My first experiences with Berserk came not through the manga, nor even from watching the anime: but actually from seeing a preview on the Samurai Deeper Kyo DVDs. One day I was scanning through the previews on the fourth disc and randomly decided to watch the one for Berserk. Let me tell you, I was floored. Not by the art, not by the amazing way it was cut together, but actually by the music they had playing in the background. Seeing that trailer set me on two passions: Berserk and Susumu Hirasawa (if you have not checked out his music, do so. Some of it is hit-or-miss, but there are more than a few golden pieces in his works).
In any event, after seeing the trailer I had to find the anime; at least, that is what my thinking went to immediately. No such luck. Berserk is quite possibly one of the hardest collections of DVDs to find unless you order on-line, which almost seems like cheating. In any event, stymied by the failure, I put it out of my mind for a time and went on with life...until I saw the first fourteen volumes of Berserk one day in Borders.
I will say this - I did not read Berserk in order. I read books 1-2, then went to 4-6, 8-10, then went back to 3 and 7 and on from there. It is a fascinating story, filled with violently beautiful art and distinct, emotionally fractured characters. It is quite possibly the most realistic portrait of medieval times ever shown (and that from a Japanese mangaka!), despite the magic and demons and elves.
It is also delightfully humorous - something that even the darkest of stories need, if only to relieve the tension - especially for someone who has read a lot of manga and watched a lot of anime. All of the overblown attacks called out by Guts' enemies in the Golden Age, promising utter defeat and devastation - only to have them fail spectacularly - is clearly a thumb to the nose at all of the shounen manga in existence.
Now, there are some complaints that the story in the Millennium Arc is moving away from the dark aspects of the story. Not True! Think back to the Golden Age arc, and how happy and cheerful it seemed then! The story is only becoming happier because of the terrible things yet to come. Nothing makes despair deeper than the fond memories of good times.
For those who have reviewed this story poorly I have only this to say: you did not try. You read the story with skepticism, a critical eye and a sneer upon your lips. You refused to let yourself go and just accept the story for what it is: A Story.
Let all who read Berserk after seeing this review read it with this in mind: Experience it for what it is - the story of Guts - and not for what you believe it should be, or with any comparisons to the manga you have read in the past. Because I can guarantee you one thing - any manga you have read recently came after Berserk.
I would also recommend searching the internet for Susumu Hirasawa's Berserk soundtrack. You can find it if you look hard enough. Reading the manga while listening to the music is a sublime experience.
I will agree with one negative point mentioned in the previous reviews - it could be done faster. Not blindingly fast, like some Shounen Jump teeney-bopper fight manga, but once a month like Gantz would be superb, and would no doubt lead to ecstatic frenzies amongst the Berserk community.
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