Fantasia Arc - Part I

It's the end of the series and the end of Kentaro Miura's Berserk. On this episode, Reid and Gareth discuss "Great Gurus" to "Teardrop of Morning Dew" (chapters 345 to 364 from volumes 39 to 41). Though we're mainly interested in talking about the end of Berserk in general, we also get into Casca's "recovery," a reference to the literal idea of evil, how far the characters have come from their initial portrayal, and one last hurrah for eyeballs exploding out of heads.

Thanks everyone for listening. Rest in peace, Kentaro Miura.

A small note: If you like the series, spread the word and give our PayPal link a look. We're putting out this show because we like doing it, but if you're into the result and would like to help us recoup our costs and allow Superculture to continue more collaborative projects like this one, consider tossing in a few dollars or sharing episode links to others who may be interested in listening.

For more from Gareth, visit their Twitter @JumpOvertheAge and for more from Reid, visit @ReidMcCarter.

The Idea of Evil intro/outro theme was written and performed by Blake Hester (@MetallicaIsRad). Our show art and logo is by Artyom Trakhanov (@Vor_Bokor).

Follow Superculture @Superculturenet, follow this podcast @SupercultureRev, and follow the other Superculture websites @HeterotopiasZn, @BulletpointsVG, @Badendpodcast, and @FunlandMag.

Gareth and Reid are living peacefully in an ancient Roman metropolis on this episode and extending a not-at-all ominous invitation for you to join us here as we talk about "Shooting Star" to "Village of Witches" (chapters 328-344) from volumes 37 to 39. As our series on Berserk nears its end, we get into what comes after the achievement of Griffith's dreams, an excellent flashback, the difficulties with bringing a decades-long work to some kind of conclusion, and Kentaro Miura's rocky transition to digital illustration.

Next time: we wrap up the show by covering chapters 345-364, from "Great Gurus" to "Teardrop of Morning Dew," in volumes 39 to 41. Some discussion of chapters 365-370 ("Lull of the Waning Moon" to "Refugees on the West Sea") is included as well. 

A small note: If you like what we've recorded so far, spread the word and give our PayPal link a look. We're putting out this show because we like doing it, but if you're into the result and would like to help us recoup our costs and allow Superculture to continue more collaborative projects like this one, consider tossing in a few dollars or sharing episode links to others who may be interested in listening.

For more from Gareth, visit their Twitter @JumpOvertheAge and for more from Reid, visit @ReidMcCarter.

The Idea of Evil intro/outro theme was written and performed by Blake Hester (@MetallicaIsRad). Our show art and logo is by Artyom Trakhanov (@Vor_Bokor).

Follow Superculture @Superculturenet, follow this podcast @SupercultureRev, and follow the other Superculture websites @HeterotopiasZn, @BulletpointsVG, @Badendpodcast, and @FunlandMag.

Reid and Gareth may be a bit at sea in this episode, but, to be fair, so is Berserk itself in this stretch of the story. Hop aboard to join us as we cast away into the Fantasia Arc, starting off with an episode covering "Ghost Ship" to "Surfacing" (chapters 308-327) from volumes 35 to 37. Will the waters remain as choppy as they are in this section, which just sort of flounders around for a while without finding its bearing? Or will we enjoy a pleasant remainder of our voyage as we steer this series onward toward the safe harbour of Berserk's final chapters? 

Next time: chapters 328-344, from "Shooting Star" to "Villages of Witches," in volumes 37 to 39.

A small note: If you like what we've recorded so far, spread the word and give our PayPal link a look. We're putting out this show because we like doing it, but if you're into the result and would like to help us recoup our costs and allow Superculture to continue more collaborative projects like this one, consider tossing in a few dollars or sharing episode links to others who may be interested in listening.

For more from Gareth, visit their Twitter @JumpOvertheAge and for more from Reid, visit @ReidMcCarter.

The Idea of Evil intro/outro theme was written and performed by Blake Hester (@MetallicaIsRad). Our show art and logo is by Artyom Trakhanov (@Vor_Bokor).

Follow Superculture @Superculturenet, follow this podcast @SupercultureRev, and follow the other Superculture websites @HeterotopiasZn, @BulletpointsVG, @Badendpodcast, and @FunlandMag.

Gareth and Reid are tossing this podcast into the local demon womb and becoming a towering affront to reason itself on this episode of our Berserk podcast. Listen on as we cover "On Board" to "Falconia" (chapters 286-207) from volumes 32 to 35, wrapping up the Falcon of the Millennium Empire Arc by talking about the incredible scale of the series' vision of a world-rending apocalypse, Kentaro Miura directly confronting his artistic influences, demonic manifestations of human evil, and a whole lot else besides. 

