Heavy? Yes. Gloomy? Absolutely. Nihilistic? No, absolutely not.
"Since that day, I've been worried I'd been wandering the night. But I had forgotten that this is a world upon which the sun does rise. For that alone, I'm much better off than I was." -Guts
I hear you, dude, I felt the exact same way but I stuck with it because of its reputation and I think it was worth it. Berserk is far from my favourite manga, but the scene during the eclipse and the introduction of the Godhand might be the single greatest scene I've ever read in any manga. It's so beautifully constructed and raw and ruthless, literally the first thing I think of when anyone mentions Berserk.
Hope you enjoy it. It's my absolute favorite manga of all time, and quite possibly my favorite fantasy story, despite being incomplete. Anyway, if you find the content of the first three volumes (which encompasses the entirety of the first Deluxe volume that you currently have) seemingly too bitter and edgelordy, just keep at it. The story is much more emotional than how it initially presents itself (though there are subtle hints that there's more going on if you pay attention).
And beware reading it in public! Some of the content is...not for family or work-related viewing. Though if you're reading the Deluxe volumes, people might think you're reading the Bible. ;)
Just get ready for some heavy shit, it's unreal but man there's some seriously dark shit. I haven't read it in like a decade but the one big scene that happens was the single biggest emotional reaction I've had from fiction, was legit angry and upset. I'm due for a reread actually
You should have checked with people who read it all first! Everyone and their dog loves the Golden age arc, and rightfully so. It's amazing stuff. Large parts of the Conviction arc that comes after are great too. What most people don't talk about, because they haven't read it, is that the following 2/3 of Berserk is boilerplate shounen trash with no end in sight, even after Miura's death. It's probably the biggest disappointment in manga history, comparing its initial premise to what it became. It's unironically a damn shame.
I mean shit, Griffith isn't even a part of half the fucking series and there are extended sequences of Guts either taking a backseat to the new "party members" or just outright jobbing entirely. I get mad at what Berserk became to this day.
I'll just let this final brush stroke sentence make my case for me: dozens of chapters of magical secret loli witch/fairy island after unrelated pirate adventures and jeet wars.
It is the only manga I found was worth acquiring the whole saga physically. I started picking them up back in the mid 2000s in college after watching the anime and it's been a fantastic journey. I haven't read anything past volume 41 and to be honest I kind of don't want to. I'd rather leave the tale in stasis, left unfinished but still wholly Kentaro Miura's vision.
I still need to carve out time for Galactic Heroes but man is it long and slow paced compared to today's anime.
In short, NTR means stealing someone's lover often by cuckolding them. It does NOT describe what happens in Berserk at all.
That meme welltallic posted is taking a key scene from Berserk, one that the manga takes dead seriously and plays for maximum horror and tragedy, oversimplifies it down to a square peg to mash into a round hole, and says "Tee-hee, I'm so smart and ironic and funny!"
Hopefully you enjoy it. It wasn't my cup of tea. Too heavy, too gloomy, too nihilistic. But I cannot deny the quality.
Heavy? Yes. Gloomy? Absolutely. Nihilistic? No, absolutely not.
Thanks. Is Galactic Heroes as good as they say?
Better. I've only watched the original anime though.
Yes. And the memes are better. Walter von Schoenkamp is my spirit animal.
Definitely.
It brightens up considerably as the story goes on.
I hear you, dude, I felt the exact same way but I stuck with it because of its reputation and I think it was worth it. Berserk is far from my favourite manga, but the scene during the eclipse and the introduction of the Godhand might be the single greatest scene I've ever read in any manga. It's so beautifully constructed and raw and ruthless, literally the first thing I think of when anyone mentions Berserk.
Nice, it’s a favorite for sure. You’re gonna be noticing how influential it was in a lot of other things going forward.
Hope you enjoy it. It's my absolute favorite manga of all time, and quite possibly my favorite fantasy story, despite being incomplete. Anyway, if you find the content of the first three volumes (which encompasses the entirety of the first Deluxe volume that you currently have) seemingly too bitter and edgelordy, just keep at it. The story is much more emotional than how it initially presents itself (though there are subtle hints that there's more going on if you pay attention).
And beware reading it in public! Some of the content is...not for family or work-related viewing. Though if you're reading the Deluxe volumes, people might think you're reading the Bible. ;)
Just get ready for some heavy shit, it's unreal but man there's some seriously dark shit. I haven't read it in like a decade but the one big scene that happens was the single biggest emotional reaction I've had from fiction, was legit angry and upset. I'm due for a reread actually
Can’t wait to read
You should have checked with people who read it all first! Everyone and their dog loves the Golden age arc, and rightfully so. It's amazing stuff. Large parts of the Conviction arc that comes after are great too. What most people don't talk about, because they haven't read it, is that the following 2/3 of Berserk is boilerplate shounen trash with no end in sight, even after Miura's death. It's probably the biggest disappointment in manga history, comparing its initial premise to what it became. It's unironically a damn shame.
I mean shit, Griffith isn't even a part of half the fucking series and there are extended sequences of Guts either taking a backseat to the new "party members" or just outright jobbing entirely. I get mad at what Berserk became to this day.
I'll just let this final brush stroke sentence make my case for me: dozens of chapters of magical secret loli witch/fairy island after unrelated pirate adventures and jeet wars.
Will keep that in mind. Have always heard good things about it. Thanks for the breakdown.
I am excited for you.
It is the only manga I found was worth acquiring the whole saga physically. I started picking them up back in the mid 2000s in college after watching the anime and it's been a fantastic journey. I haven't read anything past volume 41 and to be honest I kind of don't want to. I'd rather leave the tale in stasis, left unfinished but still wholly Kentaro Miura's vision.
I still need to carve out time for Galactic Heroes but man is it long and slow paced compared to today's anime.
I can utilize my insomnia to watch it
It's gonna eclipse your expectations...
Yeah on that, heard a rumour Berserk MIGHT be returning...
And the first of the new arcs will be more traumatic than the eclipse arc..
https://i.imgur.com/ULdk5XE.jpeg
If you love NTR, you'll have a great time.
Sounds interesting
What is NTR? I just heard a lot of people say that it’s a good manga.
In short, NTR means stealing someone's lover often by cuckolding them. It does NOT describe what happens in Berserk at all.
That meme welltallic posted is taking a key scene from Berserk, one that the manga takes dead seriously and plays for maximum horror and tragedy, oversimplifies it down to a square peg to mash into a round hole, and says "Tee-hee, I'm so smart and ironic and funny!"
Ignore his post.
Thank you. Appreciate the clarification
What is NTR? I just heard a lot of people say that it’s a good manga.
I started watching the Anime thanks to that meme. I see where George RR Martin got some of his inspiration from.