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ベルセルク [Berserk] #30
Berserk, Vol. 30
Thanks to Lady Farnese's selfless sacrifice, Guts, the Black Swordsman, and the rest of his companions are free to carry on their journey aboard the ship of Farnese's brother, Magnifico — that is, if they're willing to leave Farnese behind. But having to choose between their mission and their loyalties might not be a problem for long if the Kushan emperor and his legion of monstrous minions have their way. With a host of Kushan forces descending on Vritannis, there might not be much left of Farnese's family — or any of the citizenry — to worry about!
208 pages, Paperback
First published April 5, 2006
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 141 reviews
July 8, 2023
This Volumes still seems slower than usual, we went a bit far from our destination.
The final battle in this volume is the same battle from last volume, and from the beginning of this volume all over again.
The best thing in this volume is the battle between Guts and Serpico, and Guts won again no surprise there, Serpico is smart but Guts isn't stupid either.
Farnese coming to the acquisition of the thorn snakes is amazing, now she can finally do a better job protecting Casca.
Isidiro and Puck team work is actually amazing, puck blinds and Isidiro slides in, and does his magic, pretty cool.
We got a new developing character, that might turn out to be a permanent character in the series in Rodrick.
Guts still continues to impress with his smartness, and his toughness, just amazing plain and simple, and he seems to have grown mature with the group, he seems like a good leader, and actually being in a group finally, is pretty good for him.
Griffith is not one to work alone, he likes to make armies and get followers, he likes to be adored, worshiped and revered, and to fight someone with many followers like that, you need a seasoned team that complete each other weaknesses.
The final battle in this volume is the same battle from last volume, and from the beginning of this volume all over again.
The best thing in this volume is the battle between Guts and Serpico, and Guts won again no surprise there, Serpico is smart but Guts isn't stupid either.
Farnese coming to the acquisition of the thorn snakes is amazing, now she can finally do a better job protecting Casca.
Isidiro and Puck team work is actually amazing, puck blinds and Isidiro slides in, and does his magic, pretty cool.
We got a new developing character, that might turn out to be a permanent character in the series in Rodrick.
Guts still continues to impress with his smartness, and his toughness, just amazing plain and simple, and he seems to have grown mature with the group, he seems like a good leader, and actually being in a group finally, is pretty good for him.
Griffith is not one to work alone, he likes to make armies and get followers, he likes to be adored, worshiped and revered, and to fight someone with many followers like that, you need a seasoned team that complete each other weaknesses.
March 18, 2022
Throughout the reviews of Berserk , I have talked about character growth. But it's not just the characters that have grown up to this point. In fact, one can observe the change in the overall series in the form of storytelling and art.
What many people think when they read the first volume is that Berserk in nothing more than a gory hack and slash dark fantasy series. But they are wrong. It is certainly much much more than that.
Character growth, dilemmas, social issues, Berserk tackles it all (along with some gory hack and slash dark fantasy stuff). And all this is evident in the 30th chapter of Berserk.
What many people think when they read the first volume is that Berserk in nothing more than a gory hack and slash dark fantasy series. But they are wrong. It is certainly much much more than that.
Character growth, dilemmas, social issues, Berserk tackles it all (along with some gory hack and slash dark fantasy stuff). And all this is evident in the 30th chapter of Berserk.
March 21, 2021
Highlight here is the hilarious marriage announcement. A bunch of good fights, too, some demonstration of character growth and newfround strength, but the plot continues to grind on its tracks.
June 10, 2018
this whole volume made me really happy. 100/10 teamwork. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 GOD TIER. I love these guys so much.
May 29, 2024
همون همیشگی
فایتها جذاب و آرت فوقالعاده.
فایتها جذاب و آرت فوقالعاده.
May 30, 2023
Continuing the Falconia Chapter
Guts and Serpico battle. It's pretty epic. It really seems like they're going to kill each other. Monsters invade the ballroom where Farnese and all the noblemen are. Guts and co fight off the monsters with a bit of magic (Farnese helps with some magical thorn snakes!)
Emperor Ganishka, now a fiery elemental, shows up. Monsters are taking over the whole city.
We have a scene with Cardinal Poliziano, now old and nearing death. Sonia shows up and the cardinal tells them "lead me where you will, guides of the feathers of light. There's been a divine revelation" I think this is implying that Griffith may take hold of the Holy Sees and have religion on his side.
