Vol. 11, Berserk

Wow, I wasn't expecting this kind of great quality. The art style is obviously older, this was written/drawn in 1989! In this volume you'll get acquainted with Guts, The Black Swordsman. Not much is really revealed about him except that he has been battling his inner demons for a while, Oh and I mean that quite literally. Puck is a nice comedic addition to this very melancholic story. Already buying vol 2 and I cant wait to get the other 30+ volumes!

Berserk is a medieval dark fantasy manga created by the extremely talented Kentaro Miura. The story is about a lone swordsman named Guts. The most notable parts of Guts are his "survival of the fittest" mentality, and his massive blade. Seriously, it's got to be at least 12 feet long! Now, even though I've heard great things about this manga, the first couple volumes are mostly focused on Guts' badassary instead of a compelling plot, so I can't rate this any higher than 3 stars. :(

This series is fantastically graphic, especially in the gore department, so don't get this if your squeamish. The artwork is spectacular, especially considering this manga debuted in japan around the same time as Dragonball Z. The art is realistic and detailed; And that's all I can ask for as far as artwork goes. Guts is marked with a sacrificial brand that attracts demons, and bleeds when they're near. (Although I wonder how Guts survived, considering it IS a brand for sacrifice after all) On his journey Guts is accompanied by a goofy comic relief sidekick named Puck. He might seem out of place, but trust me; He's essential for a series this dark.

The first 2 chapters are episodic because in the 1st chapter Guts faces off against a snake demon, and in chapter 2 he fights an undead horde. Chapter 3 however, is the beginning of a new arc (The Guardians Of Desire) where we're introduced to a new antagonist known as "The Count". Overall, this is a decent volume. Don't be turned off by the 3 star rating though. The Guardians Of Desire arc is when the series starts to get really good. I unfortunately can't rate it higher because the main point of the volume is to show how badass Guts is, but this is the start of something epic!

Berserk is awesome but honestly, I think a lot of the flavor is gone because all of the "pow" words (words that describe noise and whatnot that aren't actual dialog) are built into the artwork and so can not be translated. This destroys all the atmosphere and leaves you guessing at what the sounds and such mean.

Other than that, this is a killer story, but I'd advise digesting this story some other way.

"Berserk" is a series of Manga written and illustrated by Kentaro Miura. This first volume was published originally on November 26th of 1990. In volume 1, the hero, if you can call him that, is Guts, the Black Swordsman. With no setup, he appears out of nowhere and appears to be on a mission to hunt down and kill those who prosper under the Apostles, and of course to kill the Apostles as well. In doing so, he saves Puck, an elf who was being tormented, and who attempts to accompany Guts, in spite of his desire to go alone.

The first arc of this Manga series takes up three volumes, so not surprisingly the first volume leaves the reader hanging at the end. It includes three parts, the first being "The Black Swordsman", in which Guts and Puck are introduced, Puck is saved, and Guts takes on the Apostle of the city of Koka, and reveals his desire to take on the members of the Godhand.

In "The Brand", Guts moves on with Puck following along against Guts' desire. In his travels, he is offered a ride by a friendly priest and his daughter. Initially Guts refuses, but when they insist he decides that if his presence causes them to come to harm, it is not his concern. Not surprisingly, those who are after Guts attack, and the carnage continues. At the end it is once again Guts wandering on foot with Puck following behind.

The last section is "The Guardians Of Desire, Part One", in which Guts comes into a city where those in charge are conducting an inquisition, and he is identified as one who is conspiring with the heretics. He battles against the forces of the inquisition, and is eventually helped to escape by a mysterious man who then asks him to destroy The Count (another Apostle). This section ends in a cliff-hanger.

I am no expert on Manga, but I found there were many interesting things here. There are almost no good characters or actions in these stories at all. The hero may be good deep down, but in his quest to destroy the Apostles leaves little, if any, room for caring about anything else. Guts tries to isolate himself from everyone, pushing away those who want to help him, in particular Puck. On the other hand, Puck will not allow Guts to isolate himself, and one gets the sense that Guts appreciates Puck following him, even though he voices opposition, as if he is afraid to let anyone get close to him.

I find it difficult to rate this story, as at this point we know next to nothing about any of the characters. In addition, there are things which are difficult to accept, such as the sword. The sword is impossibly large and the physics of wielding it also make it an impossible type of weapon, and given the dimensions it would be impossible for Guts to even draw it from its sheath because his arms are not long enough. The weight of such a sword would make it difficult to move, let alone swing. On the other hand, the story is sufficiently intriguing to make me want to pick-up the next two volumes in the series so that I can at least complete the first arc of the story. Based only on what is contained in this volume, I give it four stars.

