Berserk Deluxe Edition Volume 1-Review

Intro

The Berserk Manga is often considered a classic of dark fantasy stories and of the manga medium in general, influencing everything from From software games to Vinland Saga. You can’t image how excited I was when I finally got my hands on a copy of the first volume of Berserk after months of my writing colleagues begging me to get one. Berserk is a ride you cannot forget, no matter how hard you try. When I read Berserk volume one, I was lost in another world without Truck-kun smashing my brains out.

Writing

I want to commend Kentaro Miura on his understanding of the importance of hope and humanity in the face of cruelty. Guts are brutish and bitter, the product of a cruel world. However, he is not just a grimdark protagonist who kills orphans for breakfast and is somehow considered a hero. He takes down twisted monsters and tyrannical overlords who terrorize the citizens. He is haunted by the ghosts of his past, cribbling guilt for his past actions. The few glimpses of vulnerability hidden underneath the stoic, often heartless exterior make Guts a fascinating protagonist.

Same could go for Puck, Miura Sensei's comic relief and attempted moral compass. The fan base has hated Puck, and I fail to understand why; he might not be funny to me. However, Puck is undeniably vital to Berserk, both as a character and as a tool in the larger narrative of the world. Puck is the only good character within the narrative, constantly pushing for Guts to do the right thing. I find Puck to be refreshing and fascinating, a character who always tries to do the best no matter how things get (and they get terrible) and never losses hope. The last part is essential; hope and the will to keep living are always preserved between Pucks or Guts. Guts have had ample opportunity to kill himself, to end his life of suffering, but he keeps going. Whether it is out of spite, hope or determination, he keeps on living. Puck remains hopeful of Guts opening himself up and actively cultivates kindness and hope wherever he goes.

Miura Sensei understands the importance of hope, that while cruelty existence and often seemingly overwhelms everything, that doesn’t sap the world of kindness, of hope, that we can survive throughout the harshest of circumstances. This element makes Berserk such a modern classic, aside from the obvious boring answers like the art, the story, and the characters, which are all good.

Conclusion

The biggest problem with Berserk is how expensive the deluxe editions are and how difficult it is to keep track of the cheaper, smaller volumes. I want to read more, but it's difficult, to say the least, due to the current state of things. However, I will find a way to read more. I owe myself as a writer, reader, and appreciator of good art to keep reading.

Acknowledgments

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