Berserk chapter: 289

[dialdfordesi]

Well, I agree to an extent. The foreshadowing with the wolf at the end of this chapter definitely shows that Guts is losing his humanity, but I'd say he still retains what makes him human. There's definitely going to be a struggle to stay human, though, especially if Caska does not wish to stay with him.

[psi29a]

Yes, it is that time again…

290 - 闇からの咆哮 - the Howl from the Darkness

thanks to citanuzuki666 for the heads up.

[Arcandus]

the Howl from the Darkness -> sugestive name.

[Istvan]

the Howl from the Darkness -> sugestive name.

Indeed. Though this has to qualify as a truly boring preview. It's almost the same as the end of the last chapter.

[War Machine]

It seems to be a very detailed picture, that's probably why he chose to show that as the preview.

[Arcandus]

Indeed. Though this has to qualify as a truly boring preview. It's almost the same as the end of the last chapter.

I truly hope that you are not right... I..., I need blood, kills, deaths, don't do that with your fans Miura.

[lon3vvolf]

Damnit! Gutts looks so messed up in every way. Hes going through some mind games right now... his body is covered with burns, his missing arm without the metal attachment looks so... shitty.

That poor bastard never gets a break does he?

## edit ##
and he looks quite constipated.

[Istvan]

## edit ##
and he looks quite constipated.

Probably the result of clenching his teeth to avoid screaming/whimpering, which is what a normal person (assuming said individual managed to retain consciuosness at all) would be doing at this point.

[dialdfordesi]

I would say that his clenched teeth and tense face is due the unrest he's feeling due to having to resist that wolf. I wouldn't say it's due to pain, since during his time with the Hawks he could take a crossbow to his arm and not really show any pain except for a "oh hey" type of expression.

[Rolos]

I would say that his clenched teeth and tense face is due the unrest he's feeling due to having to resist that wolf. I wouldn't say it's due to pain, since during his time with the Hawks he could take a crossbow to his arm and not really show any pain except for a "oh hey" type of expression.

Indeed, Gutts has an incredible pain resistance.
Remember when Farnezze whiped the hell out of him and he calmly lectured her while she did? Thats pure kickassness. (see? I already invented a new word)
I doubt a fucking constipation would make him clench his teeth.
His expression is more of the "Im having a especially painful and delirant nightmare" kind.

[The Prince]

What happened to his left arm?

[Aetherfukz]

What happened to his left arm?

Is that really a serious question or a mockery?!?

[The Prince]

What happened to his left arm?

Is that really a serious question or a mockery?!?

Joke....not mockery.

[Aetherfukz]

Bad joke that is.

[Aetherfukz]

Anyway, back to topic: I think Guts face looks kinda weird in the preview picture. I can't point my finger to it, but its the shape of the chin and the temple (if that is the correct english word for the sides of the head in front/above the ears).

When did his face change so much? I know it maybe just drawing style, just as Cascas face changed quite a lot in the early manga, but Guts face was fairly consistent after he became the black swordsman, but recently it is much more shaped like a rectangle box instead of the V-form it had before, especially on the chin. Compare:

Good looking Guts:


Strange looking Guts:


I don't think it can be just because he got older, because after 18 or so the face wouldn't change that much in a few years.
So it has to be Miura changing his style aye? But why only Guts then? Caska still looks the same now as she did when we first saw hear longhaired.

€: Hmm maybe the shape of his skull changed gradually because of all the beating it gets? Dunno.

[The Prince]

Probably somewhat due to changes in style that slowly evolved over time.

He doesn't seemed to be in that scowling gesture he used to have as the Blackswordsman. And his facial coordination has adapted where he doesn't have to be squinting so much as to maintain a closed right-eye.

Also...In the Golden Age arc his hair was fairly flattened, as opposed to spiked. Thus eliminating the visible hairline region (increased head-size appearance). Also his jawline is definitely more squared, making his face less rounded then before, assuming this represents increase in musculature and normal aging process.

