Berserk

Berserk:

    When I’m asked to recommend an anime to someone the first one that comes to mind is both my favorite, and in my opinion, the greatest one ever made.

Berserk centers around a young man by the name of Guts. Guts is a mercenary who has since the beginning of his life, traveled from battlefield to battlefield fighting for the side that pays him the most. Guts was trained by his step father Gambino. Gambino was the leader of his own mercenary group. Guts’ mother was killed during a time of plague, which Gambino blames Guts for. Guts is considered to be a curse. Guts had a rough upbringing; he was forced to learn how to fight with adult size swords at the age of six. This led to Guts getting his nose split. When Guts turned twelve he was forced to kill his step father. Gambino, who was drunk, walked into Guts’ tent and tried to kill him so that he could never curse another living thing. Guts afraid of Gambino lifted his sword, just as Gambino was tripping and was stuck straight to the sword. The rest of the mercenary group heard the noise coming from the tent and was shocked at the sight they had seen. They tried to hunt Guts down and kill him for what they had thought was an act of murder. After escaping, Guts was discovered by another mercenary group. The took him in with welcome hands. Four years later Guts is again on a battlefield, the mercenary group he is with is trying to capture a fort, where which is being held by a mercenary group named “The Band of the Hawk.” The Band of the Hawk is considered the grim reapers of the battle field. They are lead by a young man named Griffith, under his command they have never been defeated. Once Griffith catches view of Guts, he commands his army to leave the castle. A few hours after the battle, Guts was traveling by himself, where he is attacked by a group of men on horses. It turns out that the men who are attacking him are apart of The Band of the Hawk. Guts defeats the men, only to have Griffith himself ride upon horse asking Guts to please put down his sword. In anger, Guts tries to attack Griffith. Only to be wounded, and pass out from the loss of blood. He awakens to find himself in a tent alone. Guts discovers he is in the camp of The Band of the Hawk. Griffith greets him outside of the tent and asks Guts if he would join him on a stroll. They end up on the top of a hill where Griffith asks Guts to join The Band of the Hawk. Upset, Guts refuses; he draws his sword and threatens Griffith that he’ll stab Griffith as payback for what Griffith did to him. Smirking, Griffith challenges Guts to a duel. If Guts wins, he can put the sword straight to Griffith with no worries of harm from the rest of The Band of the Hawk. If Griffith wins, Guts will not only join the group, he will also become Griffith’s personal possession. This includes Guts giving up his life when Griffith gives the order. Guts accepts these terms and the dual begins. After a long battle, Guts is defeated. Guts is now apart of The Band of the Hawk. Where he will serve Griffith with no hesitation.

And so the story begins…………

Berserk is one of those stories that takes a long time to read. The above paragraph is only just a slim piece of the actual story. There are both happy moments, and sad. If given the chance, do not hesitate to pick up a copy of this manga. A little bit of a warning though. The story is a very gruesome tale and is not for the faint of heart.










 - Guts











 - Band of the Hawks Symbol