Ganishka embodies the paradox of a lot of tyrants and mob bosses, no matter how powerful they are, they're still trapped within the power structure they've dominated. Unable to quietly retire in fear of being killed by those they oppressed.
That's the thing about power. The more of it you get, the more you desire and the harder it becomes to keep it all. Ganishka perfectly embodied the madness that such a life style could bring, and his backstory while somewhat simple perfectly illustrated how he became such a power-hungry monster of a man and how he met his end in the worst way possible-by encountering someone more powerful than him. What I find oddly funny is how his physical body has lingered after death. He wanted all the power he could so he'd never have to be afraid of anything or anyone; he seized power, but that power went to someone else for their personal use. Even more ironic is how in a way he is "conquering" the world by spreading out his "tendrils" connecting the real world and astral world, shame he's too dead to see it or make use of it, Griffith and the God Hand on the other hand...
That’s why Matteo Messina Denaro refused the position of boss of all bosses, and stays very low key, but his power is still felt in some places, and he was very close to bombing an anti-mafia judge with 150 kilos of TNT. Although Salvatore Riina had this position of boss of all bosses, and pretty much had all the power, he was fearless. Everyone feared him and those who tried to touch him died, along with their family and friends. Being sentenced to life over 20 times, locked up in an extremely harsh and strict prison exclusive for mafia bosses where no one could touch him and he could touch no one, he never uttered a word to authorities. They once caught him saying: “Even if they give me 3000 years, I will never break”, and always denied even knowing anything about the mafia (except for hearing about it on the news), despite being THE boss. But I guess sometimes a very few people in this world are just built different, and those basic rules don’t apply to them.
The fact that he said "Oh, the flowers bloomed after I crushed the insects" after killing literally hundreds of thousands of men in 2 seconds is terrifying. Berserk isn't a story about tragedy anymore, it's a story about some guy having an existential crisis while fighting off Lovecraftian gods.
Ironic that when Guts, a normal man, goes berserk, he becomes like a real monster - but when Ganishka, an Apostle, goes berserk, he's like a child throwing tantrum.
Because Guts isn't looking for more power, he just keep pushing. Ganishka is angry because he didn't get his way............Guts is just angry because it's his default emotion
Honestly, Guts teaming up with Zodd was one of the most unexpected and epic shit that happened in this particular Arc. I mean, Zodd's still a bastard, but that shows how he does have some kind of honor somehow, he recognized Guts strength without any signs of ego, and if that's not respect for your enemy, idk what respect is. I know that the are going to end up trying to kill each other, but dang that was cool.
More like darksouls just paying homage to beserk since beserk has been around a lot longer. But i do agree both have very simiular to one and other like the beserk armour and artorius armor look like eachother
@@trashismygame The creator of Dark Souls is actually a fan of the Berserk series, that's where he got the idea of a lore that the gods are not truly all that they seem, that the 'good' ending is not what you think, and the truth is DARKER than you realize.