Farnese's brother offers Guts a ship, so they head to the docks and hope it's not already destroyed.
Guts and Serpico battle. It's pretty epic. It really seems like they're going to kill each other. Monsters invade the ballroom where Farnese and all the noblemen are. Guts and co fight off the monsters with a bit of magic (Farnese helps with some magical thorn snakes!)
Emperor Ganishka, now a fiery elemental, shows up. Monsters are taking over the whole city.
We have a scene with Cardinal Poliziano, now old and nearing death. Sonia shows up and the cardinal tells them "lead me where you will, guides of the feathers of light. There's been a divine revelation" I think this is implying that Griffith may take hold of the Holy Sees and have religion on his side.
Farnese's brother offers Guts a ship, so they head to the docks and hope it's not already destroyed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2022
After the previous volume was in my opinion the weakest of the series, I thought that the arc would go downhill from there. But thank Miura that didn't happen and we are back on track.
November 22, 2016
Lo scontro con Serpico che chiarisce ciò che era già chiaro, e cioè che la forza bruta di Gatsu è superiore anche all'abilità e al tatticismo dello spadaccino.
E poi arriva la guerra, Farnese getta la maschera, e il gruppo rimedia due nuovi acquisti. Uno dei quali al momento più inutile di Caska, il che è tutto un dire.
E poi arriva la guerra, Farnese getta la maschera, e il gruppo rimedia due nuovi acquisti. Uno dei quali al momento più inutile di Caska, il che è tutto un dire.
October 4, 2019
YES!
Action and intrigue!
Action and intrigue!
May 29, 2022
Filled with action and intrigue, what’s not to love?
Read
December 11, 2022Vols 26-30
These past few volumes have been incredibly enjoyable! We're getting such a cool group dynamic that even without a big climax (as of yet) this is heading in a very interesting way. The Berserker armour was finally introduced (incredibly coooool! Definitely not a furry metal suit) and with it comes another concern for Guts, who struggles to restrain himself from hurting all those we tries so hard to protect. The more we see him succumb to his pure animal instincts, the more Griffith appears to be his total opposite, still drawn in the most angelic L'Oreal fashion you could hope for (continuing the tradition of challenging the typical portrayals of a hero and a villain).
Farnese is.. pretty cool now? We also had a Lacoste invasion, as it seems crocodiles are spooky enough for the world of Berserk. Finally, Schierke pulling Guts from his oozy Venom-like influence of the armour might have been one of my favorite panels so far, with its simply beautiful symbolism and incredible artwork (as usual).
These past few volumes have been incredibly enjoyable! We're getting such a cool group dynamic that even without a big climax (as of yet) this is heading in a very interesting way. The Berserker armour was finally introduced (incredibly coooool! Definitely not a furry metal suit) and with it comes another concern for Guts, who struggles to restrain himself from hurting all those we tries so hard to protect. The more we see him succumb to his pure animal instincts, the more Griffith appears to be his total opposite, still drawn in the most angelic L'Oreal fashion you could hope for (continuing the tradition of challenging the typical portrayals of a hero and a villain).
Farnese is.. pretty cool now? We also had a Lacoste invasion, as it seems crocodiles are spooky enough for the world of Berserk. Finally, Schierke pulling Guts from his oozy Venom-like influence of the armour might have been one of my favorite panels so far, with its simply beautiful symbolism and incredible artwork (as usual).
December 24, 2017
This is the 30th volume of the Berserk series. Guts and Serpico face off and finally get their fight. Then Guts insists on seeing Lady Farnese; Guts and crew arrive at the fancy party just as evil tiger monsters attack the guests. Guts and crew fight and defeat said monsters; then an Apostle shows up. Lady Farnese makes the decision to continue traveling with Guts and her intended offers to take them to Elf Home on his ship.
Another well done volume in the Berserk series. This was a bit slower than the last volume and with the tigers attacking (just like the lizards did) it felt a bit repetitive. Still the story does make some good progress and the action scenes continue to be well done. Illustration is awesome as usual.
Overall a well done volume in the Berserk series. I continue to enjoy this series and would definitely recommend to mature readers. Will our crew even get to the Elven Homeland? What will they find when they get there?
