As one of the most popular Seinen manga of all time, Berserk has inspired legions of fans with its setting, characters, and gory aesthetic. Now, a new piece of truly striking fan art from Shimhaq pays homage to one of the most iconic panels in the series.
Berserk is a dark fantasy manga series set in medieval Europe, created by Kentaro Miura. It centers around the life and journeys of Guts - an orphaned mercenary - and Griffith, the leader of a mercenary band called the "Band of the Hawk." A huge part of the series' appeal is watching Guts fight his way through this fantasy and horror epic, as he slays massive monsters and gods, but it has also won acclaim for how he develops in his interpersonal relationships. Berserk is renowned for its violence and horror while tackling issues of morality and human nature, channeling Homeric themes which are evident in the series' iconic action scenes.
On their Twitter, artist Shimhaq posted fan art depicting a redesign of the series-defining moment between Guts and Zodd. In the original panel, Guts is depicted riding on Zodd's back in an unbelievable team-up in order to take down Emperor Ganishka. Alliances and friendships are often subject to change, especially considering Griffith's arc. The fan art is almost a direct 1:1 recreation of the scene except for a few details. The original panel very expertly conveys the chaos of the moment, so Shimhaq makes the whole scene breathe a little easier by minimizing the chaotic lightning elements of the original. The fan art portrays Guts and Zodd on their approach, which allows people to appreciate the details of the scene. The new art actually shows Guts and Zodd's faces and really brings fans into the battle. The vibrant color palette also serves to highlight the intensity of the scene.
Although series creator Kentaro Miura sadly passed recently, fan appreciation and love for the series hasn't diminished in the slightest. Ever since Berserk's inception in 1989, Miura's action-packed dark fantasy panels have inspired fans around the globe. This fan art solidifies the franchise's roots as an epic in the truest sense with the reinterpretation of this iconic scene. The dark black offset with the yellow-orange lightning and red eyes gives the image gravitas that reminds fans of the first time they saw Guts and Zodd team up like this.
On Twitter, Shimhaq confirmed the art was a labor of love, with inspiration taken from an Oniri Creations figurine of the moment - a common artist's trick which allows for an incredibly realistic depiction of light and shadow.
This Berserk fan art pays perfect tribute to how metal the series is by recreating the iconic battle moment between Zodd and Guts and paying tribute to the series's identity as an epic monster-slaying story. Additionally, Shimhaq's creative reinterpretation does an excellent job of portraying the formidable powers each character possesses in the pivotal moment against Ganishka. With Berserk set to return on June 24, fans are eagerly recounting their favorite moments and are hopeful they'll see more scenes like these.