Berserk, Volume 5

With each volume of this manga we witness how the story grows, the characters gain depth, and the link between the human world and that of the gods / demons become clearer. The main focus of this installment is to show the importance of Griffith; the way he is perceived by the rest of the Hawks, his influence on Guts' life and his thirst for power, are essential pieces of the puzzle. My main question at this point regarding Griffith is if he was already a demon when he met Guts and was acting according to his plan or if he changed later in time. There are also many enlightening developments relating to Guts personality and relationship with others. He is starting to feel a sense of belonging and to care about others. He still has trouble dealing with affection and admiration. For example, he does not know how to react to a young kid that idolizes him. On the other hand, there are some of the Hawks that despise him and want to see him dead. Casca is a case apart; she is clearly conflicted by the fact that Guts is extraordinary, but she hates him due to his impact on Griffith and for achieving what she cannot. At this point there is not much more I can say about the graphics, they are simply outstanding. I imagine how hard it is for Miura to improve on the fights volume after volume. This time around, he introduces the Immortal Nosferatu Zodd, a legendary warrior that poses an extremely tough challenge for Guts. Especially since Zodd is a demon, and even though we have seen Guts face demons before, you have to remember that in terms of the storyline, this is the first time guts has to confront one. The violence and gore of this manga continue to be proficiently complemented by a compelling story. In this volume the author introduces politics into the mix, since as the Hawks gain prestige and become the most feared army of mercenaries in the area, Griffith starts to be respected and considered at the status of a knight, which several nobles do not appreciate. We also get further information regarding the Behelit, which is not only a key to another dimension as we previously thought, but also: "The one who possesses it and sacrifices his own blood is destined to rule the world". Fans of this series will be rewarded by this volume, and as you probably know by now it will contribute to the addiction.

I have to say right away that the fourth volume of Berserk put a terrible taste in my mouth. The opening chapter had a molestation scene that really stole a lot out of the series for me, and the truth is the series didn't even need it. With the way the third volume ended, we already knew what was going to happen. Here, I think implication is key, yet Kentaro Miura and DMP decided to publish such an ugly scene anyways. Thankfully, this series gets into the lighter moments and allowed me to forget about the ugly episode in the last volume. What's found here is the beginnings of the anime, and almost everything in that anime is interpreted to the word from the manga. Though I will say that I felt like I was watching a repeat, it was interesting to see some of the characters in manga format as I read. Plus, these are the lightest moments in all of Guts's dark tale, and you can't help but enjoy it as Guts slowly works himself into the Band of the Hawk. And, like always, the scenes of action are as intense and bloody as expected, only in this volume Guts has a little more at stake than he does in the past volumes, which adds some emotion. Berserk, though now it's in the story well-known to fans, is probably the best fantasy manga around, and though at times it may seem a little too graphic, it does warn you ahead of time with a sticker on the front and an 18+ age suggestion on the back. If you're a fan of fantasy and can handle some very mature situations, then I'd recommend this series for you. Just be careful, because sometimes the content may surprise you.

Berserk (both anime and manga) put me off at first, I didn't think that I would like it; from what pictures I had seen it looked to be a very violent and bloody manga, not that I'm bothered by those things, but I really prefer a good story and the little I had seen of it lead me to believe that it lacked substance. I have never been so happy to be wrong, as Berserk has now become my favorite anime/manga series. Truth be told Berserk is quite violent and bloody, but that is where it catches you off guard; hidden beneath all of the blood an gore is a great story that you can't help but be caught up in, with characters that are realistic, and have convincing relationships (both platonic and romantic). I'll be honest if you're looking for a lighthearted adventure Berserk isn't for you, but if you want an intense and well written story with original and intricate characters and plots, and don't mind violence you're bound to love Berserk; you can't help but become engrossed in it. It tells the story of Guts, a hardened swordsman on a quest for vengeance against a group of demons known as the Godhand that destroyed all he held dear, and marked him for life with a brand that marks him as their sacrifice, a fate which he is determined to escape. He is accompanied by an elf named Puck, who provides Guts with much annoyance and the manga with a bit of comic relief. This particular volume is part of the Band of the Hawk arc, which details the story of Guts' past with the legendary mercenary group leading up the events that set him out on his quest for revenge.