Another well done volume in the Berserk series. This was a bit slower than the last volume and with the tigers attacking (just like the lizards did) it felt a bit repetitive. Still the story does make some good progress and the action scenes continue to be well done. Illustration is awesome as usual.
Overall a well done volume in the Berserk series. I continue to enjoy this series and would definitely recommend to mature readers. Will our crew even get to the Elven Homeland? What will they find when they get there?
November 6, 2021
It's beginning to feel a lot like any generic 80s superteam series. Like Power Rangers or Dungeons and Dragons, where it's just fight after fight without any real consequences, changes or progression.
January 31, 2022
This volume had action galore but not as much character building. That is not a bad thing but I am not enjoying these side characters as much as the previous arcs. All in all this is still a great read and the best dark fantasy manga out there.
July 8, 2014
Puck's imitations are hilarious as always. One of the funniest characters I've come across.
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...
Read
October 23, 2022Vols 26-30
The past five volumes have been about the consolidation of ties and loyalties within Guts’ Travelling Party (Farnese in particular seen swaying between her two familiar worlds), as well as Guts’ central struggle with his inner demons (made visually incarnate in the Berserker armour, the peak of this series’ absolutely stellar armour design). He is now stronger than ever, yet verges on losing himself down a pit of fury whenever he unleashes the armour’s power.
His saving grace is Schierke, who alone can plunge down the pit of darkness, a gleaming droplet down the black ooze, and pull him back from the brink. This magical bond parallels a personal bond they come to share, as Guts grows into a warmly paternal figure for the young witch. In fact, Guts has evolved from the hot head of a past into a kind of tranquil patriarch of his clan, a sheltering wide-shouldered figure trailing behind the others by the seaside path. And in the time of battle, he is the first to stoically step forward, and under the flow of his cape stand his team, their faces determined and emboldened by their leader. The ironic side of this role as protector being that, if the armour does succeed in overtaking him, he might pose the greatest danger himself.
The past five volumes have been about the consolidation of ties and loyalties within Guts’ Travelling Party (Farnese in particular seen swaying between her two familiar worlds), as well as Guts’ central struggle with his inner demons (made visually incarnate in the Berserker armour, the peak of this series’ absolutely stellar armour design). He is now stronger than ever, yet verges on losing himself down a pit of fury whenever he unleashes the armour’s power.
His saving grace is Schierke, who alone can plunge down the pit of darkness, a gleaming droplet down the black ooze, and pull him back from the brink. This magical bond parallels a personal bond they come to share, as Guts grows into a warmly paternal figure for the young witch. In fact, Guts has evolved from the hot head of a past into a kind of tranquil patriarch of his clan, a sheltering wide-shouldered figure trailing behind the others by the seaside path. And in the time of battle, he is the first to stoically step forward, and under the flow of his cape stand his team, their faces determined and emboldened by their leader. The ironic side of this role as protector being that, if the armour does succeed in overtaking him, he might pose the greatest danger himself.
July 23, 2023
"All those years that brought me to this age...this thought that would never finally disappear...that i've continually chanted in my mind like a curse...that this world is worthless...and the more than anything, i am worthless. That's right.
That's because i've never once harbored a wish for others...or myself that was worth praying for.
There was no love, hatered, nothing. Nothing but a stale chill...In the end, the divine hand of destiny was never held out to me. It was all a waste of time." (me if one day nihilism conquers my body)
This man forgot to give his life meaning, and waited for some miracle to come to his bed
That's because i've never once harbored a wish for others...or myself that was worth praying for.
There was no love, hatered, nothing. Nothing but a stale chill...In the end, the divine hand of destiny was never held out to me. It was all a waste of time." (me if one day nihilism conquers my body)
This man forgot to give his life meaning, and waited for some miracle to come to his bed
January 30, 2024
Es un gusto ver al grupo reunido, actuando realmente como un equipo, donde cada uno sabe cual es su rol, su función y confían entre ellos, es hermoso. Es lindo, porque sabiendo el duro viaje de Guts y Casca, sentirse nuevamente en una dinámica grupal, les sienta paz interior. Y si bien la pelea es extraordinaria, la pregunta que me queda, ¿cuál es el verdadero conflicto? ¿Realmente es un plan de Griffith hacer una falsa bandera? De ser así, ¿cuál es el objetivo posterior con los monstruos? Siento que son muchas preguntas y demasiadas peleas, pero disfruto muchísimo leerlo, porque como dije al inicio, esta formación del grupo es mi preferida.
