Summary
Widely viewed as one of the most influential seinen manga in history anda seminal work of the dark fantasy genre,Berserkis a title that has always been in a class of its own. Sadly, the untimely death of its creator, Kentaro Miura, nearly 32 years after the series first began serialization in Hakusensha’s Young Animal magazine, left it in an uncertain limbo state until news of a continuation emerged.
Three years after this tragic event,Berserkhas published 12 additional chapters, with fellow manga artist Kouji Mori — a close friend of Miura’s — overseeing production on 11 of them, alongside Studio Gaga, a team of artists who worked with Miura onDurankiandBerserk. With the series gradually heading towards a conclusion of sorts,in accordance with Miura’s own plans, how does this new era ofBerserkcompare to the lofty standards set by its creator?
The Void Left By Kentaro Miura’s Demise
Overthe course of Miura’s time working onBerserk, he attained an immense degree of acclaim and influenced innumerable other successful titles in the fields of manga, television, and gaming. These include popular manga series such as Hajime Isayama’sAttack on Titan, Netflix’sCastlevaniaanimated series, as well asFinal Fantasy VII,Bloodborne,Elden Ring, and theDark Soulsvideo game franchise.
It is rare for asingle manga to have such an impacton so many respected titles in different forms of media, and this speaks volumes of how Miura’s work changed lives and inspired many creators to take notes from him while executing projects of their own. Furthermore, one ofBerserk’sgreatest strengths throughout its run, was the deep personal connection between its author and the work itself.
From its complex themes, moral ambiguity, character writing, and its unique blend of dark fantasy and horror,Berserkwas a project that Miura devoted his entire life to and there is one arena that bestsums up his evolution as a manga artist: the artwork itself. On looking at how the visual language ofBerserkevolved over the years, it is easy to perceive the efforts of an artist who dared to strive for even greater levels of perfection with every passing chapter.
Even in the daysof the opening Black Swordsman Arc, which was a bit rough around the edges in relation to whatBerserkwould morph into, Miura’s artwork was leagues ahead of most of his peers. When the Golden Age Arc began to reach its climax, with epic battles of monumental proportion, Miura took things to another level, depicting sweeping battle sequences filled with armor-clad knights atop horses illustrated with intricate cross-hatching, pencil shading, and ink rendering techniques.
Skipping forward tothe Falcon of the Millennium Empire Arcand the subsequent Fantasia Arc, his now-digitally drawn panels were reminiscent of Baroque paintings, featuring majestic landscapes and architecture detailed down to the smallest cornice. Miura’s dedication to enhancing the quality of his art was irrefutable proof thatBerserkwas more than just a labor of love, it was something that defined him. Such a richly layered connection between creator and creation is part of what makes all great manga shine, and this goes double forBerserk, which is why Miura’s demise was seen as the end ofBerserkin its original form.
Enter Kouji Mori And Studio Gaga
For many fans of the series, Miura’s death marked the end ofBerserkas they knew it, and any continuation, regardless of its quality, would simply not live up to his lofty standards. However, the series resumed with a continuation nearly nine months after this tragic turn of events in May 2021, led by Kouji Mori, Miura’s closest childhood friend and a fellow manga artist himself.
Having stepped up to take up the daunting task of finishing Miura’s work, Mori noted that he was convinced to do so upon meeting with Miura’s assistants at Studio Gaga, and realizing thatBerserkwas a story that was bestexperienced through the medium of manga. In addition, the team at Studio Gaga was also responsible for completing the posthumously released Chapter 364 ofBerserk, which was unfinished at the time of Miura’s passing.
What Are The Major Changes To Berserk’s Publication?
Two years afterBerserkreturned in Miura’s absence, Studio Gaga and Kouji Mori have released 11 chapters, which is a surprising change of pace, given the lengthy breaks it often experienced in its production schedule. Although there are still hiatuses from time to time,the manga has been steadily trudgingalong towards a conclusion, according to Mori’s knowledge of what Miura had planned for the future ofBerserk.
Generally,the production team’s work on the mangahas been more than commendable, especially with regard to how they have emulated the salient features of Miura’s art style, to the point where fans will still feel that they are reading a version ofBerserk.Needless to say, there are some minor changes in the art itself, especially with regard to backgrounds, as Miura’s drawing skills and attention to detail surpass what the team can currently muster.
This is not a criticism of their efforts by any means, it is simply a testament toMiura’s immense talent as a manga artist, the likes of which may never be seen again. Moreover, each successive chapter ofBerserkreleased over the past two years, has also showcased a gradual improvement in quality, and it is certain that things will only get better from here. From what they have put out so far, it is very easy to see that Studio Gaga has incredibly talented artists working onBerserk, and it would not be a surprise if each one of them goes on to become a successful manga artist on their own, once this project concludes.
Another facet of the manga that has changed considerably, is the amount of dialogue included in each chapter. Naturally, it would be a difficult task to replicate this aspect ofBerserk, since Mori has committed to only adapting what Miura told him in detail. In this light, his decision to omit anything he is unsure of, or cannot recall, is a touching gesture to honor the memory of someone he held so dear. Hence, even ifBerserkgets an ending, it will be slightly less fleshed-out than what Miura may have imagined before his death.
Berserk’s New Era Starts On A Precarious Precipice
Near the time of Miura’s death,Berserkwas approaching a critical turning point, where Chapter 363 and Chapter 364 — the last two he worked on directly — were building up to a cataclysmic event that would alter the story’s course entirely. The event in question was the destruction of Elfhelm andthe subsequent reunion between Guts, Griffith, and Casca.
These three characters had not been face-to-face with one another since the fateful Reunion on the Hill of Swords, and it had been over two decades since such a moment was published in the manga. Guts and Griffith had also not engaged in a fightafter he left the Band of the Falconduring the Golden Age Arc, and the rematch between them held even more narrative weight than any battle in the series prior to it. All three members of the main trio had undergone significant growth in their respective journeys, and this ill-fated meeting was a sign thatBerserkwas finally approaching its climax.
In fact,BerserkChapter 364 ended on a massive cliffhanger, as Griffith revealed himself to be the Moonlight Boy in front of a bewildered Guts, indicating that Miura intended to kick things back into high gear following a relatively subdued segment of the narrative. Since then, Studio Gaga and Mori have ushered the story into the new Eastern Exile Chapter of the ongoing Fantasia Arc, where Guts and his alliesseek refuge with the Kushan Empire, following Griffith’s abduction of Casca and the destruction of Elfhelm.
Where Will Berserk Go From Here?
Currently, it has been estimated thatBerserkwill likely end within the next decade, which is a fairly reasonable timeline given the amount of story left to cover. A 10-year-period also seems relatively small given that the manga has been in publication for more than 30 years, making this last quarter of its run appear to be a short duration in comparison to the time since its debut.
On one hand, many fans of the series must be quite grateful that Mori and Studio Gaga’s efforts will actually giveBerserka conclusion in some way, even ifit might not be the ending it truly deserves. Despite all the mixed reactions surrounding the manga’s continuation, the production team has remained focused and respectful in their efforts to honor Miura, illustrating their deep reverence for him and his work.
Amid the tragedy that brought the life of one ofmanga’s greatest creators to a close, this new take onBerserkis a bittersweet sliver of hope, an epitaph to a true titan of the medium, as told through those who shared his love for his craft. If nothing else, the fact that Mori and Studio Gaga continue to persist and struggle towards completing a task that was thought to be impossible, is a fitting tribute to everything thatBerserkstands for.
