( Hey, it’s been a while. Long story short, life has been incredibly busy as of late. But when I heard the news, I knew I wouldn’t be able to move past it unless I paid my proper respects. )
It would be an understatement to say that the animanga community was rocked to their core when it was reported that the creator of Berserk, Kentaro Miura, had passed away on May 6, 2021. He was only 54 years old, leaving his world-renowned masterpiece and life’s work unfinished. But it is not my (or anybody else’s, really) place to speculate on what will happen to Berserk now, if it is to be continued. For now, both fans and non-fans alike are taking the time to reflect on the impact of Miura’s magnum opus and how it has changed their lives.
Though the average non-fan who reads the basic plot summary of Berserk would likely think of it as nothing new, it is undeniable that this manga has had a lasting and far-reaching impact. Video games like Dynasty Warriors and the entirety of the Dark Souls franchise would not have existed without its influence; neither would have the Buster Sword belonging to Final Fantasy VII‘s Cloud Strife or the ‘Dark Knight’ questline and job in Final Fantasy XIV. Miura’s influence on this particular aspect of the game was clear enough for hundreds of Dark Knight players across several different servers to hold vigils in his memory.
Miura’s untimely passing reflected a common but unfortunate issue seen not only amongst the Berserk community but across anime and manga productions: Hiatuses and silence. Miura’s tendencies to take longer and longer hiatuses had sadly become a recurrent trend, and his (or his publisher’s) silence regarding why this was the case led to a lot of speculation, inside jokes, and even frustration at the manga’s slow time to update, with sometimes only one or two new chapters being published per year. With his passing, fans and non-fans alike once again received an important reminder: Though we may never know the specifics of Miura’s many breaks, given the back-breaking standards of manga creation, taking breaks is necessary, and taking out frustration onto a creator who may have already been suffering was never the way to go.
But ultimately, fans won’t remember Berserk‘for all those times it didn’t update or how slow it was to get them. While it’s impact was felt on a wider level through video games, manga, and even heavy metal bands, Berserk is a manga whose themes, characters, and stories have changed the lives of thousands around the world, and have taught them many lessons along the way. It may be known as a manga with emphasis on violence and other heavy subject matters, but it will always be remembered as a manga that taught us that there is always a glimmer of hope as long as we have the will to carry onwards towards a brighter future. When I bought the Official Berserk Guidebook back in 2018, Miura’s many comments throughout and final interview made a lasting impression on my wordview as a Berserk fan and as an artist – he was a man who, even after decades of work, held on to his passion for his greatest work and the medium of art as a whole, and who encouraged others to pursue those passions as well, even it was difficult at times. That is the lesson we should all take to heart.
Thank you Kentaro Miura.
The Art Archive 