*Intro/Synopsis*
Berserk, often hailed as one of the premier examples of adult manga, began publication in 1990. Written and illustrated by Kentaro Miura, the title is set in a dark fantasy inspired medieval Europe, following the exploits of wandering mercenary Guts. Weaving great action with eye popping art; it also features excellent characterization, sweeping epic storylines which span years of the characters' lives, and intense violence/horror. Berserk gained popularity in America from the limited 25 episode anime, and has spawned 3 movies, 2 videogame, and numerous action figures. New chapters of berserk are still released, unfortunately its on a fairly erratic schedule. This is one of the most emotionally engrossing manga series I've read, and comes highly recommended to fans of seinen manga, and graphic literature in general.

*Story/Content*
Volume 11 is probably one of the most action heavy books we've gotten since Berserk, Vol. 7. The story picks up immediately after Berserk, Vol. 10 with the Band being pursued by a unrelentingly vile enemy. The majority of this book is dedicated to the fight between the Hawks and this deadly vicious foe. Several one and two page spreads dedicated to some guresomely intense action panels, make this chapter truly eye popping. It should be noted this chapter features two fairly intense sexual situations, although nothing explicitly rendered (No genitals or penetration). The chapter's conclusion was satisfying, and set things in motion for the final two volumes of the golden age arc. Per the manga norm, there are no extras in this volume.

*Production*
As far as production goes, this book is fairly typical of what one would expect from a manga volume released in the US. Roughly 260 pages, featuring eight to eleven chapters of about 16-18 pages each. Bound in a softcover, and printed on classic manga/newsprint style paper. The series appears to be wholly uncensored in the US, featuring a competent translation, along with uncensored gore and nudity. My one gripe being; up to this point the sound effects have gone untranslated.

*Overall*
I don't have much bad to say about Berserk, other than its not for the squeamish or faint of heart. The art is truly breathtaking, and not only in it's action panels. Every character, set piece, and background is expertly rendered, with a loving attention to detail that demonstrates Miura's skill as a mangaka. That being said, the action panels are some of the best I've seen ;D. Fortunately, the story is quite enjoyable as well. Featuring tales of friendship, romance, Ambition, heartbreak, and tragedy. I became emotionally invested in several members of the main cast, thanks in part to good interpersonal character growth. It really can't be stated enough that Berserk does feature depictions of sex, and extreme graphic violence. The depictions of intercourse are pretty tame though, mostly featuring one person on top of the other, and some nipples. The violence and horror elements, on the other hand, can be quite grotesque, leaving little to the imagination. I'd recommend this series to anyone interested in a story with amazing art, cool characters, and a finely woven tale ages 18 and up.

Good intro to the characters. I feel I’m getting a sense of Guts and his motivation even if we don’t yet really know anything about him or how he ended up as he is at this point.
I’ve come to really appreciate the black and white art. I don’t mind gore but it does temper its effect making it less violent somehow. All the shading and battle scenes are really well done.

Berserk is unrelentingly dark, gruesomely graphic, and compares favorably to some of the fantasy classics like Lord of the Rings in the depth and complexity of the world inhabited by Guts, easily one of the most tragic and heroic protagonists in the realm of fiction. The odds are stacked against Guts throughout, as it is not too much of an overstatement to say that it really is him against the world ... and "the world" is inhabited with numerous superhuman creatures set out to destroy the mortal Guts who is pushed ever onwards by two powerful forces--his love for Casca and his thirst for vengeance toward Griffith.

Everything about Berserk is epic. Its scope, its story, the characters, the fact that it's an on-going series that first started in 1990! It's a good thing the author is only 45 because this is a series that shows no sign of slowing down--it wouldn't surprise me if it took another 20 years before its completed! And that's fine with me. The realm of manga would not be the same without the ever growing and evolving story and cast of characters, the passion and violence, the incomparable epic that is the legend of Guts. Go ahead and dive in--you won't be disappointed.

I discovered the character of Guts through the anime, and when I finished watching the DVDs I was eager to learn more about the fate of this mesmerizing individual. Luckily, I quickly found out that the manga extended the story way farther than the anime, so here I am. The first thing that struck me about this manga was the notorious presence of Puck. This elf is a welcome incorporation to the story, since it fulfills two crucial roles: introduce some levity via its humor, which is necessary given the nature of the story, and provide a marked contrast with the personality of Guts.

This series is not for the faint of heart, since it includes scenes of extreme violence, many involving women and children, depicts gore vividly, and if the anime is any indication of the progression, this is just the beginning. However, this is a manga that provides the reader with much more than just violence, since the characters posses many layers, and the story that serves as backbone to the action scenes is multilayered and satisfying.

There are few characters in the anime / manga genre as complex and thought-provoking as Guts. This warrior has been branded by demons, and goes around in search of his destiny, fighting anything that comes across his path. Aided by his mechanical arm and enormous sword, if it can be called that, he seeks to free himself from the hold the brand has on his existence. In this first volume, his life is full of anger, sadness, pain, and fear, as well as darkness, as Puck so wisely observes.

The graphic aspects of the novel are very good, and the style efficiently conveys the mood of the storyline. If you are new to this series, and not squeamish, you should seriously consider checking this out. But beware, you will be hooked!

