BERSERK: Manga Volume 38 Reaction!
Added 2024-09-28 17:00:03 +0000 UTC*PANDEMONIUM HEADPHONE WARNINGS - Y'ALL SAW THIS COMING*
I think the thumbnail speaks for itself. This is one of my favorite volumes of the series...for more reason than one!
Pandemonium. Silat. RICKERT. Oh, and we've finally made it to ELF ISLAND?! This series and its themes are really..."paying it forward" this volume! Sorry for all my cursing, y'all, but this one was worth it!
Thank you for watching with me and for all the support!
Comments
Thank you for the comment and kind words! It feels so weird to be close to catching up! I definitely agree with it being satisfying and with it being probably my favorite volume as a whole since the Golden Age! Rickert is definitely one for the ages and I will happily accept him as a protagonist alongside Guts and Silat for example - the Anti-Griff Squad! 8 YEARS on that ship for that arc is INSANITY, Miura. Just. Insanity. I do feel for the ones that followed this series from the very beginning – or at least throughout those 8 years for sure! I have been eager to get to Elfhelm and it’s only been months for me! So I cannot imagine! I think it’s definitely better binge-read and seen in its full format to appreciate it! The fact that Miura was switching to digital is crazy - him updating with the times is WILD but very impressive - I feel for him inputting all that work and then passing, it makes it even harder with his own death. :( That is really sad. And even crazier when we realize he created his own monster in making with it.
Romaniablack
2024-10-03 17:48:50 +0000 UTCHahaha, I was really glad that this didn’t get spoiled for me - definitely a highlight since the Golden Age arc for me! I definitely get the idea that Locus’s tactic was a threat, especially if they knew Rickert came with Erica so there is possible “collateral” whereas Rickert’s concerned; but Locus did not realize the backbone (and palm strength) that Rickert has! But yes, gaslight and threaten him, and it’s worked on so many others in this “utopia,” so why not Rickert as well? It’s so weird to see Borkoff again! Miura really loved drawing him, eh? Oh, I really hope that Nina isn’t dead! I will still maintain that she could be alive and we could see Joachim but who knows when! I agree; I like that the women are all concerned for Erica and that moment was super sweet! I am also glad that Erica is allowed to be a strong character without being “threatened” in that way! It’s also WILD to me that Sonia believes she’s better than everyone, but that is consistent with her character - and I agree; I think based on what we’ve seen and know so far, that Griffith is sending the souls to the vortex. But who knows what else they could be used for or why he’s so concerned with gathering them all up. I definitely would loop Rickert in with Guts and Silat as “jumping fish” - maybe Silat and Rickert around on the same level as Guts in that regard, but they are definitely the standouts of the story and YES! Who knew that Rickert would go from me questioning if he was alive at the hands of Rosine to him slapping GRIFFITH of all people! And yes, I’ve referenced It’s A Wonderful Life in other stories, and might have in this series as well! But I’m glad you all didn’t spoil me on what would happen with Silat and Rickert - I wish we had more of them in the series as a whole, but I have enjoyed their storylines! I’m not sure about the time skip element…I’m not that far to know for sure if that pans out but it did occur that it could take place. We shall see! But yes, fall is finally here along with spooky season! It definitely feels weird to almost be caught up! Thank you so much for the comment and kind words!
Romaniablack
2024-10-03 17:40:32 +0000 UTCAhh, I guess I missed all this information with Azan or it’s just audience speculation; still…more character development or an explanation of why he’s there…would have been nice. But it is what it is at this point. Still, Rickert’s slap is the best thing to me since the Golden Age arc to happen in this manga, haha! Thank you for the comment and kind words! 😀
Romaniablack
2024-10-03 17:19:37 +0000 UTCOof, I don’t know how I feel about that theory, respectfully – if it turns out to be just ANOTHER way in which Griffith is “too perfect” and “all powerful” and that Rickert’s actions really meant nothing? That seems like overkill and would take away from the possible thematic elements with the story and possible tie-in’s about Griffith…I’m not sure how I feel about that. And with Azan…where’s his character development to even explain all that? I wish Miura would have given us more with that. Now, Rickert teaming up with Silat I agree is So cool! I would LOVE to see Rickert being trained in the Kushan fighting style, but I guess we’ll see what happens in the next volumes or so! Thank you for the comment!
Romaniablack
2024-10-03 17:17:47 +0000 UTCmy theory about the slap is that Griffith saw it coming. He knew it was gonna happen because he knows everything, supposedly. The question is why he allowed it to happen, and why he reacted (or not reacted) the way that he did. what i'm thinking is Griffith wants to make himself appear as though he is still somewhat-human to his human followers, so that they don't feel so distant from him. By making himself appear vulnerable as if he could be caught off-guard like that (when even Skull Knight couldn't catch him off-guard from appearing out of the netherealm), so I'm thinking he showed fake weakness intentionally, by allowing Rickert to slap him. He wanted to make himself more relatable to Sonya and his other human followers so that they trust him more and feel more at home with him. that is my theory anyway. about Azan - he was in hiding from the Holy See because that whole battalion of whatever that was lost at the tower of conviction was his responsibility. originally he was planning to go back and take responsibility and own up to his mistakes, but he chickened out and went into hiding. so Azan doesn't really have anywhere else to go, in a world overrun by monsters and Griffith worshippers, and the Holy See getting swallowed up by Ganishka and his demons. I don't think Azan is working for anybody at this point, he is just on the run and a coward so he joined up with the main group because they seemed like the safest choice i think lol. one more note - Rickert teaming up with Silat and his crew is about the coolest most unexpected team-up i've seen since Farnese and Serpico joining Guts' gang. I imagine after the time-skip on elf island Rickert will be trained in the kushan fighting style. I haven't read that far ahead yet so i can only imagine.
