakiraka, through the encounter with the amazingly disgusting Wyald, into hell itself with the devilish God Hand. Yeah, Berserk is amazing.
September 30, 2020
I thought Larry Correia was king of the extended fight scene. In this book he he has some serious competition with Kentaro Miura as there is a protracted battle that goes on for, wait for it, easily half this book. I would not have thought that could be accomplished without it dragging on for too long and becoming repetitive. It does not and more importantly, it is necessary to deliver the message that it ultimately does. I guess this is my way of saying that if you think this volume had any chance of becoming a literary discourse on the meaning of life, don't worry. It most certainly does not! Although, you may find the end bit a metaphysical discourse that will keep you pondering.
I am so impressed that Guts and crew keep on delivering an epic story telling experience that is just now really picking up steam. This time out the Hawks set out to rescue Griffith and in so doing encounter foes like never before. Eventually the struggle leads them to a confrontation that we knew had to happen, but are uncertain how it would turn out. This is volume 4 of what I believe will be a total of 13-14 collections and it is apparent, and demonstrated, that the author has a definite story arc in mind. Where that will end up is anybody's guess, but it is well crafted, impeccably illustrated and very hard to put down.
Dark Horse again turned out an beautiful tome and continues its attention to detail on a volume that will grace your shelf for years. As mentioned above, the art is stellar. I keep being astounded that Miura tops his previous efforts each time out. There are pages where I just have to stop and stare. Hell, I even find myself counting individual details in small panels. This is a case of the money ending up on the page. If you started Berserk this is a wonderful incentive to continue reading.
I am so impressed that Guts and crew keep on delivering an epic story telling experience that is just now really picking up steam. This time out the Hawks set out to rescue Griffith and in so doing encounter foes like never before. Eventually the struggle leads them to a confrontation that we knew had to happen, but are uncertain how it would turn out. This is volume 4 of what I believe will be a total of 13-14 collections and it is apparent, and demonstrated, that the author has a definite story arc in mind. Where that will end up is anybody's guess, but it is well crafted, impeccably illustrated and very hard to put down.
Dark Horse again turned out an beautiful tome and continues its attention to detail on a volume that will grace your shelf for years. As mentioned above, the art is stellar. I keep being astounded that Miura tops his previous efforts each time out. There are pages where I just have to stop and stare. Hell, I even find myself counting individual details in small panels. This is a case of the money ending up on the page. If you started Berserk this is a wonderful incentive to continue reading.
April 15, 2021
*Note to self, do not read this manga in public transport, or in public at all*
Man this fourth volume of Berserk was wild! We continue the story of Guts and the Band of The Hawk, trying to liberate their leader Griffith, on the way there are alot of awesome battles (this is in every volume ) dark shit and badshit crazy over the top badguys, who get more ridicoulous, but yet more awesome. Seriously this is some twisted dark shit and i cant even describe some of the things that happen to be honest. Kentaro Miura goes full speed ahead with the most brutal betrayal and last part of a book, the final 150 or so pages where devoured and i cant wait for next month to read another tome of this awesome series.
Man this fourth volume of Berserk was wild! We continue the story of Guts and the Band of The Hawk, trying to liberate their leader Griffith, on the way there are alot of awesome battles (this is in every volume ) dark shit and badshit crazy over the top badguys, who get more ridicoulous, but yet more awesome. Seriously this is some twisted dark shit and i cant even describe some of the things that happen to be honest. Kentaro Miura goes full speed ahead with the most brutal betrayal and last part of a book, the final 150 or so pages where devoured and i cant wait for next month to read another tome of this awesome series.
April 5, 2024
3.5 rounded up
As usual, this is also somewhat of a mixed bag. On one hand, by the end, we finally get a lot of progression of the macro plot and a bunch of lore that explains some of what’s going on with Griffith and the eclipse. On another, Casca still gets the shit end of the stick, purely being a foil for Griffith and Guts, and is put in either danger or emotional circumstances to elicit a reaction from either character, including sexual assault. And a good a third of the volume is a really, really long fight that wasn’t very interesting, as it’s just Guts doing the same old: getting real beat up and being stubborn while bleeding and broken, and then winning anyway.
Decent cliffhanger though.
As usual, this is also somewhat of a mixed bag. On one hand, by the end, we finally get a lot of progression of the macro plot and a bunch of lore that explains some of what’s going on with Griffith and the eclipse. On another, Casca still gets the shit end of the stick, purely being a foil for Griffith and Guts, and is put in either danger or emotional circumstances to elicit a reaction from either character, including sexual assault. And a good a third of the volume is a really, really long fight that wasn’t very interesting, as it’s just Guts doing the same old: getting real beat up and being stubborn while bleeding and broken, and then winning anyway.
Decent cliffhanger though.
August 19, 2024
Griffith really said "why did you let me be happy for a moment, now everyone has to suffer"
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