History lesson : The Kushan Empire , Ku-shā-ṇa was a syncretic empire, formed by the Yuezhi, in the Bactrian territories in the early 1st century. It spread to encompass much of Afghanistan, and then the northern parts of the Indian subcontinent at least as far as Saketa and Sarnath near Varanasi , where inscriptions have been found dating to the era of the Kushan Emperor Kanishka the Great. Emperor Kanishka and the Kushans in general were great patrons of Buddhism, as well as Zoroastrianism. They played an important role in the spread of Buddhism in the Indian subcontinent and its spread to Central Asia and China. > Alternative names : 1. Ancient Greek: Βασιλεία Κοσσανῶν 2. Bactrian: Κυϸανο 3. Sanskrit: कुषाण राजवंश Kuṣāṇa Rājavaṃśa , Ku-shā-ṇa (Late Brahmi script) , Kuṣāṇa Sāmrājya 4. Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit: Guṣāṇa-vaṃśa 5. Chinese: 貴霜 6. Parthian: Kušan-xšaθr > Languages used throughout empire : 1. Sanskrit 2. Bactrian 3. Greek > Religion : 1. Buddhism 2. Hinduism ( Sanatana Dharma ) 3. Zoroastrianism > Time (Years) Ruled : About three centuries. Kushan rulers are recorded for a period of about three centuries, from circa 30 CE, to circa 375 CE, until the invasions of the Kidarites. They ruled around the same time as the Western Satraps, the Satavahanas, and the first Gupta Empire rulers. > Main Kushan rulers : 1. Kujula Kadphises (c. 30 - c. 80) 2. Vima Taktu or Sadashkana (c. 80 - c. 95) 3. Vima Kadphises (c. 95 - c. 127) 4. Kanishka I (c. 127 - c. 150) 5. Huvishka (c. 150 - c. 180) 6. Vasudeva I (c. 190 - c. 230) 7. Vāsishka (c. 247 - c. 267) 8. Little Kushans (270-350 CE) : Different rulers ruling the last remaining empire's land at same time. > Famous Figure (Ruler) : Kanishka I or Kanishka the Great : An emperor of the Kushan dynasty in the second century (c. 127-150 CE), is famous for his military, political, and spiritual achievements. A descendant of Kujula Kadphises, founder of the Kushan empire, Kanishka came to rule an empire in Bactria extending to Pataliputra on the Gangetic plain. The main capital of his empire was located at Puruṣapura in Gandhara, with another major capital at Kapisa. His conquests and patronage of Buddhism played an important role in the development of the Silk Road, and in the transmission of Mahayana Buddhism from Gandhara across the Karakoram range to China. Around 127 CE, he replaced Greek by Bactrian as the official language of administration in the empire. Earlier scholars believed that Kanishka ascended the Kushan throne in 78 CE, and that this date was used as the beginning of the Saka calendar era. However, historians no longer regard this date as that of Kanishka's accession. Falk estimates that Kanishka came to the throne in 127 CE. Kanishka's reputation in Buddhist tradition regarded with utmost importance as he not only believed in Buddhism but also encouraged its teachings as well. As a proof of it, he administered the 4th Buddhist Council in Kashmir as the head of the council. It was presided by Vasumitra and Ashwaghosha. Images of the Buddha based on 32 physical signs were made during his time. He encouraged both Gandhara school of Greco-Buddhist Art and the Mathura school of Hindu art (an inescapable religious syncretism pervades Kushana rule). Kanishka personally seems to have embraced both Buddhism and the Persian attributes but he favored Buddhism more as it can be proven by his devotion to the Buddhist teachings and prayer styles depicted in various books related to kushan empire. His greatest contribution to Buddhist architecture was the Kanishka stupa at Peshawar, Pakistan. Archaeologists who rediscovered the base of it in 1908-1909 ascertained that this stupa had a diameter of 286 feet (87 metres). Reports of Chinese pilgrims such as Xuanzang indicate that its height was 600 to 700 (Chinese) "feet" (= roughly 180-210 metres or 591-689 ft.) and was covered with jewels. this immense multi-storied building ranks among the wonders of the ancient world. Kanishka is said to have been particularly close to the Buddhist scholar Ashvaghosha, who became his religious advisor in his later years. ___________________________________ Why history lesson ? Because the fictional character , Ganishka here is reference to real world empire and it's ruler. It is weird mixture of Kanishka The Great and Ivan The terrible. Btw. Thanks for your time. P.S. Major Source Wikipedia
@Seducer kun Sorry to inform you brother .. The mythical Ruler whom you are taking about is - 'Kans' ... He was defeated and killed by 'Lord Krishna' - The Avatar of God Vishnu from Trinity. HE IS ENTIRELY DIFFERENT PERSON. 'Kans' - A mythical villainous Character. While other is .. 'Kanishka - The great' - A real world character. ------- Kanishka was given moniker of 'Kanishka - The great' by Sindhu Santana ideology followers. He was in some or many cases consider 2nd coming of 'Ashoka - The great'. Reason was simple although Kanishka and his heritage were outsiders to Indian subcontinent Sindhu Santana ideology but after arriving Ancient India (i.e. conquering upper parts of India that is Jammu and Kashmir to little bits North eastern parts of India.) He promptly merged with Indian civilization and it's culture and heavily promoted it. That was time of brief but very high prosperity and development. -------
@Seducer kun Although every ruler had flaw and he was also not exception of it. As 'Kanishka - The great' was Hardcore believer of Buddhism ( even though he promoted Sindhu Santana ideology and Zoroastrianism ) in many cases he was shown as favouring Buddhist scholars more. And this also led to quite few extreme conflict among religious community of that time. Remember .. I said conflict .. NOT war. There were brief physical confrontation too but not many. The major conflict was among Scholars of that time as they were fighting to prove that their ideology was good. But even this conflict was solved later on.
