Berserk, Volume 8

I think this is my favorite volume of Berserk yet. It's light on the massive-scale battles seen in earlier battles, but still has a bit of fighting to go along with tons of character development and spectacular art as always.

The dynamic between Guts, Griffith, and Casca is really interesting and gets deeper by the volume. They're all really complicated characters, flawed and noble with their own motivations.

Berserk is rated as a masterpiece, largely for its depictions of violence, but the more human elements are just as engaging. The emotion conveyed in these still images is really something else.

While Band of the Hawk wins battle after battle, it is magnificent battle and overtaking of the old city fort between Midland and Chuder (defended by another Formula #1 team, this time having as a mascot the Rhinoceroses) that will bring Griggith into the cross-hairs of court intrigue and political king-makers from Midland.

I will just say that not all things go their way and Griffith shows that he is more than capable and merciless in political warfare as he is on the open battlefields.

What I find very interesting in this volume is that Guts gets assistance from a rather unlikely source while fighting for his own life against the leader and champion of aforementioned Formula #1 team. I have to say I did not expect this.

Again art is show more gorgeous, though I have to say I do miss those more awe inspiring hi quality first few pages that adorned first 6 volumes. I hope they will come back in next stories.

Recommended to fans of gritty and bloody fantasy stories. show less

Even knowing what happens in this part of the story ahead of time, this still hits like a freight train. The way Griffith, Casca, and Guts are all soft for each other, the Band of the Hawk coming together to be triumphant again... Guts helping Griffith with one last job, since he's gotten better than his first very bad attempt... And at last, the break-up. It's also so wonderful and sad. Great volume.

This is the eighth book in the Berserk series and was just as wonderful as all the others in this series.

The Band of the Hawk face their toughest battle yet and triumph. Griffith is awarded the position of general and all of the Band of the Hawk will be knighted and made nobility. However, Guts puts a pall over the celebration when he decides to leave the Band of the Hawk and pursue his own dreams.

I continue to be impressed with how much story each volume covers. The illustration continues to be very well done. The story is easy to follow and action-packed. This volume is half battle and half intrigue at court.

Overall this was a wonderful addition to the Berserk series. I continues to enjoy this series and be impressed by the action, show more characters, world-building and story. I would recommend to mature readers who enjoy fantasy horror manga. show less