Berserk 18
August 6, 2008
I could not be more pleased with the direction things are taking. Since it looks like it’s a given that Griffith will reappear, I’m looking forward to another scene like before. I’d like to think such things just happen whenever the Cenobites appear.
As for what goes on in this volume, I’m definitely liking basically everything about Father Mozgus. He does some of the most horrible things I’ve ever seen all because he just hates sin and people he percieves to be sinners. Apparently any sin can justify him hanging you from the ceiling or doing any number of Bosch-like tortures, and the allusions to “Garden of Earthly Delights” pleased me greatly. His prayer regiment was suitably insane, and the way he endears his torturers to him as well as repelling the Holy See Knights and absolutely everyone else is handled wonderfully.
The leader of the Holy See knights, Farnese, is also getting less and less annoying each time she appeared. I thought she would appear much later to antagonize Guts, but it looks like she’ll be sticking around, and the more that gets revealed about her, the more twisted she seems. She’s not too twisted, not in a fanatic way, but she just has quirky traits that are revealed every now and again. Here, we find out she can masturbate to people being burned at the stake. I can’t say that’s something I’ve ever seen before.
Casca plays a role again, somewhat minor so far, but she shows up in the camp of refugees and is helped out by a group of prostitutes who have to protect her from being raped against her will. I like that the girls were willing to accept her as she is. She also gets to be the center/catalyst for something awesome at the very end of the volume. I hope it leads to what I think it will, a… summoning.
There’s some devil worship and another orgy scene towards the end. Once again: I’ve never seen anyone who can draw an orgy as beautifully as Kentaro Miura.
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