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ベルセルク [Berserk] #38
Berserk, Vol. 38
Guts the Black Swordsman and company reach the isle of Skellig in hopes that Elven magic can cure the afflicted Casca, but the cure could come at a deadly cost. Meanwhile, Guts’ Band of the Hawk comrade Rickert journeys to the city of Falconia, the seat of power for Griffith, the resurrected former Hawks commander. But the glittering towers of Falconia cast the darkest of shadows, and a legion of demonic monstrosities dwell in the darkness!
208 pages, Paperback
First published June 24, 2016
About the author
Kentaro Miura
357 books2,263 followersKentarou Miura (三浦建太郎) was born in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, in 1966. He is left-handed. In 1976, at the early age of 10, Miura made his first Manga, entitled "Miuranger", that was published for his classmates in a school publication; the manga ended up spanning 40 volumes. In 1977, Miura created his second manga called Ken e no michi (剣への道 The Way to the Sword), using Indian ink for the first time. When he was in middle school in 1979, Miura's drawing techniques improved greatly as he started using professional drawing techniques. His first dōjinshi was published, with the help of friends, in a magazine in 1982.
That same year, in 1982, Miura enrolled in an artistic curriculum in high school, where he and his classmates started publishing their works in school booklets, as well as having his first dōjinshi published in a fan-produced magazine. In 1985, Miura applied for the entrance examination of an art college in Nihon University. He submitted Futanabi for examination and was granted admission. This project was later nominated Best New Author work in Weekly Shōnen Magazine. Another Miura manga Noa was published in Weekly Shōnen Magazine the very same year. Due to a disagreement with one of the editors, the manga was stalled and eventually dropped altogether. This is approximately where Miura's career hit a slump.
In 1988, Miura bounced back with a 48-page manga known as Berserk Prototype, as an introduction to the current Berserk fantasy world. It went on to win Miura a prize from the Comi Manga School. In 1989, after receiving a doctorate degree, Kentarou started a project titled King of Wolves (王狼, ōrō?) based on a script by Buronson, writer of Hokuto no Ken. It was published in the monthly Japanese Animal House magazine in issues 5 and 7 of that year.
In 1990, a sequel is made to Ourou entitled Ourou Den (王狼伝 ōrō den, The Legend of the Wolf King) that was published as a prequel to the original in Young Animal Magazine. In the same year, the 10th issue of Animal House witnesses the first volume of the solo project Berserk was released with a relatively limited success. Miura again collaborated with Buronson on manga titled Japan, that was published in Young Animal House from the 1st issue to the 8th of 1992, and was later released as a stand-alone tankōbon. Miura's fame grew after Berserk was serialized in Young Animal in 1992 with the release of "The Golden Age" story arc and the huge success of his masterpiece made of him one of the most prominent contemporary mangakas. At this time Miura dedicates himself solely to be working on Berserk. He has indicated, however, that he intends to publish more manga in the future.
In 1997, Miura supervised the production of 25 anime episodes of Berserk that aired in the same year on NTV. Various art books and supplemental materials by Miura based on Berserk are also released. In 1999, Miura made minor contributions to the Dreamcast video game Sword of the Berserk: Guts' Rage. 2004 saw the release of yet another video game adaptation entitled Berserk Millennium Falcon Arc: Chapter of the Record of the Holy Demon War.
Since that time, the Berserk manga has spanned 34 tankōbon with no end in sight. The series has also spawned a whole host of merchandise, both official and fan-made, ranging from statues, action figures to key rings, video games, and a trading card game. In 2002, Kentarou Miura received the second place in the Osamu Tezuka Culture Award of Excellence for Berserk.[1]
Miura provided the design for the Vocaloid Kamui Gakupo, whose voice is taken from the Japanese singer and actor, Gackt.
Miura passed away on May 6, 2021 at 2:48 p.m. due to acute aortic dissection.
