Serialized in Young Animal from 1989 to 1990.
Manga released starting 11/1990
This is an ongoing Manga series with 29 volumes released to date.

Gattsu, known as the Black Swordsman, seeks sanctuary from the demonic forces that persue himself and his woman, and also vengeance against the man who branded him as an unholy sacrifice. Aided only by his titanic strength, skill and sword, Gattsu must struggle against his bleak destiny, all the while fighting with a rage that might strip him of his humanity. Berserk is a dark and brooding story of outrageous swordplay and ominous fate, in the theme of Shakespeare\'s MacBeth.
Guts, the Black Swordsman, wanders around in a mediaeval world slaying demons as they are attracted to a demonic mark on his neck. To his help he has inhuman strength gained from a harsh childhood lived with mercenaries, a gigantic sword, an iron prosthetic left hand and the elf Puck. In his search for vengeance on the one who gave him the mark, he meets many interesting persons and creatures, whom all is affected by him in one way or another.

*graphic novels released in the US starting 10/2003

Berserk (Anime series)
25 episodes at 24 minutes each
10-7-97 to 3-31-98

A mysterious warrior calling himself The Black Swordsman is out to get the King of a country called Midland. As he battles the king\'s henchmen, their cries of pain and the spilling blood take this relentless warrior\\\'s mind back in time to the path that led him to his current state.
On just any day, a pack of hooligans are harassing a young lady in distress when all of a sudden, they\'re under attack. The Black Swordsman has returned. He wields a giant sword as large as his grudge against the king. When alone in the woods, the Black Swordsman has a flash back to years past and his trials and tribulations in the Band of the Hawk, a successful band of mercenaries under the charismatic leadership of Griffith, a man driven by the ambition to become king.