Berserk

Seafarer33

Martin's isuse with Game of Thrones is he's been working on it for 26 years without breaking away to do anything to refresh himself. He wants to get it done and keep the fans happy. He certainly wants it to be done more than any reader does.

Has he really not broken away at all (genuine question) ? I've been visiting his Not-a-blog every now and then for a few years and there's always a new Wildcards book freshly edited. He may not write them himself, but that still seems like a ton of work. Recently he even announced another 5-years contract with HBO for additional GoT universe series. The passion is still burning and the man is always working on something. Just, not A Song of Ice and Fire (which I can understand after TV told the entire story already). At this point I'm tempted to think that, on some level, he himself has given up on it.

Back to the topic, I'm not sure if I would want to see someone else pick up Berserk. Publish whatever chapters were already done or in progress at the time of Myura's passing, sure. But unless he left precise notes on where he would have headed the story, I'd prefer for it to remain ufinished.

akagami7

@Seafarer33:

Has he really not broken away at all (genuine question) ? I've been visiting his Not-a-blog every now and then for a few years and there's always a new Wildcards book freshly edited. He may not write them himself, but that still seems like a ton of work. Recently he even announced another 5-years contract with HBO for additional GoT universe series. The passion is still burning and the man is always working on something. Just, not A Song of Ice and Fire (which I can understand after TV told the entire story already). At this point I'm tempted to think that, on some level, he himself has given up on it.

Inside spoiler because off-topic

! Well, judging from his not a blog posts, I wouldn't say he has not been working on A Song of Ice and Fire. At least he seems to have gotten back to it when covid started
! February 2nd, 2021
! > What was good about 2020? Besides the election?

Well… for me… there was work.

I wrote hundreds and hundreds of pages of THE WINDS OF WINTER in 2020. The best year I’ve had on WOW since I began it. Why? I don’t know. Maybe the isolation. Or maybe I just got on a roll. Sometimes I do get on a roll.

I need to keep rolling, though. I still have hundreds of more pages to write to bring the novel to a satisfactory conclusion.

That’s what 2021 is for, I hope.
! March 11th, 2021
! > That’s what’s on my plate in television and film.

You all know what is on my plate in prose. I need to finish WINDS, and then maybe write another Dunk & Egg novella, and then get right into A DREAM OF SPRING, and in between edit some more Wild Cards books.

puffing.cinema

I would be a-okay with a light novel of sorts and full page illustrations by Miura's team

Satsuki

@Robby:

Fights Griffith, kills him, it's not as satisfying as anyone would have hoped because while Griffith is Gut's foe he's not the true evil.

Add that Guts is able to kill Griffith because his kid's spirit is tearing Griffin up from the inside.

pariston_hill

The issue with Grum is more that the books are a HELL lot more complex than the dogshit adaptation D&D made for HBO. We have some event's from the chapters of Winds that he published/ read and we can make some extrapolations, but hell no the books ending will go in the same vain of the show.

Not everyone is like a hard core world builder like Tolkien, and has a son dedicated to preserve and publish his material, from '73-18.
I wish there enough material, or at least finished chapter to gives Caska positioning in the whole affair. That could be a satisfatory end point.

Robby

https://scontent.fybz1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/190925782_10159633055368615_3238063890401767351_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=R9Hqw-G7BWsAX-znQW9&_nc_oc=AQkO_vmDzlvkbUyDeB1cNJbr5gkF3lxSpWNd_7N31ky_XM6YMD74EZUQykRJxA6ouYM&_nc_ht=scontent.fybz1-1.fna&oh=2a1c655ae29733a408e1610d66bdfa97&oe=60D38102

this is beautiful. If we never get anymore I can look at this image and imagine this the end. He fought Griffith and won, or lost and this is his final dying thought, or he walked away from revenge… It doesn't matter. He struggled and found a point to his life.

Whoever the artist is, thank you.

Satsuki

I imagine there's plenty of wonderful tribute art going around right now.

killerbee1000

@Robby:

[qimg]https://scontent.fybz1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/190925782_10159633055368615_3238063890401767351_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=R9Hqw-G7BWsAX-znQW9&_nc_oc=AQkO_vmDzlvkbUyDeB1cNJbr5gkF3lxSpWNd_7N31ky_XM6YMD74EZUQykRJxA6ouYM&_nc_ht=scontent.fybz1-1.fna&oh=2a1c655ae29733a408e1610d66bdfa97&oe=60D38102[/qimg]

https://scontent.fybz1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/190925782_10159633055368615_3238063890401767351_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=R9Hqw-G7BWsAX-znQW9&_nc_oc=AQkO_vmDzlvkbUyDeB1cNJbr5gkF3lxSpWNd_7N31ky_XM6YMD74EZUQykRJxA6ouYM&_nc_ht=scontent.fybz1-1.fna&oh=2a1c655ae29733a408e1610d66bdfa97&oe=60D38102

this is beautiful. If we never get anymore I can look at this image and imagine this the end. He fought Griffith and won, or lost and this is his final dying thought, or he walked away from revenge… It doesn't matter. He struggled and found a point to his life.