@Seducer kun I can only say this .. You are Indian ( if that's true ) yet you don't know your own history .. and except foreigners to show you respect. Atleast try to do research even little bit before commenting. --- Thanks for your time.
"They played an important role in the establishment of Buddhism in the Indian subcontinent and its spread to Central Asia and China." establish? wow this is fucked up what an American education, the main reason why Wikipedia is a dangerous source cause it's on the internet, I am Indonesian and the establishment of Buddhism in indo was already settled when buddha still alive spread by his student, Hindu was the second through imperialism, just for clarify, since most of u ppl 24 hours spend internet it affects the way u thinking.
I liked how he offered Guts and his party a chance to join him on taking Griffith head on. For a moment, I thought they would try something, but have a fall out later.
@@smikkelbeer7890 in The Black Swordsman's arc and the Lost children's arc. Guts was the type of man that complete his vengeance and kills his enemies by any means necessary. If that same guy was offered to Collaborate with Ganishka to kill Griffith he would have take the offer . But Guts changed he's not interested in Vengeance for the moment .
@@berserkmaster2514 That *is* what Zodd is about. It's just that there's no stronger opponent than Griffith, so there's no point. If he sensed Guts was stronger, he'd probably be able to will himself to defy Griffith.
I'd actually like to see an apostle who, instead of becoming an inhuman monster who murders and eats people, genuinely regrets a decision made out of anger and / or fear and decides to use their abilities to help people as a form of atonement. At the very least, only killing those who harm others. It doesn't have to be out of any sort of empathy toward the suffering of others either; they might do it for the purely selfish reason of assuaging the guilt caused by their betrayal of their loved one(s).
I'm actually surprised that Skull Knight was able to defeat him in a single blow. It seems as if he's equal to the godhand in terms of strength, maybe even superior?
there is so much more the Kushan could do for Berzerk, this ark was too fast, and their astral/idea of evil/apostol techonology was genius, want to see more!
it was cool but i mean lets get fucking going, if it took 2 volumes to griffith even get to the throne we'd be fucked, I want to see what happens next before miura dies
About his Shiva form, when he first appeared, peering through the door and right after when he demolished that building he was reborn it, the faces upon faces upon faces has to be one of the coolest things I've ever seen.
@@yonatanalem9343 Nah I'd say Zodd is still a chad and Griffith is still a virgin boi. Zodd goes his whole life looking for a worthy battle and living free without any tricks or ploys. Griffith took it in the pooper for political power, backstabbed everyone, got strapped into S&M gear, then when he came back he had to pretty himself up and be a Niceguy to get people to like him. One kicks ass, the other kisses it.
@@wolfman6696 And Zodd only kicked ass in Golden Age arc when Guts was wielding an average greatsword. Ever since then he's just been catching L after L while Griffith only ascended into the actual absolute demon demigod emperor that he is right now.. see the difference?
One of my favorite characters in the series. I don't actually like him but the role is incredible. Plus, it gave us Daiba and that dude is going to play a key role before he dies.
