SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT Summary Berserk is easily one of the greatest manga of all time, with a sterling legacy of quality artwork from the covers to the jaw-dropping two-page spreads. Kentaro Miura's intricate artwork matured over the decades of his career and even beyond his tragic passing in 2021.
The contents of the guidebook are more scrutinized by Berserk fans due to the suspected involvement of writers other than Miura handling character data. Much like many guidebooks, it's more of a collectible than a book that readers frequently return to reread. Miura's artwork alone is a strong selling point, with this cover being among the brightest and most optimistic.
Regarding the artwork, it's a much simpler illustration than almost any of the other Berserk volume covers. It portrays an eerily romanticized portrayal of Guts, a massive sword slung behind his back, and Casca posed cheekily behind his back, evoking a pulpy sword and sorcery aesthetic. It's a shame this feeling never lasts or ever really existed for the pair save for a few comedic moments like in chapter #22.
The pose itself has Batman vibes, but it's also one of the most beloved covers from the vast gallery of Berserk's other artwork. It matches Guts' brooding tendencies while also being visually appealing and simple. It also hints at menacing traits of Guts' worst qualities: a ravenous wolf out for blood and other depraved acts, struggling to break free but held at bay by his humanity and supporting friends.
This cover benefits from the juxtaposed blood and feathers and undeniably gorgeous attention to detail. The posing of the characters is near-perfect, and Guts' stance and physique indicate the heft of his sword. What's truly terrifying is that Zodd, the demonic beast he's fighting, is a mere servant to Griffith.