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BERSERK: Manga Volume 26 Reaction! (Patreon)

Published:
2024-07-06 17:00:03
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

*DEUS EX HEADPHONE WARNINGS*

Oh, I LOVED this volume! This is the Berserk I want: LORE, mystery, action, BADASSERY, Skull Knight Shenanigans, Tension, drama, ALL OF IT!

Oh, Miura, I want to give you a sympathy head pat for the Slan nonsense, but everything else? SOLID GOLD. I LIVE!

Thank you for watching with me and for all the support!

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Romania Black - BERSERK: Manga Volume 26 Reaction! DEUS EX MACHINAS & THE BERSERKER ARMOR?!

**DEUS EX HEADPHONE WARNINGS** Oh, I LOVED this volume! This is the Berserk I want: LORE, mystery, action, BADASSERY, Skull Knight Shenanigans, Tension, drama, ALL OF IT! Oh, Miura, I want to give you a sympathy head pat for the Slan nonsense, but everything else? SOLID GOLD. I LIVE! Thank you for watching with me and for all the support! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/RomaniaBlack My Anime: https://myanimelist.net/profile/RomaniaBlack Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/RomaniaBlack You can mail me a letter or anything (except food, please) at this address: Romania Black PO Box 768 Harrisburg, IL 62946 USA

Comments

Moominkomet

I would call what Casca is experiencing is an ethereal wound. We know what PTSD looks like and she does not have that. Her soul has been damaged. It’s a psychic wound. So, what does that mean for Guts having just been wounded by a lesser Godhand? I would say that the strengthening of his “Id” ( the doggo) is not a good thing. As far as love between Guts and Casca, their relationship was so new at that time, they didn’t have a chance to express any endearments between themselves. Casca never said she loved him, and Guts never said he loved her. Regardless of this, their actions in Golden Age showed that they loved each other . One reason he will not abandon Casca is that she is the spark in his heart from those days. This is as far as I’ll go down this road for obvious reasons…… The idea of this story being a spiral instead of a circle repeating the same mistakes over and over is visible throughout the story. When Guts tells Isidro that he is the rear guard, that was Gut’s first job in the Band of the Hawk for example. Yeah, there are parallels between Guts and Griffith, I think the way Guts handles his reluctant leadership role wayyyyyyy better than Griffith did. He does need companionship, no person is an island. There is a lot of philosophy involving Jung and Nietzsche in this story. I’ve read some philosophy (Nietzsche and Plato) and your comment on Guts taming the Dog, is right up Carl Jung’s tree. The Gazing into Darkness line is from Nietzsche. When you fight evil, do not become evil yourself basically. I also love that little smile on Schierke’s face when she summoned the Rot! There are videos that really go into detail on the philosophy of Berserk and I probably would advise staying away from them until you finish the story for spoiler reasons. I’m glad you mostly enjoyed this volume! There is a lot more I want to write, but, I’ll hold off due to the other shoe dropping soon…. Trying not to spoi! 👁️👁️👁️👁️FEB Spoilers⬇️👁️👁️👁️👁️ Oh the CrInGe! Volume 26: 7 - I think, there were a lot of eyes in this volume!

Lynden

I think the difference here is that when Slan was asking to be penetrated I was thinking "Quick Guts, make a run for it, I'll distract her for as long as I can!" While I don't think what the trolls were doing enticed any female readers.

