Reply got eaten by power outage. Read manga first if you can, the 1997 anime is just the first part of the manga. The anime is great as well but the themes that Berserk is known for (how far you're willing to go to achieve your dream, your duty to your comrades and friends, revenge etc) is more completely conveyed when you see after the first portion that the anime covers.

Its violent and rapey and the author doesn't try to appease anyone by self censoring. The manga is more more raw in that regard since most of the most absurd stuff happens after the portion covered in the anime.

Beware of spoilers, don't read or watch anything about it until you're at the point in the anime or manga where you hate the character called Griffith (in the anime it will be at the end).

Shhh! You'll scare people away with that!

Besides, what's more human then enjoying in sex and violence?

exactly thats why it is awesome

whats more human ? probably greed and hypocrisy

I'll talk about manga, but it goes for anime too. First thing you should know is that it is extremely graphic. Berserk takes place in dark, vile, twisted, sadistic world. There is no taboo topic here, everything is presented without censure. I don't think there is some other work (of any form of art) that has become as mainstream while being this brutal. Although, it is toned down in the anime (the one from the 90's and movie trilogy, haven't seen the new series).

Now, what makes it great? Are there epic battles to rise your adrenaline. Yes. Is there world full of mysteries waiting to be uncovered? Yes. Are there creatively designed monsters? Yes. But all that can be found in other works of fantasy (not as nicely drawn). What makes Berserk truly amazing is how it treats human characters. It dives deep into human relationships, emotions, fears, weaknesses. They feel real. And they don't shape this fucked up world they live in, it shapes them. It breaks them physically, mentally and emotionally, and we can relate, we can understand them. That is where this story shines.

And yeah, somebody is going to say "That main guy wields a huge sword and fights monsters with it, how is that real?". Well, although there is an explanation, you will have to give it a benefit of the doubt when it comes to the sword. But he is just a human, he gets hurt and bleeds.

Everything that goes on for this long will have some oscillations in quality, and Berserk is no exception. But if you start reading it and you do like it, you will go all the way.

Man, terrible news. I hope he rests in peace, knowing he gave the world a great story before he passed. I only wished he could have finished it, although I hope his assistants could come up with an ending for it, even if it’s not from Miura himself.

I do wonder if he left behind any notes on the general way the story should go and end. A sort of last will storyboard. I know it seems morbid for artists and writers to leave behind an "in case of death" box for the people that might try to continue the legacy, if even allowed, but as far as I'm concerned that is just as much foresight as having a life insurance for your next of kin, but in this case for your fans.

From reddit so take it with a (huge) grain of salt:

[i]The only silver lining is as he started having health issues he took on a mentor role for many artists and had MANY notes on his story.

We may still see the ending by way of those apprentices.[/i]

There are quite a few of these comments, I think there's something to it.

I myself am mostly fine if this has been it, I have my head canon. But yeah, some 'closure' would be nice after all these turbulent years.


On a sidenote:
I think I'll draw this weekend, it feels like it's been years since I last drew something. :(

Seems plausible, though. Death is a finite thing, but through the work of others your spirit can still hold that spark you had in life, and that is usually a reassuring thought for people who know they might not be long for this world.

When it comes to the future of Berserk, would you prefer a single designated "Apprentice" to carry on the story, or have many Apprentices compete for the mantle?

I don't know it needs to be finished, but if they do it that's OK. The publisher Hakusensha said they will announce at later date what will happen with unpublished chapters. I think they should put them in final volume and if there are some notes or storyboards, attach those at the end so we get to know what was to be.

Spoilers

Actually they managed to cure her a few chapters ago. So there was some degree of closure on that point at least before Miura died.

Problem is, she still has PTSD every time she looks at Guts :(

And Guts and Casca are still branded.

IMO it's been clear for quite a few years that the story for Berserk had completely gotten away from Miura, and there was no plan for how to eventually tie things up. I'm sure he had ideas on future arcs he wanted to do, but with regards to an overall conclusion, I've long since given up hope for anything there. Depending on what others involved in the project decide to do with it, Miura's passing might actually make an ending more likely- there have been several cases where an author had a massive, meandering story that just kept on expanding, and it was only after their death that someone else was allowed to take the reins and actually tie things up into some kind of conclusion. I actually never felt the story or characters were actually the strong suit of Berserk, but rather the visuals (many of the panels were simply stunning- far beyond the art found in most other manga in both detail and overall scope). There are probably plenty of others who could step in and put together a serviceable conclusion for the story, while I think it would be more difficult to find someone who could continue the art style that's come to define the series.

Berserk seemed like something I might like, but ultimately, I felt overwhelmed by how long the series has been running.