Berserk

i wasnt sure what i was expecting when i started this particular manga, maybe because one of my friends has been marathoning it for the past few weeks or simply because its a legendary title that ive been craving to read for so long. but im sure that i made the right decision now that i finished it thoroughly. berserk is one hell of a ride, and i mean it when i say its hell in the most proper definition possible. its very mature, it has the plot that flows like water, and it has a breathtaking art style that consistently develops throughout the time. also i wasnt kidding when i said it felt like bathing in blood each time im done with a chapter. Berserk follows a skilled swordsman named Guts that walks around with gigantic sword, iron arm, and numerous scars from endless battles that he went through. the theme is set in medieval era, and while im not generally too fond of medieval settings, this one truly caught me real good. as an author, kentaro miura did a good research for his work for example theres a panel with people getting tortured in the exact same ways as the ones i once watched in a medieval torture methods video on youtube, or the way he put down the politic issues that wrap the wars between the respected kingdoms. also his art style is really detailed and crisp, with amazing shading technique that elevated the haunting atmosphere to a whole new level.

this manga definitely targets mature audience for it depicts tons of explicit violence and sexual scenes. it is enriched with great characters that stay true to their intentions as well as their own developments. it questions the depth of friendships and love, also how far would humans go to reach their one and true ambition. like at this point i still dont know how to feel about eclipse arc cos it has truly, mentally scarred me for life? it portrays the wildest and darkest imagination one would ever have and exceeds it with explicit graphic that is brutally honest. berserk offers a balanced ride of emotional and physically painful journey that can be too vile for some but it all comes down to reality, that life can be vile to anyone and that the good and the bad arent always like we expect them to be. if you can stand violence and psychological stuff then its a loss to miss a series of this caliber. 10/10 worth to read.