It is 100% worth it. For a way too long time in my life, I assumed it was just “edgy grimdark badass violence”, because I had only had a quick look at the first chapter. Without spoiling too much - it is in fact one of the best character explorations out there and masterfully develops from that initially simple-seeming premise.
Personally, it became my favourite manga, and one of my favourite stories told, period.
One of the things I love about Berserk is that it touches on a lot of topics that the usual dark edgy bullshit does, stuff like sexual assault in particular, in a much better way. Usually it feels like when stories add in things like this It’s more like you’re supposed to get some kind of enjoyment from it, like it’s some forbidden pleasure.
In Berserk, scenes like the Eclipse are truly horrifying, I genuinely felt sick to my stomach when reading it, it is showing it as a look into absolute utter evil and Guts refusal to give into it. I think that’s what really makes it stand out compared to similar stories.