A mere Almond

Flora was referring to Schierke's bashful smile, not Skull Knight. Slan was trying to persuade Guts to become evil. To indulge in his rage and desire for revenge. It wasn't sexual. It was truly villainous. You were taking the sexual dialogue too literally. That sexual dialogue was just DEMONIC flirting and teasing. With the intent to illicit rage, not sexual relations. Guts definitely loves Casca. There is no question about that. After Godo's talk, this entire journey is about bringing Casca to safety in Elfhelm. And Casca is currently suffering from a mental health crisis. I understand you don't like it. But that is the reality right now. Guts can't connect with Casca because she is not of sound mind. Why do you care less about Casca? I feel sad that she is having a mental health crisis. I am looking forward to her safety in Elfhelm. And I also have high hopes for her recovery. I don't understand your view on this. Is it because Casca is getting help? And it should be a feminist story where the women saves herself? That just sounds cruel to me. "Pick yourself up by your bootstraps" that I hear politicians say. Also, I have had a family member that was dependent on our help. She passed away. The idea that this family member needed agency to help herself is preposterous to me. Or the idea that this family member was not feminist enough. Or that the dynamic of taking care of her was too much patriarchy. I am guessing your response is that its fantasy. Miura didn't have to make Casca's health crisis realistic like my family member that passed away. It should instead be a feminist story where the women saves herself. But a fantasy story without social commentary is just shallow nonsense. I prefer the social commentary Miura adds to Berserk. Guts has had a lot of changes. He started off without purpose or comrades. After joining the hawks, Guts learned about camaraderie and gained comrades. He became the captain of the raiders and developed all the skills of a great leader. Where he supported his troops and gained their respect. He left to find a purpose, only realizing that what he truly cared about was his comrades. He felt like he "abandoned precious things". After the eclipse, Guts just became obsessed with hatred and revenge. Godo made him realize he did the same thing again. "Abandoned precious things", the last he had, Casca and Rickert. But then he realized he is not capable of protecting Casca. It was too much work. He needed help. So he reluctantly accepted help. But the final change we see is that he started seeing this new group he reluctantly accepted as a new set of comrades and "precious things". The old captain of the raiders came back. He put his hand on Schierke's shoulder and told her she needs to calm down. And praised her magic. He told Farnese that she is a vital member of the group and that he is thankful. He told Isidro that even a kid can be deadly on the battlefield and that he trusts his abilities. This is all a major major change to Guts' character. The following is a response to your request from the volume 25 reaction. The context behind all of the SA is that its demonic and evil. Do you agree on that? Its always bad guys doing it. And its often literally demons doing it too. This is a honest question. Do you believe men enjoy blood and guts and women together? And men get turned on by demons doing SA? Or that men would find Troll entrails in the shape of Slan sexy? Is all of this demonic SA and blood and Guts "male gaze" in your perspective? I can tell you from my own male perspective that demons and blood and guts are a turn off. And SA is a turn off. Also, I have never been aroused by sexy cartoon women. Actual porn with women actress, with no blood or gore or demons or SA is what I would go for. Not opening up Berserk lol. There are many male reactions available on youtube. I have yet to see a happy horny reaction to the SA. The most common reaction among men to the SA is "F YOU GRIFFITH!!". That was one of the most stark differences between your reaction to Griffith's return and the reaction of men on youtube. I understand there was a bit of confusion that has been cleared up. But you were upset at Miura during Griffith's return. The reaction of men was anger towards Griffith. Why do you think the male reactors had anger towards Griffith? I would like an answer to this from your perspective. And do you think Miura would be upset by the reactions of men on youtube? If Miura watched some of the men reacting to Berserk SA, would he be thinking "why aren't these men horny? Was my art not sexy enough??" Here is my answer to the question above. If Miura watched youtube reactions of men, he would think "good. The men are angered and disgusted by the actions of these demons. Mission accomplished." In volume 25, You mentioned a comment that said Guts was aroused by seeing Casca naked. That is preposterous. But actually, the intent behind that scene was that Guts saw a glimpse of the old Casca when she killed those bandits. So the influence of the "demon dog thing" + witnessing a glimpse of the old Casca that he fell in love with led to his SA actions. And Casca's nude body was covered in the blood of the bandits. Just trust me on this. From the perspective of a man. Men don't get turned on by women drenched in blood. It was symbolism for how wretched, dark and desperate Guts had become to find that gruesome bloody scene arousing. And also how it was not motivated by the physical appearance of Casca, which was bloody and grotesque. It was motivated by the memory of the old warrior character of Casca. A normal male reaction to a nude women covered in blood with a sword would be fear, not horny. Trust me on this please. You see nude Casca covered in blood as "male gaze" correct? I see nude Casca covered in blood as grotesque. Interesting contrast in our perspectives.

