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Berserk Deluxe Edition #7
Berserk Deluxe Edition, Volume 7
Guts the Black Swordsman is on a rampage as Mogus, master inquisitor of the Holy See, readies Guts' beloved Casca to be burned at the stake as a heretic in the forbidding Tower of Conviction. But Casca's demonic Brand of Sacrifice is drawing hideous dark powers to the Tower, and even if Guts can defeat the mighty Mogus, can he save Casca from the ravenous hordes of Hell?
Kentaro Miura's Berserk is an international blockbuster, producing a crashing tidal wave of followers and inspiring anime TV series and feature films, video and card games, and a multitude of related products. An adult fantasy/horror epic of mammoth proportions, Kentaro Miura's Berserk is now offered at its original published size in handsome deluxe hardcover editions. Berserk Deluxe Edition Volume 7 features over 700 pages of fear and fury, collecting original Berserk volumes 19-21.
Kentaro Miura's Berserk is an international blockbuster, producing a crashing tidal wave of followers and inspiring anime TV series and feature films, video and card games, and a multitude of related products. An adult fantasy/horror epic of mammoth proportions, Kentaro Miura's Berserk is now offered at its original published size in handsome deluxe hardcover editions. Berserk Deluxe Edition Volume 7 features over 700 pages of fear and fury, collecting original Berserk volumes 19-21.
704 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2021
112 people are currently reading
1681 people want to read
About the author
Kentaro Miura
370 books2,735 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 237 reviews
December 20, 2025
4.75/5
These next three volumes were absolutely phenomenal. They’ve probably become some of my all-time favorites in the entire manga. I literally couldn’t put them down—my eyes were burning, but the action was so intense that taking a break was not an option lol. But anyway, once again, here are some of my thoughts on these volumes.
— When I saw Griffith in one chapter, I wanted to punch my screen and throw my tablet out the window.
— My reaction at the ending of chapter one hundred fifty
— THE SKULL KNIGHT!!! I love him.
— More Casca and Guts moments! These two are going to be the death of me. The hug scene almost made me cry.
— I absolutely loved the moments when Puck and Isidro were together. Whenever these two are interact, it’s never boring, and their banter had me laughing more than once.
— Love the new characters! The group following and fighting alongside Guts is getting bigger and bigger, and I couldn’t be happier about it.
These next three volumes were absolutely phenomenal. They’ve probably become some of my all-time favorites in the entire manga. I literally couldn’t put them down—my eyes were burning, but the action was so intense that taking a break was not an option lol. But anyway, once again, here are some of my thoughts on these volumes.
— When I saw Griffith in one chapter, I wanted to punch my screen and throw my tablet out the window.
— My reaction at the ending of chapter one hundred fifty
— THE SKULL KNIGHT!!! I love him.
— More Casca and Guts moments! These two are going to be the death of me. The hug scene almost made me cry.
— I absolutely loved the moments when Puck and Isidro were together. Whenever these two are interact, it’s never boring, and their banter had me laughing more than once.
— Love the new characters! The group following and fighting alongside Guts is getting bigger and bigger, and I couldn’t be happier about it.
March 19, 2024
the cult vibes were strong in this one, so much happened and my interest got piqued all over again. i just need Guts and Casca to be happy😩. Luca stood out to me the most with the current arc of this volume, shout out to her fr.
June 4, 2021
Cheesy limp-dicked cultists
May 16, 2021
4.9/5
These three volumes in particular are a goddamn blast, just a spectacularly horrific, pulse-pounding, intense shitstorm to bear witness to. Once again Miura blows me away with his extremely detailed art and brutal imagery. The Conviction Arc draws to an insane close in an extended battle that somehow never wears itself off on you. I wound up finishing this whole omnibus in a couple hours, fully intending to make it last a few days, at least. Aw, man. Now I gotta wait till summer for Vol. 8.
Goddamn it.
These three volumes in particular are a goddamn blast, just a spectacularly horrific, pulse-pounding, intense shitstorm to bear witness to. Once again Miura blows me away with his extremely detailed art and brutal imagery. The Conviction Arc draws to an insane close in an extended battle that somehow never wears itself off on you. I wound up finishing this whole omnibus in a couple hours, fully intending to make it last a few days, at least. Aw, man. Now I gotta wait till summer for Vol. 8.
Goddamn it.
December 9, 2022
For a while, I was feeling some fatigue. Berserk can be painfully slow. But boy, this volume was so good. A lot of horrific themes came to light, and the poetry of the narrative blended so beautifully with the artistic high marks towards the back of this book. The final moments here were awesome and we got a great conclusion to the Mozgus arc. My interest is fully revived, and the greatness of this work is apparent.
December 23, 2024
Casca is annoying.
