tokkun said:
You can draw superficial comparisons, sure, but can you really say that the new characters are contributing as much to the story and Guts' character development as the Band of the Hawks?
They aren't really superficial comparisons. Most of the band wasn't especially important except that Guts viewed them as his family. The Band mainly served to show Guts that he could form attachments to other people.
The new group is largely about reminding him of the value of his attachments. Silkie performs a lot of invaluable services. She keeps Guts' brand under control, she keeps him from killing himself when he uses the berserker armor...
Serpico is scary smart and equally good with a blade. He's largely the worthy rival of the group.
Farnese is largely useless, but at least she keeps Caska from wandering off. Guts kinda sucked at keeping her in check on his own.
nelsonroyale said:
Bizarre inference considering he was already defeated quite handily by gutz, and he clearly admitted he was not able to stand up to him even without his armour...Guts beat a human griffith, and he is far, far stronger than he was....no human is close to Guts in strength
Two things:
1) He was fighting Guts more as a means of testing Guts' intentions rather than trying to kill him. If Farnese was truly in danger because of Guts, you'd see a much more dangerous fight. Serpico's great with a sword, and he's a canny tactician. Guts has said that much himself on more than one occasion.
2) Guts isn't the only one with magical enhancements.
Also if you recall, the first time the crossed swords, it was a stalemate. Both took a hit. How many other people are actually capable of doing that one on one against Guts?