The detail of the drawings is magnificient. The story is well thought out and fascinating. The characters are complex and thoroughly developed. And, there's true suspense--bad things happen to good people and good things happen too--in this extra dark story you never really know where it's going till after it gets there.
Most mangas I read for 'fun'--the story is predictable & the characters are 2-D but it's cute or pretty, entertainment popcorn if you will. This one, I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for the next chapter in the story and I truly care about the characters. In a vast manga collection, this one is a standout.
Berserk isn't for everyone. The violence quotient is off the scale and all of it is depicted in full detail--the squeamish should avoid this title like the plague. It's also not a manga for the impatient. It's nearly three volumes in before the story proper starts to unfold. It is all eventually tied together so that the plot and character decisions make sense--but readers have to spend a good long time wandering about in the dark before that happens.
If you're tired of boyscout heroes and you're always looking for something new and different, Berserk is a must read. Words can not describe the brilliance that is this manga. Best just read it yourself, or watch the anime, which is very similar--it just moves along a lot faster at the expense of some of the details found in the comic.
FYI: Berserk is up to 25 volumes in Japanese and the story is still on going. Many of the major plotlines are still unresolved, so the series could still go off track in the later chapters--but through volume 25 it's very good.
Dark Horse's edition had perfectly decent translations. Not translating the sound effects was a little cheap, but I don't think it made much difference. Most of the sounds you could guess from context anyway.

Berserk is an absolutely brutal experience, one that you will remember for years to come. The art, the vision, and the characters are all masterfully crafted in this manga. You are only introduced to a few of the characters in volume 1, there are many more to come, characters with hopes and dreams and negligible ways of achieving them. Guts is an ferocious man, who can work his way through a battle or fight, carrying a sword larger than he is. With Puck allowing some humor to shine through the barbarous world that they live in.

I highly recommend this to anyone looking for Medieval Fantasy, with some dark twists!

Do you like fantasy? The chivalrous, faithful knights fighting the forces of evil and ultimately coming out victorious? A perfect bedtime story for kids? Guess what. If you read this to your kids for a bedtime story, you're probably going to shell out a lot in the long run for the therapy they'll need.

You're not going to find a traditional high fantasy adventure with Berserk. What you're going to get is one of the darkest, most depressing, grotesque, violent, and traumatic fantasy stories ever told, and boy, is it one of the best things you'll ever read if you're into that sort of thing.

From the impeccable artistry, the near flawless blend of fantasy and realism, the outstanding characters, and all that glorious violence. this is quite possibly the pinnacle of manga storytelling and you would be doing yourself a disservice to not read it at some point in your life.

Side note. If you're one of those infuriating gelatinous blobs constantly going on about oppression, trigger warnings, and sexism known as Tumblr users, you may want to steer clear of Berserk. I'm not going to go into specifics but I'll say this. Lotsa rape in this series.

This volume is just one long fight between Guts and the Black Dog. Another tough opponent shows up, and we quickly get the sense that he is not human, which may represent Guts' toughest challenge yet. Also, he seems familiar, doesn't he? Although this installment is mostly about fighting, the quality is still outstanding, due to the high intensity, to the constant sense of doom and to Guts trying to overcome it.

The nature of this volume is such that the violence escalates, reaching an all time high in the series, especially with the deeds performed by the Demon Dogs. This, once again, allows for an impressive display of Miura's drawing skills. But this volume is not only about violence, since the demons provide Griffith, Guts and the rest of the Band with some important information about the future as it relates to the eclipse. Ohh, and there is a very special visitor towards the end. I cannot wait to see what happens next!

The Berserk animated series was released in Japan 1997, and it was released in the US 2001. The plot is simple. It's based on our protagonist Guts, and his struggle to find his place in the world. During his journey, he stumbles upon a mercenary group called the Band of the Hawk who are coincidentally striving for the same goal. Together they fight, they win, and they protect the aristocracy in exchange for fortune and power.

The characters are brilliant, especially Guts, Griffin, and Caska. Each of them carry their own personalities, motivations, and desires making them seem very human and very real. How is this scary? Oh believe me! What happens to the characters in the end is enough to make a grown man reach for his teddy bear. The anime allows us to grow attached to these characters, then it's story literally rips them apart.

Berserk gives us a front row seat to its harsh philosophies on life and truth. Human stability and happiness is just an illusion. In the grand scope, we are just puppets of an unexplainable force. Both the audience and the characters witness this reality check in the most brutal manner imaginable. But, surprise! This torturous ending is not the conclusion to the series. It turns out the manga has plenty more emotional events for Guts to participate in. (May be there is hope after all.)

The Berserk manga was drawn and written by Kentaro Miura. It was first released in Japan 1988, and it's still going. It turns out the anime only covers the beginning of Guts's adventure. The rest of the series is composed of multiple side stories and events, which emphasizes its reoccurring theme: individual verses providence. Guts encounters many random situations and acquaintances like the distressed Jill whose village is fear-stricken by merciless demonic- "elves."

