Berserk (manga)

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File:Berserk vol01.jpg The cover of Berserk as published by Hakusensha on December 1, 1990 in Japan.
ベルセルク (Beruseruku)
Genre	Action, Horror, Dark fantasy
Manga
Written by	Kentaro Miura
Published by	Hakusensha
English publisher	Dark Horse Comics
Imprint	Jets Comics
Magazine	Young Animal
Demographic	Seinen
Original run	December 1, 1990 (1990-12-01) – present
Volumes	36
Anime television series
Berserk: Kenpū Denki
Directed by	Naohito Takahashi
Music by	Penpals Silver Fins Susumu Hirasawa
Studio	OLM
Original network	Nippon Television, Animax
Original run	October 7, 1997 (1997-10-07) – March 31, 1998 (1998-03-31)
Episodes	25
Anime film
Berserk Golden Age Arc I: Egg of the Supreme Ruler
Directed by	Toshiyuki Kubooka
Music by	Shirō Sagisu
Studio	Studio 4°C
Released	January 2012 (2012-01)
Video games
Sword of the Berserk: Guts' Rage Berserk: Millennium Falcon Hen Seima Senki no Shō
Collectible card game
Berserk Trading Card Game

Berserk (ベルセルク, Beruseruku) is a manga series written and illustrated by Kentaro Miura. Set in a medieval Europe-inspired world, the story centers around the characters of Guts, an orphaned mercenary, and Griffith, the leader of a mercenary band called the Band of the Hawk (鷹の団, Taka no Dan). Themes of isolation, camaraderie, and the question of whether humanity is fundamentally good or evil pervade the story, as it explores both the best and worst of human nature. Both the manga and anime are noted for their heavy violence.

Miura premiered a prototype of Berserk in 1988. The first volume of the manga was published on November 26, 1990 by Hakusensha in its Jets Comics collection. In 1992, after the publication of three more volumes, Berserk was serialized in Young Animal. The series was adapted into a twenty-five episode anime series covering the series' first story arc by Oriental Light and Magic from October 7, 1997 and March 31, 1998. A series of films is currently being released, beginning with Berserk Golden Age Arc I: Egg of the Supreme Ruler in January 2012, as part of a new effort to adapt the entire manga series.

Plot summary

Golden Age Arc (vol. 3-13)

Born from a hanged mother, Guts grows up as a young mercenary until his enrollment in the Band of the Hawk. He develops complex relationships with Casca and Griffith, the Band's charismatic leader and holder of a Behelit, who leads the Band to its rise and subsequent fall within the Midland army. From a conventional medieval European background, the story shifts to fantasy and horror, with the apparition of the Eclipse ceremony that ends with the destruction of the Band, as per Griffith's sacrifice. With additional help from an enigmatic, self-proclaimed ally, the Skull Knight, only Guts and Casca are able to survive the cannibalistic Eclipse. Slowly recovering and distraught over Griffith's betrayal, Guts vows vengeance on Griffith and commits to his own personal war against the entities known as Apostles that slaughtered the Band of the Hawk.

Black Swordsman/Retribution Arcs (vol. 1-3, 14-21)

Guts, now known throughout the land as the mysterious Black Swordsman, hunts the Apostles and lays waste wherever he goes. The Vatican becomes very uneasy about him and begins a manhunt for the "Black Hawk." Though his journey is initially a purposeless succession of gruesome battles, he eventually returns to the aid of Casca, whose mind was broken during the Eclipse. This leads him to the Tower of Worship in Albion, where their presence triggers an anomaly culminating in a "rebirth ceremony" and the return of Griffith. Midland, under an already stagnating depression and outbreak of disease, is invaded by the Kushan Empire following the death of the King.

Hawk of the Millennium Empire Arc (vol. 22-35)

Escaping the invasion, Guts and Casca begin their journey towards Elfhelm, Puck's homeland, where they hope to reach safehaven from the Eclipse's curse-brand of the nightly undead. Along their way, newfound companions join them in their struggle. Upon meeting the sorceress Flora, Guts learns the Elfhelm king could possibly cure Casca's derelict mind and is bequeathed the Berserker Armor to help him in his fight against the Apostles. In parallel, the newly born Griffith is engaged in freeing Midland from the Kushan invasion and he leads a new demonic Band of the Hawk to victory against Ganiskha, leader of the Kushan Empire and also a powerful Apostle. In a last ditch effort to defeat Griffith, Ganishka sacrifices himself and undergoes an untested metamorphosis into a monster no living man or Apostle could contend with. Griffith wins out, but only through the blunder of the Skull Knight. Ironically, only then does Griffith's ultimate dream come true.

