Berserk is not finished or over yet. Even though the creator and writer of the beloved manga/anime series, Kentaro Miura, passed away on the 6th of May 2021, his work has survived him. Therefore, fans of Berserk will be getting an entirely new story arc starting in 2023. It is also possible that there will be new TV and movie adaptations of the manga, which has grown to become one of the best-selling ever.
When Did Berserk Start?
Berserk began publishing in 1989. It was first published in a magazine known as Monthly Animal House for four years before that particular magazine was replaced by a bi-monthly magazine known as Young Animal in 1994. The manga continued in Young Animal.
Berserk revolves around a strong swordsman named Gut who battles demons, corrupt individuals, and other horrors in a medieval era. Gut was raised by an abusive uncle and later killed him in self-defense. He became pals with the charismatic leader of a mercenary group named Griffith. Things, however, soured so much between them that Gut’s ultimate quest is to defeat his friend-turned-enemy.
The Berserk manga has published a total of 41 volumes to date, comprising 370 chapters. A breakdown of the story arcs is as follows; Black Swordsman Arc (Volumes 1 to 3), Golden Age Arc (Volumes 3 to 14), Conviction Arc (Volumes 14 to 21), Millennium Falcon Arc (Volumes 22 to 35), and Fantasia Arc (Volumes 35 to 41).
The manga series has been so successful that it has spurned movies and TV series. The first TV series comprising 25 episodes was aired between 1997 and 1998. A second TV series comprising 24 episodes broken down into 2 seasons of 12 episodes each was aired from 2016 to 2017.
There is also a Berserk film series that covers the Golden Age Arc. It started with The Egg of the King, released in February 2012. There is also The Battle for Doldrey, released in June 2012, and The Advent, which dropped in February 2013. Also, on the 2nd of October 2022, Berserk: The Golden Age Arc – Memorial Edition debuted. This is a 13-episode TV series that is based on the three films.
I just completed the #Berserk 1997 anime and it was really good overall! Definitely better than I expected it to be despite its slow pacing. It had great animation, superb soundtrack, amazing voice-acting and a good OP & ED. I love the fact that it was faithful to the manga too!! pic.twitter.com/bTirnQivWV
— The Mighty Otakuman (@OtakumanThe) September 21, 2021
Is Berserk Over?
Berserk is not over, although the author of the manga, Kentaro Miura, has died. Miura died on the 6th of May 2021 at the age of 54. His death triggered an outpouring of tributes, It also led to fears that his signature work which has not reached its conclusion, may now be over. However, these fears have been doused.
Berserk will continue to run under the guidance of those that were closely connected with the author who created and wrote the story. There is Studio Gaga, Miura’s studio, which is staffed by his assistants and apprentices. Many of them have been with him for several years and have enough expertise to contribute to the illustrations and even the storylines of the manga.
There is also Kouji Mori, who is Miura’s close pal. Miura often discussed the plot of Berserk with him, and as such, he has stated that he knows every aspect of the story up to the end. Mori has promised to recall as much of his discussions with Miura as possible.
Berserk manga creator, Kentaro Miura has passed away. Berserk is one of the most influential mangas of all time. pic.twitter.com/HAsfrjKWbp
— IGN (@IGN) May 21, 2021
Will There Be New Berserk Chapters?
There will be new chapters of Berserk thanks to Studio Gaga and Kouji Mori, who have taken over the writing and illustration of the manga. Recall that the last chapter that Miura penned was chapter 364, which was published posthumously in September 2021. Studio Gaga and Kouji Mori have now taken over the responsibility of bringing the stories to fans, and they have been doing a good job thus far.
On the 24th of June 2022, the first six chapters of the collaborative effort were released. This comprises chapters 365 to 370 of the manga and concludes the long-running Fantasia Arc. It has been confirmed that there will be new story arcs, and as such, there are definitely going to be new chapters of Berserk.
#Breaking News: Berserk: Ougon Jidai-hen (Berserk: The Golden Age Arc) anime movie trilogy gets Memorial Edition to air on TV in 2022; Yuuta Sano (Kaijuu no Kodomo 3DCG) directs Memorial Edition at Studio 4°C @berserk_mePR #BERSERK #ベルセルク pic.twitter.com/VUAP2hHAn7
— MyAnimeList (@myanimelist) June 21, 2022
When and How Does Berserk End?
Given that the creator and author of Berserk is dead, the end of the long-running manga series is now inevitable. Despite Mori and Studio Gaga’s best efforts, Berserk will end some years from now. Some people believe that Gut will die at the end of the story but will kill Griffith first. They also believe that his love interest named, Casca, will survive.
Such an ending will be bleak compared to what occurred in chapter 364 (the last chapter by Kentaro Miura, which was thought to be the ending of the work), where Casca was reborn with her memory intact. She and Gut, who drops his hatred for Griffith, also become a couple and live happily ever after.