January 31, 2025
Yooooo the end of this volume…. I’m intrigued
July 31, 2023
Check out my vlog reading chapter for chapter:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShsHG...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShsHG...
March 23, 2021
Berserk continues to amaze and thrill me with incredible artwork, a flurry of insane violence, a mysterious world, and deep characters. This collection contains books 19, 20, and 21 and deals with the end of the Conviction Arc - specifically the Birth chapter.
For most of this collection Guts is desperately trying to save Casca from the hands of Father Mozgus and the perverse Church. The Holy Iron Chain Knights' best characters - Serpico and Lady Farnese - get more spotlight. Their backstories are fleshed out some, but enough mystery crumbs are hinted at to keep me interested in seeing more. What exactly is their relationship with each other? Family members? Will Lady Farnese's father get involved now?
Serpico in specific is a great character - he acts as a foil to Guts as far as fighting style and personality, but they end up working together in a great twist of fate. Azan is also a great addition, although he is clearly a smaller character.
The outright insanity of the ending of this book is stunning - everyone shows up - Zodd, Skull Knight, The Godhand in some sort of shadow-form, and even Griffith is reborn or reincarnated? There still lingers a layer of mystery around all the supernatural events in Berserk that lend it such a thrilling and exciting edge. I can see why Dark Souls is often said to have taken plenty of inspiration from Berserk. They are similar in the grim tone and dark medieval fantasy setting, but also in the way they approach the lore and history of their worlds. There is still so much unknown about the world the characters inhabit in Berserk - but they give you enough tantalizing glimpses that you really want to know more.
This could be frustrating, but because the stakes are clear, the characters are likeable and interesting, and the action is intense and the pace is kept high - this level of mystery just adds a sense of there is always something more to learn. It works absolutely brilliantly in this Manga and I think it's something that so many other Manga or fantasy novels do so poorly.
Berserk is also quite excellent at tying themes and symbolism into it's story. The continued use of darkness vs light, flames, fire. The repeated idea of dreams - the Behelit looks like an egg which will crack and give birth. This chapter brings up the ideas of faith, clinging vs struggling, independence vs. dependence, being with someone vs. taking care of someone. These elements are weaved into the art and dialogue elegantly, and raise the already excellent story into the realm of master storytelling.
I was happy to see the reunion of Guts and Casca, even if it was bittersweet. I am very excited to see what else is in store, but will have to wait until August.
My only criticisms of these books would be - I wasn't a huge fan of the curly haired prostitute. Her storyline finally paid off in the end and it lent itself to the themes above, but honestly she was annoying and sniveling and I sort of hated her. Isidro the boy thief is a little better in this volume, he has some saving graces by being useful to Guts and having some funny reactions to the prostitutes, but in general as I mentioned - generic spunky kid characters just don't do it for me. And finally - this volume like the last had a significant amount of gag-style drawings and silly comedy moments with Isidro and the prostitutes which didn't really work for me. It does bring a bit of levity to an otherwise pitch black story, so I think it might be a good idea, but it still wasn't my favorite.
For most of this collection Guts is desperately trying to save Casca from the hands of Father Mozgus and the perverse Church. The Holy Iron Chain Knights' best characters - Serpico and Lady Farnese - get more spotlight. Their backstories are fleshed out some, but enough mystery crumbs are hinted at to keep me interested in seeing more. What exactly is their relationship with each other? Family members? Will Lady Farnese's father get involved now?
Serpico in specific is a great character - he acts as a foil to Guts as far as fighting style and personality, but they end up working together in a great twist of fate. Azan is also a great addition, although he is clearly a smaller character.
The outright insanity of the ending of this book is stunning - everyone shows up - Zodd, Skull Knight, The Godhand in some sort of shadow-form, and even Griffith is reborn or reincarnated? There still lingers a layer of mystery around all the supernatural events in Berserk that lend it such a thrilling and exciting edge. I can see why Dark Souls is often said to have taken plenty of inspiration from Berserk. They are similar in the grim tone and dark medieval fantasy setting, but also in the way they approach the lore and history of their worlds. There is still so much unknown about the world the characters inhabit in Berserk - but they give you enough tantalizing glimpses that you really want to know more.
This could be frustrating, but because the stakes are clear, the characters are likeable and interesting, and the action is intense and the pace is kept high - this level of mystery just adds a sense of there is always something more to learn. It works absolutely brilliantly in this Manga and I think it's something that so many other Manga or fantasy novels do so poorly.
Berserk is also quite excellent at tying themes and symbolism into it's story. The continued use of darkness vs light, flames, fire. The repeated idea of dreams - the Behelit looks like an egg which will crack and give birth. This chapter brings up the ideas of faith, clinging vs struggling, independence vs. dependence, being with someone vs. taking care of someone. These elements are weaved into the art and dialogue elegantly, and raise the already excellent story into the realm of master storytelling.