Fantasia Arc (vol. 35-ongoing)

Guts finds himself torn by his battle for vengeance, but quickly admits to himself that he will not abandon Casca to fight Griffith. After battling their way through the seas towards Elfhelm, Guts and his companions face new unknown dangers, along with the constant threat that the cursed Berserker Armor poses to Guts' mind.

Characters

Main article: Characters of Berserk

• Guts (ガッツ, Gattsu)
  Guts is the protagonist of the story. He is a tall, muscular man who has a prosthetic left forearm that has a magnetic grip, conceals a cannon, and can be fitted with a small repeating crossbow. He wields a huge sword called Dragon Slayer. Guts is a Byronic hero who is able to struggle against causality, but seemingly unable to overcome it.

• Griffith (グリフィス, Gurifisu)
  Griffith, the founder and leader of the mercenary army Band of the Hawk, is the antagonist of the story. Extraordinarily charismatic and handsome, his tactical skill gave him and his army the reputation of invincibility and made him the favored choice of the Midland King, who was locked in a century-old war with the Empire of Chuder. Griffith is willing to sacrifice everything for the dream of his own kingdom, believing that he is destined for things greater than the average man.

• Casca (キャスカ, Kyasuka)
  Casca was the only female soldier in the original Band of the Hawk and is behind only Guts and Griffith in swordsmanship. She has dark skin. Her ambivalent relationships with both Guts and Griffith makes her capricious. Casca joins the Band of the Hawk after Griffith saves her from a sexual assault by a nobleman and, after Griffith is imprisoned, she becomes the leader of the Band of the Hawk and leads the mission to rescue Griffith along with Guts after he returns. The trauma of the Eclipse and the journeys afterward, especially her rape at Femto's hands, cost Casca her sanity and her relationship with Guts.

Behelit

A Behelit is a small, egg-like oval object, with a set of human facial features scattered on its surface—giving the thing a rather disconcerting appearance. In fact, reference is often made in the story to the fact that the Behelit looks to be a living thing, and it emits a certain aura of unspecified dread. On occasion, it seems as though one of the Behelit's eyes opens and stares at the examiner, though this is usually quickly disregarded as merely an illusion.

In the anime series, two types of Behelits are expressly shown, one of which is more significant: It is the crimson Behelit owned by Griffith, leader of the Band of the Hawk. It is also called the Egg of the Conqueror or Egg of the King, and was given to Griffith when he was a child by an old fortune teller. It is believed that any one possessing this Behelit is destined to someday rule the world, and as this is very much in line with Griffith's ambition, he continues to hold onto it. The other type of Behelits are more common, and hold less power. Summoning the power of a Behelit is analogous to making a pact with the "God Hand" for immortality and monstrous strength. One offers their own flesh and blood (and/or the flesh and blood of others close to them) for that power. The Crimson Behelit, however, falls upon the one destined to be "King."

The word probably comes from the Syriac word "Beherit", a Great Duke of Hell — the letter r turning into the letter l is a frequently made mistake in localization.

Purpose

The Behelit is actually a key used by mankind to summon the God Hand, a group of immensely powerful angels (or demons), themselves the servants of a dark God that governs the Berserk universe. A Behelit is not truly found or kept by someone, rather it finds its way to the one fated to possess it through the manipulation of causality, and tempts the person with the opportunity to be free of their pitiful situation and have their innermost desire realized.

The Behelit Griffith found reached him, for it was his fate to become a new member of the God Hand. In this regard, his Behelit was also unique, for it was meant to be used by the one new mortal to transcend and become a member of the God Hand. The other Behelits seen in Berserk are minor compared to Griffith's: meant to transform the one who possessed it at the right time into Apostles. Apostles, which are humans who have offered their most precious possessions in exchange to escape their horrendous fate, can transform into hideous creatures (a bizarre manifestation of their ego) and bow down to the God Hand, though there are a few exceptions in the manga.