Whoever the artist is, thank you.

Like a lot of tribute art I've seen over the past several days, it's all so stunningly beautiful.

cubo

@Robby:

One of Muira's assistants has spoken out on that issue. He WASN'T unhealthy.

https://www.dualshockers.com/berserk-continuation-kentaro-miura-health-assistant-comments/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

There's also no official decision yet if they'll be continuing, but it sounds like its maybe possible if they're not dismissing it outright.

I haven't been able to go out for a week and chocolate has become a precious food. (2006)
Two thirds of my body is made of energy bars. Does that mean that Berserk is two-thirds sponsored by the manufacturer? (2009)
I haven't been able to see live cherry blossoms this year either. (2011)

@Robby, it makes sense they are trying to "protect his honor", but Miura writing these three things is a clear sign of overwork.
Even a decent diet and some exercise don't protect you from overwork, excessive stress, and never/rarely leaving the house.
It's very possible that it was a self-induced pressure, but as their editor they should have pushed (forced) him more to take breaks.
Unfortunately here in Japan it's not common to have a manager who tells you to go home or to take it easy. I have been working in recruitment in Tokyo for a few years now, and I heard plenty, plenty horror stories. The "average" nice guy/manager will not push you, and will be sympathetic, and might even say "don't push yourself too hard, ne?", but will not tell you to turn off the pc and give you extra days off. It's an endemic, toxic work culture here - even more so in the gaming and animation industry; there, tons of designers are paid pennies because they are so much in love with their work, and therefore overworked.
Miura's death saddens and angers me, because a good editor/company should have prevented those conditions - but I will now remember to tell myself to chill out whenever there's a break, and be happy for the mangaka.

Squirrel

This was drawn by Warrick Wong!

Kaizoku_Ou

RIP.. I knew it wasg oing to happen sooner or later, but it is still very sad.. I hope he's in a better place now. Huge loss for the community.
The best I was hoping for was to at least see one of the Godhand falls.. I thought if we are lucky enough, we will seen it in less than 20 year if we were lucky to live till that time :(
Now whether the assistants know of the possible ending or not I'm more interested in Miura's view on it rather than seeing a continuation by the assistance, I'd like to see a compilation of his thoughts/notes/remarks in text format(short novel or something, pure info dump + their speculation).. that would do it for me.

Satsuki

If nothing else, I hope this tragic loss reminds other manga-ka to not overwork themselves. Which is hard to do in Japan, but hopefully.

auem

@Satsuki:

If nothing else, I hope this tragic loss reminds other manga-ka to not overwork themselves. Which is hard to do in Japan, but hopefully.

Work is like drug for some of them. If antyhing, it will make them more aware to keep clear contingency plan(say notes) in case of their unfotunate demises.

zeltrax225

To be fair, the workload for Berserk is immense and is hardly comparable to…literally any other manga series. Or any series actually.
There, I've said it. One Piece comes close but Oda gets away alot because he's not drawing realism/semi-realism and can stylized his creatures and characters into shapes.
What Miura does is insane and the work commitment he has put in (reflected in the author's notes) shows and I think we are only halfway through the story he has in mind.
There are so many elements in Berserk that is the first of its kind and there's no other Berserk, no other dark fantasy that could compare in terms of inventing and then re-inventing, to what Miura has done.

There's no way Berserk would have been possible had he not given his life away. I''m not just talking about the plot but also the technical skills necessary.
And a lot of the same fans that came in because of this work ethic in the first place are now criticizing the same work ethic that made them a fan.
I'm not advocating that somehow driving your body to become a half corpse should be the norm but I'm just saying, I hope at least people can see why works that are close to perfection exist the way they do.
It's almost a form of obsession that is unhealthy and insane but produces something life and world changing.

In a way, I feel like the long hours and the driven obsession he put into his work was something he was proud of even if it was ethically "wrong" for a person to do this, I feel like saying that he is forced to do this because of societal pressure or whatnot is an insult to a man who clearly has a mind and mental will strong enough to live a life he can be proud of.
Rather than your average job who would collapse at societal and workplace toxicity, I believe that Miura make his own decisions in spite of what the circumstances requires him to and he does it without that adherence to the overwork culture but that he truly loves his work. Thinking anything else annoys the shit out of me.
Of course, no one knows the truth but at least that's how I want to honour the master.

