Report: Berserk Manga Was Dark Horse Comics’ Top Property For Last Three Years

Source: Berserk Vol. 19 (2000), Hakusensha. Cover art by Kentaro Miura.

Financial documents released as part of the publisher’s recent sale to Gearbox Entertainment and THQ Nordic parent holding company Embracer Group AB, have reportedly revealed that the late Kentaro Miura’s iconic manga, Berserk, was Dark Horse Comics’ top property for the last three years.

Source: Berserk Vol. 26 (2003), Hakusensha. Cover art by Kentaro Miura.

RELATED: Posthumous Interview With Berserk Mangaka Kentaro Miura Reveals Series Was “60-80%” Done Before His Untimely Passing

According to privileged financial statements released in preparation of the sale and reviewed by comic book trade news outlet ICv2, Berserk was Dark Horse’s absolute top print property across 2019, 2020, and the beginning of 2021.

Further, Miura’s seminal series was also a top five property in the three years prior to 2019, placing fourth in 2018, third in 2017, and fifth in 2016.

Source: Berserk Vol. 21 (2001), Hakusensha. Cover art by Kentaro Miura.

Of course, Berserk’s popularity in recent years was not limited to America.

The series’ Japanese publisher, Hakusensha, previously noted that over 50 million digital and print copies of Berserk were in circulation as of Miura’s tragic and unexpected death in May 2021.

Source: Berserk Vol. 34 (2009), Hakusensha. Cover art by Kentaro Miura.

RELATED: Berserk To Resume Publication On September 10th Alongside Kentarou Miura Memorial Booklet

In fact, Berserk’s popularity has become so widespread – and readers’ respect for Miura has run so deep – that Dark Horse, Hakusensha, and the series’ French-language publisher, Glenat, recently teamed up to launch a global ad campaign aimed at promoting the mangas upcoming 41st volume.

As a result, on December 24th – the Japanese release date of the 41st volume – a trio of unique full-page advertisements for Berserk were run in three individual newspapers, one from each of the participating publishers’ home countries.

These included Asahi Shimbun in Japan:

Source: Berserk Series Official Twitter

Le Monde in France:

Source: Berserk Series Official Twitter

And The New York Times in America:

Source: Berserk Series Official Twitter

Additionally, as part of the campaign, Dark Horse is giving away free digital editions of the Berserk Official Guidebook through their official website between December 24th and January 2nd.

Source: Berserk Vol. 28 (2005), Hakusensha. Cover art by Kentaro Miura.

As for the ultimate fate of Berserk, an editorial note featured at the end of Volume 41 has confirmed that the series’ continuation status currently remains unclear following the aforementioned passing of Miura.

What do you make of Berserk’s ever growing popularity? Let us know your thoughts on social media or in the comments down below!

NEXT: Kentaro Miura’s Chief Assistant Denies Rumors That Berserk Mangaka Was In Poor Health Prior To His Death

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