Complex City

First time i see someone criticize slan and that moment of her dialogue like this, from my point of view, it's not the usual mirua situation where that's what he think women talk like or think the men reading this find it sexy as you can tell when you look at all the dialogue Miura has written for women and see he doesn't make that much of a distinction with how the men and women talk, hell, luca being one of most understanding and having so much wisdom, the slan situation is just her character, slan represents the stereotype you can say what some men like and so her using and talking that way is meant to show, that aspect is suppose to be seen as something silly you can say as even skull night then proceeds to call her that name, it's meant to just show what type of character slan is as it feels like slan is acting and talking that way in a mocking way, like she's mocking the men and not miura just writing what he thinks is sexy, well that's the impression i got reading this

Alex Kornejo
>>142920676

I'M SPOILING MY COMMENT BECAUSE I'LL BRING UP A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT SHOWS (NGE, DEMON SLAYER) I think there's a big gulf of difference between the 'pick yourself by your boot straps' attitude and wanting to have a beloved character have some agency. I don't think anyone is disputing Guts' character arc, everything that has had to do with him has been great so far, it just sucks that Casca wasn't afforded the same. I'm a bit with Romania on this one it's one of the biggest character derailments I think I've seen. Maybe it's that the names sound pretty similar to me, or that they were voiced by the same person, but I think their character arcs have both been pretty similar to me. Casca reminds me a lot of Asuka from Evangelion, both were hot blooded characters with a misguided crush on somebody they shouldn't have while unknowingly they both develop a more meaningful attraction towards a guy they keep butting heads with. And at some point in their stories they both suffer an horrific attack that leaves them spiritually broken. But in Asuka's case the story doesn't end there, She continued to make choices, maybe self destructive choices, but choices nonetheless. Eventually she ended up catatonic which although different, it's functionally similar to Casca's situation; essentially both characters check out from the story for a while, but in Asuka's case it wasn't her assault that did it (at least directly) it was the stuff she did afterwards. And from there they both just became broken symbols of a golden age that was irrevocably lost and vehicles for the main character to hit rock bottom. But that was endgame stuff in Eva and Asuka didn't disappear for half the story and ultimately came back and dealt with her own stuff, plus the bullshit Shinji dropped on her lap. Casca meanwhile, is as if Asuka had locked herself in her friends room playing sega games for half the story's runtime. The plot point of Casca withdrawing into her own mind in itself I don't think it's objectionable at all, but staying there for half the story or more is what's the problem for me. About all the sex stuff, saying his intention was to show how evil the demons are or how grotesque some of the acts portrayed are supposed to be is probably true enough but considering how explicit and common it is, it feels gratuitous. Some of it I would even defend it, like let's say if the eclipse was the only part that was as explicit as it is and everything else left it hinted and implied. I think it would be a defensible choice because it would feel as gross, shocking and vile. But wen it keeps happening over and over and over again and all of it with the same degree of explicitness, it cheapens the intent. But like I said the sex stuff feels gratuitous but I can overlook it; he's a mangaka, probably didn't go out much and drew those pages with his non-dominant hand, fine. It's not the first explicit story that has ever been nor will it be the last, from Pixar to HBO I can enjoy anything as long as the story is interesting. But the way he's handled Casca really is baffling. Maybe the Shinji/Asuka Guts/Casca parallel is misguided and the intention is a bit more like an R-rated Tanjiro/Nezuko. In both instances they're a couple (romantic in one case, familial in the other) that survive an horrific attack where they lost everyone they cared for except for each other, so Tanjiro just like Guts is mark to roam the land fighting off demons in order to protect Nezuko. But I've seen similar critisism about Nezuko, The tragedy that befell Tanjiro, fell more directly on Nezuko, but unlike Tanjiro who gets to interact meaningfully with others from there, Nezuko gets silenced & infantilized and is literally a burden he carries on his back. But even Nezuko gets to do stuff from time to time. Its almost as if the author of demon slayer read berserk and thought to themselves "cool concept, swordsman roaming the country defeating demons, protecting the last person he loves, but what if we took out Guts inner rage and instead put it into the girl that actually went trough the worst part of that trauma." Nezuko is still handicapped by most of the time being more of a show mascot than a fully fledged character but she still gets to play a role at least in key moments. Casca has been a non-character for a significant chunk of the story and it sucks, because she was awesome, and I do think the rest of the story's been great so far, but that decision has been baffling so far. I'm at the same point in the story that these videos are, there's enough people defending this Casca that I'm sure at some point this status quo will change (although it's been like this for so long that if feels like Casca coming back will probably be endgame type stuff) but at this point it's a frustrating authorial choice. Anyway, I hope I was able to add a bit on what other people with similar takes are coming from.

