Summary
Kentaro Miurais one of the greatest mangaka of all time. Against all odds, his work onBerserkshot up in popularity to the point where it served as a huge influence for other people looking to make their mark in the dark fantasy genre.Guts' anti-hero nature, his tendency to wield a massive sword, and one of the greatest arcs in manga history are just some of the many waysBerserkhas become one of the most iconic works of all time.
Aside from this manga, many people may not know that Miura has worked on a few other manga with varying degrees of success.Berserkmay be his magnum opus, but that should take nothing away from the mangaka’s small yet impressive body of work.
6Noa
Kentaro Miura’s Debut That Is Rough Around The Edges But Has A Ton Of Heart
Every mangaka needs a start, and Miura got the same withNoa. This one-shot portrays a unique futuristic world with intriguing characters in a post-apocalypse where people attempt to survive by any means necessary.
While Miura’s art doesn’t seem all that unique in this early work,his strong character writing is presentfrom the get-go. There’s more depth to characters than most people would assume, and the detailing in some panels is quite impressive. However, it would take a few more efforts before this mangaka would eventually refine his craft.
5Futatabi
An Ambitious Attempt To Tell A Sci-Fi Tale
AfterNoa, Miura decided tofocus on world-building withFutatabi. This is done rather well, with the world slowly being fleshed out without the exposition being too overbearing. However, the short length of this one-shot hinders its effectiveness somewhat.
Surprisingly, the characters are rather forgettable, making it clear that this wasn’t Miura’s focus while crafting this world. It’s a short, sweet ride that may not have a lasting impression, but it still manages to show off Miura’s developing art style.
4Berserk: The Prototype
Laid The Groundwork For What Would Become Miura’s Magnum Opus
BeforeBerserkwould become his focus, Miura formed an introduction to this series that is fascinating. The building blocks forBerserkwould be established in this prototype,featuring some interesting changesthat some superfans may like to keep track of.
The names of certain characters and Guts' design are some of the many changes when compared to the final product. Despite lasting for a single chapter, a lot of elements were established in this prototype that were later fleshed out in an amazing seinen manga seriea.
3Duranki
Presents A Unique Mythological World With A Mysterious Protagonist
Miura’s sudden and tragic demise meant thatone of his ongoing works would be canceled.Durankihad a detailed mythological premise, and fans would’ve loved to see the directions this story took under the mangaka’s watchful gaze. As things stand, fans can still enjoy a tantalizing glimpse into a unique world with an androgynous protagonist who has been blessed by the gods.
Miura’s excellent skills are on full display here, with many loving the ambitious setting of this series and the wild angles the story could’ve taken. WhileDurankiwon’t see any development past its six chapters, it’s still an excellent manga that fans of the mangaka’s work are certain to appreciate.
2Giganto Maxia
Features A Futuristic Setting Where The World Is Populated With Bug Monsters
What makes some of Miura’s works such a joy to read through are the imaginative premises that he experiments with, andGiganto Maxiais a great example of the same. With this manga, readers are treated to some amazing artwork in a series set a hundred million years into the future, with the protagonists being a gladiator named Delos and a mystic who travels around with him, known as Prome. After inadvertently trespassing in the land of the Scarabaei, the duo is captured, and Delos is forced to engage in a battle for the ages with their champion in the Colosseum.
What follows is one of the best one-on-one matchups Miura has drawn up, featuring good-ol' fist-fighting with a couple of wrestling moves thrown here and there. Delos is so impressive that he earns the respect of his opponent, Ogun, and is asked to help out the Scarabaei in their conflict against the humans who are trying to invade and enslave them.Despite being a rather short mangathat doesn’t make the most of its premise,Giganto Maxiais a roller-coaster ride that serves as perfect eye candy for fans of Miura’s artwork.
1Berserk
A Legendary Dark Fantasy Manga That Is Easily Miura’s Best Work
Watching Miura’s evolution as a mangaka from the very first chapter ofBerserkto the last chapter he penned before his saddening demise is a journey that led many fans to fall in love with his art and storytelling. While the first arc in the series was a bit rough around the edges and didn’t exactly paint Guts in a good light, everything changed with the advent of the Golden Age arc. Guts' turbulent past and his encounter with Griffith and the Band of the Hawk are elaborated on, culminating in one of the most haunting endings when Griffith invokes the Eclipse andsacrifices his closest friendsto renew the pursuit of his dream.
This sends Guts down a path of revenge as he strives to hunt Griffith while trying to find a cure for Casca’s mental regression. The incredible artwork and strong storytelling ofBerserkhave made it one of thegreatest seinen manga of all time, and it’s a testament to this series' legacy that Miura’s friend is continuing to pen newBerserkchapters, leading the story towards an ending it deserves and doing justice to the mangaka’s greatest work.