That same year, in 1982, Miura enrolled in an artistic curriculum in high school, where he and his classmates started publishing their works in school booklets, as well as having his first dōjinshi published in a fan-produced magazine. In 1985, Miura applied for the entrance examination of an art college in Nihon University. He submitted Futanabi for examination and was granted admission. This project was later nominated Best New Author work in Weekly Shōnen Magazine. Another Miura manga Noa was published in Weekly Shōnen Magazine the very same year. Due to a disagreement with one of the editors, the manga was stalled and eventually dropped altogether. This is approximately where Miura's career hit a slump.
In 1988, Miura bounced back with a 48-page manga known as Berserk Prototype, as an introduction to the current Berserk fantasy world. It went on to win Miura a prize from the Comi Manga School. In 1989, after receiving a doctorate degree, Kentarou started a project titled King of Wolves (王狼, ōrō?) based on a script by Buronson, writer of Hokuto no Ken. It was published in the monthly Japanese Animal House magazine in issues 5 and 7 of that year.
In 1990, a sequel is made to Ourou entitled Ourou Den (王狼伝 ōrō den, The Legend of the Wolf King) that was published as a prequel to the original in Young Animal Magazine. In the same year, the 10th issue of Animal House witnesses the first volume of the solo project Berserk was released with a relatively limited success. Miura again collaborated with Buronson on manga titled Japan, that was published in Young Animal House from the 1st issue to the 8th of 1992, and was later released as a stand-alone tankōbon. Miura's fame grew after Berserk was serialized in Young Animal in 1992 with the release of "The Golden Age" story arc and the huge success of his masterpiece made of him one of the most prominent contemporary mangakas. At this time Miura dedicates himself solely to be working on Berserk. He has indicated, however, that he intends to publish more manga in the future.
In 1997, Miura supervised the production of 25 anime episodes of Berserk that aired in the same year on NTV. Various art books and supplemental materials by Miura based on Berserk are also released. In 1999, Miura made minor contributions to the Dreamcast video game Sword of the Berserk: Guts' Rage. 2004 saw the release of yet another video game adaptation entitled Berserk Millennium Falcon Arc: Chapter of the Record of the Holy Demon War.
Since that time, the Berserk manga has spanned 34 tankōbon with no end in sight. The series has also spawned a whole host of merchandise, both official and fan-made, ranging from statues, action figures to key rings, video games, and a trading card game. In 2002, Kentarou Miura received the second place in the Osamu Tezuka Culture Award of Excellence for Berserk.[1]
Miura provided the design for the Vocaloid Kamui Gakupo, whose voice is taken from the Japanese singer and actor, Gackt.
Miura passed away on May 6, 2021 at 2:48 p.m. due to acute aortic dissection.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
June 14, 2018
RICKERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOLY SHIT! MY BOY JUST SLAPPED GRIFFITH IN THE FACE IN FRONT OF HIS FANS. S A V A G E.
March 27, 2017
I love Berserk. It's one of my most favourite series, despite of being extremely dark, extremely violent and graphic. Many people said they couldn't read it just because of that. But the story of lonely (well, not so lonely lately) swordsman and his path to revenge is powerful and, well, interesting as hell. I feel like adding - as hell he's been dragged through almost his entire life by those whom he trusted and whom he loved. And not just them, but like they say - with friends like that you don't need enemies...
But lately the story drags for me, I want to finally see the end of this pain and hopelessness, as it seems like it will never end. The story is already almost 30 years old, first anime series hit its 20th anniversary this year. So maybe Miura could finally have mercy on us, fans and on poor Gutts and let us all rest upon the last volume of series.
But lately the story drags for me, I want to finally see the end of this pain and hopelessness, as it seems like it will never end. The story is already almost 30 years old, first anime series hit its 20th anniversary this year. So maybe Miura could finally have mercy on us, fans and on poor Gutts and let us all rest upon the last volume of series.
