The Superculture Review – Details, episodes & analysis

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 are heading on down to the Tower of Conviction for a trip through chapters 126 to 150 ("Revelations" to "The Cliff") of Berserk. This time, we're talking about a bunch of absolutely miserable people living on the precipice of the apocalypse, hanging out with some goatman-worshiping orgy fans, and meeting the stone-faced, thwomp-praying religious fanatic, Mozguz.  

Next time: chapters 151-176, from "Captives" through to "Determination and Departure," in volumes 19 to 21.

We've also created a PayPal link if you're enjoying the show and would like to help us recoup our costs and allow Superculture to continue more collaborative projects like this one.

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 sprouting wings and buzzing on into the beginning of Berserk's Conviction Arc with this episode on chapters 95-125, volumes 14 to 17. Now that the plot has finally caught back up to its post-Eclipse "present-day," we're back to a giant sword-wielding, arm cannon-toting, scowl-enthusiast version of Guts. With his return--and the introduction of new characters from Berserk's fantastical take on the medieval Catholic Church--there's a lot to discuss with regards to the comics' depiction of paganism versus Abrahamic religious views, Guts' now superheroic status, and why a chubby-cheeked, mischievously evil ghost baby may represent a shifting portrayal of the story's demons.

Next time: chapters 126-150, from "Revelations" through to "The Cliff," in volumes 17 to 19.

We've also created a PayPal link if you're enjoying the show and would like to help us recoup our costs and allow Superculture to continue more collaborative projects like this one.

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 applied droplets of blood to our audio behelit and summoned the end of The Golden Age with a look at  chapters 70-94 ("Requiem of the Wind" through to "He Who Hunts Dragons") in volumes 12 to 14. We spend this episode discussing the Eclipse, the infamous climax to Berserk's extended flashback sequence, which includes more conversation about the objectification of Caska, lots of talk about the packed menagerie of demons drawn for this section, and thoughts about the cut chapter that sees Griffith meet the god who gives this podcast its name.

Next time: the Conviction Arc begins in chapters 95-125, from "The Black Swordsman, Once More" through to "Morning of Truth," in volumes 14 to 17.

We've also created a PayPal link if you're enjoying the show and would like to help us recoup our costs and allow Superculture to continue more collaborative projects like this one.

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 cover chapters 23-69, from "The Battle for Doldrey" through to "The Immortal Once Again," in volumes 7 to 11 of Berserk. In this episode, the Band of the Hawk falls apart, leading us into a discussion of the changing dimensions of Guts, Griffith, and Caska's relationship, with all the commentary on friendship, sexuality, and power that comes along with it. There are also lots of eerie moments as the Eclipse draws near and, par for the course at this point, plenty of terrible scenes to discuss.

Next time: the Golden Age comes to a close across chapters 70-94, from "Requiem of the Wind" through to "He Who Hunts Dragons," in volumes 12 to 14.

We've also created a PayPal link if you're enjoying the show and would like to help us recoup our costs and allow Superculture to continue more collaborative projects like this one.

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 cover chapters 7-22, from "A Wind of Words" through to "Campfire of Dreams," in volumes 5 to 7 of Berserk. In this episode, we're introduced to everyone's favourite bear/lion/goat/bat monster, Nosferatu Zodd, join varsity sports team Band of the Hawk as they face off against their rivals, wade into how sexual assault is used by Miura to develop his characters, discuss how badly Casca's failed at this point in the story, and much more.

Next time: chapters 23-69, from "The Battle for Doldrey" through to "The Immortal Once Again," in volumes 7 to 11.

We've also created a PayPal link if you're enjoying the show and would like to help us recoup our costs and allow Superculture to continue more collaborative projects like this one.

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 hoisting their enormous swords onto their shoulders and setting off down memory lane with a discussion of Berserk's multi-volume flashback arc: the Golden Age. We get into chapters 1-6 from volumes 3 and 4, covering the not-so-halcyon childhood days of Guts' youth, the comic's shifting art style as it focuses on medieval settings, the introduction of the Band of the Hawk, and the most erotically charged, sword-biting-est confrontation between major characters we've witnessed to date.   

Next time: chapters 7-22, from "A Wind of Words" through to "Campfire of Dreams," in volumes 5 to 7.

We've also created a PayPal link if you're enjoying the show and would like to help us recoup our costs and allow Superculture to continue more collaborative projects like this one.

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 pick up where we left off last episode by discussing "Guardian Angels of Desire," from the end of Berserk's first volume through to the beginning of Vol. 3. This time, we talk about the first glimpses of Miura's Escher-indebted depiction of hellish alternate dimensions, are introduced to the God Hand and Berserk's wider fiction, deal with Sad Guts, and, of course, encounter more sweaty little creeps. 

Next time: "Golden Age" chapters 1-6, from the end of Vol. 3 through the entirety of Vol. 4.

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 Damian Martin and Reid McCarter begin a look at the entirety of Kentaro Miura's Berserk with a discussion of its first two chapters, "Black Swordsman" and "The Brand" from Volume 1. In our debut episode, we discuss how we first encountered Berserk, the influences it draws from (and the work it's influenced in turn), and the joy of looking at all the ways Miura creates compositions based around Guts' absurdly giant sword.

Next time: the remainder of the Black Swordsman Arc, "Guardian Angels of Desire," covering the rest of Volume 1, the entirety of Volume 2, and Volume 3 up to the beginning of "Golden Age."

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.