The story of Jill's village takes place in the "Conviction Arc Lost Children" chapter in volumes 14-16 of the series. To me, this is one of the most disturbing chapters in the series. It takes advantage of our childish fears with its use of gruesome whimsical creatures. The perfect example of this is when we see cute little elves who look like Tinker Bell flying into the village and terrorizing everything in sight, especially defenseless children. When these fairy elves are bored, they'll even redirect their impulsive behavior on each other. There is a point where they are tearing each other arms off just for kicks.

Now "Conviction Arc" is definitely a highlight in the series but there are some minor flaws. One is Miura's over use of comic relief characters. He has Puck who is Guts's side kick and metaphysical subconscious, Evarella who looks and acts like Puck, and two kids: Schierke who's a witch and Ishidoro who's a thief . This long list of clown characters is a little desperate. It seems like Miura is trying to reach a younger audience, which is odd since this story is loaded with violence, sex, and mass manipulation. Thank goodness there are more serious characters in Guts's new crew and their names are Farnese and Serpico. We even learn Farnese and Serpico's backstories and how they become high-ranking members of a religious order, Holy Iron Chain Knights.

Most pieces of the horror genre rely on quick scare tactics to amuse its audience, but not Berserk. Berserk gives you a lasting uneasy feeling about human struggles and destiny making it perfect for October entertainment.

this brutal and dark epic is a break from traditional Japanese manga and takes place in a European medieval fantasy setting. it is absolutely NOT for children and ranks up with Battle Royale in terms gore and explicit sexuality in later volumes, but has a plot that keeps one coming back for more. any testosterone junkie can appreciate the main character Guts with his seven foot long broadsword and any human can appreciate the emotional roller coaster of his pained life.
the first book begins later on in the series and the art is not as good as Miura's later volumes, so try the first three or four before you give up on it if it does not immediately appeal. Berserk is definitely worth a look.

Be forewarned that this review is heavily biased, I love Berserk more than my own mother. Hands down the greatest manga I've ever read and the best anime I've ever seen. I get goosebumps just thinking about it. It helps to get into the series having seen the anime, since it takes place before the first three volumes, but in volume four it gets around to the events of the anime (After all, the manga came first) but seeing it makes the transition smoother. So volume 1-3 is stuff after the ending of the anime, 4-13 is a long flashback that parallels the anime with some new details, then the rest of the series picks back up at the volume 3 time frame. So anyone who saw how the anime ended at a cliffhanger (a second season isn't likely) will be thrilled to know that it was just the prologue to the real story. Berserk is amazing. It has everything, style, action, gore, romance, an intricate plot that keeps you turning pages like a maniac, and some of the best characters in fiction history. You really feel for these people and laugh, cry, and bask in victory along with them. I'm so excited I'm forgetting my usual writing skills and typing without a single breath trying to wrap up all the greatness that is Berserk in a single review! BUY BUY BUY BUY BUY! Unfortunately the manga is being printed only one volume every three months and up to volume six is out in America, but in Japan there is currently 28 volumes! It'll take forever for us to catch up, so I suggest learning to read Japanese like myself (I'm doing it mostly for Berserk, although it's just a useful skill to have in general, I found a great book that makes it fun) or finding some translations of the dialogue online and use in conjunction with the Japanese manga. Watch one episode of Berserk or read this manga and you'll be absolutely hooked. It will consume your thoughts and your life. If Kentaro Miura dies before he finishes the series (It still has a way to go) I will die beside him, for Berserk is the reason for living. Praise it. I go to sleep at night with Berserk stuff cradled in my arms. I could go on forever. If you don't buy this you are missing out on the greatest thing to ever grace this earth. Buy the anime. Buy the manga. Buy the T-shirts, the action figures, the toilet paper. My rant ends here.

I was first introduced to the Berserk series by way of a videogame for the Sega Dreamcast console entitled "Sword of the Berserk: Guts' Rage." i had no concept of what it was, all i knew is that it involved a guy with a metal hand with a crossbow and cannon inside, who weilds a sword bigger than he is, while fighting vicious demons 10 times the size of his sword. A couple of years later i stumbled upon a dvd at the local video store which addorned the same great character on its cover. i had to check it out. What i found was the begining of an obsession with the best series ive ever witnessed in any form of media. watching the first episode of this dvd reinstilled all of the emotions i felt when i first played the game. I was in a state of pure awe as i watched Gatsu (Guts, as he's reffered to in America) tear through his enemies in the same quick, brutal and over the top fasion. The first episode was nothing more than a devise to draw you into the intricate story waiting ahead. that one episode let you know that this would be a dark, violent story centering on hordes of demons and their intent of making guts their sacrifice no matter what the cost. i quickly began watching the rest of the series, and came to find that there was far more going on here. Set in the middle ages in the midst of a great war, the Berserk anime quickly shed the dark and hopeless feel of the first episode and videogame. It showed a variety of things i was not expecting. First and foremost, it concentrates on an excellent story of relationships in a world where life is death. the main characters in this story are very well fleshed out, and it allows you to see what they want out of life and how they hope to acheive their goals. It also shows that these characters have different agendas which their relationships stem from and also how they intermingle in a story of fate, sacrifice, love, hatred, hope, and hopelessness. This was by far the best anime series ive ever seen. ive never been draw into a world quite like i have been with Berserk. the anime leaves us in a place before the first episode in a sort of transitional period in the story. it didnt even begin to touch upon the Gatsu we know from the first episode or videogame, it shows us what created that entity. When i learned that no more episodes were planned for the anime series i was desperate to find a way to continue on with Gatsu, as Berserk has become quite an obsession of mine as well as everone i show it too. i found that they had finally started releasing English text versions of the original Manga from which the anime was based. The manga series, i have found,is far superior to the already stellar anime. So many details were taken out of the anime due to the already dense story as well as even darker details which in no way could be shown on TV. this series is a must have. if you are even remotely intrigued by the dark ages, human relationships, demons or the afterlife, swords, action, suspense, politics, war, or love, then i must strongly recomend this series to you. It is by far my favorite fantasy world, and i am no stranger to such things. those turned off by Japanese entertainment due to its whackiness, or convoluted stories need not worry about this one. Its tones and characters transcend any cultural stereotypes. This is a must have for anyone over 16 yrs old