A mere Almond
>>142920676

Your criticism of the SA is a bit different then Romania's. I can accept a ceasefire with your version that it's too gratuitous and too much too many times. But I cannot except the idea that the story is promoting it. Or that it turns men on. Or that it is motivating men to do SA. Or that the SA is sexy for men. All of that just sounds like smears and lies to me. Maybe I am a unique man that doesn't get really horny when I see explicit Berserk SA? But then there are countless youtube reactions of men who are also disgusted by it and not horny. So something doesn't add up with Romania's version. By the way, I have fun doing this. I like "arguing" about Berserk and disagreeing with others and trying to convince them. Not out of anger. Just nerdy anime fan thing. I haven't seen the shows you mentioned but I get your point and still disagree about the Casca storyline. Slight spoilers ahead that would break a strict spoiler policy, but pass a more lax one. I think we both agree that if Casca healed within 1 chapter, it would be ridiculous. What is the point of the trauma and mental health damage if its better so quickly? So it seems your main criticism is just an arbitrary disagreement about the length of time Casca is mentally unwell. Good thing she didn't get healed too soon. But now it's too long for you?? But here is the main spoiler part. What you are wishing for in regard to Casca does happen. Just not soon enough, I guess.

romaniablack
>>142903719

Hahaha, I'm over the trolls, so I won't say anything else to it, but the Slan part is very male-gaze coded and just not my cup of tea - it made her feel less of a threatening villain and just a suped-up Farnese from her "possessed" period, and I was just disappointed, expecting more than "horny female villainess," but it is what it is. Thanks for the comment!

romaniablack
>>142893990

With the ethereal wound explanation, that would make more sense but then my question is: Why haven’t Schierke or Flora commented on it as such? The story hasn’t told us that and no one else has brought it up in the comments…so do we find that out later in the story? I feel over the course of 12 volumes that Miura should have said something about it… I just loved Casca’s character and loathe how Miura does nothing with her at this point. It’s like watching your favorite character for 10 years do NOTHING. It’s so frustrating and I cannot imagine as a reader going that long with her character like this: The Struggle! I do appreciate you trying to help, though. 🙂 I love their relationship; it’s just so frustrating…she’s just sparks keeping his heart dimly lit and I get it…I just worry the payoff is not going to be worth it for me because everyone’s been building it up but I’m not seeing any development that seems like it’s “building.” Just little pulses of light but not growing. We’ll see, though. We have lots of volumes left. Don’t mind me being a bitter betty over here! 😀 It’s been so long since I’ve read Nietzsche and Plato in grad school – if I had more time, I’d probably get back to reading some, but my time outside the channel is pretty limited. But yes, I feel like Celine Dion playing “it’s all coming back to me now” with your comment! That smile from Schierke when she says “Rot” is devious and I love it! And ohhhh, don’t worry, I never touch media on YT for series at all until I’m finished, so my feed doesn’t start getting filled up with potentially spoiler-filled thumbnails. And yes, thank you for not spoiling! I know it’s trying, waiting on me to catch up, but the surprises keep me reading! 🙂 Thank you so much for being patient with me on my journey!

