Berserk author Kentarou Miura died in early May of this year. While his death wasn’t reported to the public until mid-May, it was nevertheless a devastating blow to fans around the world. Now, three months after his unexpected passing, questions remain concerning the future of the Berserk franchise. These include whether or not the series will continue without Miura’s direction, and what a literal death of the author means for a series that is currently incomplete.
Currently, updates to the Berserk franchise largely come through the official Berserk Twitter account, though nothing has been announced just yet as to whether or not the manga will continue under a new author’s direction or if the manga will end at whatever chapters Young Animal has yet to release. For now, it’s reported that chapter 364 will be the last chapter created by Miura to be published. The chapter will debut in the September issue of Young Animal magazine. Until then, the account is largely focused on merch releases that were previously slated for release around this time. While some might argue that it looks bad on the part of the franchise to keep releasing merch after the author’s passing, it’s actually one of those things that can’t be helped.
Unexpected passings are simply that, unexpected. While the general public has no real knowledge of who took control of Miura’s estate, they no doubt have contractual obligations that need to be fulfilled. But larger questions remain over the future of the manga, which Young Animal has no answers for at this time, as noted by an answer they gave a reader in the wake of Miura’s passing: “We apologize for that, and the state of Berserk hereafter is undecided,” replied the publication. “As soon as it is decided, there will be an announcement in Young Animal, so please wait for that.”
The publication is right to take their time on the future of the manga, for as much as Miura mentioned that the series was sixty to seventy percent done back in 2009, that doesn’t give fans a concrete idea of when or how things will come to an end for Guts and crew. Throwing new artists and writers into the mix without a concrete plan could cause the series to diverge greatly in tone and content, and cause an uproar with bereaved fans.
And what of Berserk’s legacy? While it’s no doubt solidified itself as one of the greats for some time, that doesn’t necessarily predict a reliable future. No matter where Young Animal or the executors of Miura’s estate go with the franchise, the end result is that there will be a last time in which Berserk merch is released or manga volumes are printed or references are made in other works. That’s just the way time works.
For now, the Berserk franchise moves forward with its current plans, which include an exhibition celebrating 32 years of Kentarou Miura’s art for the Berserk franchise this September. While current events have the exhibition in limbo, the exhibits featured are set to include at least three hundred written manuscripts, color art pieces, statues, dioramas, and special goods, including a hefty-looking pin made to resemble Guts’ sword, and a Guts mousepad.
Whatever the future of the franchise is, the exhibition seems like the best send-off fans could have. Instead of worrying, we have a celebration. There’s nothing like people coming together to admire both an artist’s process and their life at the same time.
Source: Kotaku
