The fact that Miura's artwork is such a meticulous depiction of mayhem is a significant factor in why Berserk works best as a manga.
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Manga has a long and illustrious history in mainstream media, despite not always being there and certainly not being as widely available as it is now in the west. During this time, a variety of genres and series have graced the medium; some of them are duds, while others go on to become pop culture sensations. Although Berserk by Kentaro Miura may not be as well-known as Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon, or One Piece, it has endured as a revolutionary series that is at its best in its original manga. There are rare anime versions of Berserk, but they pale in contrast to Miura’s incredible work, which has withstood the test of time. Although Berserk is a highly regarded product that manga fans have admired for decades, anime adaptations have had difficulty making an impact.
The fact that Miura’s artwork is such a meticulous depiction of mayhem is a significant factor in why Berserk works best as a manga. The terrible departure of Miura in 2021 shook the manga and anime worlds, but it also created the ideal opportunity to reread his most well-known manga works.
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Comics, anime, and video games can live or die by the popularity of their characters and their special talents, but there’s just as much weight placed on the weapons they wield. A crazy toolbox may make an average series into a smash. Although Berserk’s Guts epitomizes the stoic warrior archetype, he also wields the ridiculously large Dragon Slayer sword. This sword is essentially an extension of Guts and is larger than he is. Many manga series fail to give their weapons the same level of personality as the characters that use them.
At its core, the manga series Berserk is a dark fantasy action one. This calls for the action to be exciting, well-drawn, and — most crucially — vicious and gory over the course of the story. When only the best will do, Miura delivers. Given the fact that Berserk’s world is continuously plagued with monstrous creatures that cause havoc on the human universe, there is plenty of action and combat sequences that include Guts and friends. These soldiers face some formidable foes, and none of them let them down.
Guts properly embody the roaming lone warrior archetype at the beginning of Berserk. Guts determine he doesn’t require anybody else to be at his side because he has already suffered enough grief and betrayal. Guts eventually learn to let down his guard once more and collaborate with Puck, Casca, and occasionally Skull Knight for the greater good. It’s simple to paint Guts as a cold-blooded killer, but Berserk excels when it offers Guts characters to care about and a particularly potent fantasy team. Guts are without a doubt the strongest member of his group, but Puck and Casca also prove to be essential.
Although Berserk is far from the first seinen manga that tells its tales through the dark fantasy subgenre, it has emerged as the model for how to successfully reveal the darkness of such magical material. The overpowering pessimism that permeates Berserk’s characters helps set it apart from other dark fantasy series. Guts is undoubtedly a powerful man, but because he has seen so many heartbreaking events and sees Midland as a broken world, each of his heroic deeds hits much closer to home. Even if he were to win the conflict, the planet would already be too damaged to be repaired.
For individuals who are interested in fantasy but lack the dedication needed for high fantasy works like The Lord of the Rings, Berserk is the ideal middle ground and entry-level fantasy series. The dark fantasy world of Berserk develops its own voice and peculiarities, but it nonetheless bears striking similarities to Martin’s Game of Thrones trilogy. In the world of Berserk, which has elements of old Europe, supernatural forces and beasts have wreaked havoc, leaving people frozen in terror. The monsters in Berserk transcend beyond the typical dragons and medieval creatures. Its popularity as a unique dark fantasy series that doesn’t feel derivative of others is evidenced by the invention of new beings that parody fantasy and horror tropes.
As audiences are naturally visual, it is not surprising that a manga’s artwork is what potential fans initially take notice of. The key element that transforms a manga series into a classic can be outstanding art. Some manga succeeds only on the strength of their narratives, but Kentaro Miura’s artwork in Berserk turns becomes a lesson in minute attention to detail. The legendary status of Berserk is in great part due to Miura’s amazing artwork, which also accounts for the failure of the manga’s several anime adaptations. Miura’s still images, each of which communicates volumes and has a real personality, are superior to even flowing animation.
There’s nothing wrong with action manga that adopts a more humorous tone, but Berserk starts out bleak and only gets grimier over the course of its length. There is something to be said for how George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones epic scope is similar to that of Berserk, but in comparison, Berserk makes Martin’s renowned series seem like a children’s book.
Both Games of Thrones and Berserk are fantasy series with frequent deaths, but Berserk’s losses have a callous quality that makes them hurt more. Guts appears to be a bold hero who is capable of self-defense, yet he has experienced more loss than the majority of people will ever know, which only serves to further highlight his hardened nature and nuanced characterization.
Without a fascinating lead character, a powerful story cannot gain any momentum. It’s difficult to top the timeless classic Berserk’s Guts. On the surface, this male protagonist could appear to be a typical fantasy hero. Guts is quiet, big in height, and carries a huge sword. Yet Guts is more complex than it first appears.
Guts is a victim of tragedy. Guts’ life has been cruelly devoid of everything positive that has ever meant anything to him. Despite these terrible setbacks, Guts never gives up and keeps moving forward. He is one of the most motivating action heroes in seinen because he never gives up, even when things appear hopeless.
