The Start of something amazing
The Black Swordsman Arc from Berserk is most known for one thing, being the first arc of Berserk. That may sound obvious, but I say it like that because, as important as it should feel, this arc seems to be the most forgotten arc in the series, with some even skipping it and going straight to the Golden Age arc. And for a long time, this arc was kind of a roadblock for me getting into the manga. I had watched the 1997 anime before and really loved it, but these chapters never clicked for me, and as a result I had never read the rest of the manga. That was until an impulse purchase a few days ago where I actually bought the manga physically rather than just reading it online. Maybe it was reading it physically, or maybe it was me maturing enough to appreciate the story, but this was the time this arc really clicked. And so, this is the beginning of my journey through the highest rated manga ever, and there’s no better place to start than at the beginning.
The Hook
This story opens with our main character having sex, the woman turning into a demon to eat our character, then our main character putting his arm cannon in her mouth and blowing her up. I think that sums up how this story tries to hook the reader, with a badass main character, demons, and action. And it does capture your attention. The first chapter is really good like that, with huge demons, an epic fight scene, and a really big sword, with enough mystery and questions to get you interested in more.
The Antihero – Guts
This arc is meant to determine one thing above anything else, if you like Guts. And Guts can be a tough character to like. He’s may be badass, but he can be a pretty bad person in this arc, particularly when he makes the decision to put his quest for revenge over the safety of other people. But what really sells me on the character is how we see the cracks in his façade. He may seem like a man who doesn’t care if anyone else dies on his quest, but that’s not how he actually thinks. There’s a really telling scene in Chapter 2 where, as a result of traveling with a little girl, the girl becomes possessed by a demon. Guts is in shock, allowing him to be vulnerable enough to get stabbed by her. And when he slices her in half, he vomits, so disgusted by his actions, but he has to keep fighting anyways.
Guts is a very “show, don’t tell” kind of character. He’ll say one thing, and then do something completely contradictory that reveals his true character. And it makes him feel complex and real. At the end of the day, he’s human, and as much as he tries to push them down, he has real feelings that will surface because he is human. The very last thing we see him do in this arc, is cry, and then once again hide his vulnerability. Because in this cruel world, he doesn’t think he can show vulnerability. But when he sees people cry in pain, such as that old man who with his dying words wished for revenge, he can’t help but empathize, because that’s just who he is. It’s why, despite only having 8 chapters, this arc makes Guts a more interesting character than many stories can in their entire run time.
A Dark, Cruel World
The world Berserk is set in really puts the Dark in Dark Fantasy. A rule for this arc is that the worst possible thing that can happen will happen. Maybe it’s the horror of malevolent beings who feed on humans in masses, that most people couldn’t possibly fight against, but this world as this really oppressive feel to it. It’s violent, terrifying, and existentially horrifying.
Humanity’s fight against causality will be a prevalent theme in Berserk, and it really gets introduced here. We can fight against it with all our might, all our strength, but the full power of a cruel fate is overwhelming, and nowhere is that more apparent with the God Hand. As powerful as Guts is, these beings are on another level. They seem unbeatable, evil, and otherworldly. They are some of the most terrifying beings in all of anime and manga, and Guts has something personal against them. After seeing Guts fight to the near destruction of his body against an ultra powerful slug demon, only to be completely overpowered by the God Hand, it’s one hell of a whiplash.
And then there’s Puck, the comic relief. I like him. He can definitely be a bit intrusive, but it says a lot when I already needed his light hearted humor. He’s also not completely one dimensional, getting his feelings hurt by Guts, but also not willing to completely abandon him. Not a perfect character, but one I personally enjoy.
All of this helped by Kentaro Miura’s amazing artwork, which is just so good. Even in the early phases, Berserk still has some of the best artwork I’ve ever seen. Expressive, but subtle, with so much detail, and every panel feels impactful in some way.
A Long Journey Ahead
This concludes what I have to say on this arc. There’s a lot more to talk about, but smarter people have, and I honestly there’s just so much with Berserk that this post would take too long. Join me next time, though, for an arc I probably won’t be able to shut up about, the Golden Age arc. Thank you so much for reading.
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