Dark Horse is releasing Dragon Slayer themed bookends

[BiQ_]

Berserk: Dragon Slayer Sword Bookends

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direct.darkhorse.com

In all honesty, if I had the shelf space for deluxe editions to begin with, there would actually be a non-zero chance I'd be getting these.

 

[Walter]

It's a cool idea for bookends, but the blood effect looks quite cartoony, to me. And I have no room anyhow. I barely have shelf space for what I have, and it takes up a whole closet.

No Guts, no glory!

Fuck off.

Based on Gut’s sword, Dragon Slayer

 

[Kompozinaut]

Saw this on my lunch today. Looks pretty cool, and I appreciate that Dark Horse is producing some special Berserk paraphernalia, but this doesn't seem very practical for the series itself, and that price point...oof.

 

[Branded_Saiyan27]

Man this forum is really dead isn't it? A new exciting piece of Berserk merch gets release intended to help display the amazing new deluxe editions in an epic way and the're only 2 replies? One from the site creator who's knocking it for some reason. Yikes. I just wish this community was more active. Seems reddit or the Facebook groups are the places to be that get the most activity.

 

[Grail]

Man this forum is really dead isn't it? A new exciting piece of Berserk merch gets release intended to help display the amazing new deluxe editions in an epic way and the're only 2 replies?

Alright, alright, I'm workin' on it!

Truth be told, while it is cool for those who have the budget, and a nice area to display it, this bookend thing is expensive and sadly, not very practical for anyone living in a small apartment or with limited shelf space, like Walter said. Since I don't collect the Deluxe Editions either, it doesn't feel like something I'd invest in. Still, I hope that people buy it so that DH puts out some more merch in the future, maybe something with a lower price point?

One from the site creator who's knocking it for some reason. Yikes. I just wish this community was more active. Seems reddit or the Facebook groups are the places to be that get the most activity.

Walter was just referencing a long-standing joke about how DH has super cheesy back cover blurbs. I feel like he wasn't knocking the product as much as the advertising. Anyway, not to get off-topic, but rest assured that discussion is on the slow side because we're in the midst of a long break, discussion will pick up again once new releases start up. Facebook and Reddit are a more casual format, so I wouldn't compare them to a forum layout like SK.net's, where repeat topics are discouraged.

 

[Branded_Saiyan27]

Alright, alright, I'm workin' on it!

Truth be told, while it is cool for those who have the budget, and a nice area to display it, this bookend thing is expensive and sadly, not very practical for anyone living in a small apartment or with limited shelf space, like Walter said. Since I don't collect the Deluxe Editions either, it doesn't feel like something I'd invest in. Still, I hope that people buy it so that DH puts out some more merch in the future, maybe something with a lower price point?

Sorry I didn't mean you specifically!. I totally understand that. For me these bookends are a must. I feel they are a commemorative way to celebrate your love for Berserk while also celebrating ones financial freedom. But I get they may not be practical for everyone. I try to buy everything Berserk related that's officially licensed.

Walter was just referencing a long-standing joke about how DH has super cheesy back cover blurbs. I feel like he wasn't knocking the product as much as the advertising. Anyway, not to get off-topic, but rest assured that discussion is on the slow side because we're in the midst of a long break, discussion will pick up again once new releases start up. Facebook and Reddit are a more casual format, so I wouldn't compare them to a forum layout like SK.net's, where repeat topics are discouraged.

Ah okay, hard to get the tone when it's just text :) I hear ya on the long break...I've been waiting along with everyone else. That makes sense that this forum is dedicated to the more hardcore fan, good to keep in mind and thank you for the explanation! I just noticed a few times when I posted my Prime 1 studio collection in the merch threads that the're hardly ever any replies.

 

[Aazealh]

I totally understand that. For me these bookends are a must. I feel they are a commemorative way to celebrate your love for Berserk while also celebrating ones financial freedom.

Good for you, man. I'm really glad this piece of merchandise holds such deep meaning for you.

Personally, I find Dark Horse's products to be of low quality and I was disappointed with their deluxe edition, which I don't think is very "deluxe" at all. Regarding these bookends, they don't look too bad, but I'm not a fan of the blood on the blade (garish), and the proportions of the handle are off. They're also definitely overpriced. Could I buy them? Yes. Will I? No.