I was happy to see the reunion of Guts and Casca, even if it was bittersweet. I am very excited to see what else is in store, but will have to wait until August.
My only criticisms of these books would be - I wasn't a huge fan of the curly haired prostitute. Her storyline finally paid off in the end and it lent itself to the themes above, but honestly she was annoying and sniveling and I sort of hated her. Isidro the boy thief is a little better in this volume, he has some saving graces by being useful to Guts and having some funny reactions to the prostitutes, but in general as I mentioned - generic spunky kid characters just don't do it for me. And finally - this volume like the last had a significant amount of gag-style drawings and silly comedy moments with Isidro and the prostitutes which didn't really work for me. It does bring a bit of levity to an otherwise pitch black story, so I think it might be a good idea, but it still wasn't my favorite.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2023
The end of the Conviction arc was so baller, best one I’ve read yet
February 3, 2024
“The power to protect someone and the power to be with someone are different.” 🥲
October 27, 2023
4.5*
taking a break of manga, i need to finish other books and study
taking a break of manga, i need to finish other books and study
May 3, 2022
I honestly don't know how the Conviction arc could be topped. This is the point where it all comes together, and it's all so satisfying -- as a dark action-fantasy, and as a gothic horror story. The narrative is tight, despite so much happening, and with literally apocalyptic stakes. The artwork is as good as it gets; it's beautifully rendered and expressive, just page after page of amazing skill and effort. This conclusion to the Conviction arc is as as good as I could have hoped.
April 16, 2025
Some slow and moving parts in this volume. Feels like a season of “Lost.” The whole saga with Father Mozgus could have been shorter. My only trife with this arc is that, he painted anyone whom is a believer in God to be cultist or simply depraved. There are some good humans out there that simply live their life biblically with no need to tarnish/influence others.
I’ll stop ranting and keep reading.
I’ll stop ranting and keep reading.
March 23, 2025
guts looks at casca so sweet im SICK. i cant take this anymore man
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 6, 2025
Some of the darkest imagery in visual media, and yet, still a glimpse of the light in the darkness. I think that's why I stick with Berserk through it all. Even with men of the cloth commiting terrible mutilations on people. With horror and death untold and unseen. There's still that resistance to fight through, to see the sunshine on a brighter day.
This volume is a big peaks and valleys plot wise. The beginning third is more creepy cultists, and focus on the peasants involved. That really dragged a bit, but did show the darkness touching the commoners. Capped off with a rescue and Guts showing off helps.
The last two thirds continues the dark theming, with men of such devotion doing unspeakable horrors, and the man the masses deem a demon fighting like hell. I forgot how the scope of the surrounding chaos elevates a one on one like Gust vs Mogzus. Playing on that whole heaven vs hell motif is always a winner to me.
Some truely horrific displays of the darkness consuming the masses, all hope lost. Just that little glimmer of hope (and fire) burning through keeps you going. The "resurrection" at the peak of dawn is sinister in its own nature, and for the future of all.
This volume is a big peaks and valleys plot wise. The beginning third is more creepy cultists, and focus on the peasants involved. That really dragged a bit, but did show the darkness touching the commoners. Capped off with a rescue and Guts showing off helps.
The last two thirds continues the dark theming, with men of such devotion doing unspeakable horrors, and the man the masses deem a demon fighting like hell. I forgot how the scope of the surrounding chaos elevates a one on one like Gust vs Mogzus. Playing on that whole heaven vs hell motif is always a winner to me.
Some truely horrific displays of the darkness consuming the masses, all hope lost. Just that little glimmer of hope (and fire) burning through keeps you going. The "resurrection" at the peak of dawn is sinister in its own nature, and for the future of all.
January 8, 2024
4,5 stjerner
April 16, 2024
Intense with a lot of murder and mayhem.
So basically a rebirth is happening but that's almost in the background as Guts goes face to face with the religious insane people to try and rescue Casca. Some insane fights, bloody moments, and a interesting if not slightly confusing ending that ends this arc and is about to begin a new one! The next arc is the last one I read but excited to re-read it almost 15+ years later.
So basically a rebirth is happening but that's almost in the background as Guts goes face to face with the religious insane people to try and rescue Casca. Some insane fights, bloody moments, and a interesting if not slightly confusing ending that ends this arc and is about to begin a new one! The next arc is the last one I read but excited to re-read it almost 15+ years later.
September 6, 2024
Great volume overall. However, I wasn’t the biggest fan of some of the storylines presented here, such as Nina and Luca (Luca passes the great human being check though).
The ending with Zodd and the Hawk was cool though.
The ending with Zodd and the Hawk was cool though.
March 24, 2025
Maybe you aren't a shadow on the water but instead, a fish that breaches the water's surface.
When the sky falls at the holy ground where blind sheep gather and erect a pillar of fire, it will come.
