In my last days of college, I went out one night with a friend. We were chatting about the future and turned out we both were moving to Atlanta. He then informed me he was getting married, I was happy for him and was excited for him. He then told me I didn’t fit in his new life with his soon-to-be wife. He dropped me off back at my apartment and also told me there was a box of comics in the back for me. These as well did not fit in with his new life.
Turns out that box was volumes 1-24 of a comic called Berserk by Kentaro Miura. These to date some of my favorite comics and some of the best in a medium I love. It looks like a guy with a big sword (the first to do this by the way.) What it is a story of how much grief and sorrow one man can overcome. it is some of the most brutal and hard-hitting comics I have ever read. It deals with abuse, loss, injustice, demons, and so much more. It does this better than any other creator could.
On May 6, 2021, we lost this creator. They just released the news today. I hope he got to finish it or his team can finish this work. I’m not just saying this as a fan but as a creator myself, the idea of an untold story scares me. Thank you for all the late nights when thoughts of killing myself plagued me and reading about Guts helped me. I have tears in my eyes, I cannot believe we lost him so young!
If you can stomach some of the most brutal violence and abuse, I recommend this series. It is that good and more.
-Greathouse