Berserk Volume 9

After a series of volumes in which happiness abounded and things were looking up, this installment represents a turning point in the story and a return to darker times. At the end of the previous volume, Guts swiftly defeated Griffith and abandoned him and the Band of Hawks. Guts did this in an effort to seek his destiny and his dream instead of just following Griffith's. But now he is already having doubts, especially since for the first time in his life he had a group of people he could call friends. Griffith has been greatly affected by Guts' departure but is still pursuing his dream, and in the process he is getting romantically involved with Princess Charlotte. But there will be repercussions from his actions. In the meantime, Casca, who had started developing a friendship with Guts, misses him greatly, as does a good portion of the Band of the Hawks. There are two things that make this an outstanding volume in this superb series. First, the story speeds forward into darker times with an intensity seldom seen, but also manages to insert some interesting elements in the process. Second, you will get to witness one of the most awaited moments of the series, and one which allows the creator to show his magnificent ability for detailed and vivid drawings. Once again, we get a healthy dose of violence and gore, but this installment contains a much higher concentration of sexual scenes than any of the previous ones. There are even elements of incest, and some of the allusions get bolder and bolder. Moreover, some of these elements are efficiently used in helping understand better the psyche of the characters. Fans of the series will likely find this volume to be one of the best in the series so far.

I was able to get a great price on these New Beserk books but it took around 8-10 days before I received them.

Background (general series) info: In the feudal era, a time of demons and knights, one man refuses to let anyone else control his destiny. Gatsu, a mercernary who recently left the infamous "Band of the Hawk," wanders and trains to become even stronger. As the protagonist of the series, Guts approaches battle with a mixture of savagery and cunning that is utterly destructive. This issue: Guts has just left his post in the mercernary group, the Hawks. To do so, he defeated Griffith in a duel. Upon gaining his freedom, he wanders alone into the woods, confronted by the Knight of Skeleton. Strangely, this awesome figure utters advice that he believes will save Guts' life. Something incredibly ominous approaches. Something is about to happen that will change the lives of Guts, Caska, and Griffith forever. If you enjoy a good plot, you cannot go wrong with Berserk. It is such a strange and skillful blend of fantasy and realism that you become completely submerged in it. I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys action and supernatural intrigue.

If you've found yourself tiring of high school comedies & ninja kids, but still want engaging graphic storytelling, then do yourself a favor & give this series a try. By volume 9, Miura's style is at it's height. This volume is the end of the beginning, so to speak - the good times of comraderie, romping around as a mercenary gang, climbing up the midland social ladder - are coming to a sudden and violent end. Griffith's ambition may destroy the hawks once and for all... The series is now almost to the point where the Anime left off..and believe me, you want to see what happens next.