After recently finishing the anime series I went and baught the manga. And man does the manga kick ass. It's ten times better then the anime. PLus it's more violent too. This manga is slightly different then the series such as the Fairy Puck who never showed up in the anime.
Over all this is one of those mangas were you'll be like "aww man what next what next!!". I personaly love the manga...alot.S
Sadly When I asked the person at the comic/manga store about when volumes 13-ect ect would come out in the US...I asked him this cause I really wanted to know what happend after episode 25 of the anime. Sadly he told me it would be about 4 to 5 years by the time volumes 14 through on and on would come out here. Sadly There are only Volumes 1-3 out.
But luckily I got to go to AnimeExpo 2004 and they had all the volumes and they were only 5 BUCKS!! So I baught a few of em' even though they were in japanes but hey I know japanes so I don't need to worry about it. And from going to Volume 13 I can def tell you this manga is for MATURE AUDIENCES especcially how Caskas rape is much more graphic in the manga then the anime.
But thats Not the point here. Overall Volume 1 of berserk is (excuse me for this) F-d up big time and awesome too. This series is just Brilliant and very very cool especially the plot with a new Behiret. The manga is a def must buy for Berserk fans.
I am on voume 14 of the manga right now and alot of things have happend.
For one I can tell you is that Caska is now insain (literally)
Caska gives birth to a demon child! If you see something grotesque on the floor in volume 1 when Guts is in that prison thats Caska's child if You Didn't know. And that's all I can tell you. And in volumes 13 you finally see how Guts and Caska escaped that "Hell" they were in.
So far this is shaping up to be the BestManga series ever.
Once you finish volume 1 go and immediatly buy voulme 2. 2 is sooooo much more better and more action too. And Guts fights that giant worm that rickert saw in the anime and that Pipin got cut in half with in the Manga.
Put simply this series ROCKS
GET IT! NOW!!!
Later

Kentaro Miura is simply a genius. And this work is his masterpiece. Inside this seemingly simple tale of a knight who accidentally enters hell and fights his way through to the other side, is a story about war and the lives of those who live by it. The action sequences are incredible, yet it is the concepts that are dealt with, the ideas that make Berserk so incredible. Let me first mention that Kentaro Miura's artwork is second to none in the medium. Thin black lines coupled with generous use of the color black create a stark image that tends to cling in the mind. However, Miura's philosophy of life finds its way through completely organically. In the way that epic poems and the work of authors like Shakespeare, use the story to relay an idea, Miura weaves his fantasies. Every battle, every line of dialogue, every character work to further some concept. His characters are not real, in the way that Jesus is not real. They are characters used to show something bigger. Read it and you will understand.

Here's a formula for making a typical dark, action title: add evil supremacy to the world, sprinkle it up with grotesque monsters in all varieties, mix in with bloody violence and contents that most mothers wouldn't like, and to top it all off, an anti-hero that'll give this whole recipe a bad taste. Surprisingly, it's a formula made into a manga that's made for satisfaction called "Berserk".
The story starts off pretty much by the ol' action rulebook: bad things are happening in a lil' town, and a wanderer came by out of nowhere; wreaking havoc ensues. Actually, knowing Guts in the manga is somewhat intriguing. Unlike other main bad boys who say they care less about others and slaughters without concern, Guts actually FOLLOWS his word. With the 'brand' on his neck, many demons follow and try to slain him, and though they thought they succeed, Guts would do the 180 on those baddies, and he would actually felt no emotion or apprehension on the outcome of the battle; he would actually careless about human casualties surrounding him, not even the casualty of a woman or a child, but somehow, I don't seem to feel any hate from him, just remorse. He's a cold-hearted guy who might have a grudge about his dark past (who doesn't?), so knowing him more in later volumes is a must. He also has a sidekick, a naked fairy-elf named Puck, to be his side for minor support and as comic relief. Okay, people are getting killed gruesomely in this manga, and that little naked thing's trying to make me laugh? How ironic.
The artwork is for one reason why "Berserk" has a mature rating. I've seen some bloody things before in graphic novels, but this, this made my head spin faster than Betelgeuse. The characters and monsters, though fleshy, are very 'creative', and the detail of violence is off the scale. Body parts will fly off, and the style of decapitation is beyond my imagination. Fortunately for me, I can bear this kind of graphic brutality.
This book is read from right-to-left, next to Trigun, the first for Dark Horse to publish in its original Japanese form. It would've been nice, though, it they would just translate the sound effects like how ADV manga has done it, leaving the translations by the side of the Japanese SFX. I have a few peeves with this first volume. The focus is a little too much on action, and the character development is lean; The volume pretty much introduces the main character and parts about his past, albeit not fully explanatory.
I don't think it's necessary to watch the anime version before reading the manga version, but it couldn't hurt to just check it out. The manga version, however, actually continues after the anime ends, so if you're thinking of getting the manga, whether or not you've seen the anime version, you're getting the better deal. "Berserk" has some potential to be a solid action title. I wish the first volume could've been more upbriging with the story, though; maybe the second volume will get better.

