Notes for Berserk chapters 278 - 290

Check here for my notes on chapters 291 -

Berserk 278 (Volume 32: Millenium Falcon Arc, Chapter of Falconia: Setting Sail)
Released November 2006

Beserk 277 saw Gatts and the Immortal Zodd (in his full Apostolic glory) temporarily shelve their rivalry in order to co-ordinate an attack the astral body of the Kushan Emperor. But it's only an irritating setback for the Emperor, and both Gatts and Zodd sustain some serious damage in the encounter. Berserk 278 picks up with the mist pulling back from the city of Vritanis and Gatts' companions rushing to be at his side, regardless of the danger they face from Zodd by doing so. They arrive to find the beast Zodd shaking off the rubble and demanding that Gatts get to his feet - if not, Zodd will tear him to shreds. Keep in mind that Gatts has already been blasted with lightning bolts, shot out of a whirlwind, belted with a ship's main mast and nearly drowned three times- as if that's going to stop him from rising to a challenge...

278 brings to an end the lead-up sequence to the attack on the city, a narrative stretch that began with the giant cats invading the Vritanis ball. Gatts' companions are at last putting their most crippling insecurities behind them, and are placing their trust where it belongs - in each other. This has always been Gatts' strength: the (utterly unconscious) ability to inspire others to survive against overwhelming odds. Gatts is his own force of chaos, and he affects EVERYONE around him.

But his companions are now willing to stand up to Gatts to save him from himself - Serpico's pragmatism in throwing Gatts' own words back at him in one critical moment almost certainly short circuits what promised to be an instantly fatal decision. Is Gatts finally learning to trust the judgement of other people? Well, almost - he still had to think about it for a moment.
The other curious element here is the reincarnated Griffith - he is certainly looking directly at Gatts at one point - but what is that intense expression doing in his eyes? Is it that Griffith, a being without peer on earth, isn't as free of Gatts as he thought he was? I don't know, but I'm burning to find out.

The drawing in this instalment is as usual brimming with action, but is quite dark, being set at night with a lot of smoke. Gatts is looking a lot older - the lock of white hair certainly adds to this impression - I'm not sure if this is deliberate, the influence of the armour, or the result of charring by one too many lightning bolts. (Remember Gatts is still only 21 years old, but here he's looking closer to 40).

Berserk 279 (Volume 32: Millenium Falcon Arc, Chapter of Falconia: The Great Invasion)

After leaving the semi-conscious Gatts and his friends rowing toward Roderick's ship, the attention of the narrative turns to the forces at Vritanis, as seen through the eyes of the noble Lord Owen. Confusion reigns, but the full force of what is being brought to bear upon Vritanis will quickly become apparent as the forces of the Kushan Emperor arrive outside the walls.

On the other side, Silat is still struggling to come to terms with the monstrosity of the Emperor he fights for.

Nasty stuff is afoot (and on horseback, and on the backs of elephants), but there's not so much action as anticipation, particularly as we know Griffith is close.

Berserk 280 (Volume 32: Millenium Falcon Arc, Chapter of Falconia: The Great Invasion 2)
Released 9th January 2007

The forces of Vritanis look on in amazement as the Kushan attack mysteriously falters. Some, like Lord Owen, realise the significance of the flags with the flying swords on them. So it looks like - as expected - Vritanis will be saved by the mysterious White Hawk.

Oh dear.

The lovely thing about the way Miura has set up this conflict is that he has given Griffith, evil incarnate, the license to become a beloved hero... and all the time those of us who think we know him are wondering what the catch is going to be. Griffith is beautiful, he's cruel, he's ruthless and utterly evil - and yet his kindness, his compassion, and his empathy endear him to the desperate and the innocent who, like Queen Charlotte, need to believe that there is some good within everyone.

And I suspect I'm not alone in thinking that Gatts loved/loves Griffith more than he loves Caska, though perhaps it's more in the manner of an obsession (then again, perhaps not). The love/hate relationship between Gatts and Griffith has been beautifully handled right from the start.

The first sign that something is about to happen to the Kushan is Arvin, appearing on the battlefield to take off heads with the force of his arrows. He has the kind of silent intensity I find intriguing. He describes himself as a hunter, but I'm not quite sure of what sort of a monster he'll turn out to be...