Next time: chapters 308-327, from "Ghost Ship" to "Surfacing," in volumes 35 to 37.

A small note: If you like what we've recorded so far, spread the word and give our PayPal link a look. We're putting out this show because we like doing it, but if you're into the result and would like to help us recoup our costs and allow Superculture to continue more collaborative projects like this one, consider tossing in a few dollars or sharing episode links to others who may be interested in listening.

For more from Gareth, visit their Twitter @JumpOvertheAge and for more from Reid, visit @ReidMcCarter.

The Idea of Evil intro/outro theme was written and performed by Blake Hester (@MetallicaIsRad). Our show art and logo is by Artyom Trakhanov (@Vor_Bokor).

Follow Superculture @Superculturenet, follow this podcast @SupercultureRev, and follow the other Superculture websites @HeterotopiasZn, @BulletpointsVG, @Badendpodcast, and @FunlandMag.

Reid and Gareth are flying into battle against giant mist-men in this episode, which covers "Divine Revelation" to Hero (chapters 264-285) from volumes 30 to 32 of Berserk. It's mostly a whole lot of fighting this time around, but we also get Guts riding around on Zodd's back and more instances of one of our favourite character archetypes: nasty, slobbering demons who love to gobble up humans. There's also the payoff to Griffith's big plan, culminating in the pope doing a respectful bellyflop.

Next time: chapters 286-307, from "On Board" to "Falconia," in volumes 32 to 35.

A small note: If you like what we've recorded so far, spread the word and give our PayPal link a look. We're putting out this show because we like doing it, but if you're into the result and would like to help us recoup our costs and allow Superculture to continue more collaborative projects like this one, consider tossing in a few dollars or sharing episode links to others who may be interested in listening.

For more from Gareth, visit their Twitter @JumpOvertheAge and for more from Reid, visit @ReidMcCarter.

The Idea of Evil intro/outro theme was written and performed by Blake Hester (@MetallicaIsRad). Our show art and logo is by Artyom Trakhanov (@Vor_Bokor).

Follow Superculture @Superculturenet, follow this podcast @SupercultureRev, and follow the other Superculture websites @HeterotopiasZn, @BulletpointsVG, @Badendpodcast, and @FunlandMag.

Gareth and Reid cordially invite you to this, the most elegant episode of our Berserk podcast to date. This time, we're discussing "Proclaimed Omens" to "Demon Beast Invasion" (chapters 237-263) from volumes 28 to 30. We have crocodile men. We have Skull Knight dialogue. We have questions about the humanity and/or divinity of Guts. We also have an excellent ballroom scene that culminates with a bunch of snooty aristocrats being mauled by magical tigers.

Next time: chapters 264-285, from "Divine Revelation" to "Hero," in volumes 30 to 32.

A small note: If you like what we've recorded so far, spread the word and give our PayPal link a look. We're putting out this show because we like doing it, but if you're into the result and would like to help us recoup our costs and allow Superculture to continue more collaborative projects like this one, consider tossing in a few dollars or sharing episode links to others who may be interested in listening.

For more from Gareth, visit their Twitter @JumpOvertheAge and for more from Reid, visit @ReidMcCarter.

The Idea of Evil intro/outro theme was written and performed by Blake Hester (@MetallicaIsRad). Our show art and logo is by Artyom Trakhanov (@Vor_Bokor).

Follow Superculture @Superculturenet, follow this podcast @SupercultureRev, and follow the other Superculture websites @HeterotopiasZn, @BulletpointsVG, @Badendpodcast, and @FunlandMag.

Reid and Gareth, bodies formed of clumped together troll guts, are back to keep talking about Berserk's Falcon of the Millennium Empire Arc. On this episode, we're looking at "Retribution" through to "Roar of the Sea," chapters 217-236 from volumes 26 and 27. Come along with us for a discussion about Guts becoming a nice, supportive guy between rage blackouts in his new berserker armour, living battering ram Borkoff, and another look at the series' Kushan Empire.

Next time: chapters 237-263, from "Proclaimed Omens" to "Demon Beast Invasion," in volumes 28 to 30.

A small note: If you like what we've recorded so far, spread the word and give our PayPal link a look. We're putting out this show because we like doing it, but if you're into the result and would like to help us recoup our costs and allow Superculture to continue more collaborative projects like this one, consider tossing in a few dollars or sharing episode links to others who may be interested in listening.