A lonely one like him is sleeping alone under all that rubble. I thought I would pay him tribute. Any sort of sinner needs at least one person.
I never escaped from that childhood darkness after all. Then ultimately it took shape and appeared before my eyes. Almost as if it were my destiny. I, who continued to live in fear. I was brought along with the black swordsman. The only one standing in the darkness.
When the sky falls at the holy ground where blind sheep gather and erect a pillar of fire, it will come.
A lonely one like him is sleeping alone under all that rubble. I thought I would pay him tribute. Any sort of sinner needs at least one person.
I never escaped from that childhood darkness after all. Then ultimately it took shape and appeared before my eyes. Almost as if it were my destiny. I, who continued to live in fear. I was brought along with the black swordsman. The only one standing in the darkness.
May 16, 2021
Seventh volume already. Again, the art is excellent. I have several of the original mangas, but these largers prints are so crisp and clear. I am not too clear what is happening in the story, it's getting super convoluted, with all the moving stories. The end was a bit of a let down. Daybreak fixes everthing? And after that it escalates quite quickly again. But the characters introduced are great and I love them supporting Gats. Now to wait for the next edition.
March 23, 2021
This was fucking awesome
June 1, 2024
So many feelings, so much action. I just want Guts to be happy 😭 and my Casca to speak in complete sentences.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2024
Things that aren't a penis, but have been used as a penis in Berserk so far:
1. cactus (with needles)
2. A big goat that has serpent as its genitals
1. cactus (with needles)
2. A big goat that has serpent as its genitals
July 15, 2023
Its not all redundant violence and gore, within all that there is a story beautifully written in blood. I guess this is why Miura was credited with penning something spectacular.
So many characters, whom at first glance are thought to be just nobodies, in fact add to so many layers within the story, very real people within an unreal world of berserk.
The fact that the shadow event mimicked the first emergence, but yet was completely new was something brilliantly done. So was the egg, a character so well invested in his conviction that nothing could come between him and the utter destruction of the world.
Everything subsists within the currents of causality, and we are tagging along with Guts, traumatized and numbed, trying to figure out why!
So many characters, whom at first glance are thought to be just nobodies, in fact add to so many layers within the story, very real people within an unreal world of berserk.
The fact that the shadow event mimicked the first emergence, but yet was completely new was something brilliantly done. So was the egg, a character so well invested in his conviction that nothing could come between him and the utter destruction of the world.
Everything subsists within the currents of causality, and we are tagging along with Guts, traumatized and numbed, trying to figure out why!
September 14, 2025
Serpico continues to be a very fun character, and I think his was an excellent passage.
In most other aspects, however, I found the overall conflict with the Iron Chain Knights and inquisitor Mozgus a bit hollow, as their faction feels way too cartoonishly evil, with little discernible or relatable motivation beyond unhinged cruelty and fanaticism. As a result, they feel less like characters with a purpose and more like villain-shaped machines designed to generate conflict in the plot.
By the end though, it seems the story is turning a new page, which I think bodes well.
In most other aspects, however, I found the overall conflict with the Iron Chain Knights and inquisitor Mozgus a bit hollow, as their faction feels way too cartoonishly evil, with little discernible or relatable motivation beyond unhinged cruelty and fanaticism. As a result, they feel less like characters with a purpose and more like villain-shaped machines designed to generate conflict in the plot.
By the end though, it seems the story is turning a new page, which I think bodes well.
August 1, 2023
“Dreams Breathe Life Into Men & Can Cage Them In Suffering.”
Deluxe volume 7 had everything that I love in my fiction. Amazing highs and lows, nonstop tension, amazing combat sequences, cool creature design, and a depth that evolves as you re-read it.
Guts is still on his journey towards vengeance and salvation. New, rich characters are introduced with several likely to stick around for awhile. Religion is a huge theme of this volume, though not in the ordinary sense. Casca, as always, is threatened leaving my guy Guts to kill a bunch of fucking monsters. The tension is leading somewhere epic - maybe another eclipse is on the way?
Berserk has evolved to be my favorite manga of all time and arguably my favorite piece of fiction of all time.
April 9, 2024
WOW. The ending in this one.
Again the most beautiful art I've seen in a manga. And I loved the themes of religion, god, and faith in this one.
How Guts picks apart his enemies, using not just his brawn but his wit and his soul to survive, is just great action. Its not just how hard he hits, but how he strategizes around his enemy's weaknesses. Makes him more than just a muscle head.
Again the most beautiful art I've seen in a manga. And I loved the themes of religion, god, and faith in this one.
How Guts picks apart his enemies, using not just his brawn but his wit and his soul to survive, is just great action. Its not just how hard he hits, but how he strategizes around his enemy's weaknesses. Makes him more than just a muscle head.
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