The industry is problematic but with the success of Demon Slayer and Chainsaw-man, the industry seems to be transiting into a more progressive work life balance era. Or at least, I hope so.

Satsuki

@zeltrax225:

There, I've said it. One Piece comes close but Oda gets away alot because he's not drawing realism/semi-realism and can stylized his creatures and characters into shapes.

That and he has an army of assistants helping him. Backgrounds, shading, typesetting, all can be handled by assistants. Which is better for us because it requires less work of him.

In a way, I feel like the long hours and the driven obsession he put into his work was something he was proud of even if it was ethically "wrong" for a person to do this

It's only "ethically" wrong if a person is being forced to work harder by their editors/bosses. If someone is freely working harder, like Miura apparently was, then it's not ethically wrong. It's only wrong in that it can turn into overwork and cause medical tragedies, like we have seen here.

Robby

Someone's done a fan edit combining the movies, the 97 show, the current show, and the manga where appropriate, to make something approaching a cohesive adaptation.

They edit and adjust colors some to make them match better, though you get over the style shifting between movie and old show pretty quick. Only watched the first one so far but seem pretty solid.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Berserk/comments/d1sgga/berserk_redux_upgraded_to_1080p/

Satsuki

I'm still having trouble processing the fact that this story will never be finished. It's so hard to accept. It's like if J.K. Rowling had died before finishing Harry Potter, or if Tolkien had died after Two Towers.

I'm little interested in Game of Thrones, but after this I'm sure as hell not touching it unless it gets COMPLETELY finished.

Robby

@Satsuki:

I'm little interested in Game of Thrones, but after this I'm sure as hell not touching it unless it gets COMPLETELY finished.

Even if Martin does finish it, it stumbles a ton in the fourth and fifth books anyway. Its a lot harder to reccomend than it used to be.

Try reading some of Martin's other stuff instead. He's had a long career and his other stuff IS good.

RoboBlue

@Robby:

Even if Martin does finish it, it stumbles a ton in the fourth and fifth books anyway. Its a lot harder to reccomend than it used to be.

Try reading some of Martin's other stuff instead. He's had a long career and his other stuff IS good.

Seconding this, I kept hearing that the fourth book was the worst one and that I just needed to plow through to get to the gold in book 5.

Book 5 was just as boring as book 4.

I really don't have a lot of faith that books 6 and 7 and 8 and 9 will be anywhere near as entertaining as the first three, so I'll probably just end up reading the wiki to find out what happened to the characters (if I can even remember who they are by that point).

Green_vs_Red

@Satsuki:

I'm still having trouble processing the fact that this story will never be finished. It's so hard to accept.

Highschool Of The Dead Fans: First Time?

Phoenix fans: [clears throat].

juiceduphody3315

Didn't he take a couple years off too chill and play DDR?

Sakonosolo

@Green_vs_Red:

Highschool Of The Dead Fans: First Time?

Phoenix fans: [clears throat].

At least Phoenix is individual stories and I don't think any of them were unfinished even if the overall concept was never finished, though I don't think there was even any hints as to what the overall concept was going to be. It would be like if Jojo never "ended" despite it already having 7, almost 8, finished stories.

killerbee1000

Did you know anime made a beautiful tribute video for Miura guest starring the english voice actors for Guts, Griffith, and Casca.

M.Hicks

Sad tale.

As a middle-aged guy who enjoys manga, Miura's death has made me more convinced: Whatever your epic tale, whether weekly, bi-monthly or monthly, keep your story tight and tell it in 12 years or less.

auem

Authors get swallowed up by their creations.Miura is not the first and definitely not the last to leave a unfinished work.As a reader you have to exercise caution with the attachment towards a story. It is tough but only way not to have a regret from yours end.

starlalilymoon

@auem:

Authors get swallowed up by their creations.Miura is not the first and definitely not the last to leave a unfinished work.As a reader you have exercise caution with tje attachment to a story. It is tough but only way not to have a regret from yours end.

Yeah, that happened with the author for Inu x Boku. They died before they could finish off the story for the light novels. (Though there is a manga and anime too.)

Robby

Berserk chapter 364 to be published on September 10!
Upcoming Young Animal magazine issue release on September 10 will have Berserk 364th chapter.
Issue will also contain a poster with the best scenes of manga and a booklet titled "Messages to Kentarou Miura"

We might get confirmation of whether Berserk is ending or not in the same magazine issue

No word on how much material Muira had finished before he died, so no telling how much of this is going to be assistant work, or long term plans.

