Rating: 
Summary: Best Manga series EVER!
Review: After recently finishing the anime series I went and baught the manga. And man does the manga kick ass. It's ten times better then the anime. PLus it's more violent too. This manga is slightly different then the series such as the Fairy Puck who never showed up in the anime.Over all this is one of those mangas were you'll be like "aww man what next what next!!". I personaly love the manga...alot.S Sadly When I asked the person at the comic/manga store about when volumes 13-ect ect would come out in the US...I asked him this cause I really wanted to know what happend after episode 25 of the anime. Sadly he told me it would be about 4 to 5 years by the time volumes 14 through on and on would come out here. Sadly There are only Volumes 1-3 out.
But luckily I got to go to AnimeExpo 2004 and they had all the volumes and they were only 5 BUCKS!! So I baught a few of em' even though they were in japanes but hey I know japanes so I don't need to worry about it. And from going to Volume 13 I can def tell you this manga is for MATURE AUDIENCES especcially how Caskas rape is much more graphic in the manga then the anime. But thats Not the point here. Overall Volume 1 of berserk is (excuse me for this) F-d up big time and awesome too. This series is just Brilliant and very very cool especially the plot with a new Behiret. The manga is a def must buy for Berserk fans. I am on voume 14 of the manga right now and alot of things have happend. For one I can tell you is that Caska is now insain (literally)
Caska gives birth to a demon child! If you see something grotesque on the floor in volume 1 when Guts is in that prison thats Caska's child if You Didn't know. And that's all I can tell you. And in volumes 13 you finally see how Guts and Caska escaped that "Hell" they were in. So far this is shaping up to be the BestManga series ever.
Once you finish volume 1 go and immediatly buy voulme 2. 2 is sooooo much more better and more action too. And Guts fights that giant worm that rickert saw in the anime and that Pipin got cut in half with in the Manga. Put simply this series ROCKS GET IT! NOW!!! Later
Rating:
Summary: Best Manga series EVER!
Review: After recently finishing the anime series I went and baught the manga. And man does the manga kick ass. It's ten times better then the anime. PLus it's more violent too. This manga is slightly different then the series such as the Fairy Puck who never showed up in the anime. Over all this is one of those mangas were you'll be like "aww man what next what next!!". I personaly love the manga...alot.S Sadly When I asked the person at the comic/manga store about when volumes 13-ect ect would come out in the US...I asked him this cause I really wanted to know what happend after episode 25 of the anime. Sadly he told me it would be about 4 to 5 years by the time volumes 14 through on and on would come out here. Sadly There are only Volumes 1-3 out.
But luckily I got to go to AnimeExpo 2004 and they had all the volumes and they were only 5 BUCKS!! So I baught a few of em' even though they were in japanes but hey I know japanes so I don't need to worry about it. And from going to Volume 13 I can def tell you this manga is for MATURE AUDIENCES especcially how Caskas rape is much more graphic in the manga then the anime. But thats Not the point here. Overall Volume 1 of berserk is (excuse me for this) F-d up big time and awesome too. This series is just Brilliant and very very cool especially the plot with a new Behiret. The manga is a def must buy for Berserk fans. I am on voume 14 of the manga right now and alot of things have happend. For one I can tell you is that Caska is now insain (literally)
Caska gives birth to a demon child! If you see something grotesque on the floor in volume 1 when Guts is in that prison thats Caska's child if You Didn't know. And that's all I can tell you. And in volumes 13 you finally see how Guts and Caska escaped that "Hell" they were in. So far this is shaping up to be the BestManga series ever.