After recently finishing the anime series I went and baught the manga. And man does the manga kick ass. It's ten times better then the anime. PLus it's more violent too. This manga is slightly different then the series such as the Fairy Puck who never showed up in the anime.
Over all this is one of those mangas were you'll be like "aww man what next what next!!". I personaly love the manga...alot.S
Sadly When I asked the person at the comic/manga store about when volumes 13-ect ect would come out in the US...I asked him this cause I really wanted to know what happend after episode 25 of the anime. Sadly he told me it would be about 4 to 5 years by the time volumes 14 through on and on would come out here. Sadly There are only Volumes 1-3 out.
But luckily I got to go to AnimeExpo 2004 and they had all the volumes and they were only 5 BUCKS!! So I baught a few of em' even though they were in japanes but hey I know japanes so I don't need to worry about it. And from going to Volume 13 I can def tell you this manga is for MATURE AUDIENCES especcially how Caskas rape is much more graphic in the manga then the anime.
But thats Not the point here. Overall Volume 1 of berserk is (excuse me for this) F-d up big time and awesome too. This series is just Brilliant and very very cool especially the plot with a new Behiret. The manga is a def must buy for Berserk fans.
I am on voume 14 of the manga right now and alot of things have happend.
For one I can tell you is that Caska is now insain (literally)
Caska gives birth to a demon child! If you see something grotesque on the floor in volume 1 when Guts is in that prison thats Caska's child if You Didn't know. And that's all I can tell you. And in volumes 13 you finally see how Guts and Caska escaped that "Hell" they were in.
So far this is shaping up to be the BestManga series ever.
Once you finish volume 1 go and immediatly buy voulme 2. 2 is sooooo much more better and more action too. And Guts fights that giant worm that rickert saw in the anime and that Pipin got cut in half with in the Manga.
Put simply this series ROCKS
GET IT! NOW!!!
Later

Kentaro Miura is simply a genius. And this work is his masterpiece. Inside this seemingly simple tale of a knight who accidentally enters hell and fights his way through to the other side, is a story about war and the lives of those who live by it. The action sequences are incredible, yet it is the concepts that are dealt with, the ideas that make Berserk so incredible. Let me first mention that Kentaro Miura's artwork is second to none in the medium. Thin black lines coupled with generous use of the color black create a stark image that tends to cling in the mind. However, Miura's philosophy of life finds its way through completely organically. In the way that epic poems and the work of authors like Shakespeare, use the story to relay an idea, Miura weaves his fantasies. Every battle, every line of dialogue, every character work to further some concept. His characters are not real, in the way that Jesus is not real. They are characters used to show something bigger. Read it and you will understand.

