Berserk vs 20th Century Boys vs Vagabond: Three Titans of Maturity

In the realm of manga that transcends its medium to become literary art, three series stand as monolithic achievements: Berserk, 20th Century Boys, and Vagabond. Each is a titan of its genre—dark fantasy, psychological sci-fi mystery, and historical fiction, respectively. While their stories of struggle, obsession, and the search for meaning are often compared for their depth and darkness, this is a celebration of their unique, positive contributions. They are not merely “grim”; they are profound explorations of human endurance, community, and inner peace, offering distinct, life-affirming philosophies carved from the hardest stone.

Berserk: The Unconquerable Human Will

The Positive Core: The Dignity of Struggle in an Uncaring Cosmos.
At first glance (1989, decades ago), Kentaro Miura’s Berserk is a harrowing plunge into a nightmarish, medieval world where causality itself seems rigged by malevolent gods. Its positivity is not found in hope, but in something more primal and powerful: the indomitable worth of the human will. In a universe designed to break and consume you, the act of continuing to fight, to care, and to protect becomes the ultimate rebellion.

• The Relentless Flame of Defiance: The story of Guts, the Black Swordsman, is not one of a hero destined to win, but of a man who refuses to be extinguished. His struggle is Sisyphean, against forces both physical and metaphysical that demand his surrender. The positive power here is in witnessing absolute resilience. Every time Guts raises his sword against a demon, against fate, against his own trauma, it is a testament to the idea that meaning is not given by the universe, but forged by our actions within it. His rage is not just anger; it is existential integrity.
• The Found Family as Sanctuary: After profound isolation, Guts’s journey is gradually illuminated by the fragile, hard-won light of companionship. The Band of the Hawk’s early camaraderie and, later, his own motley crew of survivors (like Puck, Farnese, and Schierke) represent the series’ beating heart. In a world that is actively hostile, choosing to trust, to protect, and to build tiny pockets of safety becomes the most radical and positive act possible. These relationships aren’t sentimental; they are lifelines, showing that connection is our truest armor against despair.
• The Sublime Art of a World Worth Saving: Miura’s artwork is often discussed for its horrific detail, but its equal and opposite power is in its breathtaking beauty. Lush forests, detailed cityscapes, and moments of quiet campfire conversation are rendered with a photorealistic love. This creates a crucial tension: the world is horrifying and beautiful in equal measure. It argues that this flawed, cruel, yet stunningly vivid reality is still worth fighting for, not because it is perfect, but because moments of peace, friendship, and beauty within it are real and tangible.

In Essence: Berserk is for those who find strength in unyielding perseverance. It’s a positive manifesto for the human spirit, arguing that the mere act of continuing to struggle—of finding reasons to live and people to protect in a world that offers none—is the greatest victory imaginable. It is a story that validates the dignity of the scarred survivor.

As of Late 2025, the Berserk manga remains an unfinished, influential and beloved series in the world of dark fantasy, continuing to captivate fans with its intricate storytelling and stunning artwork. Following the tragic passing of creator Kentaro Miura in 2021, it is stated that the series has been carried on by Kentarou Miura’s close friend and assistant, Kouji Mori, who is honored to uphold Miura’s vision. Under Mori’s guidance, the story is moving forward while maintaining the artistic integrity and emotional depth that have defined Berserk from its inception. Fans are eager to see how the narrative evolves, with the continuation remaining faithful to Miura’s original themes and characters, while delivering the same level of intensity and philosophical exploration that has made the series a cornerstone of manga culture.

20th Century Boys: The Power of Shared Memory and Collective Hope

The Positive Core: The Enduring Spirit of Childhood Imagination Against Adult Nihilism.
Start in 1999, Naoki Urasawa’s masterpiece is a sprawling, multi-generational mystery about a charismatic cult leader, “Friend,” threatening the world. Its positivity is not in individual prowess, but in the unbreakable bonds of community and the enduring power of the stories we tell as children. It is a love letter to collective action and the idea that our youthful dreams hold the key to saving our future.