June 2, 2024
الله اکبر
ریکرت زد توی گوش گریفیث اما دنیا نابود نشد
ریکرت زد توی گوش گریفیث اما دنیا نابود نشد
November 10, 2020
Again, the artwork is amazing. But more amazing still is the picture that is painted about Griffith, himself, and the holy city. Showing us how... wonderful the place is, while also letting us know, in no uncertain terms, that it is built and defended on the backs of demons.
*shiver*
I've never seen a more blatant and outright depiction, but now that I have, I want to see it everywhere. What is good is completely in the eye of the beholder. So many people are indebted to the damn man. He's performing GOOD while being such a freakishly .... nasty .... big bad.
Suffice to say, I'm shocked to see the city but I was blown away by Rickart's reaction. :)
*shiver*
I've never seen a more blatant and outright depiction, but now that I have, I want to see it everywhere. What is good is completely in the eye of the beholder. So many people are indebted to the damn man. He's performing GOOD while being such a freakishly .... nasty .... big bad.
Suffice to say, I'm shocked to see the city but I was blown away by Rickart's reaction. :)
June 7, 2023
Fantastia Arc
Elf Island Chapter
In the last volume Guts is rescued by the mysterious luminous body (of a boy) and the merrow. Then head to Elf Island!
Rickert was rescued by the Bank of the Hawk and is headed to Falconia.
Here we get to explore Falconia through the eyes of Rickert and the young girl Erica. We also see Luca and the girls, safe and sound in Falconia. They bunker down near Luca, an old mysterious man, and overall just enjoy being in the big beautiful city.
Rickert sees Griffith doing all sorts of magic stuff. Sir Locus shows him behind the scenes with all the Apostle monsters in a big black bubble (Pandemonium). Meanwhile Erica is being extremely useful to the people in town including the old man. I'm not sure what Sir Locus's motivation is, but he seems to want to cause some trouble for Griffith.
Sonia, Griffith's medium, is in love with him in a child-like way. Just thinks he is so amazing. So she's shocked when Rickert slaps Griffith and flees.
A dark Spirited-Away style monster attacks Rickert and he's saved by the Kushan Assassins who want to interrogate him about Griffith. The monster keeps coming back eventually causing mayhem in Falconia that our team flees with the help of the old man... who turns out to be that kushan yoga guy Daiba we saw back in Vritannis trying to kill Guts. Obviously his life has changed quite a bit recently.
That's the whole volume. We get a couple pages showing Guts and crew arriving the Elf Island where they get attacked by scarecrows.
Elf Island Chapter
In the last volume Guts is rescued by the mysterious luminous body (of a boy) and the merrow. Then head to Elf Island!
Rickert was rescued by the Bank of the Hawk and is headed to Falconia.
Here we get to explore Falconia through the eyes of Rickert and the young girl Erica. We also see Luca and the girls, safe and sound in Falconia. They bunker down near Luca, an old mysterious man, and overall just enjoy being in the big beautiful city.
Rickert sees Griffith doing all sorts of magic stuff. Sir Locus shows him behind the scenes with all the Apostle monsters in a big black bubble (Pandemonium). Meanwhile Erica is being extremely useful to the people in town including the old man. I'm not sure what Sir Locus's motivation is, but he seems to want to cause some trouble for Griffith.
Sonia, Griffith's medium, is in love with him in a child-like way. Just thinks he is so amazing. So she's shocked when Rickert slaps Griffith and flees.
A dark Spirited-Away style monster attacks Rickert and he's saved by the Kushan Assassins who want to interrogate him about Griffith. The monster keeps coming back eventually causing mayhem in Falconia that our team flees with the help of the old man... who turns out to be that kushan yoga guy Daiba we saw back in Vritannis trying to kill Guts. Obviously his life has changed quite a bit recently.
That's the whole volume. We get a couple pages showing Guts and crew arriving the Elf Island where they get attacked by scarecrows.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2024
"مهم نیست چه راهی رو انتخاب کنی چون همیشه تأسف و افسوس از راههای نرفته سراغ آدم میاد."
