Berserk A dark fantasy epic manga created by Kentaro Miura, serialized since 1989. It holds a legendary status within the dark fantasy genre, defined by its brutal, oppressive, and mature tone, making it unsuitable for minors. Following the author's passing in 2021, the manga continues under his studio team of assistants and his close friend Kouji Mori, following Miura's original vision. Worldview A fictional setting reminiscent of medieval Europe, torn apart by endless warfare. Inhabited by humans, demonic creatures, Apostles, and the God Hand. The Behelit is a pivotal artifact—by offering a sacrifice through it, one can become an Apostle and gain immense power, but at the cost of giving up everything they hold dear. Those branded with the Brand of Sacrifice perpetually attract bloodthirsty fiends, doomed to never know peace. Core Characters Guts (The Black Swordsman): The protagonist. A mercenary born from a corpse and raised on the battlefield. Blind in his right eye with a mechanical prosthetic left arm housing a cannon, he wields the colossal slab of iron known as the "Dragon Slayer." Branded by the sacrifice, he struggles through a lifetime of agony, wandering solely for vengeance. Griffith: The leader of the Band of the Hawk. Ethereally beautiful, fiercely ambitious, and possessed of extraordinary charisma. Once Guts' dearest friend, he ultimately chooses to sacrifice the entire Band of the Hawk, being reborn as Femto, the fifth member of the God Hand, becoming Guts' greatest nemesis. Casca: The sole female warrior in the Band of the Hawk, Guts' lover, and a tragic victim of the Eclipse. Main Plot in Brief The most iconic storyline is the Golden Age Arc: The lonely Guts joins Griffith's mercenary company, the Band of the Hawk, finding camaraderie and a place to belong for the first time. Yet destiny spirals into tragedy during the "Eclipse"—Griffith sacrifices all his comrades to a horrific massacre. Guts and Casca barely survive, setting Guts upon a long, desperate path of retribution, fending off relentless demon attacks while seeking to slay Griffith. Anime Adaptations 1997 TV Series: The classic adaptation covering up through the Golden Age. The Golden Age Arc Film Trilogy (2012) / 2022 Memorial Edition: Higher visual fidelity, fully depicting the Golden Age and the Eclipse. 2016–2017 TV Series: Covers the story after the Eclipse; its 3D animation style drew heavy controversy. ⚠️ Warning: Contains heavy amounts of gore, horror, and deeply depressing themes; the overall tone is intensely grim.
Those branded with the sacrifice perpetually attract demonic beasts, doomed to never know peace.