Berserk manga to return with back-to-back issues

Modified Oct 21, 2024 11:23 GMT

Berserk manga to return with back-to-back issues (Image via Studio 4°C)

Tuesday, October 8, 2024, saw the Berserk manga revealed to be releasing two back-to-back chapters in the coming weeks. The news comes from X user and reputable general manga news source @MangaMoguraRE (Mogura). Per Mogura, the manga will resume in the upcoming 21/2024 issue of Young Animal on October 25, 2024, followed by another chapter in the 22/2024 issue on November 8, 2024.

The Berserk manga most recently released its 376th chapter on April 25, 2024, in the 9 and 10/2024 double issue for Young Animal. The series is still in its Fantasia Arc as of the latest release, but it’s theorized that the new arc supervisor Kouji Mori promised upon joining the manga’s staff is set to soon begin.

Berserk manga’s back-to-back issues in October, November could mark the end of the Fantasia Arc

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As mentioned above, many are theorizing that the Berserk manga is preparing to move into the new arc Kouji Mori first promised when joining the manga’s staff in 2022. Current events in the story are setting up a climactic battle between the Kushan Empire and Griffith’s Millenium Empire. This back-to-back issue could be dealing with both the closure of the Fantasia Arc and the setup of whatever arc is next in one fell swoop.

This would also further explain the significant gap in time from the last issue even when considering the manga’s uneven release schedule under Mori. Although a back-to-back release in and of itself begins to explain this wait, it makes even more sense if Mori was using the time to plan his next moves.

It’s likewise worth mentioning that Mori and his late childhood friend/series creator Kentaro Miura spoke about the manga’s story before Miura’s passing. With this in mind, it’s very likely Mori has a general roadmap, or at the very least an endpoint, to get to in the best way possible. This is likely what a majority of Mori’s planning time revolves around, especially if only broad points or goals were discussed.

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Miura passed away in May 2021 due to an acute aortic dissection at the tragically young age of 54. A private ceremony was held for his friends and family. Miura’s death raised awareness for and concern from general anime and manga fans about the working conditions creators in the industry face. Miura is considered one of the greatest manga artists of all time, with his flagship series’ influence being felt both in the manga industry and beyond it.

The Berserk manga began serialization in 1989 following a one-shot prototype being released the earlier year. The manga is published by Hakusensha, and first ran in their Monthly Animal House magazine before moving to Young Animal. The manga is now illustrated by Studio Gaga with Mori credited for supervision and writing.