Berserk General Discussion Thread

[llamapie]

Well after this next chapter we will probably have 2 more biweekly chapters then a short break followed by 3 more biweekly chapters and another really long break. That is depending considering the situation thats going on over in Japan.

This is just the pattern I have seen anyways. He usually goes in 3 chapter bursts between breaks. Sometimes we get really lucky and get more.

[xi0]

It's at least my perception that while Miura will break while an arc is going on, it's usually not without a break in the immediate action. The last run of episodes for example, it ended just as they'll encounter the Sea God, but there was a clear break in the action.

You can't really tell when you read it volume by volume, but I think Miura has a definite feel for pacing, which is even more impressive given his irregular release schedule. Like most manga, it's more enjoyable reading it book by book, but in my opinion it isn't as painful as even some other series that are weekly or monthly.

But maybe I'm just used to it by now.

[102jayday]

book by book is so enjoyable with berserk, may take me a couple days to get from volume 1 to 35 but it's good.

[itoken1]

Miura-sensei so lazy makeing me sad. not so normal for japanese but he has reason I sure. you guy ever try to paint down on paper how break is done? would be interested to sea if regular in some sense. like code. manga with god could have wwww

[Tamotsu]

berserk is my good seinen serie, i has reading it for many years. it is more good in japanese. i try english but they has many mistakes.

[Asahina]

Cool, oh well at least we get 18 or 19 pages of new Guts awesomeness, it has been so long since we have had that, I have re-read Eclipse 10 times since that.

I haven't re-read Berserk. Maybe it is because I read the manga, before I watched the anime.

Actually, I never actually watched the anime yet. I think I should, cause I want to see how they alternated the ending...(something I heard from reviewers of the series)

We're getting 18-19 pages? So that means just one chapter? Kinda sad if you think about it. But at least we get something. Would be great if we could learn when we'll be receiving a new chapter instead of speculations on when it'll arrive. Berserk seems to be treated as some royal masterpiece or something. I wonder how much money the mangaka has made from this.

[Aazholh]

We're getting 18-19 pages? So that means just one chapter? Kinda sad if you think about it. But at least we get something. Would be great if we could learn when we'll be receiving a new chapter instead of speculations on when it'll arrive. Berserk seems to be treated as some royal masterpiece or something. I wonder how much money the mangaka has made from this.

Story-wise, I haven't come across anything better from any other manga; I think Dororo comes close (and even that is one of Miura's inspirations.

I'm sure Miura is well paid considering the manga is published all over the world. And then there's the Art of War merchandise that is also sold.

[llamapie]

Story-wise, I haven't come across anything better from any other manga; I think Dororo comes close (and even that is one of Miura's inspirations.

I'm sure Miura is well paid considering the manga is published all over the world. And then there's the Art of War merchandise that is also sold.

He's a rare case of a successful artist. Most mangakas don't qualify as artists in my book. Miura's art work is incredible.

[Roflkopt3r]

@roflcopter you need to realize that this manga is meant to display that. Whats going on is so different because Miura wants it that way. Ya I happen to find his current look odd, but thats the point.

The reality as you see it has changed and its because of this Miura wins at mangaka. Not only did he merge the planes in the manga he so effectively captured it that the story itself seems so different now that it merged the planes inside your head. But you have to read it as a whole. Even from the beginning this kind of shit has been going on. Its just progressively gotten worse. Gutz needed his crazy armor to keep himself alive. And even though he prevailed against the apostles he never did so without being injured to some great degree. Granted his armor injures him in a similar degree if not worse but when he is in control it doesn't seem as bad on his body.

I'm taking this discussion from Ch. 319 thread into general discussion because it definitly leaves the topic of Ch. 319 by far.

Of course it can all be equaled out and said that it would all be required and that Miura is the one designing this universe - which is undoubtably true.
But that still leaves the right to me to dislike the developement and consider it disappointing compared to what previously came.

It's not like I am an enemy of any fantasy element, as you said a little of fantasy has always been there. But I think he overused it severely in the latest arc and totally changed the previous balance of fantasy and a "real" universe. It's definitly up to my decision-making ability and taste to dislike it for myself.

The introduction of bringing in monsters and more and more fantasy and stronger and stronger opponents was not necessary after the beginning. I'm not saying that it was necessarily bad either (though it's not what I like) and there were many directions Berserk could have developed into. Let me, once again, take Vagabond as a comparison (hope you have read it or don't plan to do so at all, because this is a spoiler):

Even after Musashi became the by far strongest swordman, there was enough to ail him, then he got handicapped, found other strong opponents, had enough to think about for himself and so on. Even without exeedingly strong enemies, there can always be developement - while he is still on his way to meeting Kojiro in the final battle.
Berserk could've gone just the same way - less fantasy, less monsters, less exeedingly strong opponents, less powerups, and still have an interesting path leading up to a confrontation with Griffith.

Well, tl;dr: I am not satisfied with the direction Berserk took and there is nothing wrong with that. I am not opposing those who say "I still do like it and it still has great quality", but in my mind it left the plane of good taste, became more generic and could have done better.

And, a final note: No matter how much I dislike the newest chapters, all the stuff before approx. Volume 25-26 is on the highest level of manga to me and epic in practically every single panel.

[Aazholh]

Man, I feel the best is just around the corner. I'm sure that a lot of questions will be answered. Casca regaining her mind? Insight on the Skullknight? Maybe the Elf King will reveal some info on the godhand? All this and more, all they have to do is get past this sea god.

But, you know what? I bet that after the sea god is defeated, that the story goes back to Falconia. But that's cool too.

[llamapie]

@ Rofl I think it was extremely necissary to increase the monsters as they entered the story. It was a build up to events and explained a lot of things. So ya I don't have a problem with it really.

[BakaHaze]

About beserk, are the only available scans of the earlier volumes the super tiny thumbnail sized ones? Or is there something slightly more readable ?

[xi0]

I don't know where you're getting your scans BakaHaze, but most of it is available on IRC in bigger-than-thumbnail size.

[BakaHaze]

Ah, thanks, I was getting them from stoptazmo.
Which Irc channel are you referring to?

[xi0]

http://www.gotlurk.net/

Go there for packlists and stuff.