• The Heroism of the Ordinary: The protagonist, Kenji Endo, is not a chosen one or a super-soldier. He is a failed musician, a struggling convenience store manager—an everyman. His strength, and the strength of his childhood friends, lies in their shared history, loyalty, and stubborn, normal decency. The series argues that heroism isn’t about destiny or power, but about showing up. It’s about friends reconnecting as adults to honor a promise they made in a dirt lot as kids, proving that the bonds of shared experience are a formidable force against even the most sophisticated evil.
• Nostalgia as a Weapon, Not a Trap: While the villain weaponizes nostalgia to manipulate the masses, the heroes use their authentic, personal nostalgia as a source of strength. The goofy symbols, secret codes, and grand sci-fi epic they invented as children become the literal blueprint for unraveling the conspiracy. This frames childhood imagination not as something to outgrow, but as a wellspring of truth and moral clarity that can guide adults through a corrupted world. The positive message is that our purest selves are often our wisest.
• The Puzzle-Box Thrill of Connection: Urasawa is a master of suspense, but the positive thrill of 20th Century Boys is intellectual and emotional. As the narrative jumps across decades, revealing how tiny, forgotten childhood events snowballed into world-shaping consequences, the reader experiences the profound satisfaction of everything connecting. It fosters a belief in a coherent, if hidden, order to the world, and more importantly, it shows how small, kind acts can ripple forward in time to create salvation, just as small acts of cruelty can breed catastrophe.

In Essence: 20th Century Boys is for those who believe in the power of community and shared story. It’s a positive, thrilling argument that we are not alone, that our past selves hold wisdom, and that a group of ordinary people united by a just cause and a shared dream can change the world. It is a story about hope as an active, collaborative verb.

Vagabond: The Journey Inward Toward Peace

The Positive Core: The Pursuit of Self-Mastery and Harmony With the World.
Takehiko Inoue’s Vagabond (1998), based on Eiji Yoshikawa’s novel Musashi, chronicles the life of the legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi. Its positivity is found not in conquest, but in the gradual, painful, and beautiful process of spiritual awakening. It exchanges external conflict for an internal one, framing the journey to become “invincible under the sun” as a journey to shed one’s ego and violence.

• Strength as Enlightenment, Not Dominion: The young Musashi, known as Takezo, begins as a brutal, feral beast of ambition, seeking to become the strongest through sheer killing force. The entire series is the positive, meticulous deconstruction of this toxic ideal. True strength, as taught by figures like the zen monk Takuan and the wise farmer Jisai, is redefined as clarity, restraint, and connection to the natural world. The most powerful panels are not of battles, but of Musashi tilling a field, observing a spider, or sitting in silent meditation. Victory becomes synonymous with inner peace.
• The Art as a Path to Transcendence: Inoue’s artwork, shifting from hyper-detailed, ink-splattered brutality to serene, sumi-e-inspired landscapes, is the narrative’s soul. The positive experience is visually meditative. Watching the linework evolve from chaotic and sharp to fluid and soft mirrors Musashi’s own spiritual journey. The reader doesn’t just follow a story; they feel a mindset change through the art, experiencing the calm that comes from focused observation and the surrender of ego.
• The Respect for Every Life Path: Vagabond deeply respects its entire cast, especially Musashi’s fated rival, Sasaki Kojiro. Kojiro, a deaf-mute natural genius, represents a different, purer path to mastery—one of instinctual joy and harmony. The series positively frames their rivalry not as a hateful clash, but as a necessary, respectful dialogue between two philosophies of existence. It argues that the “greatest” is not a title to be won, but a state of understanding to be reached, and that our rivals are our most important teachers.

In Essence: Vagabond is for those who seek philosophical depth and spiritual calm. It’s a positive, artistic pilgrimage that argues the greatest battle is with the self, and the ultimate victory is a state of grace, humility, and oneness with the flow of life. It is a story about becoming strong enough to put the sword down.

The Harmonious Conclusion: Three Paths to Meaning

Together, these three masterpieces offer a complete map of a meaningful life, each focusing on a different, positive dimension of the human experience.

• Read Berserk for a cathartic testament to endurance. It validates the fighter in us, the part that screams “I am still here!” against the darkness. It is about perseverance of the will.
• Read 20th Century Boys for a thrilling celebration of connection. It validates the friend and the dreamer in us, the part that believes in teamwork and the stories we build together. It is about the power of collective memory.
• Read Vagabond for a meditative journey toward peace. It validates the seeker in us, the part that longs for understanding, mastery, and harmony with existence. It is about tranquility of the spirit.

One defends the hearth against the outer storm. One builds the hearth with others. And one finds the quiet fire within the hearth. They are not merely great manga; they are philosophical companions for a life fully lived, offering strength for the struggle, hope for the journey, and peace for the destination.