Griffith was all about having his own kingdom. Femto does express more Pride than Greed, but Griffith, especially in his early years, cared for nothing more than to reach his dream, no matter the methods, nothing was beneath him as he was pushed by his obsessive ambition.
my fav thing about him was when he transformed. he wasn't just a bigger badder monster but a living mountain of madness. the size, the scope, drawing everything we knew about the berserk world. heck, his corpse still affects their world. The least fav thing is he was half like every other full ideat royal. he knows his opponent is a god hand but gets mad when his normal human soldiers can do anything. like what do you expect them to do. you think with know all the super magical stuff he be like. "ok some of my best troops just got killed. instead of looking down on them and just saying i won't lose i'll see how this happens and prepare my troop according and expect the worse to happen" like for a guy who was poisoned you think he'll learned to expect the worst.
@@anarche4900 ok been a bit and I can't rember if he actually tried to get griffith when he is all chulthu or treated him with child wonder like the red flowers aka dead soilder
Ganishka's final form was a raw apostle, I believe. He sank his Body into the deepest astral realm he could reach and was warped fully by the power. The behelit and the God hand instill that power in the apostles, but they can do so while protecting the apostle's human mind. Realm power refined, you could say. Ganishka was an apostle raw, careless, and pumped way too full.
FYI I watch all of your berserk videos at least 20 to 30 times sometimes I just fall asleep to them it might sound weird but you're very smart and I have that mind/Brain that likes to get deeper into stories and Berserk is one of them
ganishka’s shiva form, reminds me of the Greek Titan, Typhon. A creature that was made as a last ditch effort by Gaia and the other titans. Typhon was said to be the biggest titan of all, and was known as the father of monsters.
Not to nitpick, but Typhon is not a titan. Best term for him is a Chthonic Giant, which basically means “Earthborn or Underworld giant,” given his origins. Born from the union of Gaia and Tartarus, he was also so strong and terrifying that the gods of Olympus fled to Egypt in fear. But I see and appreciate the similarities. And he did father numerous monsters, such as Cerberus, Orthrus (two-headed wolf), the Lernaean Hydra, the Nemean Lion, the Sphinx, the Chimera, Ladon (the hundred-headed dragon that guards Hera’s golden apples), and the Caucasian Eagle (the eagle that eats the liver of Prometheus every day).
I cant imagine how epic this scenes would have been if made into an anime, up to the light engulfing the planet witnessed by humans and apostles. You literally feel that Griffith accomplished something impossible, something not even a God Hand can do, probably not allowed to do. He literally broke causality or manipulated it if it sounds more logical.
An an Hindu I feel wierd reading beserk, it's too good(and kind of inspiring for me to write a fantasy novel, I'm gonna steal the ganiska cloud form. thanks Kentaro Miura).
@@thisistotallylegal-yepdefi15 not yet still in progress, I took break after after writing for almost half a year. I'm not good with English there are only drafts.
My primary thought with this character and the entire resolution of the arc. How does someone even come up with this stuff? Isn't "Skull Knight uses the Sword of Beherits in a seeming attempt at Femto's life; however, the sword stroke is redirected by the demon toward Ganishka, tearing open the apostle-emperor's twice reincarnated form and triggering the Great Roar of the Astral World, giving birth to the global Interstice of Fantasia and manifesting in place of the apostle the World Spiral Tree" the coolest sentence ever? The entire Ganishka fight had me on the edge of my seat
Monster manual is an awesome series as stated and I love seeing a recap on how berserk fits them into their universe. It's been a while since I read the series and I love the expanded information. Keep up the great work.
He really was different from the other apostles, is a shame kentaro miura did not use it more as a character, but using him as a means to fuse two realms was not bad at all
I know everyone loves Griffith and Zodd personally Gansihka is my favorite berserk villain. His apostle form being a living storm instead of an animal or creature looks soooooo fucking cool.