اونجاهایی که گریفیث در مقابل گاتس کم اورد یا یاران وفادارشو قربانی کرد یا توی سیاهچاله شکنجه شد و به فنا رفت، خیلی دوسش داشتم. ولی این گریفیث خداگونه داره حالمو بهم میزنه.
اونجاهایی که گریفیث در مقابل گاتس کم اورد یا یاران وفادارشو قربانی کرد یا توی سیاهچاله شکنجه شد و به فنا رفت، خیلی دوسش داشتم. ولی این گریفیث خداگونه داره حالمو بهم میزنه.
April 15, 2021
They finally got out of the boat! It feels like it took them a decade to...
...Oh.
Seriously though, the story does pick up a little bit from here. Most of it is from the Griffith's side of things, true, which I never liked that much - but it's actually pretty exciting now, on account of no longer being centered around Griffith himself and thus being predetermined. We get to learn more of some interesting characters and there's promise of it going to good places from here on.
Perhaps there'll be payoff in another ten years.
...Oh.
Seriously though, the story does pick up a little bit from here. Most of it is from the Griffith's side of things, true, which I never liked that much - but it's actually pretty exciting now, on account of no longer being centered around Griffith himself and thus being predetermined. We get to learn more of some interesting characters and there's promise of it going to good places from here on.
Perhaps there'll be payoff in another ten years.
April 10, 2022
یکی از حماسیترین لحظههای برزرک ملاقات نهایی ریکرت و گریفیث بود، چقدر عالی بود، این ولیوم رو دارم در زمانی میخونم که از همه چیز و همه کس ناراحتم، حالم گرفتهست در کل، ولی خب وقتی برزرک میخونم یادم میره چه خبره
May 25, 2022
Miura shows Falconia, the new kingdom of Griffith, in all its majesty, with amazing details, and has made the city really come to life.
Miura has made Griffith a morally ambiguous character now. What Griffith has come to achieve is something spectacular indeed, drawing a line between black and white. Rickert and Griffith finally meet and their confrontation is something totally unexpected! Damn!
It was also interesting to see so many characters gathered in one place, whose life had been affected by Griifith in one way or another..
Miura has made Griffith a morally ambiguous character now. What Griffith has come to achieve is something spectacular indeed, drawing a line between black and white. Rickert and Griffith finally meet and their confrontation is something totally unexpected! Damn!
It was also interesting to see so many characters gathered in one place, whose life had been affected by Griifith in one way or another..
June 15, 2018
THAT SLAP. HE DID THAT.
December 9, 2020
Rickert slapping Griffith was SOOO SATISFYING!
October 14, 2021
The part where Ricket slaps Griffith in the face, I was burst into tears. I felt him so much. I feel betrayed and broken-hearted.
That bastard had killed and massacred a lot of people including his own friends and comrades in order to get what he wants. And yet everybody bow at him and respect him like he's some sort of a prophet. I'm So glad Ricket could do something not even Guts himself could have done.
That bastard had killed and massacred a lot of people including his own friends and comrades in order to get what he wants. And yet everybody bow at him and respect him like he's some sort of a prophet. I'm So glad Ricket could do something not even Guts himself could have done.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2020
These are now available on Kindle, so I thought I would try picking up where I left off, and also test how I like reading comics on a Kindle, and I'll have to say that it was actually quite nice. The panel navigation works fairly well, and it is easy to switch back and forth between that and full page. The zoom capabilities are especially nice for a manga like this with so much highly detailed artwork, which is the one aspect of this series that has always been consistent. I do find it amusing that Guts is listed at the beginning of the book as the main character, but he barely appears in this volume - on 2 panels I think, and just as a member of a group shot, no dialog needed for this "main" character. The story itself is fine. Perhaps jumping in again after so long I'm not really in a position to judge, but any sense of urgency or connection to these characters has been lost for me. It's all very pretty, but I'm more in this for a sense of completion more than anything else. I will continue to grab the remaining volumes in hopes that Kentaro Miura will wrap this epic up eventually.
