“That this is something that will never change”: The Naivete of the Hero Complex Inspired Kentaro Miura With Berserk

Berserk is easily the cream of the crop as far as the dark fantasy genre is concerned. Despite its brutal and unnerving themes, the manga series enjoys a dedicated fanbase. There are many aspects that make Kentaro Miura’s Berserk appealing to fans, such as the intricate and spectacular art style. However, the biggest reason is undoubtedly Guts and his journey. 

Miura shared his idea of a hero during an interview and the approach that he discussed worked wonders for Guts. So here’s an exploration of the mangaka’s idea of a hero and why Guts has become an unrivaled favorite for many.

Kentaro Miura on the perception of heroes 

Heroes and protagonists in anime serve as examples and role models. Most mainstream anime revolves around the protagonists’ journey to becoming a better version of themselves. Kentaro Miura’s Guts is extremely different from mainstream protagonists or heroes, who preach optimism and are almost religious about it. Moreover, most Berserk characters are more tragic and complex than usual. 

It was the innocent perception that children usually have of heroes that inspired Miura’s characterization of Guts. During a special Shonen Jump interview with Kaku Yuji (creator of Hell’s Paradise), Miura reminisced about the time when children would pretend to be heroes. He believed that this idea of heroes that children have will forever remain unchanged. 

I think the desire of children to “become” a hero remains even with the times. I’ve been thinking lately that this is something that will never change. So I’m building it up at the level of “I think I can do it” or “I could do it if I put on some muscle.”

In this way, Miura focused on crafting heroes who felt within reach for the readers. This approach is evident when we explore Guts as a character. He’s far from perfect, but what fans find appealing about him directly ties in with the mangaka’s idea of a hero. 

Guts is a great protagonist, and his appeal ties in with Miura’s idea of a hero 

Guts is a complex and well-written protagonist who has led a difficult life. He went through hell and is no stranger to devastating challenges, yet he has pushed through with sheer perseverance. He’s far from the conventional definition of a hero. As the story progresses, he takes on different roles and becomes a reliable comrade for his friends. Once again, everything is stripped from him, and he finds himself in horrible circumstances.

However, by this point, fans know that this is not enough to defeat Guts, and that’s exactly what happens. He has endured hardships for so long that they have now become his reality.

Even though it has already been proven that nothing can beat Guts when it comes to dedication and perseverance, there’s no visible end to his suffering. This makes him admirable for fans and they also wish for him to experience the peace or normalcy that has been absent from his life for so long. 

The lack of any supernatural abilities and his strong will make him an attainable standard. Miura’s characterization of him also reveals his not-so-perfect aspects as well. After all, it all comes down to how long he is willing to fight for. This aspect of his character inspires fans as it focuses on the choices that Guts makes and the growth he undergoes as a result of them. 

Berserk is available to read on the Dark Horse Digital Website.

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