romaniablack
>>142920676

Ahhh, I couldn’t tell for sure - I thought that could be the case, but I also had “shipper goggles” on, so that probably didn’t help! 😀 I mean, yes, I absolutely got that from the Slan conversation with Guts – that was pretty straightforward. But at the same time – the double entendre was there – especially when the shot is of her bare bottom in the panel next to his sword, as a callback to Farnese. I’m saying, she could have seduced him in a way that wasn’t as male-gaze coded, but this is written by a man, so I’m not…surprised. That’s what I mean, it just didn’t come across as threatening like it does with other villains to me. I know in my heart that Guts and Casca do love each other and I know this is the “reality right now,” but I feel it’s better to voice my frustrations than go, “Well this is a great story! Nothing to talk about here!” You know? I just feel we’re not seeing Casca in a “mental health crisis.” We don’t get her perspective. She’s just shown staring off into space unless she’s looking fondly at Farnese (for good reason, go Farnese) or angry at Guts (for good reason, he messed up with her). Why can’t we get some POV with Casca like we do with Farnese? With Schierke? With Flora? Why can’t Casca work through her struggle like Guts does? She’s supposed to be his equal, right? And while I know there are people in the real world that are dependent…this is a fictional story and she’s one of our main characters. But she just…is standing there with nothing to do except be a metaphorical anchor for Guts. And with her as one of my favorite characters, it’s hard watching her do nothing. Like you said, “It’s fantasy.” He doesn’t have to make her crisis realistic, like you said in your comment. Give us character growth, give us perspective, show us in her brain and what she’s going through. But there isn’t anything like that right now. There is NO commentary with her, actually. Based on what we have right now. And yes, I’ve talked about Guts growth in the discussions for the last 25 volumes off and on. About his hatred and revenge, all of that. About Godo’s conversation, about Rickert. And about him accepting help. I do love the relationship he has with Isidro and Schierke; it’s great! And his character IS growing – I have to keep telling myself that as I read because at times it’s subtle and gradual. As for the SA – I don’t know – they published a poster of the trolls for people to hang up on their walls in the Deluxe Volume…if people find them disgusting, why would they want a literal poster to hang up of them? The male gaze is only to do with that panel of Slan specifically, as noted in the discussion. I definitely want to, once I’m caught up with the series, go and watch some reactors to see their perspectives - but that is good to know. I’ve gotten comments on YT that suggest otherwise, so glad to hear it. And I was mad at Griffith’s return, but also mad at how he was presented – obviously, I was triggered (as I explained very explicitly in the reaction) by my own encounter that Griffith’s return reminded me of – that’s why I was emotionally compromised during that volume, mainly. I do question why Miura did draw some of the pages like he did when there were other ways. Yes. I will stick to that claim. I would hope that Miura would want us to be disgusted by the comments – I hope more people speak up like you did in the comments; that would make my day, honestly. To help me not feel isolated in my thoughts about what’s happening. And yeah, someone actually commented about Guts being aroused by Casca naked - those are the types of comments I’m referring to. But I’m glad you spoke up and said this perspective - thank you! I wish more would talk about how they interpreted scenes like that – that would be so much more intriguing for me to read! But I just hate that our main character, we’re supposed to root for, found it arousing at all. It makes me feel all the more badly for Guts and that’s the point, I know. But it doesn’t make it any less hard. Anyway, this volume I was mainly cringing at Slan’s writing because I wanted more…but if Miura can just stick to his wheelhouse of what really works for him and leave the SA behind, that would be for the better. Thanks for the comment and taking the time to craft it! And for the support -- I'm struggling through like the rest of you!

