While the passing of Berserk creator Kentaro Miura left the manga an unfinished masterpiece, one fan is giving the series a fitting conclusion.
Few manga have been as heartbreaking as Berserk. With the series' future more uncertain than ever following the death of Berserk creator Kentaro Miura, fans have been clamoring for a conclusion. One fan actually went so far as drawing their own interpretation of how the series could end.
Ever since the release of the manga's 364th chapter, the fate of the series has been up in the air. Though some fans have floated the idea that Miura's assistants could finish the seminal dark fantasy manga , Berserk's publisher, Young Animal, has been non-commital at best. Given that their last statement about the series was almost a year ago, many fans assume the series is over. Fortunately, it left on a high note. While chapter 364 was never intended to be the last chapter, it works well as a thematic finale. Guts finally feels like he has a sense of peace in the world and gets a quiet, sweet moment with the Moonlight Boy. Unfortunately, the relaxing chapter ends on a massive cliffhanger that completely changed everything. Now, that cliffhanger is getting resolved in a new fan-comic.
Artist @theophiasco has been posting their version of Berserk's ending on Twitter. The fan-comic immediately follows the dramatic ending of chapter 364, and puts a large emphasis on Casca's perspective. While the artwork is obviously quite different than Miura's, the fan comic's linework is impressive in its own right. Theo does excellent work capturing the dramatic paneling and angles that made Berserk widely regarded as the best manga ever made. Though the comic isn't quite finished yet, it already shows promise and should be considered a must-read for any fan of Berserk who is curious how the series might have ended had it gone on. Interested readers can find everything posted so far in this Twitter thread.
One thing that has been interesting to see is how Berserk has taken on a second life in the wake of Miura's passing. With multiple feature-length video essays, jaw-dropping cosplays, and even an entire Berserk concept rap album, the series' fandom shows no signs of shrinking. Given all this outpouring of love, it's only logical that a fan would share their vision for the finale. What's incredible about Theo's comic is how much effort clearly went into it. Far from something quickly produced, the fan comic feels like it is the product of significant thought and care.
Just before he passed, Kentaro Miura gave Berserk a hauntingly beautiful ending that left readers hungry for more. Regardless of whether the series does or doesn't continue, fans will be left wondering how Miura might have finished it. While Theo's fan comic might not be Berserk's official ending, it is a compelling read in its own right that shows what might have been.
Next: Berserk Cosplay of Guts' Armor is Absolutely Jaw-Dropping
Source: Theophiasco