The Dream and The Sacrifice

In all cases, the ritual involved with the creation of a new Apostle or a new addition to the God Hand, happen under the same circumstances. The mortal possessing the Behelit must feel an intense desire to be free of their ill-stricken situation prompted by the manipulation of causality that created this scenario. This in turn "awakens" the Behelit (either by being nearby or through blood contact), the human features rearrange themselves into a face: the eyes open and bleed, and the mouth opens to scream. The God Hand hears and comes, opening a rift to their dimension and invites the mortal into their fold; tempting him or her with supernatural power and to be rid of their dire circumstance in return for a sacrifice.

In order to properly complete the ceremony, the mortal must agree to sacrifice something (or someone) infinitely precious to him or her. Only in such a case, the members of God Hand explain, will a high enough price be paid for a mortal to receive the chance to having their dream realized. Generally, the sacrifice will be family, friends, loved ones, or loyal followers. Normally, the one possessing the Behelit wouldn't sacrifice their loved ones, but will when the Behelit is in the bearer's hand at the right time. That usually happens when the person is under such emotional distress, he or she will give up anything to escape it. The sacrifice will then be devoured by the denizens of hell while the one who summoned the God Hand is reborn as an Apostle with a monstrous new form and abilities to match. Amazingly enough, some apostles are able to maintain at least one remnant of their former humanity despite their transformation such as the Count, who refused to sacrifice his daughter in exchange for the God Hand restoring his former demonic power.

The Brand of Sacrifice

Those marked for sacrifice are branded with the God Hand's Brand of Sacrifice, a laceration marked into their skin, which bleeds and hurts the victim when in the presence of a demon or demigod. As part of the ceremony, the God Hand calls forth innumerable Apostles to feast upon the sacrificial offering. None are meant to survive the ritual, but any that do are forever branded, and wherever they may go, they will never know true peace again, as, when night falls, local spirits attempt to overwhelm and reclaim the branded as one of their own.

Historical references

The iron prosthetic hand worn by Götz von Berlichingen.

Götz von Berlichingen: A German knight and leader of a band of mercenary soldiers, with a reputation as a Robin Hood figure. In 1504, his right arm was struck off by enemy cannon fire and a prosthetic iron arm was developed to replace it. Guts' iron arm, in his original character concept, is very similar to Götz's iron arm kept in the Nürnberg Museum. Miura stated in an interview that he created Guts independently and did not learn about von Berlichingen until after several volumes of the manga had been published.

Emperor Gaiseric: The Emperor Gaiseric alluded to in volume 10 is based on the actual King Genseric, who ruled the Vandals' kingdom in Europe in the 5th century. He was famed as a brilliant general who was seen as a threat even to the Roman Empire. In the manga, Gaiseric is said to have created a vast empire, similar to the Romans, that was destroyed by God's wrath. He banded together his small tribe and brought them great fame as a kingdom that exercised its authority in the Mediterranean region. It is hinted that Emperor Gaiseric survived his fallen empire in the form of the Skull Knight, a recurring character who aids Guts and stands in opposition to the God Hand.

Emperor Ganishka: The Emperor Ganishka, working as Griffith's enemy in Berserk, was based on King Kanishka, who ruled over the actual Kushan Empire, a vast empire in India and Central Asia during the 2nd century. He was also a profound Buddhist and adorned his empire with its respective figures and promoted it vigorously. Like his real-life counterpart, Ganishka also decorates his palace with famous Buddhist and Hindu figures, but has demonized them to suit his nature.

Media

Manga

Further information: List of Berserk chapters and the structure of the series

Miura first premiered Berserk in 1988 with a 48-page prototype, which won a prize at the Comi Manga School he was enrolled in at the time. On November 26, 1990, the first volume of the manga was published by Hakusensha in its Jets Comics collection. Three more volumes appeared until Berserk was serialized by Young Animal (Hakusensha) in 1992 and new episodes are still being released in the biweekly magazine (every second and fourth Friday of the month). Volumes consisting of between 8–11 episodes are still published biannually in Japan by Hakusensha (Jets Comics collection). As of October 2010, 34 tankōbon of the manga have been published in Japan.

