The Things I will Miss About Kentaro Miura's Writing
Since Miura’s death, there’s been much speculation about the fate of Studio Gaga and whether or not they will continue Berserk. Our characters have all reached relatively peaceful conclusions, but that final page of Guts coming face-to-face with his child provides a tantalising prospect, and the knowledge of Griffith’s easy shortcut to Elfhelm threateningly looms over the narrative.
Whatever they decide, Miura’s proteges have proven they are all brilliant artists in their own right. The art isn’t a problem, but the writing is. It is easier to emulate someone’s art style than their writing technique. There used to be this website where you could submit a paragraph of your writing into an algorithm and it would calculate which writer you were most similar to. I remember that one of my stories reflected Stephenie Meyer, Kurt Vonnegut, and Anne Rice depending on what passage I gave the algorithm. Talk about whiplash in quality and style! This is all to say, every writer is different, and it is impossible to replicate any one author. I wouldn’t want to put that kind of pressure on the Studio Gaga team, and knowing that whatever they release would be missing Miura’s living mind would only make for a bittersweet reading experience. But I’m not totally against it.
One of the things I will miss the most from Miura’s writing is his attention to human detail. In many chapters, he showed us that he wasn’t merely advancing the plot, but used mundane humour, sensitivity, and the banality of the every day, to make all his characters feel real. I’m just going to go over some of my favourites.
Guts’s Haphephobia
Guts’s backstory is made all the more tragic because we are shown how much of an impact it still has on him as a grown adult. Miura could have just left it at Donovan’s rape, but Guts’s struggle with human touch as an adult makes him sympathetic and emotionally scarred. We can then chart his character progression not through dialogue, but by noting how he allows other characters into his personal space through the artwork. From Black Swordsman to Fantasia, Guts goes from a lone wanderer, to sharing panels of various sizes with an ever-growing crew of companions, and it’s beautiful to see.
Gutsca PTSD Sex Scene
By recalling his previous sexual trauma during this moment, Miura showed that abuse doesn’t just disappear with age. By this point, Guts had already allowed other members of the Hawk to get close to him, but having sex is another level of intimacy he had yet to conquer. Casca recalls how Guts used to hate being touched, revealing that despite her irritation towards him early on in the story, she had been observing him much more than initially believed. That Guts chooses to admit that he was always comfortable with Casca’s touch is testament to his honesty and his desire for her to feel wanted. Her expression during this revelation is both sweet and self-conscious. It is rare for Casca to receive such attention, despite her devotion to her friends. Here is a man who wants her as his equal. It is a very considerate, kind moment.
Post-coital Discomfort
Humour is always something that is handled so well in Berserk. Despite an emotional sex scene, and the anxiety surrounding the upcoming Griffith rescue mission, we get a moment of brevity as Casca mounts her horse shortly after having sex and feels a pang of discomfort. It was already noted that Guts was Casca’s first sexual partner. It’s rare for a male author to include something so specific. We’re used to sex being so devoid of fluids, blood, and virginal discomfort in media. And as expected from your average cis man, Guts is all “you ready, boss?” completely oblivious to what Casca’s going through. His cluelessness and Casca’s mild annoyance is a classic example of the banter they share with each other. It makes them so human.
Casca Cleaning Guts After Demon Boy Rampage
It’s just one of those quiet, tender moments that makes me smile. After looking so monstrous, and doing so much rage-killing, Guts just melts beneath Casca’s care. He almost looks content, like he can have a quick minute to relax and catch his breath. Their wordless dialogue speaks such volumes that Griffith, even in his broken state, was able to notice it.
Guts Watching Over His Children
Guts is a selfless leader who cares deeply about his new companions. He respects them enough to let them see their own inner strengths. We’ve never seen Guts arrogantly push someone aside to save the day. Each member is able to fight according to their ability. Whilst he respects their individual talents and attributes, he recognises that he is obviously the most powerful, which is why he takes up the rear whenever they’re travelling, mirroring his position as raid commander of the Hawk. These attributes of Guts are culminated in the single panel of him watching over Isidro and Schierke at the Port of Vritannis. Once he verifies (with himself) that they’re okay, he leaves them to it.
Nice Guy Roderick
On Elfhelm, Guts has reached the end of his journey. All he can do is watch on anxiously as Casca is restored through the corridor of dreams with Farnese and Schierke by her side. In a show of solidarity and brotherly friendship, Roderick holds a vigil alongside Guts with drinks and Serpico in tow. Roderick is such a wonderful character who completely subverts our expectations from when he first meet him. This scene highlights the mutual affection of Guts’s crew. Whilst he has been helping and protecting them, they too care about his mental wellbeing. It’s a reminder that he isn’t alone, and that they are equally hoping for Casca’s recovery because they know how much she means to him.
Casca’s Smile
It’s as if Miura was writing a love letter to the fans when he drew this page. It has been so long since the two of them were together, united, tender, and in love. We’ve watched as Casca has rejected Guts in her Elaine state, been assaulted by so many (including, unfortunately, Guts), unable to speak or acknowledge her previous life. There were no words needed when she heard Guts’s name. After all they have been through, this tearful smile said enough.
Writing this list is both a sad and cathartic exercise. I’m reminded of how much I enjoyed learning about these characters from the spaces between the lines, and the unsaid words, and the many creative ways in which Miura’s beautiful art showed, not told us, about them. I’m saddened because it’s more proof of the monumental loss to this community and to the medium that he was taken so soon and so unexpectedly. Whatever Studio Gaga decides to do after this period of mourning will have my full support, and I look forward to their personal and group projects post-Berserk. I’m sure they will honour him in various ways, and I feel so sorry for their grief.
These seven favourites of mine (although there are plenty more to list) is a lesson in skilful writing for me, an aspiring author currently editing a novel for publication. I have lots of writer friends so I hope this list will be beneficial to you also. It’s another thing to be grateful for: that the master is still able to teach us, even from beyond the grave.