When I first started reading Berserk, I had the notion that it would be mostly ultra-violent, demon-slaying action. And considering how good the opening chapters were, I would've been fine with that. What I wasn't expecting was for the series to become so poignantly human. The hundred-year war between the kingdoms of Midland and Tudor nears an end as the legendary Band of the Hawk mercenaries, led by the charismatic Griffith and his fearless berserker champion Guts, turn the tide in Midland’s favor. But impending victory ignites a secret war within Midland, as those seeking courtly favor see the ambitious Griffith as an obstacle to power. And nothing is more powerful than an enemy unseen! Collects Berserk volumes 7-9. Schierke is a young witch that serves to explain the more magical, fantastical and metaphysical elements of the world of Berserk while aiding Guts’s crew in their journey to fight against the alarming uprising of demonic creatures overrunning the land. I loved this volume! Besides the sex... there was a lot of sex in this one. Like this is definetly the grosser than the other two volumes.

Guts seems like a simplistic, edgy anti-hero at first glance, but he's so much more than that. Guts is one of the greatest characters the fantasy genre has to offer. Sigmund Freud could probably write a novel-length psychological analysis of this severely troubled and broken man. Guts is more complex than he leads people to believe as well. He's not a sociopathic antihero, he's a man that has no choice but to lie to himself to keep his emotions from crushing his spirit and getting innocent people involved with his deadly affairs. He's cruel and harsh for the greater good. It's the only way he can keep himself from going insane and continue to put up a good fight against terrifying creatures that are far stronger than he is. There's a bit of a joke in the Berserk community that says that no matter how bad your life might be, Guts will always have it worse. It's really not that hard to believe after you've read a bit of the series. His life was one big catastrophe literally from the moment he was born. Guts and his crew set out to Elf Island to restore Casca’s memories before deciding how to settle the score with Griffith once and for all. The arc was tying up loose ends at a very nice pace, answering questions that many readers have been contemplating since the beginning of the series such as the identity of Skull Knight, the origins of the God Hand, Griffith true motives, how Casca confronts her trauma, the purpose of the Berserker Armor, Guts finding the answer to his life’s purpose, the secret history and lore of the greater universe and much more. In 1990, the first volume Berserk was released with a relatively limited success. Miura again collaborated with Buronson on manga entitled Japan. Miura's fame grew after Berserk began "The Golden Age" story arc and the huge success of this masterpiece made of him one of the most prominent contemporary manga artists. But yeah, Berserk really shines in this volume and I remember as a kid I kind of got it but the brawl, the fight, the killing was my main "whoa so cool." and now when I'm older it is the silent moments, Casca holding Guts, Griffith looking into the abyss, that really resonate with me as an adult.Yeah, another Berserks was fantastic. Let's start with bad things, so it is out of the way: not enough demons. I still love the first episodes - I was mesmerized by this dark world full of blood and terrors from the first book. Since then, this Manga series has changed a lot. It has definitely grown up, and we can see the growth of all members of Hawk band, and there is a looming, dark conclusion in the future - we are just waiting for that. Well, maybe in the next book. Hellraiser + Conan the Barbarian + Game of Thrones + Ash vs Evil Dead + Elric of Melnibone + Macbeth = Berserk. My second read of this volume (original review below), and my thoughts remain the same. So just a little note: I'm impressed by how vast the Band of Hawk's obsession with Griffith is. You can see how strong personalities can build a suicide cult around them. Yeah, and Griffith can really rot, as far as I'm concerned. He is portrayed as ambitious, but you can see glimpses of his true psychopathic nature. From all these stories, everything that Griffith does seems like a theatre - an act which serial killers do to look like normal human beings. But there is not much empathy or morale in him. This bubbles up when Guts leaves - he just cannot bear to lose his toys and throws a tantrum. In this case, the tantrum is a brutal seduction of the princess.

This is the most complex arc of the series as it's split into multiple perspectives which hasn’t really been done up until this point. Guts has reunited with his beloved Casca and her mind is still in shambles from the trauma she experienced during the Eclipse. With a new band of loyal companions at his side, Guts begins to learn how to trust, grow and love as he once did during his time in the Band of the Hawk while struggling to reconcile with his inner darkness and his hatred towards his former friend Griffith. The Fantasia arc marked another major turning point of the series. If Lost Children and Conviction were the age of darkness, this was the beginning of the age of misguided light. Griffith changed the world in truly remarkable ways, both fascinating and terrible. Above is my completely spoiler free review showing my appreciation for this series and its characters. I feel there is little I say without giving much away but Guts character change is the best part of the compendium. You can see how Guts shifts from a mercenary who does not care about dying to care about his comrades and trying to find his dream.The character development in this omnibus is extraordinary. Hearts are broken and mended. Dreams are shattered, rekindled, and perverted. It's a series of triumphs, tragedies, and deeply heartfelt moments. I'm simply floored by how emotionally resonant this grim, dark fantasy story has become. The series has also spawned a whole host of merchandise, both official and fan made, ranging from statues and action figures, to key rings, video games, and a trading card game. In 2002, Kentaro Miura received the second place in the Tezuka Osamu (Astro Boy) Cultural Prize of Excellence for Berserk. The author lives in Tokyo, Japan.

The hundred-year war between the kingdoms of Midland and Tudor nears an end as the legendary Band of the Hawk mercenaries, led by the charismatic Griffith and his fearless berserker champion Guts, turn the tide in Midland's favor. But impending victory ignites a secret war within Midland, as those seeking courtly favor see the ambitious Griffith as an obstacle to power. And nothing is more powerful than an enemy unseen! Collects Berserk volumes 7-9. The characterisation, the relationship dynamics and the art are all really stepping up in this series. I can't really sum up the way this author changed my life. When I was getting into anime at a young age I never quite came across something as monumental as Berserk in terms of adult-like anime. I mean sure, I got into Guyver and such but Berserk was on a different level in terms of storytelling. When I was 11 or 12 (Around 1999-2000 I watched this anime and was blown away. A man who was told he was nothing, used, and abused found a family in a band of misfits and whom he thought was a brother, and when he finally was proud of himself he got it all torn away from him. It's always an excellent service with brilliant products at a very competitive price - will use again!The series has also spawned a whole host of merchandise, both official and fan made, ranging from statues and action figures, to key rings, video games, and a trading card game. In 2002, Kentaro Miura received the second place in the Tezuka Osamu ( Astro Boy) Cultural Prize of Excellence for Berserk. The author lives in Tokyo, Japan. The Kushan Empire has risen to power and is waging war with the unguarded kingdom of Midland. As if the deadly plague, religious crusades and rampant demon invasions weren’t enough, Emperor Ganishka of the Kushan Empire is making life an even greater hell for anyone that’s in his path of conquest. I do not know how they do it but ever compendium gets better and better. I had a feeling I knew how this book would end, but it confirmed my theory but more intense.