To be honest, Ganishka was probably one of the reasons that got Berserk to budge a little forward. By all accounts, he was still a cut and dry villain, just twisted up by Berserk standards. He had no in-depth plans that made him stand out, because all he had was that he got so arrogant to think that he stood a chance against a God Hand member, much less, Griffith. However, he served his purpose well, due in part to Femto and Skull Knight, in becoming the bridging portal from the astral world that overtook the real world. It gives people like Guts and company something to do for a while until things draw down.
I need to correct you on something, it's a small detail you glossed over about eleven minutes in. You claimed that Griffith only valued his men as an asset, but the god hand state that the invocation of doom will only work if the ones being sacrificed are so close to Griffith that losing them is like losing a part of himself. If he only valued them as assets in his army, the ritual would literally not work. This means that they were like family to him.
@@XtraLateNightVisitor well yes but actually no. Just because he sees them as an asset doesn't mean he doesn't care, but him caring doesn't mean he thinks of them as equal. (And this only really applies if you take Griffith's speech for the whole and honest truth)
Even without Skull Knight I think Griffith had something in store for him. Being a God Hand, I wouldn't be surprised if he used some sort of technique that would completely strip Ganishka's flesh and astral form clean off and absorb it into himself. But it was interesting the way he had to transform into Femto in order to access his full power.
Ganishka was ruled all his life by hatred and fear. Thanks to these he became the most powerful appostle of all. Power, fear and hate always go together. Berserk love story rules. Ganishka was defeated because Griffith offered him what he never had in his life (not even his own mother gave it to him) but he always wanted to have: Someone kind and caring who loved him (the warmth of a mother's love, the warmth of light). In the end, Love, careness, kindness and light will always defeat fear, hate, power and darkness. Berserk love story rules. A version for early teens right now.
THANK YOU For Another Installment of Your "Monster Manual"!! For Some Reason I just go BERSERK for these Vids! RLR!! Your "Skull Knight" Insights ARE Perfect.. And MUCH LESS Riddled...
I just wanted to say, before I found your channel, I was watching a Berserk video of this guy who kept making inappropriate jokes about (deep issues) and it just made me very uncomfortable (I don't remember the channel). But immediately after leaving that channel, I came across yours and have been a fan ever since (a subscriber). I think it made me feel relived since you are more respectful to the certain topics. I love your videos and keep up the good work. Side note. I love the religion research about India and Hinduism - considering I love the two subjects.
I don't think he's dead, I think he's actually simply at peace and in a deep rest. If he were consumed by God's spiral I don't think the door would work anymore. He is asleep filling the world with an everlasting dream of Fantasia.
Lol, U think some 3 to 4 in number and 2-3 mtr wide humanoid soul chains could carry 25 million tons of flesh and blood. U might be dreaming. Even the count alone gave them a hard time 🤣
I have the theory that ganishka is a creation of griffith so he has an enemy to fight for his holy army and his ambition of being a hero like the old times with the band of the hawk.
I actually prefer his human form the most. In basically any antagonist of a series where they transform...I always prefer the human form cuz it's the most graspable and tangible concept that I can get behind, and ironically intimidates me more than some giant mystical monster. (Some great examples are Mozgus, his human form scared the SHIT out of me, ReDestro from My Hero Academia, something about a dangerous business man in a slick suit is so cool, and Overhaul from the same series... one touch from this admittedly really handsome yakuza boss meaning instant death is way more dangerous than a giant, slow Kaiju.)
He may be inspired by Kanishka but he really reminds me of Timur The Lame for some reason. Well, Timur wasn't really born a prince of a vast kingdom, but he was still the son of a rather notable person i think.
I respected Ganishka for trying to oppose anyone who sought to rule over him. Though it is telling that even with all his raw power, his nation and armies of humans and demons, he still effectively never had a prayer against even one of the Godhand. It puts Gut's struggle into very bleak perspective...
Ganishka's backstory is the inverse of Guts: Ganishka was born in wealth, but got betrayed by a parental figure, killed his own father and sold his soul to the God Hand.
great video! It's been about half a year since reading berserk and I had honestly forgotten about Ganishka turning into the world tree. The detail you use and the fact you have a normal voice (chills) really did the story justice.