But even though he is only a few years older, he definitely looks like someone in his thirties. But who wouldn't going through what he has and put his body through.

[madonnalal]

Gutts's face has been changing since the beginning of the manga. I just associate it with Miura getting lots of practice drawing and becoming ever more mature as an artist. Personally I like the newer versions of Gutts, but now he just looks really messed up. It seems like he just got really scarred all once. The first scene of Gutts on the boat, I was really surprised to see so many scars on Gutts's face. Generally Gutts's face had been kept pretty clean throughout the series (with the notable exception of his nose scar).

[Turd Ferguson]

Gutts's face has been changing since the beginning of the manga. I just associate it with Miura getting lots of practice drawing and becoming ever more mature as an artist. Personally I like the newer versions of Gutts, but now he just looks really messed up. It seems like he just got really scarred all once. The first scene of Gutts on the boat, I was really surprised to see so many scars on Gutts's face. Generally Gutts's face had been kept pretty clean throughout the series (with the notable exception of his nose scar).

The reason he is so scarred is a result of being struck by Ganishka's lightning and burning to a crisp. That is why he has scars even on his face, which as you pointed out had been "kept pretty clean" up until this point.

[The Prince]

Gutts's face has been changing since the beginning of the manga. I just associate it with Miura getting lots of practice drawing and becoming ever more mature as an artist. Personally I like the newer versions of Gutts, but now he just looks really messed up. It seems like he just got really scarred all once. The first scene of Gutts on the boat, I was really surprised to see so many scars on Gutts's face. Generally Gutts's face had been kept pretty clean throughout the series (with the notable exception of his nose scar).

The reason he is so scarred is a result of being struck by Ganishka's lightning and burning to a crisp. That is why he has scars even on his face, which as you pointed out had been "kept pretty clean" up until this point.

Yeah....getting blasted by lightning a bunch of times can do that to you. I recall seeing some gruesome pictures of people struck by lightning while doing a rotation in burn clinic, and it can get pretty nasty. And I'm sure wearing armor didn't help, as it would have been scolding even after the initial lightning blast dissipated. Poor Guts.


BTW......wonder if Zodd's human form is messed up a bit as well?

[War Machine]

The changes with his chin and other physical aspects are because Guts grew up, that's all, he's in his early 20's so he looks very different from his teenage years. As for the scars, well, look at these:

Before fighting the army of demons in the port when he was trying to give Schierke some time to cast her magic:


After getting struck by lightning (there aren't any full views of his face between these pictures because Guts was wearing the helmet, but the visible part of his face and his face in the astral form seemed ok until this moment):


Do note that he was wearing the helmet when he was struck by lightning the first time.

[MasterHan]

BTW......wonder if Zodd's human form is messed up a bit as well?

Hm...you know, now that I think about it, he DID ride through the lightning cloud with Guts...

On one note, he has all that thick hair of his..but then again, if Guts was in the armor and is all scarred up from it...hm. I wouldn't rule out the possibility of Zodd at least looking a bit different now.

[Lord Rae]

Your also forgetting that he did the spell combo that essentially covered his sword (and some/most of his body) with fire... That on top of the lightning close calls... well yeah you get that result essentially. Which I suppose is better than the other option of death.

[Rolos]

Seeing Zodd changed would be really nice, but Im afraid thats not gonna be posible. Just think about it, the guy has this weird instant regeneration ability and he is like, I dont know, 500 years old? Im pretty sure an apostle that old would be more than capable of healing some burnt limbs.
Lets not forget that the only injury from wich he never recovered was the one Griffith made him, and he is just keeping it as a simbol of loyalty towards Griffith.

Anyway, I would really love to see Zodd with a big badass X samurai kind of scar on his face.

[Gemino]

Here are some pictures of some people struck by lightning.

[Istvan]

Now do two or three more of those, and add burn scars (from the spell, as Lord Rae pointed out) to that, and you pretty much have Guts.