One of the most influential dark fantasy comics ever made continues next month. Dark Horse Comics confirmed that Berserk Volume 43 hits shelves November 24, with the publisher describing the release as carrying forth legendary creator Kentaro Miura's legacy.
A New War Is Coming
The 220-page volume follows the crew of the Seahorse after they flee the destruction of Elf Island. Raiders board the ship, and the survivors realize they've drifted into the waters of the Kushan Empire. Guts is hauled away in chains while his companions are taken in as refugees.
The bigger story is happening in the Kushan halls of power. A grand council of the Kushan tribes is assembling to debate war against Falconia, the city ruled by Griffith. Dark Horse teases that Griffith's influence has already reached them through deadly sorcery, and that Guts, trapped in his own darkness, can't be counted on to help.
Carrying On After Miura
Miura's death in 2021 shocked the comics world. Berserk had run since 1989 and inspired countless creators across manga, comics, games and film, from its brutal action to its unforgettable designs like Guts' massive Dragon Slayer sword.
In 2022, the publisher of the Japanese edition confirmed that Berserk would continue. Miura's assistants at Studio Gaga took over the art, while Kouji Mori, Miura's longtime friend and the creator of manga like Holyland, oversees the story. Mori has explained that Miura discussed the plot with him over the years, giving the team a foundation to work from.
That makes each new English volume a notable event for comics readers who never expected to see the story move forward again.
The Kushan setting adds another layer. The empire's ruler, Ganishka, waged a devastating war on Midland earlier in the series, and his final, monstrous transformation set off the change that remade the world and gave rise to Griffith's Falconia. Returning to the Kushan as they consider striking back puts the series on course for one of its biggest conflicts yet.
What Dark Horse Is Including
Berserk Volume 43 is translated by Duane Johnson and includes several extras that should appeal to collectors:
- A double-sided, full-color illustrated fold-out
- An afterword written by Kouji Mori
- A bonus comic strip about Kentaro Miura
The trade paperback costs $14.99 and is rated 18+. Dark Horse lists the book under the fantasy, horror and manga genres, which is a fair summary of a series that has always lived at the intersection of all three.
Dark Horse's Long History With Berserk
Dark Horse has been the English home of Berserk for many years, releasing the standard paperbacks alongside the larger hardcover deluxe editions that collect three volumes at a time. Those deluxe books have become staples for comic shop shelves, introducing the series to plenty of Western readers who may have first discovered Guts through anime or games.
For American comic fans, Berserk's influence is easy to spot. Its mix of gothic horror, medieval warfare and personal tragedy has shaped plenty of creators, and its central rivalry between Guts and Griffith remains one of the most compelling hero and villain dynamics in the medium.
Berserk has also crossed into screen adaptations several times, including the 1997 anime series, the Golden Age Arc film trilogy and the 2016 TV series, but none of them have gone as far as the manga. With war between the Kushan and Falconia now on the table, Volume 43 looks set to raise the stakes for both Guts and Griffith.
Have you kept up with Berserk since Studio Gaga took over, or are you waiting until the story reaches its end?
Sound off with your thoughts in the comments below.