Once you finish volume 1 go and immediatly buy voulme 2. 2 is sooooo much more better and more action too. And Guts fights that giant worm that rickert saw in the anime and that Pipin got cut in half with in the Manga. Put simply this series ROCKS GET IT! NOW!!! Later
Rating:
Summary: Berserk Is The Greatest Thing Ever
Review: Be forewarned that this review is heavily biased, I love Berserk more than my own mother. Hands down the greatest manga I've ever read and the best anime I've ever seen. I get goosebumps just thinking about it. It helps to get into the series having seen the anime, since it takes place before the first three volumes, but in volume four it gets around to the events of the anime (After all, the manga came first) but seeing it makes the transition smoother. So volume 1-3 is stuff after the ending of the anime, 4-13 is a long flashback that parallels the anime with some new details, then the rest of the series picks back up at the volume 3 time frame. So anyone who saw how the anime ended at a cliffhanger (a second season isn't likely) will be thrilled to know that it was just the prologue to the real story. Berserk is amazing. It has everything, style, action, gore, romance, an intricate plot that keeps you turning pages like a maniac, and some of the best characters in fiction history. You really feel for these people and laugh, cry, and bask in victory along with them. I'm so excited I'm forgetting my usual writing skills and typing without a single breath trying to wrap up all the greatness that is Berserk in a single review! BUY BUY BUY BUY BUY! Unfortunately the manga is being printed only one volume every three months and up to volume six is out in America, but in Japan there is currently 28 volumes! It'll take forever for us to catch up, so I suggest learning to read Japanese like myself (I'm doing it mostly for Berserk, although it's just a useful skill to have in general, I found a great book that makes it fun) or finding some translations of the dialogue online and use in conjunction with the Japanese manga. Watch one episode of Berserk or read this manga and you'll be absolutely hooked. It will consume your thoughts and your life. If Kentaro Miura dies before he finishes the series (It still has a way to go) I will die beside him, for Berserk is the reason for living. Praise it. I go to sleep at night with Berserk stuff cradled in my arms. I could go on forever. If you don't buy this you are missing out on the greatest thing to ever grace this earth. Buy the anime. Buy the manga. Buy the T-shirts, the action figures, the toilet paper. My rant ends here.
Rating: 
Summary: Great comic, but some problems with the production
Review: Berserk anime = one of the best. But, even so, it can't touch the manga. The only problem is that it takes about ten volumes for it to get to the part AFTER the anime! That's right! Everyone's complaint after seeing the anime: "I want more of the first episode!" Well, guess what! The anime takes up less than half of the manga so far (I say so far because there are 26 manga volumes and it's not even done!) Most important thing for you to know is: borrow, rent, or buy the anime and watch that first. The manga is 100 times better, but first watch the anime. If you watch that first, you'll be as satisfied with both as you should be. If you watch it second, you'll be happy with the manga and disappointed with the anime. That said, ENJOY IT! ^_^
Rating:
Summary: Perfection...well, not yet.
Review: Berserk anime = one of the best. But, even so, it can't touch the manga. The only problem is that it takes about ten volumes for it to get to the part AFTER the anime! That's right! Everyone's complaint after seeing the anime: "I want more of the first episode!" Well, guess what! The anime takes up less than half of the manga so far (I say so far because there are 26 manga volumes and it's not even done!) Most important thing for you to know is: borrow, rent, or buy the anime and watch that first. The manga is 100 times better, but first watch the anime. If you watch that first, you'll be as satisfied with both as you should be. If you watch it second, you'll be happy with the manga and disappointed with the anime. That said, ENJOY IT! ^_^
Rating:
Summary: Unaltered Perfection
Review: Berserk finally comes to America and it is almost completely unaltered (except for the English translation of course). I was fearing that the Berserk manga would have its sound effects translated but, thankfully, that is not the case. I, personally, hate the sound effects being translated. Unfortunately, from reading the other reviews, I am not in the majority. The biggest problem with translating sound effects is that you have to erase part of the picture. Just flip through a copy of GTO by TOKYOPOP to see what I am talking about. In order to erase the Japanese characters, they erase huge chunks of the picture. This is my biggest gripe with the GTO manga and I feel as if I am not getting the most orignal form of the manga as possible. Not translating the dialogue also cuts costs, as another reviewer noted. I am also waiting for anime companies to realize fans want the most unaltered forms of their favorite anime and stop wasting time and money creating English dubbed language tracks that inflate the price of anime videos. I think the perfect solution is for readers of manga to learn the measley 46 Katakana characters that make up the majority of Japanese sound effects. Another solution is to write the English translation for the soundeffects within the Japanese sound effects when they are big, which is also found in GTO. For smaller sound effects, put them around the Japanese sound effects or outside the panel. Whatever the solution, keep the original artwork and sound effects untouched!