Brqndvn Evcns
2024-09-29 01:42:16 +0000 UTCAzon during the conviction arc was depicted as a noble and chivalrous knight to the point of being comedic and satirical. In his reintroduction, I think it's just supposed to be comedic. That is how I have always interpreted it. He is just a goofy chivalrous noble knight who lost is old authority and status and now has bumbled his way into the main plot of this dark fantasy. That was a great reaction to the Rickert slap. Its how everyone reacts to it. Literally everyone. It's something that is unanimously praised in the Berserk community. But I knew you would especially enjoy it. Good post volume discussion as well.
A mere Almond
2024-09-28 23:23:11 +0000 UTCWell, we kept our mouths shut! Is it a start for Griffith finally facing the consequences of his actions? It is, but what a start! Volume 38 is a gem! I knew you would lose your shit! 🤣 As you know now, Rickert cannot justify this utopia. I do think that Locus was trying to scare Rickert. It is a weird thing to show Rickert Pandemonium when you want to highlight the virtues of Griffith’s paradise. When I read it first, I took it as a threat! I think your analysis is spot on. Rickert even says to Locus that every one of those monsters are human in origin. They chose that! Locus is trying to gaslight him as well as threaten him….. just like an apostle to do that. You are asking all the right questions! Also participating in the fight club are an ogre ( probably the victim) and Borkof( the victor, war demon and the one who ate Guts’s arm) One other thing, most of the residents of Falconia do know that these monsters are here. They accept the fee for living in this place. It could blow up in their faces. To live in this world, Griffith has forced them to make a deal with the devil, literally. As far as Nina is concerned, I think she is dead. She had a disease that was consuming her. It could have been syphilis, could be tuberculosis, either one is terminal at this time in history. I do hope Joachim is ok though. Yeah, those bathhouse panels are…. Miura! I mean, Erica is probably like 12 or 13 by now! The ladies, I don’t mind them going shirtless, but, yeah, we women do not act like that around each other when unclothed! On the flip side, I do like that the woman are concerned for her wellbeing. I’m also glad that Erica has remained unmolested as far as the story is concerned. She is a bright spot in the story. I believe that Griffith is sending those souls to the hell toilet. We haven’t had any information to the contrary. Sonia does think she is better than everyone, she is a kite after all, living amongst the ducks. Oh man! The slap! We have been waiting since the anime that depicted that cliffhanger episode that made you think he died! He is like one of the most important people in this story! I’d say he’s another Guts type along with Silat. Rickert is of course Rickert, but his story does mirror Guts’s own in a way, and so does Silat’s. With all these people, Guts has influenced or taught them something that contributed to their survival in this world. Kinda reminds me of “Its a Wonderful Life” you might not think you matter in this world, but what you do has an effect on others! I always try to keep this in mind every day. I love both of them soooooo much! Of course when we first met Silat, I was like 😍 but I couldn’t say a damn thing! 😭 Island time, we first heard about something of this time dilation from the story of Peekaf. Of course this is fae lore and we are at the home of fae so that seems to work out properly. When I read this, I was like, Oop, time skip time! Well, we shall see. With autumn here, it’s the perfect time for pumpkins and Scarecrows! I’ve been thinking of baking a pumpkin pie. Another dish I like is pumpkin and udon noodle soup! Husband likes that one too! Or maybe, curried pumpkin soup! Tally Ho to Volume 39! Omg… the end is near! 😱 👁️👁️👁️👁️FEB Spoilers ⬇️👁️👁️👁️👁️ Mmmm pumpkin spice! Volume 38: 0! And one God slap! 👋
Moominkomet
2024-09-28 20:25:37 +0000 UTCWe're nearly there at the end of Miura's Berserk 😭 This is also one of my favourite volumes because of how satisfying it feels to see Griffith get bitch slapped. It might not seem like enough for all that he has done but as you say, it is a start. Rickert is definitely the true protagonist of Berserk, I don't have proofs but I also don't have doubts lmao 😅 I just find it so painfully interesting (and funny in hindsight) how Guts and co. boarded the Seahorse on Chapter 278 (released on December 5, 2007) and they landed on Elfhelm in Chapter 342 (released on June 24, 2016). So, to the audience that already followed the series before 2007, the whole trip took 8 years, 6 months, and 18 days... that is insane to think about and my heart goes out to those og strugglers 😞 Sure, the story didn't focus solely on them for those 8 years (there were other sub-plots with different characters taking place in between), but at the end of the day everyone was eager to get to Elfhelm. I think this is probably why i've seen across the board that the Sea God sheananigans' is often brushed off as "boring filler". I myself understand the narrative point behind that small deviation but I can't say I find myself coming back to that mini-arc (if at all), I do admit I find it tedious. Funny you mention the artwork starting to feel more digital... is because it is. Miura doesn't mention it himself but I do recall someone from his team saying that he transitioned fully to digital around the release of the chapters compiled in Vol. 38. So, from now on is all digital... prepare to see an absurd amount of detailed art. On that point, my favourite anecdote (I'm paraphrasing) is that when Miura was introduced to digital artwork for efficiency's sake, he was so excited about being able to zoom in so far to add much more detail that the man was nearly shading pixel by pixel. So the "efficiency" aspect of it all became a double-sided weapon hahaha. Probably one of the many reasons why the hiatuses became longer in the latter years (apart from health). Great reaction as always Rom! Keep up the good work ✌🏻
Wolf
2024-09-28 20:01:54 +0000 UTC