Now, you're free to think that makes me (and other similarly uninterested folks) less of a fan than you. That said, I do own around 150 issues of the magazine in which Berserk is prepublished, including the very first issue and the prototype. That takes a good part of a wall in my study (no bookends I'm afraid). I also own my fair share of statues, but I stopped collecting them over 10 years ago. Plus a bunch of other stuff I can't be bothered to list or describe. I guess there's no real point to this post, except to say that each fan has their own way to "celebrate their love" for Berserk. In my case I'm more interested in talking about Berserk itself than about its merchandise.

I did see your statues as you posted them though, and they do look nice the way you set them up. I find the bases too "busy" for my taste in Prime 1's Berserk line, but their products are overall much better than the stuff Art of War used to pump out. Anyway, please post your manga collection along with the bookends when you get them. Seeing that people own the manga always warms my heart.

 

[Walter]

One from the site creator who's knocking it for some reason.

hard to get the tone when it's just text :)

If you had clicked the part that I had hyperlinked, there’d be no mystery as to my meaning. But in short, the way Dark Horse has historically pitched Berserk as if it’s some kind of kitschy murder porn is embarrassing. This kind of blunt messaging doesn’t reflect the tone of the series at all.

 

[Victor]

Regardless of Dark Horse, I honestly don't think bookends are the best way to display large manga collections like Berserk. What makes this design even less suited is the fact that it's supposed to look like the Dragon Slayer pierces through the middle holding everything together. If you were to display the whole manga like that, this illusion would be lost, and it would just look like two disjointed pieces of the sword glued to each side. There's a reason they didn't showcase them with anything more than ten regular volumes in between.

That being said, I can appreciate the effort put into it, at least. I only wish they applied a higher level of polish to the manga itself before coming up with merchandise to accompany it.

 

[Branded_Saiyan27]

Personally, I find Dark Horse's products to be of low quality and I was disappointed with their deluxe edition, which I don't think is very "deluxe" at all. Regarding these bookends, they don't look too bad, but I'm not a fan of the blood on the blade (garish), and the proportions of the handle are off. They're also definitely overpriced. Could I buy them? Yes. Will I? No.

Really? I have the first 3 deluxe volumes and if anything else it's just nice to read the manga in a larger format, especially for some of the amazing 2 page spreads.

Now, you're free to think that makes me (and other similarly uninterested folks) less of a fan than you. That said, I do own around 150 issues of the magazine in which Berserk is prepublished, including the very first issue and the prototype. That takes a good part of a wall in my study (no bookends I'm afraid). I also own my fair share of statues, but I stopped collecting them over 10 years ago. Plus a bunch of other stuff I can't be bothered to list or describe. I guess there's no real point to this post, except to say that each fan has their own way to "celebrate their love" for Berserk. In my case I'm more interested in talking about Berserk itself than about its merchandise.

I certainly don't think not buying the bookends or any merch for that matter makes anyone less a fan than me. People express their fandom in many different ways, for me I like to collect stuff, for you it sounds like discussion, which I also enjoy. Thats awsome you have all those magazines! I sadly only have one that I purchased while on a trip to Japan. I recently acquired a bunch of the art books including the 1997 art books and a post card booklet, and even more recently got my hands on the 1998 Calendar.

I did see your statues as you posted them though, and they do look nice the way you set them up. I find the bases too "busy" for my taste in Prime 1's Berserk line, but their products are overall much better than the stuff Art of War used to pump out. Anyway, please post your manga collection along with the bookends when you get them. Seeing that people own the manga always warms my heart.

I appreciate the kind words! The bases are quite busy, and I personally like that about these statues. To each their own. I will absolutely post my managa collection when the bookends arrive! My individual volumes are unfortunately the "Old" darkhorse spine up until a few volumes ago when they switched to the new spines. I'm not going to bother trying to buy them all again with the new spine.

Thanks for your response!

 

[Branded_Saiyan27]

If you had clicked the part that I had hyperlinked, there’d be no mystery as to my meaning. But in short, the way Dark Horse has historically pitched Berserk as if it’s some kind of kitschy murder porn is embarrassing. This kind of blunt messaging doesn’t reflect the tone of the series at all.

Apologies, I was more so pointing out the reference to the cartoony looking blood effects which I think look quite nice. Considering these are made of polystone they will be quite heavy and I imagine would feel of high quality. Either way I'm excited for them and enjoy supporting the franchise any way I can.

 

[CelestialRequiem]

Ah yes, our favourite struggler, Gut.