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A review by beaconatnight
Berserk Max Band 1 by Kentaro Miura
4.0
Berserk is the kind of story that had been on my bucket list probably petty much ever since I first got into anime and manga about twenty years ago. What must have fascinated me was its reputation of being relentlessly brutal. Today it makes me wonder if it is much else.
By the middle of the first chapter I was already worried. It sure was brutal, lengthy and admittedly a bit boring. The comic-relief character, the elf called Puck, didn't resonate with me at all and seemed very out of place. Well, maybe it gets better. Gradually, the book went from its place next to my Sessel and into the Schublade. I know I'm being silly, but that's how it is sometimes.
I'm sure I'll appreciate "The Black Swordsman" more after I got to know other sides of Guts. Anyways, starting with the significantly simpler "The Brand" I enjoyed the manga so much more. Facing an army of in the woods of what feels like medieval England, that's much more up my alley. I was also amazed by the dark turns of events. And the haunting final scenes about the foreboding implications about what the brand on his neck truly means.
With "The Guardians of Desire" the plot immensely picks up in pace and suspense as Guts takes on the vicious Count. There are horrifying reports about torture and mutilation. The Black Swordsman soon faces supernatural foes that are genuinely shocking the more disfigured their once human appearance. Since I've only recently finished Uzumaki I was naturally reminded of the disturbing artwork of Junji Ito.
The violent confrontations are gripping and span numerous chapters. There is the sense that something is truly at stake. Yet, where the plot really surprised me was in the background story to what is unfolding. It's strongly suggested that Guts himself was tortured – and it was only then that I realized he not only lost an arm, but one of his eyes had been closed all along. Suddenly you are able to understand all the bitterness and darkness that determine his personality.
Berserk is not just about the brutality or even about the grueling fights. I'm sure this aspect will be particularly satisfying in the volumes to come. But it's great to see that Kentaro Miura is capable of writing captivating storylines too and I'm excited for where this is going.
Rating: 4/5
By the middle of the first chapter I was already worried. It sure was brutal, lengthy and admittedly a bit boring. The comic-relief character, the elf called Puck, didn't resonate with me at all and seemed very out of place. Well, maybe it gets better. Gradually, the book went from its place next to my Sessel and into the Schublade. I know I'm being silly, but that's how it is sometimes.
I'm sure I'll appreciate "The Black Swordsman" more after I got to know other sides of Guts. Anyways, starting with the significantly simpler "The Brand" I enjoyed the manga so much more. Facing an army of in the woods of what feels like medieval England, that's much more up my alley. I was also amazed by the dark turns of events. And the haunting final scenes about the foreboding implications about what the brand on his neck truly means.
With "The Guardians of Desire" the plot immensely picks up in pace and suspense as Guts takes on the vicious Count. There are horrifying reports about torture and mutilation. The Black Swordsman soon faces supernatural foes that are genuinely shocking the more disfigured their once human appearance. Since I've only recently finished Uzumaki I was naturally reminded of the disturbing artwork of Junji Ito.
The violent confrontations are gripping and span numerous chapters. There is the sense that something is truly at stake. Yet, where the plot really surprised me was in the background story to what is unfolding. It's strongly suggested that Guts himself was tortured – and it was only then that I realized he not only lost an arm, but one of his eyes had been closed all along. Suddenly you are able to understand all the bitterness and darkness that determine his personality.
Berserk is not just about the brutality or even about the grueling fights. I'm sure this aspect will be particularly satisfying in the volumes to come. But it's great to see that Kentaro Miura is capable of writing captivating storylines too and I'm excited for where this is going.
Rating: 4/5