Rating:
Summary: A fantastic tale of action, adventure, revenge & sorrow.
Review: First of all, I definitely recommend watching the Berserk anime series before delving into the manga. Although the manga came first, lasted longer, and goes into more detail, the 25 episode TV show is a nice primer.
That said, no matter how you choose to experience Berserk, it's a worthwhile and incredible experience. If you look past the intense amount of violence and gore, you'll find the heart-wrenching story of Guts, a man who could never find a place in the world, and could never lead a normal life. He dedicates his life to fighting, the only thing he knows how to do. When he finally opens his heart and finds friendship and love, it is all torn away from him. It is then that he finds his purpose: revenge. And he takes it out on every demon he can find, giving the series it's well-earned reputation for gruesome violence - and I promise, you'll enjoy every moment of it.
I can't possibly give a description that does this series justice. To borrow a line from the first Matrix: you have to see it for yourself.
Rating: 
Summary: Berserk: A dark tale of an anti-hero and...a naked fairy?!
Review: Here's a formula for making a typical dark, action title: add evil supremacy to the world, sprinkle it up with grotesque monsters in all varieties, mix in with bloody violence and contents that most mothers wouldn't like, and to top it all off, an anti-hero that'll give this whole recipe a bad taste. Surprisingly, it's a formula made into a manga that's made for satisfaction called "Berserk". The story starts off pretty much by the ol' action rulebook: bad things are happening in a lil' town, and a wanderer came by out of nowhere; wreaking havoc ensues. Actually, knowing Guts in the manga is somewhat intriguing. Unlike other main bad boys who say they care less about others and slaughters without concern, Guts actually FOLLOWS his word. With the 'brand' on his neck, many demons follow and try to slain him, and though they thought they succeed, Guts would do the 180 on those baddies, and he would actually felt no emotion or apprehension on the outcome of the battle; he would actually careless about human casualties surrounding him, not even the casualty of a woman or a child, but somehow, I don't seem to feel any hate from him, just remorse. He's a cold-hearted guy who might have a grudge about his dark past (who doesn't?), so knowing him more in later volumes is a must. He also has a sidekick, a naked fairy-elf named Puck, to be his side for minor support and as comic relief. Okay, people are getting killed gruesomely in this manga, and that little naked thing's trying to make me laugh? How ironic. The artwork is for one reason why "Berserk" has a mature rating. I've seen some bloody things before in graphic novels, but this, this made my head spin faster than Betelgeuse. The characters and monsters, though fleshy, are very 'creative', and the detail of violence is off the scale. Body parts will fly off, and the style of decapitation is beyond my imagination. Fortunately for me, I can bear this kind of graphic brutality. This book is read from right-to-left, next to Trigun, the first for Dark Horse to publish in its original Japanese form. It would've been nice, though, it they would just translate the sound effects like how ADV manga has done it, leaving the translations by the side of the Japanese SFX. I have a few peeves with this first volume. The focus is a little too much on action, and the character development is lean; The volume pretty much introduces the main character and parts about his past, albeit not fully explanatory. I don't think it's necessary to watch the anime version before reading the manga version, but it couldn't hurt to just check it out. The manga version, however, actually continues after the anime ends, so if you're thinking of getting the manga, whether or not you've seen the anime version, you're getting the better deal. "Berserk" has some potential to be a solid action title. I wish the first volume could've been more upbriging with the story, though; maybe the second volume will get better.