August 3, 2019
3'5.
Entiendo que sean necesarios tomos en los que personajes con diferentes clases e intenciones se encuentran, pero cada vez me parece más aburrida la forma de contar estos encuentros.
Hay algunas partes de la historia que no terminan de convencerme, como la "habilidad" repentina y forzada de Farnese. Pero bueno, espero que la trama lleve a un encuentro tan esperado como interesante.
Entiendo que sean necesarios tomos en los que personajes con diferentes clases e intenciones se encuentran, pero cada vez me parece más aburrida la forma de contar estos encuentros.
Hay algunas partes de la historia que no terminan de convencerme, como la "habilidad" repentina y forzada de Farnese. Pero bueno, espero que la trama lleve a un encuentro tan esperado como interesante.
February 10, 2023
I love these characters so much! Can’t believe I’m 10 volume’s away from the end!!! How will i cope when I finish Berserk????!!!
April 27, 2024
4.5⭐
I think this volume and the 29 one is the peak for Farnese character development.
I think this volume and the 29 one is the peak for Farnese character development.
June 8, 2019
Those vine snakes though. CUUUUUTE
September 12, 2022
i had no idea it was 40 volumes long when i started
August 29, 2023
"I will never forget about you. On this road of unfulfillment, I still stand alone... Like a wounded bird, I endure the rain with grace."
March 5, 2024
So dark and so good. Every time I read one of these I have to grab another. It's my crack cocaine. This is just good.
May 13, 2021
I thought I had marked this as read a bit ago. Anyway, I've been done.
It has been a bit since I read one of these, and I know they are slowing down in the real world as well, but this one was fun. Guts is always great and it was good he got his new family back together again. It would be nice if they could just get on a boat and sail away, but I'm finding that the story is moving forward nicely and it all makes sense.
I haven't looked, but I remember watching the anime 20 years ago (yikes I'm old) and I started reading at least 5 years ago, if not longer. I can't believe I'm still almost caught up. Don't GRRM this, please finish this story. My little college self almost exploded when the anime ended on that cliffhanger!
It has been a bit since I read one of these, and I know they are slowing down in the real world as well, but this one was fun. Guts is always great and it was good he got his new family back together again. It would be nice if they could just get on a boat and sail away, but I'm finding that the story is moving forward nicely and it all makes sense.
I haven't looked, but I remember watching the anime 20 years ago (yikes I'm old) and I started reading at least 5 years ago, if not longer. I can't believe I'm still almost caught up. Don't GRRM this, please finish this story. My little college self almost exploded when the anime ended on that cliffhanger!
January 7, 2022
3.5 Stars- A strong volume that is made up with a TON of action but some very strong character moments that lead to strong team dynamics by volumes end.
Guts and Serpico have their second showdown that leads to some humbling moments as well as growth from Guts, who is at the forefront this volume. Really appreciating his struggle with the armor.
The Farnese/Roderick angle is interesting with him holding the key to a boat and with that Casca’s possible healing. Roderick may be amazed with magic and monsters but it’s clear he has other motives. Happy to see Farnese choose herself.
Good stuff here that moved the story along. You can feel showdowns looming.
Guts and Serpico have their second showdown that leads to some humbling moments as well as growth from Guts, who is at the forefront this volume. Really appreciating his struggle with the armor.
The Farnese/Roderick angle is interesting with him holding the key to a boat and with that Casca’s possible healing. Roderick may be amazed with magic and monsters but it’s clear he has other motives. Happy to see Farnese choose herself.
Good stuff here that moved the story along. You can feel showdowns looming.
September 8, 2019
Guts and Serpico fight looked so cool. Farnese was so good in this volume, I love her character development.
And once again, it's havoc, battlefield and monsters. It's fun to see people reacting to Guts & Co in a "wow they killed these monsters so effieciently how are they?!?!" way.
When will we finally get on the damn ship.
And once again, it's havoc, battlefield and monsters. It's fun to see people reacting to Guts & Co in a "wow they killed these monsters so effieciently how are they?!?!" way.
When will we finally get on the damn ship.
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