Summary
- Miura's early works like Noa and Futatabi showed early character writing and art development.
- Duranki and Giganto Maxia exhibit Miura's imaginative brilliance in storytelling and artwork.
- Berserk remains Miura's magnum opus, showcasing his evolution as a mangaka with unforgettable storytelling.
Kentaro Miura is one of the greatest mangaka of all time. Against all odds, his work on Berserk shot 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 ways Berserk has become one of the most iconic works of all time.
Elden Ring: All The Obvious Berserk References Throughout The Game
Fans have been obsessed with comparing every aspect of Elden Ring to Berserk since the game was released, but how many actual references are there?
Aside from this manga, many people may not know that Miura has worked on a few other manga with varying degrees of success. Berserk may be his magnum opus, but that should take nothing away from the mangaka's small yet impressive body of work.
6 Noa
Kentaro Miura's Debut That Is Rough Around The Edges But Has A Ton Of Heart
- Release Date: 1985
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi
- Status: Complete
Every mangaka needs a start, and Miura got the same with Noa. This one-shot portrays a unique futuristic world with intriguing characters in a post-apocalypse where people try 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 present from 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.
5 Futatabi
An Ambitious Attempt To Tell A Sci-Fi Tale
- Release Date: August 21, 1985
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi
- Status: Complete
After Noa, Miura decided to focus on world-building with Futatabi. 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.
4 Berserk: The Prototype
Laid The Groundwork For What Would Become Miura's Magnum Opus
- Release Date: 1988
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
- Status: Complete
Before Berserk would become his focus, Miura formed an introduction to this series that is fascinating. The building blocks for Berserk would be established in this prototype, featuring some interesting changes that 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.
3 Duranki
Presents A Unique Mythological World With A Mysterious Protagonist
- Release Date: September 9, 2019
- Genres: Adventure, Fantasy
- Status: Discontinued
Miura's sudden and tragic demise meant that one of his ongoing works would be canceled. Duranki had 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.
8 Mangaka Who Have Written Wildly Different Manga
Mangaka don't always stick to one style or genre. These authors have wildly different kinds of stories in their portfolios.
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. While Duranki won'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.
2 Giganto Maxia
Features A Futuristic Setting Where The World Is Populated With Bug Monsters
- Release Date: November 22, 2013
- Genre: Fantasy
- Status: Complete
What makes some of Miura's works such a joy to read through are the imaginative premises that he experiments with, and Giganto Maxia is 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 manga that doesn't make the most of its premise, Giganto Maxia is a roller-coaster ride that serves as perfect eye candy for fans of Miura's artwork.
1 Berserk
A Legendary Dark Fantasy Manga That Is Easily Miura's Best Work
- Release Date: August 25, 1989
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
- Status: Ongoing
Watching Miura's evolution as a mangaka from the very first chapter of Berserk to 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 and sacrifices his closest friends to 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 of Berserk have made it one of the greatest seinen manga of all time, and it's a testament to this series' legacy that Miura's friend is continuing to pen new Berserk chapters, leading the story towards an ending it deserves and doing justice to the mangaka's greatest work.
Dark Souls: 16 Coolest Berserk References In The Games
Dark Souls contains several overt references and nods to Berserk, a popular dark fantasy manga (and anime). These are some of the coolest of them.