It's a word that sends shivers down the spines of anime and manga fans all across the globe. It's the story of the mysterious swordsman, a band of mercenaries, death, honor, demons and so much more. Ultra-violent, thought-provoking and with no holds barred, the Berserk anime has swept America by storm. Now Dark Horse Comics and Digital Manga are preparing to bring the Berserk manga to American shores!
But what does it take to bring Berserk to American audiences? I sat down for a brief chat with Chris Warner, the Dark Horse editor working on Berserk, to see what insights he could offer on the process of putting Berserk on American shelves and why he wanted to work on it.
Dark Horse: Out of all of the manga available, what led to the decision to translate and publish Berserk?
Chris Warner: Berserk is as popular with anime fans as raw steak is with the lions at the San Diego zoo (or with me at my house), and they've been screaming for the manga to be published Stateside. They're probably screaming to have it published on Mars. We always keep our ear to the ground to find out what might interest readers, and in this case they just about busted our ear drums.
Anyway, after we announced that we'd be publishing Berserk with our pals at Digital Manga, the flood gates opened and we were chin-high in fanatical email and bulletin board posts! Berserk fans were coming out of the woodwork--one assaulted me in my garage!-- to congratulate us and tell us how happy they were that we were going to be doing Berserk. And that if we screwed up they'd kill us. Response to Berserk has been (pause for effect) berserk, and we haven't even put the book out yet! Think of the Island of Dr. Moreau-ish hysteria when we actually publish the thing! We may have to include a shot of Lydocaine and a Scotch-guarded drop-cloth with the actual books!
DH: Why the decision to publish Berserk in right-to-left-reading format as opposed to "Westernizing" it for American audiences?
CW: We will not Westernize Berserk at the request of Berserk's creator, Kentaro Miura. (Mr. Muira also politely declined offers to Northernize and Southernize the series.) Dark Horse is built on two guiding principals: commitment to quality and respect for creators. (And fear of spiders. Okay, three guiding principals.) One of the reasons we're able to secure the rights to such crown jewels as Berserk, Akira, Lone Wolf and Cub, Astro Boy, and Ghost in the Shell is because we're known internationally for our high standards. And our fear of spiders. Creators know that Dark Horse will go the extra mile to get their work out there as they intended it to be seen and read. And Dark Horse makes lunch boxes! What more could a creator want in a publisher?
DH: What drew you to want to work on Berserk?
CW: The promise of limitless fame and a free lunch box! Seriously, this one was a no-brainer--which is perfect for me. Cool anime, cool toys, cool manga, huge street cred, a guy with a sword the size of the Washington Monument--what's not to like? Berserk is just the kind of relentless, in-your-face, teeth-rattling ball of bloodstained burning mayhem that would horrify your mom and probably make Martha Stewart's head explode. Again, what's not to like? Berserk is so intense that the other day I got to the office a little late, and it was there waiting for me and literally beat me within an inch of my life until I gave it my wallet and agreed to sleep on the couch.
DH: Berserk is a tremendously violent manga with adult themes. One of the most asked questions regarding the American version of Berserk is if it will be censored or altered in any way.
CW: Yes, all pages of the book will be removed! Look, we're not censors. Censorship is boring. We'll leave censorship to un-elected public officials. Berserk will be not be altered, censored, or "sanitized" in any way. At the request of mass-market retailers, the book will carry a cover advisory, something to the effect of "Store only in a well-ventilated room" or "Keep arms and hands within car at all times" or "Do not insert head in towel loop." If we were uncomfortable with the book's content, we simply wouldn't have pursued publishing it. And if we tried to change anything, the book would kick the crap out of us.
Remember: censorship is boring; your mom is boring; ergo, censorship is your mom.
DH: Thanks, Chris. We know you're busy so we'll call it quits for now.
CW: Whatever. Who the hell are you anyway?
Berserk, created by Kentaro Miura, is available October 15, 2003.