August 5, 2017
Waited years for the story to continue and Guts the most amazing character ever (the title character) is barley in it :(
Still good but marked down due to it being a tease.
Still good but marked down due to it being a tease.
August 1, 2017
It's good to see a story about Rickert, but that teaser with Gut's crew at the end wasn't enough for me.
September 29, 2019
As much as I was happy to see Erica, Rickert and Luca again, this volume did nothing for me. The later development in this volume was rather fun and surprising though.
I can’t say I care about Griffith plotline. In theory I would be all about that plotline, but I’m dreading the inevitable Guts & Casca and Griffith reunion and I don’t want that, no thanks.
It seems we are back to Guts & Co plotline and dare I dream we are getting Casca back.
I can’t say I care about Griffith plotline. In theory I would be all about that plotline, but I’m dreading the inevitable Guts & Casca and Griffith reunion and I don’t want that, no thanks.
It seems we are back to Guts & Co plotline and dare I dream we are getting Casca back.
March 5, 2018
This is volume 38 in the Berserk series and was the beginning of a new story arc. It was well done but not my favorite volume in the series; this series just keeps going on and on with no resolution or end in sight.
The beginning of this book is all about Ricket’s journey to Falconia to met Griffith. After their initial reunion, Ricket decides he can’t abide being in the same city as Griffith and decides he needs to leave. However, Griffith doesn’t take kindly to Ricket’s rejection and tries to assassinate him.
After that we switch back to Guts and crew. At the very end of this volume Guts and crew finally make it to the island of Skellig where they hope to cure Casca with Elven magic. However, the island of Skellig holds many dangers.
The illustration remains amazingly well done. The story remains a bit unfocused and wanders a lot. I continue to read these because I enjoy the illustration and the characters. However, I am looking forward to them less and less as the story wanders and doesn’t appear to have much focus.
Overall a good continuation of the Berserk series. The story does make some progress, but wanders a lot again. It would be good to see some resolution and solid progress in the story at some point here.
The beginning of this book is all about Ricket’s journey to Falconia to met Griffith. After their initial reunion, Ricket decides he can’t abide being in the same city as Griffith and decides he needs to leave. However, Griffith doesn’t take kindly to Ricket’s rejection and tries to assassinate him.
After that we switch back to Guts and crew. At the very end of this volume Guts and crew finally make it to the island of Skellig where they hope to cure Casca with Elven magic. However, the island of Skellig holds many dangers.
The illustration remains amazingly well done. The story remains a bit unfocused and wanders a lot. I continue to read these because I enjoy the illustration and the characters. However, I am looking forward to them less and less as the story wanders and doesn’t appear to have much focus.
Overall a good continuation of the Berserk series. The story does make some progress, but wanders a lot again. It would be good to see some resolution and solid progress in the story at some point here.
April 1, 2024
This volume was an interesting side step into Rickert’s place in the new world. It’s a story about how he requests a council with Griffith while discovering the capital of Falconia is a city castle. Within its white walls are an equitable system of workers and demons bored enough to constantly fight each other. Rickert also has the sore and sad revelation that the new world is built upon the greusome deaths of his friends. This was not only wonderful world building, but a great example of Berserk’s complex morally grey storytelling.
After Rickert slaps the White Hawk himself, we find that Silat of all people looks to join forces with him. The Kushan assassin thwarts an attacker from killing Rickert. I’m excited to see what will become of their union.
The Party landed on the island of the elves, and I was excited to see more world building there too. The labyrinth of puzzle rocks provide both an interesting challenge and a clever fantasy idea. I’m excited to see where this next arc takes us as readers.
After Rickert slaps the White Hawk himself, we find that Silat of all people looks to join forces with him. The Kushan assassin thwarts an attacker from killing Rickert. I’m excited to see what will become of their union.
