"Beautiful, graceful, ominious, and dreadful." That sums it up pretty well.
Creative Staff
Writer/Artist: Kentaro Miura
Translation: Duane Johnson
Adaptation: Duane Johnson
What They Say
Guts, the Black Swordsman, and his companions have finally arrived at the sea, where they discover a mysterious child who seems to share a special bond with Guts and his former lover, the now-mad Casca. The troupe's brief respite at the shore offers moments for quiet introspection and deeper bonding, but such peace is always short lived where Guts is involved, and Guts must once again don the demonic Berserker Armor to take on a force of bloodthirsty beasts emerging from the once-peaceful surf, possessed by the accursed sorcery of a powerful Kushan enchanter! And who knows what will happen when internal strife pushes a member of Guts's band unknowingly into the comforting companionship of an enemy!
The Review!
As Guts and Schierke gaze across the dark and brooding ocean, the Skeleton King comes and pays them a visit, enlightening them both on the effects of the armor, his history with both it and Schierke's mistress, and why the Hawk feared her so. He even dangles a deadly piece of hope in front of Guts - in the land of Elfhelm it may be possible for Casca to regain herself. Meanwhile Casca, also wandering in the night, finds a mysterious child naked in the sea and immediately takes to him. He also seems fascinated by Guts, who has his own suspicions as to the child's identity.
While seeking shelter in a small shack, they're attacked by a group of familiars, crocodiles that are being controlled by powerful spellcasters. They're driven back, but their enemies have still more in store for them, a monstrous beast that proves to be a match for the still wounded Guts. Fighting both the monster and the insidious control of his armor proves to be too much, and he once again gives in and becomes the Berserker just as the Skeleton King predicted.
His friends too get their first glimpse of the downside of this form when he comes close to attacking and killing them as well, although something manages to pull him back from the brink. This attack, however, is just one small skirmish in a much larger battle as powerful forces draw closer. It's hard to find something to say about this series that I haven't already gushed about, but really - it's simply one of the best stories told in graphic form in any language, and this volume shows so clearly just why that is. The greater forces at play contrasted against the conflicting desires that Guts has to avenge and protect, it just all plays out so well. Wonderful stuff.
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