DIrishB
The Timeline Guy
So I usually hate manga. I dislike the style, and the either over-the-top, melodramatic moodiness of them, or the completely superficial nonsense on the other end of the spectrum.
However, I've been a fan of the epic manga series Berserk by Kentaro Miura since I first watched the anime (which is extremely faithful to the manga). After buying and watching all 6 DVDs of Berserk, I began to search out the manga. Luckily, in 2003, Dark Horse Comics began translating and releasing the Berserk manga here in the US.
Its pure awesomeness. From its gritty, hard-hitting violence; its incredibly detailed and eye-catching artwork (very different than most mangas...much more Western-influenced); and its impressively deep, ultra-violent but emotional, and interesting storyline, this book delivers on all levels.
So far, 16 volumes have been released in the US: they're released bi-monthly, as in Japan 32 volumes have been released already on the rate of about two per year...in a couple years the bimonthly release rate here in the US will slow to bi-annually once our translated volumes catch up to those released in Japan. I find myself unable to stop reading once started, even in between volumes. The series is addictive, no other word works.
The storyline follows Guts, a young mercenary who's had an extremely hard life. He joins with a mercenary group led by Griffith, an extremely ambitious and intelligent warrior, who soon turns his status as a mercenary into that of a General, due in large part to Guts' incredible fighting skills on the battlefield...well, that and his humongous sword. Unforunately, Griffith's ambition eventually leads him to turn on his friends, and Guts gets caught in the middle. Losing an eye and an arm, Guts and his companions barely survive, while Griffith becomes a God. The series continues to follow Guts as he seeks vengeance on Griffith, now known as the Demon God Femto.
The series examines the struggle between destiny and free will (and it is a struggle for sure in this story), and the validity of sacrifice. Its characters are multi-layered and definitive archetypes, but still believable in their motivations and not "overdone". The emotional roller-coaster that this series is is what truly makes it unique amongst other manga, at least in my opinion.
I definitly recommend you check it out if you haven't already. Most Barnes & Noble or Borders bookstores carry them, or can order them for you.
However, I've been a fan of the epic manga series Berserk by Kentaro Miura since I first watched the anime (which is extremely faithful to the manga). After buying and watching all 6 DVDs of Berserk, I began to search out the manga. Luckily, in 2003, Dark Horse Comics began translating and releasing the Berserk manga here in the US.
Its pure awesomeness. From its gritty, hard-hitting violence; its incredibly detailed and eye-catching artwork (very different than most mangas...much more Western-influenced); and its impressively deep, ultra-violent but emotional, and interesting storyline, this book delivers on all levels.
So far, 16 volumes have been released in the US: they're released bi-monthly, as in Japan 32 volumes have been released already on the rate of about two per year...in a couple years the bimonthly release rate here in the US will slow to bi-annually once our translated volumes catch up to those released in Japan. I find myself unable to stop reading once started, even in between volumes. The series is addictive, no other word works.
The storyline follows Guts, a young mercenary who's had an extremely hard life. He joins with a mercenary group led by Griffith, an extremely ambitious and intelligent warrior, who soon turns his status as a mercenary into that of a General, due in large part to Guts' incredible fighting skills on the battlefield...well, that and his humongous sword. Unforunately, Griffith's ambition eventually leads him to turn on his friends, and Guts gets caught in the middle. Losing an eye and an arm, Guts and his companions barely survive, while Griffith becomes a God. The series continues to follow Guts as he seeks vengeance on Griffith, now known as the Demon God Femto.
The series examines the struggle between destiny and free will (and it is a struggle for sure in this story), and the validity of sacrifice. Its characters are multi-layered and definitive archetypes, but still believable in their motivations and not "overdone". The emotional roller-coaster that this series is is what truly makes it unique amongst other manga, at least in my opinion.
I definitly recommend you check it out if you haven't already. Most Barnes & Noble or Borders bookstores carry them, or can order them for you.