Here's a formula for making a typical dark, action title: add evil supremacy to the world, sprinkle it up with grotesque monsters in all varieties, mix in with bloody violence and contents that most mothers wouldn't like, and to top it all off, an anti-hero that'll give this whole recipe a bad taste. Surprisingly, it's a formula made into a manga that's made for satisfaction called "Berserk".
The story starts off pretty much by the ol' action rulebook: bad things are happening in a lil' town, and a wanderer came by out of nowhere; wreaking havoc ensues. Actually, knowing Guts in the manga is somewhat intriguing. Unlike other main bad boys who say they care less about others and slaughters without concern, Guts actually FOLLOWS his word. With the 'brand' on his neck, many demons follow and try to slain him, and though they thought they succeed, Guts would do the 180 on those baddies, and he would actually felt no emotion or apprehension on the outcome of the battle; he would actually careless about human casualties surrounding him, not even the casualty of a woman or a child, but somehow, I don't seem to feel any hate from him, just remorse. He's a cold-hearted guy who might have a grudge about his dark past (who doesn't?), so knowing him more in later volumes is a must. He also has a sidekick, a naked fairy-elf named Puck, to be his side for minor support and as comic relief. Okay, people are getting killed gruesomely in this manga, and that little naked thing's trying to make me laugh? How ironic.
The artwork is for one reason why "Berserk" has a mature rating. I've seen some bloody things before in graphic novels, but this, this made my head spin faster than Betelgeuse. The characters and monsters, though fleshy, are very 'creative', and the detail of violence is off the scale. Body parts will fly off, and the style of decapitation is beyond my imagination. Fortunately for me, I can bear this kind of graphic brutality.
This book is read from right-to-left, next to Trigun, the first for Dark Horse to publish in its original Japanese form. It would've been nice, though, it they would just translate the sound effects like how ADV manga has done it, leaving the translations by the side of the Japanese SFX. I have a few peeves with this first volume. The focus is a little too much on action, and the character development is lean; The volume pretty much introduces the main character and parts about his past, albeit not fully explanatory.
I don't think it's necessary to watch the anime version before reading the manga version, but it couldn't hurt to just check it out. The manga version, however, actually continues after the anime ends, so if you're thinking of getting the manga, whether or not you've seen the anime version, you're getting the better deal. "Berserk" has some potential to be a solid action title. I wish the first volume could've been more upbriging with the story, though; maybe the second volume will get better.

I remember reading just about every Berserk book that came out in 2000. I was addicted to the series. The deep characters with emotional back stories, the character designs in general, the plot that has no happy ending from what I could see, and the drawing style. But back then, it cost about 3 times as much as this little graphic novel here for just one issue. Luckily, Berserk has been getting popular, and Dark Horse picked it up for US shores. And I'm impressed. This is one of very few Japanese comics that is properly translated. I still have some older Berserk comics from when they were first printed, and the translation is dead-on.

But enough about that, I'm sure you want to know what Berserk's about. It follows the story of Guts (or Gattsu as so many purists insist), wandering the land for revenge. While the full story isn't even close to being revealed in this issue, I insist that you watch the animated series before getting into the books. Where the series is available on just 6 discs, the books are currently up to volume 27. We've got a ways to go. But Guts is a mercenary unlike any other. He doesn't help others, but he isn't quite a bad guy. He's just looking out for himself. And in the world of Berserk, that's probably the smartest thing you can do. There are bandits, demons, zombies, and spirits everywhere just waiting to attack. And to make matters worse, Guts has a brand on his neck that attracts these demons. It causes him pain or bleeds whenever he's about to be attacked. But Guts is a one-man army. In just the first part of this volume, he blows a hole through a monster's head with his hand-cannon, lops people in half with his 7-foot sword: The Dragonslayer, picks off bandits in groups with his automatic crossbow attatchment, and more. Really, you don't get any cooler than Guts as far as main characters go. Upon entering a town, he encounters a small fairy: Puck. Puck follows Guts around, curing his wounds, and in hopes of seeing lots of action because Guts "seems interesting".

Honestly, if it weren't for Puck, Berserk would almost be unreadable. Don't get me wrong here- I'm not saying that it'd be a bad series. But I mean that the whole story would just be too depressing. This is one of those rare times where comic relief is a good thing, and Puck is used mostly for just that. Plus he isn't there every 2 pannels. Just whenever a situation is very dreadful, or when he's actually needed. Puck saves Guts many, many times in the course of Berserk, he even saves him more than once in this volume alone. I'd have to say getting him out of prison counts for something. The two continue on in search of someone who knows the man Guts is seeking revenge on. I'm not going to be throwing names around here because the story's so good, that it'd be a pity to ruin anything for you. None the less, this graphic novel IS very brutal. When someone gets cut in half, their upper body gets hurled a few yards as blood pours out from both halves. Arrows get stuck in eyes, explosions look extremely painful, and not everyone is safe. Women and children don't have that special security that most comics would give them. In fact, this is going to sound silly but, if you took away the demons and all that from Berserk, it'd be very life-like and honest. It's a tale showing that life isn't always going to give you the easy way out. For once, I'll agree that this isn't for younger readers. It's a fact that Berserk has been banned from several stores for being where anyone can open it right there and start reading. Dragon Ball Z this ain't.

Again, the quality of the translation is fantastic, and the book is solid. All the pannels are there in full, and my book didn't have any errors at all in the picture quality. And low and behold- there weren't tons of ads for other comic series in the back of the book. That justifies the 5 star rating even more. But go for Berserk if you're in need of something refreshing. Just don't expect to be cheerful afterwards.

Volume 11 of Kentaro Miura's medieval fantasy epic Berserk sets the stage for the end of the "Golden Age" story arc and the beginnings of the "Retribution" arc. This volume focuses primarily on action (e.g. fantastic fight sequences, especially between Guts and Wyald, a character introduced in volume 10) rather than advancing the Berserk plot, and Miura succeeds admirably. The supernatural elements introduced in the first several volumes (the "Black Swordsman" flashback arc) but muted during the "Golden Age" are starting to intrude upon the human realm once again and threatening to engulf the world of Guts.

