Berserk (Japanese: ベルセルク, Hepburn: Beruseruku) is a monumental dark fantasy manga series written and illustrated by the late Kentaro Miura. Since its debut in 1989, it has become the gold standard for the "Grimdark" genre, renowned for its breathtakingly detailed art, profound philosophical themes, and its unflinching exploration of human nature, trauma, and fate.

The story follows Guts, the "Black Swordsman," a wandering mercenary born from a corpse and raised on the battlefield. His life of solitary violence changes when he is defeated by and recruited into the Band of the Hawk, a legendary mercenary group led by the charismatic and ambitious Griffith. For a brief time, Guts finds a home and a sense of belonging among his comrades, including the fierce warrior Casca. However, Griffith’s singular obsession with obtaining his own kingdom leads to a catastrophic betrayal during a cosmic event known as the Eclipse. Branded with a mark that attracts demons (Apostles) every night, a physically and emotionally scarred Guts embarks on a scorched-earth quest for revenge against his former friend, who has ascended to godhood as a member of the God Hand.

Alternative Names by Language

ベルセルク / Berserk / Берсерк / برسيرك / เบอร์เซิร์ก / 烙印勇士 / 剑风传奇 / 베르세르크 / బెర్సెర్క్ / பெர்செர்க்