The Party landed on the island of the elves, and I was excited to see more world building there too. The labyrinth of puzzle rocks provide both an interesting challenge and a clever fantasy idea. I’m excited to see where this next arc takes us as readers.
Read
November 26, 2020The best volume in a while. Griffith's quest of manufacturing his christ allegory and Rickert's responses to it continue to be a highlight. And the climactic action punctuating it all is among the best in the series. This is among the best Berserk has to offer. The only complaint is that the switch to digital art is a bit jarring and can make some of Guts' crew look off-model at times
December 27, 2016
Finalmente chiudiamo con Falconia e Rickert. Che, per simpatico che possa esserci, per ora è poco più di un filler in attesa degli sviluppi di Gatsu e di Griffith.
March 22, 2018
Griffin you piece of s*t! You have everyone fooled!
Read
June 29, 2021things rickert did: That
Read
December 2, 2021*stand in for full manga
Each time I start this I spend 48 or so hours speed reading it. Once I get the physicals I’ll stare at some of these panels for ages.
I can’t reconcile the ache I feel in Miura’s absence with the lessons that he was trying to show us. Can’t do it. I think about him a lot, mostly through Guts as filter. He is, often, one of the most well crafted characters of all time. Griffith too, who Miura guided excellently and who truly is the bonfire to which we all are drawn deeper and deeper.
It has faults. I find little to love in much after the reunion with Casca. Some glimmers here and there, and the most arresting arc is Hawk of Light. It’s hard to properly feel the scale of some of these battles or not feel a bit over fed. But, god, there is no doubt that some of the most beautiful manga ever came out of those 364 chapters. Especially the last 50.
Rest easy Miura.
Each time I start this I spend 48 or so hours speed reading it. Once I get the physicals I’ll stare at some of these panels for ages.
I can’t reconcile the ache I feel in Miura’s absence with the lessons that he was trying to show us. Can’t do it. I think about him a lot, mostly through Guts as filter. He is, often, one of the most well crafted characters of all time. Griffith too, who Miura guided excellently and who truly is the bonfire to which we all are drawn deeper and deeper.
It has faults. I find little to love in much after the reunion with Casca. Some glimmers here and there, and the most arresting arc is Hawk of Light. It’s hard to properly feel the scale of some of these battles or not feel a bit over fed. But, god, there is no doubt that some of the most beautiful manga ever came out of those 364 chapters. Especially the last 50.
Rest easy Miura.
August 11, 2022
I liked this one a lot, more than i expected. The pace gets better, most of the volume is dedicated to Griffith but from Rickert's perspective. And it was a lot of fun, Falconia is an interesting city but it does have a dark side. The last chapter goes back to Guts and the rest and they FINALLY made progress.
Superb volume, i've liked everything from Berserk so far but the pace got way slower and it felt like the story wasn't moving. Now it feels different, i hope it stays like this.
Superb volume, i've liked everything from Berserk so far but the pace got way slower and it felt like the story wasn't moving. Now it feels different, i hope it stays like this.
July 28, 2021
Berserk
Vol#38
Collected issues: 334 - 342
Rickert's journey to Falconia;
Seeing the expanse of Falconia, the pit of monsters, the rising soals;
Meeting Griffth & The Slap 3:)
And ending with Gutts
A good volume;
Great artwork;
Vol#38
Collected issues: 334 - 342
Rickert's journey to Falconia;
Seeing the expanse of Falconia, the pit of monsters, the rising soals;
Meeting Griffth & The Slap 3:)
And ending with Gutts
A good volume;
Great artwork;
March 21, 2018
The crew is fresh of the boat FINALLY
Review soon...
Review soon...
July 29, 2021
4,5.
Poco más que añadir.
Que a gusto con la bofetada a Griffith
Poco más que añadir.
Que a gusto con la bofetada a Griffith
November 6, 2021
El nivel de catarsis que me provocó este tomo fue abrumador. Manly tears... Ah
.. Me dueles Miura.
.. Me dueles Miura.
May 19, 2022
Masterpiece.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews