Berserk
Synopsis:
Born beneath the gallows tree from which his dead mother hung, Guts has always existed on the boundary between life and death. After enduring a terrible childhood, he spends his adulthood in brutal combat, pitting his strength against others in order to build his own. Life is simple enough for Guts until he meets Griffith, the inspirational, ambitious, and beautiful leader of the mercenaries, the Band of the Hawk. When Guts loses to Griffith in a duel, he is forced to join the Band of the Hawk, and, despite himself, finds a sense of camaraderie and belonging amongst them. However, as Griffith leads his soldiers from victory to victory, the bloody wars and underhanded politics reveal a side to him that nobody quite expected. Very soon, what seems like a straightforward march for conquest becomes a harrowing struggle for humanity and life itself. Can Guts, a simple warrior, defend those who have come to mean the most to him, all the while struggling not to lose to the darkness he has carried with him his entire life?
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Claymore
- Vol: 16+; Ch: 96+
- 2001 - ?
In a land overrun by yoma - monsters that feed upon human innards and take on the appearance and memories of their victims - humans are little more than cattle awaiting slaughter. The only opposition to the yoma is The Organization, a group led by a council of mysterious men who send out their all-female warriors (known as claymores) to do their bidding. However, The Organization is not charitable; a town must pay an exorbitant fee for their services. Likewise, many of the claymores care little for those who they protect. Clare, the lowest ranked claymore, lives only so that she may one day avenge her mentor.
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2 people think you'd like this because...
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Both manga share a similar setting (medieval fantasy), their plot line is constructed on flawed characters who are fighting against the immeasurable odds to survive. Also main-characters have anti-hero archetypes and their motives are based on their situation rather than being good or evil characters are always poised on grey area. Both manga share a similar explicit material such as extensive blood scenes, and sexual scenes (more suited to mature audience).
Both are stories of revenge set against a medieval European backdrop with the protagonists fighting against demons.
Claymore is like a shonen equivalent of Berserk, both in terms of story and violence. So, if you don't mind stepping up the violence a good bit, you will probably like Berserk.
For those who read Berserk, the similarities between the two makes Claymore a good choice to read during the long waits between chapters.
Ubel Blatt
- Vol: 9+; Ch: 92+
- 2004 - ?
Köinzell is a master swordsman who, along with thirteen other heroes, was sent by the Szaalenden Empire to block an invasion of their enemy Wischtech. Along the way three died, four betrayed the others and seven defeated the traitors and returned as heroes. At least, that's what people believe. In reality the ‘Seven Heroes' were the real traitors, defeating the four true champions after the seven had fled the battle in cowardice. Köinzell has bided his time for twenty years, honing his skills and recovering from the brink of death so that he may avenge his fallen comrades. The time for vengeance has finally come and all who stand in his way shall be dismembered without hesitation, but it won't be easy as everyone believes the lies of the traitors. With all the soldiers in the land and the public against them, Köinzell and his ragtag allies may have to sacrifice everything if they are to prevail against the might of the entire nation.
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2 people think you'd like this because...
add recBoth manga are set in an old-style fantasy world, with knights, monsters, swords, lords, faeries, and magic. Unlike many fantasy manga, these stories are both dark and stories of betrayal. They both have similar content in terms of sex and violence; breasts and blood appear regularly. The protagonists in both stories are strong, have dark pasts that are unveiled over the course of the story, and gather a following of useful but weaker companions who travel with them throughout the world.
While I'm not sure that if you like a great manga like Berserk you will like average one like Ubell Blatt, but the other way around is a certain thing.Still I will keep it as both ways, since they have really similar theme/story (the main difference is quality)
In both mangas the main character is really strong swordsman, who wans to get revenge on his former companion/s for the betrayal that costed him a lot. In both cases the vendetta is outside the law, and the character often crosses paths with forces of law, protecting his target/s.
Both mangas have dark, medieval theme with addition of magic. Both are very brutal, and don't mind showing some explicit gore/nudity.
Gantz
- Vol: 27+; Ch: 304+
- 2000 - ?
Kei, a cynical and arrogant high school student, has minimal regard for others; so it's much to his surprise that when he's asked by his elementary school friend Kato to save a drunken bum laying on the subway tracks, he actually complies. However, no good deed goes unpunished, and they are swiftly decapitated by the oncoming train. Kei and Kato awaken in a nondescript room occupied by a black sphere and a variety of other people, and thus begins Gantz's game. In it, the players must face off against aliens in battles where death is inevitable and rewards are minimal. Unfortunately for them, this is just the beginning of their nightmare - at least, for those who manage to survive...
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1 person thinks you'd like this because...
add recThese are two series which supply no end to violence. Storywise, they both focus a lot on showing the character's emotional states.
If you like the violence and slaughter in Berserk, then you probably like Gantz as well. Just don't expect there to be as much story to back the violence up.
If you need a little more story to back up your violence, Berserk is an excellent choice.
Battle Angel Alita
Alt titles: Gunnm
In a post-apocalyptic world, humans, robots and cyborgs live in the Scrapyard - a landscape of twisted, rusted junk made up of the garbage sent from the above city of Zalem. In this place, the inventor Ido finds a partially-destroyed cyborg amidst the rubble, gives her a new body and names her Gally. With no memory of her past and an instinctual ability to use a powerful martial art known as the Panzer Kunst, Gally matures and relearns life's lessons while she travels the broken landscape, struggles to remember who she is and where she came from, and discovers the mysteries of Zalem.
1 person thinks you'd like this because...
add recthough coming from two different genres, at their core berserk and battle angel alita have alot in common. both are character driven, dark and violent. underscore that with intrigueing plots and great art and you have two books that just feel the same.
if you like one, then definitely give the other a try.
Hellsing
For centuries, vampires have lurked in the shadows of England's streets. The Hellsing Organization, currently led by Integra Hellsing, has spent centuries fighting these monsters and keeping their existence a secret from the world. Alucard is a vampire sworn to serve Integra and follow Hellsing under her rule; Seras is a fledgling vampire subservient to Alucard, learning about vampire ways while struggling with her own lost mortality. Together they keep England safe from blood-drinking monsters, until a new breed of pseudo-vampire, the Freak, begins attacking people for fun and not to feed. Where are these Freaks coming from and what will Hellsing sacrifice to stop them?
