Today is the 5 year anniversary of the passing of Kentaro Miura. He was one of, if not the most prolific storyteller in all of manga. To this day, Berserk ranks as the #1 manga of all time. Not DragonBall, DeathNote, Jojo, Devilman, not even Fist of the North Star.
When I heard the news, I found myself diving into his manga for that first time and I understood. From the art, characters, plot and environment…it’s a masterclass, even in its slowest moments.
His best friend, Kouji Mori, is at the helm alongside Studio Gaga and Animal House to help finish his story with the notes he left behind.
The story of Guts is truly one of a man of sorrows. Torn from a mother’s love at birth, meant to die beneath her corpse, yet was adopted. He endured emotional and physical abuse, survivor of pedophilia at the hands of Donovan. He avenged himself when knowing how Gambino, the man who raised him, was the one who sold him out to such a depraved act…at the age of 8. Years later as a young teen of 14 to meet Griffith and the Band of the Hawk, became his weapon after suffering a dislocated shoulder in a one on one fight. He learned camaraderie but also the dirt of politics while also finding love. Then, he experienced betrayal as Griffith became Femto of the Godhand and watched his band of brothers die and forced to watch his love raped and suffer mental paralysis. He had every reason to be bitter and angry, as his newfound buddy Puck would see. Then he would find unlikely family in Puck, Isidro, Farnese, Serpico and Schierke. Rickard, one of the only survivors of the Eclipse, would be there as well. Guts would see his love Casca eventually return mentally (mostly), the Skull Knight being as an occasional Moros figure of sorts…only for Griffith to bring ruin all over again.
Guts’ story is better than a great majority of others and when the story is concluded, I think it’s one where fans, readers and myself will likely cry tears of joy — because Kentaro Miura gave us a story of perseverance, pain, struggle, vengeance but also one of the promise of hope that one day, even the worst will be overcome.
Miura’s reach goes beyond just his manga. Due to his work, we have the spirit live on in the Soulslike gaming genre, especially in FromSoftware games via Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Elden Ring and many more.
That giga chad big sword energy people see and love today? We owe that to Kentaro Miura through his character, Guts.
The journey Guts has is one that is dear to my heart and I’d be lying if I said it hasn’t affected some of the writing I’m doing for Drafts or FireFrei to a degree.