He could have conceivably had two or three chapters finished, (or none) but no more than that.

Zek

I just spent the last couple weeks reading this for the first time, and I see why the series has been so beloved. Not my favorite, but it was very good. It’s truly too bad what happened.

Sakonosolo

I kind of don't want them to try and continue it with just his assistants. I'm going to expect an ending announcement with this chapter. If Miura did have any notes written down though that would be something worth releasing.

blackness662

I am glad that we will get something in September.
I hope that the assistants can continue Miura-sensei legacy.
It won't be perfect, but it is still a better scenario than getting nothing.

auem

Going by present financial situation, I bet it will continue to a rather rushed ending. They won't abandon the franchaise.

pRopaaNS

I don't think I'll keep reading Berserk with new chapters after this. Because you just can't separate artist from his own artwork, this is gonna be different and alien from what was the original.

Robby

On the other hand, he's been working with these assistants for years. The art on Duranki was mostly done by assistants and it looks pretty solid and like his own work.

Obviously the story won't be the same, but depending on how many notes he left, how much they knew? THey might be able to do something respectable.

Wheel of Time was finished after the author's death and that came out well.

Ivotas

I agree with Robby here. While stories will not be the same after an authors death if it's in the hands of people who respect the IP and have a lot of knowledge about the way how the author thought and worked then it can turn out well. One of my favorite books of all time is the Silmarillion and this one was done by Tolkkiens son after he collected all the notes and scripts that his father has made over the years.

But if the publisher just wants to milk it without actually doing it the story and Miura justice then I agree that this would be terrible.

RoboBlue

I think it's worth giving them a shot.

At worst we can say "that wasn't Miura" and dismiss the later chapters as non-canon.

auem

@Ivotas:

I agree with Robby here. While stories will not be the same after an authors death if it's in the hands of people who respect the IP and have a lot of knowledge about the way how the author thought and worked then it can turn out well. One of my favorite books of all time is the Silmarillion and this one was done by Tolkkiens son after he collected all the notes and scripts that his father has made over the years.

But if the publisher just wants to milk it without actually doing it the story and Miura justice then I agree that this would be terrible.

Christopher Tolkien himself was a good scholar and helped his father from early stages of LOTR universe. Also as his son, it brought about some credibility. Sadly Miura has no designated successor other than his assistants. So, they have a uphill tasks to gain the recognition while continuing Berserk. But I want publisher and editors to give them a chance if they want to do so.

pariston_hill

From Korean magazine scan (

)

! It seems that chapter 364 will be the last one.

Satsuki

@pariston_hill:

From Korean magazine scan (
)

! It seems that chapter 364 will be the last one.

cries Dammit . . .

Sakonosolo

Pretty expected. Miura might not have left much of any notes and even if he did the assistants might not feel comfortable both continuing Miura's work after his death but also risking upsetting the audience if they do something wrong. I think ending it is the best option.

PatTraverse

I am fine with this. I made peace with the possibility that it might never get a proper ending years ago.

Robby

It's really going to be bittersweet no matter what.

Nobodyman

In a couple years I'm sure some animation studio will take their crack at an ending.

auem

@pariston_hill:

From Korean magazine scan (
)

! It seems that chapter 364 will be the last one.

It doesn't say anything about the last chapter of the series. It is perhaps the last chapter Miura worked on.
But yeah! We will get a definitive answer with this chapter.

puffing.cinema

there's an image going around online that seems to confirm that the

! mid-night child is Griffith's children and that he's the key to access him and cure Cascka

pRopaaNS

Good to see the series getting a closure. And if the assistants are as good as some would claim them to be, then I hope I see their own original work someday. New stories inspired by the experiences gained from working with Miura, that would be more like it.

auem

Berserk volume 41 to be released on December.
https://mobile.twitter.com/berserk_project?lang=en

Sakonosolo

Kind of interesting that this last chapter just happens to line up with enough needed for a new volume. I guess it's better than the mangaka dying without enough chapters for a last volume (though they would probably be able to fill the page count with extras).

Robby

@Sakonosolo:

Kind of interesting that this last chapter just happens to line up with enough needed for a new volume. I guess it's better than the mangaka dying without enough chapters for a last volume (though they would probably be able to fill the page count with extras).

The final volume of YuYu Hakusho is loaded with sketches to fill it out. And Togashi is still alive, he just gave up on the thing.

So they would have figured out something.

auem

Official statement for chapter 364(not the original link). https://m.imgur.com/a/w1b6VDc

! Seems like there may not be any more chapters as it talks about Miura's wishes,unless Miura wanted it to continue like his favourite story 'Guin Saga'.

auem

What a fitting way to go..

!