In America and the United Kingdom, the manga is translated and co-published between Dark Horse Comics and Digital Manga Publishing, which has released 34 volumes so far, the first on October 22, 2003. As with other Dark Horse manga releases like Hellsing or Trigun Maximum, the Japanese reading format, from right to left, is preserved in the English release (sound effects are untranslated in earlier releases, though this started with volume 12) at the author's request.

In Europe, the manga was introduced back in 1996, first in France (by Samourai Editions) and then in Italy a few months later (by Panini Comics, first under the imprints Marvel Manga and then Planet Manga). After Samourai Editions' bankruptcy, the comic series has been published in France by both Dynamic Visions (since 2002) and Glénat (since 2004), the latter edition being a larger format. Since 2001, the manga has also been translated and released in Germany (Panini Comics/Planet Manga) and Spain (MangaLine Ediciones). In the Netherlands, Glénat has been translating and publishing the manga since 2008. Among the other markets that Berserk has been published in are South Korea, where it has been published by Dai Won since 1999, and Brazil, where Panini Comics has published the series in a demi-sized (120 pages) edition since 2005.

As of November 2010, the manga has sold 24 million volumes in Japan and 7 million overseas. The manga has published on an irregular schedule since late 2006.

Anime

Further information: List of Berserk episodes and the anime adaptation

Produced by OLM, the 25-episode TV anime series adaptation Kenpū Denki Berserk (剣風伝奇ベルセルク) first aired in a post-midnight slot from October 7, 1997 to March 31, 1998. The first thirteen volumes of the manga are covered, including the first arc (Black Swordsman). Though the manga storyline remains largely intact, many changes were made with the modification or elimination of characters, some of the series' most violent and brutal scenes, and material that would have extended the storyline beyond the planned run of the anime series. Themes of friendship and ambition are more developed and emphasized than those of causality and the supernatural, all of which were made with the approval of series creator Kentarō Miura.

Release

In America, the anime series has been published by Media Blasters since 2002. Though the option of both dubbed and subtitled versions as available for only the first three VHS volumes, both English and Japanese soundtracks were included in the DVD release, as six separate volumes and a "TV Series Season One Complete Collection" standard (slim) box set. In 2003, the "Box of War" containing all volumes was released as a collector box set. Despite suggestions that Cartoon Network would air the series, one of a series of Adult Swim "bumps" claimed that censorship requirements would butcher it.

In Europe, the series has been published as seven subtitled single DVDs in France (Manga Distribution), six single discs in Germany (Panini Video), 13 dubbed VHS volumes and 5 DVD volumes in Italy (Yamato Video in 2002), and six DVDs in Spain (Jono Media, though it is the only European distributor not to release a subtitled version) between 2003 to 2004. Italy is the only country to broadcast the TV series uncensored in 2001 (via Italia Uno public channel) at night, with the 24th episode The Sacrifice (aka The Great Eclipse) aired at a later hour as per the Italia 1 management policy for late night programming.

In Asia, Vap Video has released thirteen VHS and twelve VCD including two episodes each (a single one in the last VHS and three in the last VCD) from 1998 to 1999 in Japan. The seven discs "DVD-BOX", using Audio-CD cases, was released in Japan in 2001, with the seven volumes being re-released later in individual DVD regular cases in 2003.

Abroad, the anime series has been subtitled and published as a 6-DVD box set standard edition and a 7-DVD collector box set in South Korea by Mania Entertainment in 2004. In Thailand, thirteen dubbed VCD volumes (with two episodes per disc) and later in three VCD boxsets ("Prosperity:I", "Declination:II", and "Disaster:III") were released in 2004 and a complete dubbed/subtitled "War Box" 8 DVD box set (along with a collector's Beherit necklace) in 2005, both by Tiga. A Traditional Chinese with forced subtitles 4-DVD box set was released in Taiwan in 2005 by Catalyst Logic.

