Seinen Manga recommendation: Berserk Review

Manga with great story? Check
Manga with exceptional art? Check
Manga with likeable characters? Check
Manga with THE MOST BADASS main character? Check

The story tells a tale of Guts (or Gats, depending on translator), who at the beginning of the series joins mercenary group called The Band of Hawk, which is led by Griffith. Guts quickly befriends Griffith and after series of plot developments Griffith basically becomes the main antagonist.

Art is one of the main things which has made Berserk so popular over the years. Right from the beginning, especially considering that Berserk started publishing in 1990, easily over two decades ago it has been continuously excellent. The author Kentaro Miura has made it so that it can be said that it's his trademark to really make every Berserk chapter worthwile from artistic point of view even though they are released very rarely nowadays. Perhaps the only one that can be considered even remotely close to artistic value of Berserk is Vinland Saga.

Characters of Berserk are another excellent thing in the series: as I've often said in my review I resent some characters, especially the main characters who are pretty much pussies who are like children who don't know what to do. Of course there are places and series for that kinds of characters, but I've found a surprising correlation with enjoyment and that kind of characters. Fortunately the main character or even the side characters can't be described like that: Guts is the most badass of them all and the side characters portray very well the attitude that was needed at such "time" in which Berserk's story resides.

As for the story it can also be considered top notch: It may be that I have yet to encounter such a story that could so well combine basically every possible aspect of a story and succeed very well in showing it to the readers: I'm talking about friendships, betrayal, violence, romance, despair, you name it, Berserk has it. What really makes Berserk as good as it is is the feeling of utter epicness: the story is so overwhelming along with its beautiful and detailed art that it undoubtly leaves the reader wanting more.

Berserk is one of my lasting favorites, there's not much to say except that it's filled with testosterone and sense of excitement.

There's really no good way to describe Berserk storylines uniqueness and awesomeness by telling what happens - you absolutely have to experience it. If you haven't read it, you can only imagine one of the greatest adventures awaiting you. If I have to find something bad to say it's that new Berserk chapters are released too rarely. Since making quality takes certain amount of time, it's understandable.

Berserk has an anime adaptation made over decade ago which painfully ends unfinished. There's also NEW anime adaptation, which was released late 2012.