Thread by @MegaApple18

Finished #Berserk manga till the latest chapter.
Holy shit! This is one of the most fulfilling media I've ever experienced.

Not only an achievement from production POV, but also thick with subtext, amazing world building, character development and storytelling.

It's such a powerful experience, that it's most likely going to change your viewpoint in things.
For me, they were "dreams" and "destiny". I view them differently now.

What a person is capable and how they deal with things that they are incapable of.

The second half of the story introduces the concept of the Astral world, which sounds a lot like how people IRL practice spiritual powers. Felt very oriental in that regard.

Frankly, there were many real world parallels and metaphors than I could ever count.

It also changes its tone from ghastly grimdark to a rollicking adventure by the second half, and yet the transition was smooth as butter.
To be able to do this, while maintain its insane quality, over YEARS, is nothing short of astounding.

And yet, it doesn't shy away from humor. I personally prefer experiences with consistent tone, but the humor acts more like a glue that joins each transition to an event.

While it has it own original ideas, Miura has taken a lot of influence from "fairy tales" and folk stories, and weaved them to make his own narrative, like a "dream".

This reminds me heavily of Witcher books, which put a spin the Slavic folklore.

Is it any surprise then, that it has such a considerable influence at Japanese and now Western media. One of the biggest examples being the Souls series. A lot of ideas like unstable time and space, supernatural beings, unholy pacts, lifted from it.

Also this one weird picture. I don't know why he made this, lol.

I want to touch briefly on characters.
I'm the kind of person who forgets character names quickly, so imagine my surprise when in one of the panels with all major characters in it, except for one I could recall all their names.
(contd.)

Of course, it's a long form story, which is all the more impressive that Miura kept all his characters interesting (and constantly developing).
Nothing felt like they did out of character/for sake of plot and felt like genuine people.

AND DID I MENTION THE FREAKING ART?!

Even in its incomplete state, it's still an amazing and most importantly fulfilling experiences I've had.

10/10
go give it a read if you like fantasy adventures.