Berserk Volume 40: She’s Back

This volume tosses us like Farnese and Schierke with terrors from the past, such as Father Mozgus who is funny to see again considering the last time he was here, Farnese was still heretic burning. But as Farnese and Schierke loom closer, it all becomes clear: they are getting closer to the Eclipse.

Yet they are still far away and are being consistently met with new problems in the form of symbolic objects or creatures. It’s so bizarre and Miura party suffers from getting lost in the messiness of the ordeal. Yet, he’s still a master of spine-tingling imagery as when Griffith attempts to attack Casca in the form of a hawk, she is protected by Guts. To her, he is like a broken dog who no matter what won’t let her be hurt, even if that means taking in all the pain himself. Farnese gives her all to save Casca, for how Guts helped her to save herself. And in doing so, Casca is brought back to her old self.

After this we are hit with moments to make your heart swell as Casca is herself again and thriving with energy. When she is reminded of Guts, her smile says it all, and in that moment I think Farnese and Schierke realize what Casca has with Guts is real love. But when she sees him, after so long, she is reminded of the Eclipse and his cruel side, causing her to faint. The manga then cuts to the man who caused all this, Griffith, continuing to dominate the battle field. That ending with Guts and Casca really guts one in the heart, and with the delicate paneling, Miura made that moment the hardest he could’ve pictured it as. She running to see the man she loves, but collapsing at the sight of him.