There are some impressively detailed drawings of the Imperial army smashing into the Vritanis defence.

Berserk 281 (Volume 32: Millenium Falcon Arc, Chapter of Falconia: Incoming Flight)
Released 26th January 2007

The Kushan Emperor has his suspicions about what is happening, as reports come in of something going wrong with the front lines. But just then, on the top of the hill, the cavalry appears... We already know that Griffith, who has apparently lost none of his skill of strategy, has led his forces up what should be an impassable cliff, to come upon the Imperial forces from behind.

The drawings centre on the charge of Griffith and his Apostles, primarily on Locus and Zodd (who's carrying that bloody great sword and an axe and making a mess as usual), and so the focus is on individual encounters rather than the sweeping overview of the armies we had in the previous chapter. Griffith is front row and centre, back where he belongs, fully in command. The images of the White Hawk pulling down his visor and drawing his sword are stirring, imbued with that ruthlessness that has never left him. You get to see how Griffith deploys his small force to full effect, using Locus and his lancers as spearpoints.

Berserk 282 (Volume 32: Millenium Falcon Arc, Chapter of Falconia: Bursting Battlefield)
Released 9th February 2007

282 opens with the forces of Vritanis looking on, amazed, as the Kushan guard part in disarray and Griffith comes in full charge toward the Emperor. In this segment they finally confront each other in person, and the Emperor finds he is discomforted by Griffith's presence. Griffith forces him to display his true form, much to the horror of Silat, who is a shocked witness to this encounter.

The Emperor has pretensions to being the devil, and perhaps he really is. If so, what does that make Griffith, given his demonic genesis, and the stones of blood that have paved his path to power? The Church of the world of Berserk is portrayed as being the excuse for humankind's brutality and inhumanity to itself, the demons of the godhand and the demons of hell seem to be one and the same, the source of all supernatural darkness. If any refuge is to be found, it lies with the balance of nature, the forces of magic that can be harnessed by the witches and by the fey.

And strangely, the way that Griffith appears to the Emperor as a glowing outline of light is identical to the way the child on the beach appeared to calm Gatts out of his berserker rage in chapter 242. Is the child a reincarnation also, and if so, of whom? Gatts and Caska's own child? It's an intriguing (though probably wrong!) possibility.

This segment ends with a very unsubtle threat, and the Emperor about to unleash his fury upon Griffith.

Berserk 283 (Volume 32: Millenium Falcon Arc, Chapter of Falconia: Fierce Gale)
Released 22 February 2007

I found it a little hard to see what was going on in this chapter, possibly because of the chosen perspectives, the crowded frames and the sparse dialogue (of course, the drawing is of the usual high standard). The wind rises (summoned, we suspect, by Griffith), and the Kushan Emperor looks uncomfortable at his inability to prevent his mist form from dispersing. But Griffith makes two admissions in this chapter - he says he can't capture or slay the Emperor, and that a battle between them would likely lead to stalemate. However, this may be no more than a diversion, said for the purpose of luring the Emperor away from the field.

Griffith looks angelic, proud and unruffled, while the Emperor takes a while to regain his composure. There is the promise of a battle to come, a kind of supernatural showdown in the Emperor's demon city - once Midland's capital, which, if you remember back to the rescue of Griffith from the dungeon, is itself built on an ancient foundation of brutality and sacrifice...

Vritanis may be temporarily saved from the Kushan Emperor, but does Farnese's father have any real idea of who he is about to embrace as their saviour?

The next instalment of Berserk is not due until April 8th 2007 - hopefully it might be time to return to Roderick's ship to see how Gatts is getting along.

Berserk 284 (Volume 32: Millenium Falcon Arc, Chapter of Falconia: Midland Regular Army)
Released 14th April 2007

Well, Berserk returns and we stay a little longer with Griffith at Vritanis. Our hero is victorious, beautiful and smug. Why shouldn't he be? Once again he holds all the cards in a game he apparently dealt out himself. Miura has drawn some lovely scenes here; the angelic Griffith of whom all are in awe, the surprise of the exiled Midland nobles as they bow to Charlotte, the subtle hardening of Griffith's face as one of them reminds him that he was once imprisoned for treachery, and the change in Charlotte's expression as Griffith, saying nothing, touches her hand and gives her the strength that she is expected to show.