For more from Gareth, visit their Twitter @JumpOvertheAge and for more from Reid, visit @ReidMcCarter.

The Idea of Evil intro/outro theme was written and performed by Blake Hester (@MetallicaIsRad). Our show art and logo is by Artyom Trakhanov (@Vor_Bokor).

Follow Superculture @Superculturenet, follow this podcast @SupercultureRev, and follow the other Superculture websites @HeterotopiasZn, @BulletpointsVG, @Badendpodcast, and @FunlandMag.

Gareth and Reid continue diving into the swampy waters of Kentaro Miura's Berserk with a new episode covering chapters 198-216 (from volumes 24 and 25), "The Witch" through to "Corruption." We spend a bit of time mired in a bog of magical exposition here before talking about the series' focus on paganism, its trolls, and, most importantly, the introduction of an all-time great character: Miura's take on a kelpie.

Next time: chapters 217-236, from "Retribution" through to "Roar of the Sea," in volumes 26 to 27.

A small note: If you like what we've recorded so far, spread the word and give our PayPal link a look. We're putting out this show because we like doing it, but if you're into the result and would like to help us recoup our costs and allow Superculture to continue more collaborative projects like this one, consider tossing in a few dollars or sharing episode links to others who may be interested in listening.

For more from Gareth, visit their Twitter @JumpOvertheAge and for more from Reid, visit @ReidMcCarter.

The Idea of Evil intro/outro theme was written and performed by Blake Hester (@MetallicaIsRad). Our show art and logo is by Artyom Trakhanov (@Vor_Bokor).

Follow Superculture @Superculturenet, follow this podcast @SupercultureRev, and follow the other Superculture websites @HeterotopiasZn, @BulletpointsVG, @Badendpodcast, and @FunlandMag.

Reid and Gareth have emerged from screaming, blood red eggs as strange new forms that are more appropriate for this, the beginning of the second half of our look through Kentaro Miura's Berserk. On this episode, we begin a discussion of the Falcon of the Millennium Empire Arc (or Millennium Falcon Arc, if you're not scared of Disney), talking through chapters 177-197, "The Rent World" to "Trolls, in volumes 22 to 24." We've got thoughts on the relationship between Farnese and Serpico, this section's depiction of the new and improved Griffith, and, of course, some very good Zodd panels.

Next time: chapters 198-216, from "The Witch" through to "Corruption," in volumes 24 to 25.

A small note: If you like what we've recorded so far, spread the word and give our PayPal link a look. We're putting out this show because we like doing it, but if you're into the result and would like to help us recoup our costs and allow Superculture to continue more collaborative projects like this one, consider tossing in a few dollars or sharing episode links to others who may be interested in listening.

For more from Gareth, visit their Twitter @JumpOvertheAge and for more from Reid, visit @ReidMcCarter.

The Idea of Evil intro/outro theme was written and performed by Blake Hester (@MetallicaIsRad). Our show art and logo is by Artyom Trakhanov (@Vor_Bokor).

Follow Superculture @Superculturenet, follow this podcast @SupercultureRev, and follow the other Superculture websites @HeterotopiasZn, @BulletpointsVG, @Badendpodcast, and @FunlandMag.

Gareth and Reid  are breaking out of their shells and ushering in the corpse-goop final days with an episode about the end of Berserk's Conviction Arc (chapters 151-176, "Captives" to "Determination and Departure"). In this episode, we get into how Kentaro Miura depicts characters experiencing absolute terror, the fantasy of retribution for systems that inflict cruelty on others, the lessons Berserk tries to draw from its latest exploration of human evil, and the grandeur of this arc's final chapters.

Next time, when we return with more episodes in the new year: chapters 177-198, from "The Rent World" through to "The Witch," in volumes 22 to 24.

Before we head off on break, a quick thanks to everyone who's enjoyed the show and let others know about it! If you like what we've recorded so far, spread the word and give our PayPal link a look. We're putting out this show because we like doing it, but if you're into the result and would like to help us recoup our costs and allow Superculture to continue more collaborative projects like this one, consider tossing in a few dollars or sharing episode links to others who may be interested in listening.

For more from Gareth, visit their Twitter @JumpOvertheAge and for more from Reid, visit @ReidMcCarter.

The Idea of Evil intro/outro theme was written and performed by Blake Hester (@MetallicaIsRad). Our show art and logo is by Artyom Trakhanov (@Vor_Bokor).

Follow Superculture @Superculturenet, follow this podcast @SupercultureRev, and follow the other Superculture websites @HeterotopiasZn, @BulletpointsVG, @Badendpodcast, and @FunlandMag.