Berserk ( Japanese: ベルセルク, Hepburn: Beruseruku) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kentaro Miura. Set in a medieval Europe-inspired dark fantasy world, the story centers on the characters of Guts, a lone swordsman, and Griffith, the leader of a mercenary band called the "Band of the Hawk". The series follows Guts' journey seeking revenge on Griffith, who betrayed him and sacrificed his comrades to become a powerful demonic being. Miura premiered a prototype of Berserk in 1988. The series began the following year in the Hakusensha's now-defunct magazine Monthly Animal House, which was replaced in 1992 by the semimonthly magazine Young Animal, where Berserk has continued its publication. Following Miura's death in May 2021, the final chapter that he wrote and illustrated was published posthumously in September of the same year; the series resumed in June 2022, under supervision of Miura's fellow manga artist and childhood friend Kouji Mori [ ja] and Miura's group of assistants and apprentices from Studio Gaga. Main articles: Sword of the Berserk: Guts' Rage, Berserk: Millennium Falcon Hen Seima Senki no Shō, and Berserk and the Band of the Hawk Zodd · Wyald · Unidentified Roaming Apostle · The Count · Borkoff · Rosine · Unidentified Female Apostle · Snake Lord · Egg of the Perfect World · Rakshas · Locus · Grunbeld · Irvine · Ganishka Pineda, Rafael (July 8, 2015). "Berserk Manga Confirmed to Resume as Monthly Series This Month". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on April 13, 2019 . Retrieved April 9, 2019.

Pineda, Rafael (April 29, 2017). "Berserk 1st Novel Version Confirmed With Grunbeld Story". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on September 24, 2017 . Retrieved March 9, 2019. Bullard, Benjamin (May 21, 2021). "Gaming: Deathloop preview, Overwatch 2, TLOUII on PS5 & more". Syfy. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021 . Retrieved May 27, 2021. All apostles – save the Egg of the Perfect World – bear an initial humanoid form, but are capable of assuming their true forms at any time. Even in human form, they boast strength and reflexes far beyond that of typical humans. Wyald was completely untrained in combat, but with his monstrous strength, easily mutilates challengers like Barbo and keeps up with a trained swordsman like Guts. In their true forms, most apostles are extremely powerful and boast powers and strength greatly exceeding that of most humans. In 2016, Berserk ranked 38th on the 17th "Book of the Year" list by Da Vinci magazine; [190] it ranked 44th on the 22nd list in 2022. [191] On TV Asahi's Manga Sōsenkyo 2021 poll, in which 150,000 people voted for their top 100 manga series, Berserk ranked 91st. [192] [193]Loo, Egan (July 12, 2011). "Berserk's Golden Age Arc to Be Made Into 3 Anime Films". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on July 7, 2012 . Retrieved July 18, 2012. Guts is a lone warrior who was born from a hanged corpse and raised as a mercenary by his abusive adoptive father Gambino after the death of his adoptive mother, Shisu. It came to a head when Guts was forced to kill a drunk Gambino in self-defense, fleeing his mercenary group and becoming a wandering sellsword. His fearsome reputation catches the attention of Griffith, the charismatic leader of a mercenary group known as the Band of the Hawk. Griffith forces Guts to join the group after defeating him in battle, with Guts becoming his best fighter and main confidante. The Band is hired by the kingdom of Midland to help in its century-long war against the Chuder Empire. Guts learns of Griffith's desire to rule a kingdom of his own and his mysterious pendant known as a Behelit. The Behelit is instrumental when they are spared by Nosferatu Zodd, a monstrous immortal who leaves Guts with a cryptic warning of a painful demise for being Griffith's friend. Berserk Volume 41 TPB". Dark Horse Comics. Archived from the original on December 19, 2022 . Retrieved November 25, 2022. Isler, Ramsey (February 4, 2014). "Top 25 Greatest Anime Characters". IGN. Archived from the original on June 3, 2021 . Retrieved June 3, 2021.

Hahn, Joel. "2001 (5th) Osamu Tezuka Cultural Prizes". Comic Book Awards Almanac. Archived from the original on October 30, 2007 . Retrieved June 10, 2021. a b c d e f "Berserk × Hell's Paradise". Kazé (in French). November 12, 2019. Archived from the original on June 27, 2020 . Retrieved June 28, 2020. a b Pineda, Rafael (September 9, 2021). "Young Animal Magazine: No Information to Share on Berserk Manga's Future". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on September 9, 2021 . Retrieved September 9, 2021.a b Chavez, Eduardo M. "Berserk Vol. 10 Review". Anime On DVD via Dark Horse Comics. Archived from the original on June 28, 2020 . Retrieved June 28, 2020. Loveridge, Lynzee (September 9, 2014). "Berserk Manga's Next Chapter Slated for September 26". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on June 28, 2021 . Retrieved July 1, 2021. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (March 9, 2017). "Kentarou Miura Resumes Berserk Manga on March 24". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on April 16, 2019 . Retrieved April 9, 2019. Media Arts Database (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Archived from the original on May 23, 2021 . Retrieved May 23, 2021.

a b Thompson, Jason (July 3, 2012). Manga: The Complete Guide (Kindle). Del Rey Books. pp.135–138. ISBN 978-0-345-53944-1. in Japanese). Hakusensha. March 23, 2018. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020 . Retrieved October 28, 2020. A spin-off novel, titled Berserk: The Flame Dragon Knight ( ベルセルク 炎竜の騎士, Beruseruku Honō Ryū no Kishi ), written by Makoto Fukami with illustrations by Kentaro Miura, was released on June 23, 2017. [144] It is focused on the past of the new Band of the Hawk's apostle Grunbeld. [145] [146] In North America, the novel was published in English by Dark Horse on April 17, 2019. [147] Other media [ edit ] As evidenced by the Count, who couldn't bring himself to sacrifice his daughter, Theresia, dying apostles who activate a beherit a second time without offering a sacrifice are dragged into the Abyss' Vortex of Souls once they die. [16] WAR CRY(雄叫び). s-book.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 16, 2005 . Retrieved May 29, 2021.

Manga Division—2002 [6th] Japan Media Arts Festival Archive". Japan Media Arts Festival. Archived from the original on June 10, 2021 . Retrieved June 10, 2021. net (in Japanese). December 24, 2021. Archived from the original on December 28, 2021 . Retrieved December 28, 2021. Briscoe, Daniel (October 3, 2013). "Berserk Volume #02 Manga Review". The Fandom Post. Archived from the original on June 28, 2020 . Retrieved June 28, 2020. Guts currently possesses the beherit that belonged to the Count, [2] which he took as a means of reaching the God Hand.