The legend of Guts: Why Berserk remains the gold standard of seinen

There are many manga I’ve loved, many stories that have taken me on wild, emotional rides—but none have left a mark quite like Berserk. It’s raw. It’s brutal. At times, it’s deeply unsettling. But beneath the violence and chaos, there’s something unexpected: heart. Honest, fractured, but unmistakably human.

And at the center of it all stands Guts, the Black Swordsman—one of the most unforgettable protagonists in all of fiction. You don’t forget the first time you see Guts.

Carrying a sword larger than life through a war-torn landscape is memorable, unsettling, and strangely beautiful. “It was much too big to be called a sword,” the narration says. “Massive, thick, heavy, and far too rough. Indeed, it was like a raw heap of iron.” That single sentence is Berserk in a nutshell. Unrefined. Overwhelming. Honest.

Kentaro Miura’s art is god-tier. I have never, ever seen panels like his. Every page feels like it took days to draw. The detail, the expression, and the motion are unbelievable. Whether it’s a quiet scene of two people holding hands or a monstrous battle with creatures from hell, the art never dips in quality.

People who don’t read Berserk often assume it’s all gore. And yes, the story is brutal. But if that’s all you see, you’re not looking closely enough. Miura fills his world with tenderness: the heartbreaking way Guts tries to keep Casca safe after the Eclipse. These moments matter. They are the soul of Berserk. Without them, the horror would be empty. With them, the horror becomes a contrast to everything worth fighting for.

Why you should read Berserk?

Berserk is not a series I recommend lightly. It is graphic. It contains some of the most disturbing scenes in manga history. It can be triggering and make readers feel hurt. And it should. Miura never shies away from showing how ugly the world can be, because he knows that’s the only way to show how beautiful survival is.

In the middle of all this darkness, Berserk tells a story about continuing. About protecting the people you love, even when it breaks you. About holding onto your soul even when the universe tries to take everything from you.

Guts and Griffith: The most tragic rivalry in manga

I’ve read my fair share of rivalries — like Naruto and Sasuke, Light and L, Deku and Bakugo. But none have left as deep a mark on me as Guts and Griffith. Initially, Griffith wasn’t evil. He was beautiful, charismatic, ambitious, and deeply human in his vulnerabilities.

That made what he became so much more terrifying. His descent into Femto wasn’t just a betrayal of his comrades—it was a betrayal of everything he was. And still, even now, part of me wonders if the Griffith from before the Eclipse is completely gone.

Guts, on the other hand, starts as a blade for hire. He has no dream, no goal in Berserk until he’s inspired by Griffith to find his own path. That’s what makes their eventual clash so tragic. Guts leaving the Band wasn’t a rebellion but a sign of growth. But to Griffith, it was the ultimate betrayal.

Their relationship explores the line between loyalty and self-destruction. And it asks a very uncomfortable question: can someone who once saved you also be your destroyer? Even now, I struggle to fully condemn Griffith—or to justify Guts’ fury. That gray area is where Berserk thrives.

Why Berserk will always be seinen’s gold standard

There are other amazing seinen manga like Vagabond, Monster, Vinland Saga, and 20th Century Boys, but none have everything that Berserk offers. It’s a war epic. A dark fantasy. A psychological horror. A love story. A tale of revenge and forgiveness. A meditation on fate and free will.

Trending

More than anything, it’s a story about enduring. Guts doesn’t want to save the world. He just wants to survive. To protect those he loves. To reclaim his life. And in doing so, he becomes something greater than any chosen hero.

He becomes human—flawed, fierce, loyal, exhausted, and strong in a way that goes beyond any typical hero’s arc. This story isn’t just peak fiction because it’s edgy or legendary. It’s because it dares to show the worst of the world, and the story still makes us believe there’s something worth fighting for.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback