Berserk by Kentaro Miura is a dark fantasy and must-read seinen manga that’s been a force in the industry for over 30 years. It’s an absolute classic that still holds the mantle as one of the best manga ever released. With elaborate art, an absorbing story full of carnage and sacrifice, and a protagonist who’s one of the most brutal and unrelenting in all of manga, Berserk is a masterpiece through and through.
What’s Berserk About?
At the heart of Berserk is Guts, a man so feared he’s basically become a ghost story. Scarred head to toe from a lifetime of brutal fights and torture, he roams the land hauling around a sword that’s more like a slab of steel. If that wasn’t enough, he bears a cursed brand that turns him into a magnet for monsters, forever hunted by forces darker than anything most could imagine.
But Guts isn’t the type to back down just because the odds — or destiny itself — say he should. He charges straight at it, cutting down anything that dares stand in his way, human or demon alike. Trailing behind is Puck, a tiny elf who’s mostly comic relief, tagging along for reasons even he might not understand, as Guts pushes forward on a blood-soaked path that could end in death… or some twisted form of revenge.
Berserk is about so many things — human nature, struggle, will versus destiny, the sacrifices we make for others and for ourselves. It’s set in a brutal world plagued by war, and Guts is quite literally born into it.
In the Golden Age Arc, he joins the Band of the Hawk, a mercenary group led by the charismatic Griffith. This is where the story truly takes off. But of course, this is a dark fantasy, so something happens that changes everything for Guts and pushes the story into even darker territory that keeps you invested all the way through.
The Art & Worldbuilding
Kentaro Miura is a master of detail. Many panels are full of chaos — swords clashing, arrows flying, soldiers charging on horseback or on foot — yet it’s always clear what’s happening. Even when it feels like hundreds of people are in motion at once, Miura highlights the main focus perfectly.
When it comes to paneling and detail, capturing beauty in the chaos, showing raw character expressions, and delivering panels that stop you in your tracks, few are as GOATed as Kentaro Miura. Berserk’s art is larger than life, made up of tiny textures and varied line weights that stand out even more in larger formats. Every panel feels drawn with care and passion, and it shows immediately.
A Story of Brutality & Humanity
Berserk is absolutely a dark fantasy, but it’s also filled with horror, earning spots on both best horror manga lists and top seinen rankings. It’s violent, graphic, and raw — but that’s what makes the moments of heart and sacrifice hit so hard.
It shows how characters keep moving forward even when everything’s stacked against them. Guts’ journey is both awe-inspiring and deeply tragic, and it explores the gray areas of human nature better than almost any series out there.
Guts & Griffith – One of Manga’s Best Protagonist and Antagonist Duos
At the heart of Berserk are Guts and Griffith — easily one of the best rivalries in manga.
Guts might seem like a brute at first, a man who charges headfirst into danger with that wild grin on his face. But underneath all the raw violence is someone who genuinely thinks of others, often to the point of hurting himself. His world may be brutal and cold, but he brings warmth to it in the way he protects and connects with the people who matter. He’s misunderstood, both by the people inside his world who fear him, and by us as readers, until we start seeing who he truly is.
Then there’s Griffith, who’s been through his own share of struggles but chooses a path completely different from Guts. Griffith is the kind of person who can make anyone fall for him — not just because he’s beautiful, but because he has a way of making people feel truly seen. He’s clever, charismatic, and draws people to him effortlessly. When he forms the Band of the Hawk, it becomes the backbone of Berserk’s early story. Getting to know Griffith so well early on is exactly what makes everything that comes later hit that much harder.
Together, Guts and Griffith create a narrative that shows how trauma and ambition shape people in totally unique ways. It’s their dynamic — one brutal but kind, the other graceful but chilling — that drives so much of what makes Berserk unforgettable.
There’s More to Berserk Than Blood and Violence
A lot of people hear about Berserk and think it’s just one long bloodbath — violent, graphic, dark for the sake of it. And sure, Berserk is absolutely all of those things. But if you think that’s all it is, you’d be wrong.
Berserk is a thrilling saga that’s action-packed, but it also has moments of comedy, bits of light, and yes, even romance. At its core, it’s a story about perseverance. It has a surprising amount of heart, and that’s what makes it unforgettable.
Best Edition to Get
Berserk has been released in English in two main ways by Dark Horse: the original singles and the Berserk Deluxe Editions.
The Deluxe Editions are hardcover, wrapped in black pleather, with the brand of sacrifice embossed in the center and metallic red lettering that stands out beautifully. They have sewn bindings, less gutter loss, sharper contrast, and they’re printed in a larger format, making the art and even the small text easier to take in. They also include full-color art galleries and, in later volumes, fold-out posters that were part of the original singles.
While the individual paperbacks are the cheapest way to collect the series at retail and feature Miura’s original cover art, they have more cropping, more gutter loss, and smaller text that can be tough to read at times. The Deluxe Editions highlight every tiny line and texture Miura put into his work. They’re premium, beautiful, and the best way to experience Berserk.
Final Thoughts on Berserk
Berserk is brutal, stunning, and has more heart than it’s ever given credit for. It’s the kind of story that, once finished, leaves you wondering what could possibly follow, because nothing else is quite like it.
That said, while Berserk stands alone, there are other manga that capture similar dark themes, unrelenting main characters, and themes of fate and struggle. If you’re hunting for what to read next, check out the best manga like Berserk list for more series that hit in similar ways.
If you’re after a dark fantasy with unmatched art and a story that pulls no punches, Berserk is essential — and to us, it will forever be the best manga of all time.
Looking for more?
Want more fantasy series with amazing world-building? Check out the best fantasy manga list to find your next favorite. You can shop Berserk now at one of the manga retailers listed below!