In Oceania, the American dubbed/subtitled DVD version was converted to PAL standard and released in 2003 as six single volumes and, in 2004, as a 6-disc collector "Box of War" in both Australia and New Zealand by Madman Entertainment. The same year, the "Box of War" case, which is graphically different than the American version, was also sold separately in these countries.

Reception

Source	Reviewer	Grade / Score	Notes
Anime News Network	Zac Bertschy	Overall (dub): A Overall (sub): A+ Story: A+ Animation: A- Art: A Music:A+	DVD/Anime Review of Berserk: DVD 5: Requited Desires
AnimeOnDVD	Chris Beveridge	Content: A Audio: A+ Video: A Packaging: A+ Menus: A- Extras: B+	DVD/Anime Review of Berserk Boxed Set: Disc 1
Anime Academy	Gatts, Mugs, Kain, Keitaro	92.8%	Anime Review
THEM Anime Reviews	Carlos Ross	4 out of 5	Anime Review

Film series

In September 2010, a wraparound jacket band on volume 35 of the Berserk manga announced a new anime project. The project was later revealed to be a series of films intended to adapt the entire manga, starting with three films adapting the "Golden Arc" story arc. The first film, Berserk Golden Age Arc I: Egg of the Supreme Ruler, will be released in January 2012 by Warner Bros. Pictures in Japan. The voice cast features Hiroaki Iwanaga as Guts, Takahiro Sakurai as Griffith, and Toa Yukinari as Casca.

Video games

Template:Details3 The Berserk games are not explicitly linked with each other, but are both set within the continuity of the manga series, more specifically its Millennium Falcon arc, which begins in volume 22.

Despite taking place during the Millennium Falcon arc, the first game was actually released during the publishing of the previous arc, giving Japanese players a taste of the things to come. In America, it was released two years before the TV series DVD (2002) and even before the comic book series' own introduction (2003). As a consequence, its original title was altered overseas. The second game is set roughly between volumes 22 and 27. It was released a few weeks before the publishing of the fifth American volume (Golden Age Arc). Set a little further into the manga's storyline, and introducing new characters and intrigues not even mentioned in the TV series, the game was not released in America.

The game's soundtrack was composed by Susumu Hirasawa and a Berserk: Millennium Falcon Hen Wasurebana no Shō Visual & Story File game artbook was published by Hakusensha under the supervision of Kentarō Miura.

• Sword of the Berserk: Guts' Rage
  • ASCII (Dreamcast NTSC/J) Japan: December 16, 1999
  • ASCII/Eidos (Dreamcast NTSC U/C) United States: March 15, 2000
  • ASCII/Eidos (Dreamcast PAL E) Europe: May 19, 2001
• Berserk: Millennium Falcon Hen Seima Senki no Shō
  • Sammy (PlayStation 2 NTSC/J) Japan: October 7, 2004

Music

Susumu Hirasawa composed the soundtracks for both the anime series and video games. The music genre is rather eclectic, with various instruments such as piano, bagpipes, violin, harp, flute, classic guitar, electric guitar, drums, harpsichord or synthesizer.

Opening theme

• "Tell Me Why", by Penpals

Ending theme

• "Waiting So Long", by Silver Fins

Next episode theme

• "Forces", by Susumu Hirasawa

Merchandise

In addition to video games and game guidebooks, Berserk has spurred on a range of different merchandise from lighters to keyrings to kubrick sets (6 cm Lego alike). Statues and action figures are produced by Art of War. The original soundtrack of the anime series and video games by Susumu Hirasawa are available on CD. A Berserk trading card game was released by Konami and is available in Japan.

Awards

The manga has been widely recognized for its excellence in Japan and throughout the world, winning the outstanding award at the sixth installment of Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2002.

External links

Official websites

• Template:Ja icon Berserk official page
• Template:Ja icon 映画『ベルセルク 黄金時代篇Ⅰ 覇王の卵』 - Berserk Golden Age Arc I: Egg of the Supreme Ruler official site
• Digital Manga Publishing page for Berserk
• Art of War - Official Berserk merchandise
• Berserk (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
• Berserk (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
• Berserk at IMDb

Articles and information

• SkullKnight.NET Berserk Encyclopedia
• BerserkRealm
• The BlackSwordsman - Berserk fansite
• Berserk Wikia
• Berserk quotes