Apr 19, 2018
Ah, Berserk. Its first 21 volumes were a masterpiece, astounding one with a vivid, fresh fantasy and gorgeous illustrations, especially those of medieval-inspired combat. Then, the next 7 volumes introduced lousy new characters who didn't belong in the story while being riddled with uninspired, lazy plots.
The 83rd chapter, where Griffith talks to the God of the Berserk universe, is a return to the former, happier time, when the series was still great. Never released with the Japanese collection because Miura feared it would give away too many future events, it tackles a tricky situation for any writer. Namely, when a character talks
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to a god, it's far too easy for it to come across as pretentious, silly, and lame. The revelations by the god are often insultingly simple platitudes or else absurd mumbo-jumbo.
With those challenges in mind, Miura handles the task well. He keeps it simple, with God representing the shared dark side of all mankind, and thus created by human consciousness. However, he is consistent, and doesn't venture into territory that would cause readers to roll their eyes. Furthermore, he ties it into the story, with Griffith accepting his role as a being answering to no one, and deciding on a form.
The excellent illustration helps, too. God's form is a unique mix of horror fantasy combined with an almost geometric landscape. It gives the entity a suitably grandiose, daunting presence. The constant shift in perspective between the outer parts of the God and the screaming faces on its inside also gave the conversation a more dynamic feel.
Overall, this is a very good chapter that perfectly fits in with the period when Berserk was one of the best manga series ever written.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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