One of Griffith's uses for Charlotte becomes strikingly obvious in this chapter, but we can only wonder, given the effect he had upon Gatts, whether she won't also go the same way once she realises how strong she can be (the difference being that Gatts was never under Griffith's control and Charlotte very clearly is). For the moment they need each other - she needs his military strength if she is to be Queen of Midland, and he needs her bloodline to legitimise his command. Which means that, for all his posturing, the Griffith portrayed here is a traditionalist. After all, how much legitimising do you need when you can wipe the floor with anything that gets in your way? Can it be that he has something else in mind?

Berserk 285 (Volume 32: Millenium Falcon Arc, Chapter of Falconia: Hero)
Released 27th April 2007

With this instalment I can now see why Miura kept the focus on Griffith. The White Hawk's acceptance and reverence had to be sealed beyond all doubt, by the people, the nobles and the pope. The backroom plans by the nobles to divide the spoils of war among themselves are hinted at, but this treachery (or pragmatism, depending on how you look at it), must be concealed beneath the totality of Griffith's victory in winning the hearts of the people. He is the Hawk of Light, the saviour whose coming was foretold in both dream and prophecy. This should, however, be balanced against Schierke's comment (back in volume 22, chapter 159) that the "King of the blind white sheep is the master of the black sheep with a burden of sins - he is the one who will bring true darkness to the world". You have to wonder, considering how seriously the world has been screwed up since Griffith became Femto, just how much worse things can really get.

Kentaro Miura is a master of his art and his confidence shines in this chapter. The drawing in every panel conveys as much meaning in the attitude and feelings of the characters as does a single word. Perspectives are well chosen and emotions are beautifully portrayed, from the obvious continued outrage of the Midland nobles, to the very subtle change in Sonia's expression as she looks at Charlotte...

Berserk 286 (Volume 32: Millenium Falcon Arc, Chapter of Falconia: All Aboard)
Released 22 June 2007

This is a travellers' tale, and there is more than one person on their own private journey here. We have returned to Roderick's ship, where the opening panels make it clear that the vessel has escaped to the open seas. The choice of comic relief to kick things off (a sparring match between Lt. Azan and Isidro) does two things: it keeps us wondering about Gatts for a little bit longer, and it tells us that everything is OK on board the ship, at least. Roderick still comes across as slightly calculating, but his heart seems to be in the right place... even if he has no idea that his future wife is in her cabin preparing to take her first faltering steps into the astral world. Farnese is opening her eyes to wonder; as her material body is left behind, so are the last of her fears. As she flies with Schierke above the ship, she looks down... to see Gatts (on his feet, but covered with scars) watching Caska. He doesn't look happy. Caska has either seen something ahead of them, or she is indulging her own sense of wonder as the ship skims the ocean - it's not clear which. Either way, Gatts is isolated from her. All up this is a satisfying return to Gatts' story.

'Til next time, as the end credits say, with the next chapter due on July 13th.

Berserk 287 (Volume 33: Millenium Falcon Arc, Chapter of Falconia: Bubbles)
Released 13th July 2007

As Gatts stands on deck watching Caska, the vision in his remaining eye darkens for a moment. Is this a legacy of the armour, or a result of the beating he's taken? It's certainly an ominous sign. Shierke and Farnese notice something is wrong, but their astral observation ends abruptly when Roderick asks Gatts what Caska means to him. Farnese doesn't want to hear the answer, so we don't get to hear it either... we don't even know if he actually makes one.

Gatts discovers a few minutes later that his iron arm has two fundamental weaknesses - one, he can't grip Caska as she falls into the sea, and two, the weight of it sinks him like a rock. He still hasn't fully recovered from his wounds, and he would have drowned if Roderick hadn't dived into the sea to save him. I like Roderick - he's open to new ideas, he asks direct questions and he acts decisively. And with his introduction to the series, the existing network of confused and unrequited desires between Gatts' companions has now tangled into an absolutely fascinating mess.

