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The dark fantasy genre has seen sufficient representation in the manga industry, but none of the works in this genre can hold a candle to the brilliance of Berserk. Kentaro Miura's magnum opus is easily one of the greatest manga ever made, with each and every illustration in this series being nothing short of a work of art. It's no wonder why so many people mourned the untimely passing of this legend in the industry, and hopefully, the reality of mangaka being overworked will slowly become a thing of the past.
The anime of Berserk — the show that aired in the 90s and the movies, that is — might be great in its own right, but there's no denying the fact that the Berserk manga is simply in a class of its own. Most people would obviously recommend the manga over the anime, with the following popular reasons being cited to further this point.
7 The Illustrations Of The Manga Are In A Class Of Their Own
It would be impossible to talk about the best aspects of the Berserk manga without giving due credit to the absolutely breathtaking artwork of the manga. Kentaro Miura was a master of his craft and this can be seen in each and every panel of the manga, regardless of how mundane the events around it may be. It's no surprise that the manga-inspired many Western comics.
These works of art need to be seen to be believed, with the attention to detail in almost every panel of Berserk being a thing of beauty. It's easy to see why Miura used to take so much time to release every chapter of Berserk — the kind of artwork that appeared in every panel was nothing short of awe-inspiring, and such illustrations would obviously take a lot of time.
6 Berserk's Iconic Moments Are Simply Better In The Manga
Berserk is full to the brim with iconic moments that most anime and manga fans are well aware of. While the '97 anime and the movie do a great job of translating these moments into the medium of animation, one has to admit that the manga is simply better when it comes to conveying these moments.
From the atrocities of the Eclipse to Guts donning the infamous Berserker Armor — the sheer number of breathtaking moments in Berserk are too many to list out. However, if there's one thing that can be said with confidence, it's that the manga is the best medium to experience these events.
5 Kentaro Miura's Evolution As An Artist Is A Treat To Behold
Berserk has been in publication before the 90s even started! So, it's only a given that Miura's artwork didn't remain static since the moment his manga was serialized — it obviously developed and became more refined over time, and one need only read the latest chapters to witness this transformation firsthand.
The manner in which Miura's artwork evolved over the course of the series is absolutely brilliant and a thing of beauty for long-time fans of Berserk. Any person who wishes to get into Berserk will definitely be well-serviced by the developing artwork of Kentaro Miura.
4 The Lack Of Censorship In The Manga Allows For A More Authentic Experience
Berserk is easily one of the grittiest manga ever drawn, with some of the panels being downright uncomfortable to read through. However, that's precisely why so many people love Berserk — it doesn't shy away from showing just how depressing and brutal its world really is.
The anime falters in this department due to the regulations that it must follow. As a result, most of the gruesome and risque moments of Berserk are completely censored, which is bound to irritate anyone who wanted the most authentic experience with this manga.
3 The Pacing Of Berserk Is Way Better In The Manga
The '97 Berserk anime and the movies are definitely great watches that any fan of the series should definitely check out. However, due to censorship and pacing requirements, the pacing of these animations can feel rather off at times.
Given that the manga of Berserk faces none of these restrictions, it's only a given that the pacing of the story in the manga is simply better. There are no compromises made by Miura when it comes to depicting the story, allowing for an experience that flows better.
2 The Manga Is About To Reach Its Conclusion
This is arguably the biggest reason why any aspiring fan of Berserk should read the manga instead of watching the show. The manga is well on its way to reaching a proper conclusion — or, at least, as proper a conclusion as Berserk can reach, given the circumstances.
Meanwhile, the anime is well off the mark and will take quite some time before catching up with the manga. Instead of waiting for eons for this to come to pass, most people are better off just reading the manga instead.
1 The 3D Berserk Anime Should Be Avoided
This is a point that absolutely needs to be addressed, given the fact that some people might be confused as to why so many fans give the new Berserk anime a wide berth. Any person who simply has to watch the Berserk anime should just stay content with the old series and the movies.
The new 3D Berserk anime is an affront to Miura's amazing legacy. The artwork is frustrating, the 3D models look half-baked, and the action is painful to watch at times. There are almost no positives whatsoever to watching these new anime, and people should just stick to the manga instead.