Berserk Volume One

For as celebrated as Big Sword remains, there’s plenty to criticize about its opening chapters. The tone shifts are extreme and arguably unearned; it isn’t unusual for a fairy named Puck to make funny faces on a page opposite nightmarish violence. Also, the only reason I know Guts has motivation for the way he acts is because I’ve been told as much outside the text and I’d be tempted to lump him in with every other edgelord protagonist if this was my introduction to the character. This might’ve had a much lower score if it weren’t for the gorgeous artwork.

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