There's an undertone of sadness present in this chapter, related to the impact of the past upon the present. When Gatts is losing consciousness underwater, he reflects on how he aways seems to be there to prevent Caska falling... but in the end the eclipse, viewed through the eye of his inner beast, overshadows everything. In addition, his false arm becoms a symbol of his relationship with Caska; he might have put his arm back together, but what was lost is gone forever - no matter how hard he tries to fix things, he realises that nothing can ever be the same.

Berserk 288 (Volume 33: Millenium Falcon Arc, Chapter of Falconia: Sea Battle)

While redrawing the seal protecting Gatts from the demon hordes - apparently it isn't waterproof, so he mustn't wash the back of his neck all that often - Schierke finds solace in knowing that she shares some kind of bond with him as a result of her magic. Farnese must deal with her own frustrations as she tries to understand why Caska is so hostile to Gatts in spite of his desperation to protect her. Caska can't speak... but that doesn't mean she can't communicate, and a simple gesture speaks volumes.

The reflections of the companions are interrupted by events on deck, as pirates launch an attack on Roderick's ship. I wasn't surprised to learn that the handsome Roderick has a deadly reputation as a sea captain. Like both Gatts and Serpico, he's not the kind of man to brag about his talents. And Serpico appears to trust him - which is important for Roderick if he's to have any chance with Farnese at all.

The pirates (including the captain who beat up on Isidro in Vritanis) are your typical eye-patch and peg-leg cariactures, but they serve their cannon fodder purpose reasonably well. This is a chapter packed with both emotion and action. Berserk fans already know how well Miura conveys the scope of battles on land, and it's nice to see him turn his hand to conflict at sea.

Berserk 289 (Volume 33: Millenium Falcon Arc, Chapter of Falconia: Sea Battle 2)
Released 14th September 2007

This chapter begins with a quiet confidence and ends with an ominous snarl. Even at three to one the pirates were never any real threat, and Roderick's focused efficiency makes short work of them. The pirates do an appropriate amount of cussing and fussing but they are really only here to show us what Roderick can do, and how he goes about doing it. Even so, the ships were beautifully drawn and I liked the figurehead on one showing a well-dressed skeleton riding a shark (and wouldn't be at all surprised if it turned out to be the former captain of the ship).

The real danger, however, does not come from the pirates. Gatts is having nightmares and no one can soothe him. Then comes the cracking of some metaphysical chains and Kentaro Miura beautifully conveys the seriousness of Gatts' deterioration, and the growing threat, with just the sheer power of his imagery. There's also something uncomfortably stirring in the way he has Gatts' inner beast restrained with steel and with barbed eye-bolts hammered directly into its flesh, continuing the theme of suffering.

Will Gatts' friends realise what is happening in time to save themselves?

The next chapter is due at the end of September 2007.

Berserk 290 (Volume 33: Millenium Falcon Arc, Chapter of Falconia: Howl from the Darkness)
Released 28th September 2007

The beast stirs in the depths... and just about the only thing restraining it is the promise of greater suffering to come. There are some timely warnings here. Gatts has to keep reminding himself that he has chosen - for the moment - to protect and not destroy. The flipside, of course, is that the more he cares the more he will suffer from losing those he has sworn to protect. But who is really in control here - Gatts or the beast? Killing Griffith remains 'their' primary goal - and at that time, when faced with that opportunity, the odds are that Gatts will tilt back in favour of destruction. Protect or destroy - the Skull Knight has already warned him that he can't do both.

Gatts' companions have no idea how close to disaster they really came.

Both Isidro and Pack provide the 'comic relief' in this chapter; Pack's at the expense of Magnifico, who really is a magnificent ass. This seems like very silly stuff, but it has its uses. Isidro is shown to be still very much a child with a child's sense of excitement, and Pack assesses Magnifico very smartly (and in much the same way he did with Isidro when they first met).

By the end of the chapter the companions are asleep except for the two protectors - Serpico watching Farnese talking with Roderick, and Gatts sitting outside gazing across the sea, haunted by the howl from the darkness.

There have been comments made in the various Berserk forums that this chapter is a filler, but that does it something of an injustice, I think. There is a lot going on here, revealing glimpses of Gatts and the people around him. Sure, nothing actually 'happens', but a lot is said - and unsaid.

The next chapter isn't due out until November 11th 2007.

This page updated 19th October 2007
All images shown here are copyright to Kentaro Miura, english translation courtesy of Evil-Genius.us