May 14, 2023
I figured it’s about time I write my first review and what better series to start with than with the best. Berserk is honestly not only one of the best mangas ever written, but one of the best works of fiction I have ever experienced. Kentaro Miura held nothing back in giving us this dark fantasy epic that deals with the struggles of revenge and anger. There’s a very strong reason as to why this is on the top of a lot of manga readers lists, mine included.
Story: The plot of Berserk very much weighs in from the characters and their choices. From the
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get go it pulls you in following Gut, our main protagonist, on his hunter to kill apostles and we’re introduced to our main antagonist, Griffith. Following this we then get into the origins of Guts and how he came to be where he’s at and we continue his journey from there. The setting is immediately shown to be dark and desolate and it continues as so throughout the series. The world of Berserk is harsh and brutal, but between all the killings and depravity there is beauty in it all. The plot constantly has you hoping that above all else, Guts and the people he’s with will be able to make it, and someday have peace. I will say the only downside I’d have is that the story can get a little too dark and grotesque at times and it very much be a deterrent for new readers.
Characters: This is Berserk’s strongest point, these characters and their dynamics are unlike anything else. Guts and Griffith immediately take control of any scene they’re in and they’re dynamic between each other is so compelling to watch. On the other hand there’s a huge pool of side characters, all with unique personalities and fleshed our backstories that really help them feel like part of a family to the group they’re with. Everyone has a purpose for being where they’re at and all of their choices and actions are well inline with who they are.
Artwork: Let’s be real here, this is probably the best drawn manga period. The amount of detail and style Kentaro Miura put into each and every panel is astounding and it’s absolutely insane that for 364 volumes he just kept up-ing his quality. Every character has a unique, distinguishable design, the apostles are varied and grotesque, and action scenes flow smoothly as to not make the read disorientated. This series will consistently having you stopping and looking in awe at how detailed everything is.
Overall: There is, up to my knowledge so far, no better manga than Berserk. It’s characters, story, and set pieces are some of the best in the medium and you’d be doing yourself a disservice if you haven’t read it yet. It’ll hook you in an instant and get you so deeply invested you’ll never want to leave. Even to this day certain scenes and moments give me full chills whenever I re-read them. Definitely be weary of any trigger warnings through and be prepared for the story to go that extra step and get really dark. As it stands right now the story is being continued by Kouki Mori and team, after the passing of Kentaro Miura, so new chapters are releasing monthly and the final arc is going forward so no hiatus in sight at the moment. Thank you for taking the time and reading!
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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