Lynden
>>142903719

If you want to see a subversion of this, there are some horror manga by Junji Ito and Katsuhisa Kigitsu. They've both done stories where stupid nerds like me get excited about a succubus only to end up really regretting it.

Moominkomet
>>142893990

I have to admit, I’m spitballing on the Casca ethereal wound! 😅 still it does make more sense than just….PTSD. So your question: Why haven’t Schierke or Flora commented on it as such? I have no idea! Is this my own little idea of what is happening to Casca? Yes, kinda, but it’s based on something that I obviously can’t elaborate on. (spoilers!) Am I barking up the wrong tree with this? Yes, and no. I know Miura likes to take ideas that he finds interesting, throw them together and hit frappe. I can say that Go Nagai and his manga catalog, have a large influence on Berserk. That’s all I’ll say! 😅 One thing with Berserk is that there are mysteries that we only guess about because Miura has not told us about how lots of things work in this story. I also don’t think that is as important to the story either. Berserk has been accused of not being a story that does world building well. I can see that, it’s more character driven overall. Since he is not here to explain nor finish the story, we may never know for sure what is going on, so we just fill in the missing piece with what might be going on. Everyone loves a mystery right? I read Thus Spoke Zarathustra years ago. I’d say it is an influence for this story as well. Now I have to do a re-read of it because it’s been so long since I read it. When I read it the first time, I didn’t quite grok it fully so….there is that! Maybe I’ll be able to retain more on a second reading…. Oh yes, Schierke with that smile! Embrace the darkness my child! 😈 PS: the Shojo I’m reading currently is Seven Seeds. Man, talk about horrific! I have a talent for reading Shojo that is not sunshine and rainbows…. They are usually filled with rape, torture and mind games that are up there with Berserk. So far, I’m loving the story! Right up my alley it is. So far in this story, no rape, but plenty of the other stuff and I wouldn’t put it past the author to have a bit of rape in there later as it’s been in other of her stories. (Basara, The true shojo Berserk equivalent. )

romaniablack
>>142893990

That’s good to know – yeah, the PTSD is just too hollow and I expect more from Miura and know he probably means more if he does. I will definitely hold off on looking up anything on Go Nagai and all that because I’m trying to stay spoiler-free on Berserk. So I appreciate y’all being patient with me as I join Guts on the Struggle Bus! I do love a mystery and a character-driven story (those are my favorites) so maybe that’s why I get bummed with Casca, because I always want more with my favorites – I would disagree with the people that say it doesn’t do world-building well; I think Miura has some INCREDIBLE worldbuilding throughout - especially in the designs of the monsters, the dimensions, etc. I feel that for the *most* part he leaves everything to mystery to make it interesting as he should – me being Bitter Betty just wants a tad few explanations in certain places and Miura is wagging his finger like a gremlin before running away from me! Haha!! That’s interesting about Thus Spoke Zuarathustra and that info! I don’t want Schierke to embrace the darkness too much, now – I like her as the light source in this world and the voice of “reason” when Guts gets in too deep. I don’t want her corrupted. :’) That’s interesting about Seven Seeds; hopefully it doesn’t put rape in there. Honestly, Shojo has LOTS of horrific elements in it, but even SA or terrifying elements can be done “well” and “with tact” – I look at Banana Fish as a prime example of showing how SA can be horrifying, without overdoing or exploitation. Thanks for the reply! I will trust in Miura, and who knows! I may come around to his choices once I see a “broader” picture of what he’s doing with everything. I’m just on the road, right now! ;)

romaniablack
>>142903719

Ahhh, I've heard of Junji Ito! I think I've seen some screenshots of panels and the style looks WILD. Interesting - I may have to jot that down for later! Thank you for the recommendation!