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Title: Berserk
Genres: Action, Horror, Dark fantasy
Author: Miura Kentarou
Artist: Miura Kentarou
Publication:Hakusensha and Dark Horse Comics
Start Date: 1990.December.1.
End Date: Ongoing
Number of chapters at review: 312
Number of chapters read by reviewer:312
(if you have trouble finding any of this info, contact me, and I'm sure I can get it for you)
General Overview:
An incredibly sophisticated manga, concerning the themes that are present, the construction of the story and mainly the character's unique development. The story might seem violent, or in some chapters very peaceful and fairytale-like, but these extremes are put together very well, with the help of the high quality art style Miura is using.
Category Ratings: (1-10 scale)
Art:8
The art is realistic, starting from the characters, the world, certain panoramas. The strong aspect is not the realism, but a style that is able to transmit the deep emotions, therefore the reader can fully immerse himself in the world that he created. Probably the horror elements of the manga are a bit exaggerated, but it's exaggerated on purpose to present the dark life of the hero in the best way.
Plot:10
The plot is very original from multiple points of view. The relationship of the characters makes it possible for the plot to take unexpected turns very often, so the manga's plot isn't plain, or boring.
The impressive thing about the plot is the way how it's constructed. It shows two entirely different world, each lived by the hero, until a certain event unites the two plot-lines and gives birth to third almost entirely different approach.
Characters:8
The main characters are the crown jewel of this manga. Each of them represents a certain world, and the clash of these worlds is moving the plot forward. The instability of these relationships is very compelling, showing no signs of predictibility of ones behaviour.
The downslide of the beautifully constructed main characters is the lack of scondary characters, or at least the lack of true supporting roles. Throughout the manga there is one who can identify with this, but the rest of the secondary characters aren't taking too much part at the actual plot.
Theme:10
Themes like unfulfilled love, or small communities fighting for survival, religious authority, are just few of the many themes a seinen manga of this caliber approaches. As the demographic is showing the themes are indeed various, but the main theme is that of the confrontation between humans and gods. The strong point of this confrontation is given by the uniqueness of the characters, who at first show incredible contradiction with the worlds they represent, yet their innermost thoughts are exactly the mirror of their respective worlds.
Another interesting aspect is showing this conflict, but by covering it with the possibility for humans and gods or god-like creatures to live together.
Originality:8
The theme and the characters are mainly taking the merit for the mark. The sophisticated approach that Miura chose for its characters and plot, the subtle or sometimes too direct approach of certain present social issues definitely puts Berserk in the category of one of the most originally constructed mangas.
The world which Miura constructed is not that original, though. There are many elements used from European mythologies, the usage of names representing this as well. It is a hybrid world formed from mythological and religious elements, covered with issues of modern society, but not just.
Overall:8.5
As for story and character developments goes the manga is definitely worth reading. If somebody is interested in the originality of this manga, then I whole-heartedly recommend it, but as an action manga and the presentation of a dark violent world, certain developments might be shocking, or too brutal. It definitely has exaggerated moments, and thanks to the quality of the art is more than fully visible, but recognizing the idea behind the story is the most important.
Some pics
Genres: Action, Horror, Dark fantasy
Author: Miura Kentarou
Artist: Miura Kentarou
Publication:Hakusensha and Dark Horse Comics
Start Date: 1990.December.1.
End Date: Ongoing
Number of chapters at review: 312
Number of chapters read by reviewer:312
(if you have trouble finding any of this info, contact me, and I'm sure I can get it for you)
General Overview:
An incredibly sophisticated manga, concerning the themes that are present, the construction of the story and mainly the character's unique development. The story might seem violent, or in some chapters very peaceful and fairytale-like, but these extremes are put together very well, with the help of the high quality art style Miura is using.
Category Ratings: (1-10 scale)
Art:8
The art is realistic, starting from the characters, the world, certain panoramas. The strong aspect is not the realism, but a style that is able to transmit the deep emotions, therefore the reader can fully immerse himself in the world that he created. Probably the horror elements of the manga are a bit exaggerated, but it's exaggerated on purpose to present the dark life of the hero in the best way.
Plot:10
The plot is very original from multiple points of view. The relationship of the characters makes it possible for the plot to take unexpected turns very often, so the manga's plot isn't plain, or boring.
The impressive thing about the plot is the way how it's constructed. It shows two entirely different world, each lived by the hero, until a certain event unites the two plot-lines and gives birth to third almost entirely different approach.
Characters:8
The main characters are the crown jewel of this manga. Each of them represents a certain world, and the clash of these worlds is moving the plot forward. The instability of these relationships is very compelling, showing no signs of predictibility of ones behaviour.
The downslide of the beautifully constructed main characters is the lack of scondary characters, or at least the lack of true supporting roles. Throughout the manga there is one who can identify with this, but the rest of the secondary characters aren't taking too much part at the actual plot.
Theme:10
Themes like unfulfilled love, or small communities fighting for survival, religious authority, are just few of the many themes a seinen manga of this caliber approaches. As the demographic is showing the themes are indeed various, but the main theme is that of the confrontation between humans and gods. The strong point of this confrontation is given by the uniqueness of the characters, who at first show incredible contradiction with the worlds they represent, yet their innermost thoughts are exactly the mirror of their respective worlds.
Another interesting aspect is showing this conflict, but by covering it with the possibility for humans and gods or god-like creatures to live together.
Originality:8
The theme and the characters are mainly taking the merit for the mark. The sophisticated approach that Miura chose for its characters and plot, the subtle or sometimes too direct approach of certain present social issues definitely puts Berserk in the category of one of the most originally constructed mangas.
The world which Miura constructed is not that original, though. There are many elements used from European mythologies, the usage of names representing this as well. It is a hybrid world formed from mythological and religious elements, covered with issues of modern society, but not just.
Overall:8.5
As for story and character developments goes the manga is definitely worth reading. If somebody is interested in the originality of this manga, then I whole-heartedly recommend it, but as an action manga and the presentation of a dark violent world, certain developments might be shocking, or too brutal. It definitely has exaggerated moments, and thanks to the quality of the art is more than fully visible, but recognizing the idea behind the story is the most important.
Some pics
Because your judgement was objective and you took the marks seriously... 