The review mentioning hentai is bit misleading: there is arguably no gratuitous sex in volume 11 that you would expect to find in hentai. While the images may excite some readers, I believe that Miura included nudity/sex that you find in volume 11 (and also in other volumes) to demonstrate the depravity of certain situations and characters.

First of all, I definitely recommend watching the Berserk anime series before delving into the manga. Although the manga came first, lasted longer, and goes into more detail, the 25 episode TV show is a nice primer.
That said, no matter how you choose to experience Berserk, it's a worthwhile and incredible experience. If you look past the intense amount of violence and gore, you'll find the heart-wrenching story of Guts, a man who could never find a place in the world, and could never lead a normal life. He dedicates his life to fighting, the only thing he knows how to do. When he finally opens his heart and finds friendship and love, it is all torn away from him. It is then that he finds his purpose: revenge. And he takes it out on every demon he can find, giving the series it's well-earned reputation for gruesome violence - and I promise, you'll enjoy every moment of it.
I can't possibly give a description that does this series justice. To borrow a line from the first Matrix: you have to see it for yourself.

After watching the incomplete T.V. series I set out to read and own as many of the beserk books as possible. This book acutally surpasses the series in so many diverse ways. The story is just as, if no more, spectacular putting you even deeper into the dark psychie of Guts. Not only this but it details the battle that takes place in the first episode of the tv series. All and all I was Overwhelmingly satisifed with this book.

Berserk anime = one of the best. But, even so, it can't touch the manga. The only problem is that it takes about ten volumes for it to get to the part AFTER the anime! That's right! Everyone's complaint after seeing the anime: "I want more of the first episode!" Well, guess what! The anime takes up less than half of the manga so far (I say so far because there are 26 manga volumes and it's not even done!)
Most important thing for you to know is: borrow, rent, or buy the anime and watch that first. The manga is 100 times better, but first watch the anime. If you watch that first, you'll be as satisfied with both as you should be. If you watch it second, you'll be happy with the manga and disappointed with the anime. That said, ENJOY IT! ^_^

Berserk finally comes to America and it is almost completely unaltered (except for the English translation of course). I was fearing that the Berserk manga would have its sound effects translated but, thankfully, that is not the case. I, personally, hate the sound effects being translated. Unfortunately, from reading the other reviews, I am not in the majority. The biggest problem with translating sound effects is that you have to erase part of the picture. Just flip through a copy of GTO by TOKYOPOP to see what I am talking about. In order to erase the Japanese characters, they erase huge chunks of the picture. This is my biggest gripe with the GTO manga and I feel as if I am not getting the most orignal form of the manga as possible. Not translating the dialogue also cuts costs, as another reviewer noted. I am also waiting for anime companies to realize fans want the most unaltered forms of their favorite anime and stop wasting time and money creating English dubbed language tracks that inflate the price of anime videos. I think the perfect solution is for readers of manga to learn the measley 46 Katakana characters that make up the majority of Japanese sound effects. Another solution is to write the English translation for the soundeffects within the Japanese sound effects when they are big, which is also found in GTO. For smaller sound effects, put them around the Japanese sound effects or outside the panel. Whatever the solution, keep the original artwork and sound effects untouched!

This fantastic medieval comic series created by Kentaro Miura is extremely dark and satisfyingly violent for my action-oriented tastes. A series set in a kind of European land (I would presume) coming out of Japan is nothing new, and I have no qualms with that particular attribute of the manga. The manga is incredibly deep, reinforcing the action content in my mind, dealing with all realms of problematic thought revolving around combat.
I only wanted to call to attention that I saw an action figure for sale, which is sweet, actually, indicative of a large fan-base; however, I am at odds with plastic at this time in my life, and if for no other reason, I would caution against the production of too many action figures. This might seem a stupid gesture, as well it may be, seeing as my true motivation for "cautioning" production of any dolls (not that I have any problem with it) has to do with emulation of the character... second guessing myself now, as I am writing on the fly, I was going to say that the character of Guts or even Zondark, for that matter, should not be emulated. Now that I think about it, playing a part/s with action figures is not necessarily emulating anyone or anything, and definitely doesn't do any harm aesthetically on the whole.
All I will say now is that I love this series, and humbly ask big-time producers... could you please make your dolls out of wood??

If you have watched the anime series, then you will want to continue with the manga. I've read the manga (online) a few years ago when I finished the anime and just had to find out what happened.

I stumbled across the print version at Borders. From there I knew I had to get the entire manga collection. They are reasonably priced and well worth it.

If you are squimish, then this manga isn't for you. For the rest of the world - this is a must have.

I'll keep this short. Bottome line, the Berserk Anime was one of the best things I have seen. And after reading this first volume I am pleased to know that the Manga is going to be just as good. The story is filled with action, adventure, and deep complicated characters. Theres no clear cut (good and evil)or(hero and villian) in this story. It's all just one gray chaotic mess like in real life. I am very happy that these volumes are being translated to english so I will have new Berserk material to fuel my thirst for this story now that the anime is long over.