Rating:
Summary: It starts.
Review: I remember reading just about every Berserk book that came out in 2000. I was addicted to the series. The deep characters with emotional back stories, the character designs in general, the plot that has no happy ending from what I could see, and the drawing style. But back then, it cost about 3 times as much as this little graphic novel here for just one issue. Luckily, Berserk has been getting popular, and Dark Horse picked it up for US shores. And I'm impressed. This is one of very few Japanese comics that is properly translated. I still have some older Berserk comics from when they were first printed, and the translation is dead-on.
But enough about that, I'm sure you want to know what Berserk's about. It follows the story of Guts (or Gattsu as so many purists insist), wandering the land for revenge. While the full story isn't even close to being revealed in this issue, I insist that you watch the animated series before getting into the books. Where the series is available on just 6 discs, the books are currently up to volume 27. We've got a ways to go. But Guts is a mercenary unlike any other. He doesn't help others, but he isn't quite a bad guy. He's just looking out for himself. And in the world of Berserk, that's probably the smartest thing you can do. There are bandits, demons, zombies, and spirits everywhere just waiting to attack. And to make matters worse, Guts has a brand on his neck that attracts these demons. It causes him pain or bleeds whenever he's about to be attacked. But Guts is a one-man army. In just the first part of this volume, he blows a hole through a monster's head with his hand-cannon, lops people in half with his 7-foot sword: The Dragonslayer, picks off bandits in groups with his automatic crossbow attatchment, and more. Really, you don't get any cooler than Guts as far as main characters go. Upon entering a town, he encounters a small fairy: Puck. Puck follows Guts around, curing his wounds, and in hopes of seeing lots of action because Guts "seems interesting".
Honestly, if it weren't for Puck, Berserk would almost be unreadable. Don't get me wrong here- I'm not saying that it'd be a bad series. But I mean that the whole story would just be too depressing. This is one of those rare times where comic relief is a good thing, and Puck is used mostly for just that. Plus he isn't there every 2 pannels. Just whenever a situation is very dreadful, or when he's actually needed. Puck saves Guts many, many times in the course of Berserk, he even saves him more than once in this volume alone. I'd have to say getting him out of prison counts for something. The two continue on in search of someone who knows the man Guts is seeking revenge on. I'm not going to be throwing names around here because the story's so good, that it'd be a pity to ruin anything for you. None the less, this graphic novel IS very brutal. When someone gets cut in half, their upper body gets hurled a few yards as blood pours out from both halves. Arrows get stuck in eyes, explosions look extremely painful, and not everyone is safe. Women and children don't have that special security that most comics would give them. In fact, this is going to sound silly but, if you took away the demons and all that from Berserk, it'd be very life-like and honest. It's a tale showing that life isn't always going to give you the easy way out. For once, I'll agree that this isn't for younger readers. It's a fact that Berserk has been banned from several stores for being where anyone can open it right there and start reading. Dragon Ball Z this ain't.
Again, the quality of the translation is fantastic, and the book is solid. All the pannels are there in full, and my book didn't have any errors at all in the picture quality. And low and behold- there weren't tons of ads for other comic series in the back of the book. That justifies the 5 star rating even more. But go for Berserk if you're in need of something refreshing. Just don't expect to be cheerful afterwards.
Rating:
Summary: Berserk, a pleasant suprise
Review: I'll keep this short. Bottome line, the Berserk Anime was one of the best things I have seen. And after reading this first volume I am pleased to know that the Manga is going to be just as good. The story is filled with action, adventure, and deep complicated characters. Theres no clear cut (good and evil)or(hero and villian) in this story. It's all just one gray chaotic mess like in real life. I am very happy that these volumes are being translated to english so I will have new Berserk material to fuel my thirst for this story now that the anime is long over.
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