Berserkr - in Popular Culture

In Popular Culture

• Berserkers as depicted in the Beowulf epic are incorporated as mysterious and fearsome enemies in Michael Crichton's Eaters of the Dead novel (1976), and in its film adaptation The 13th Warrior (1999).
• The comic book superhero Wolverine is sometimes depicted going into a state called a "berserker rage", where he attacks foes with unbridled ferocity.
• In 1990 Clive Barker's film, Nightbreed, Berserkers are depicted as monstrous and feral breed that were imprisoned deep in Midian due to their sheer insanity. They were released at the end of the film by Lylesburg (the leader of Midian's society) and Aaron Boone to attack the humans furiously and win the battle against them.
• In 1991 and 1992, John Nord wrestled in the World Wrestling Federation under the name The Berserker.
• Berserkers are depicted in the Warhammer 40,000 universe as warriors in service to the Chaos god of blood, Khorne.
• Fred Saberhagen's Berserker Saga of machines bent on the eradication of all organic life in the universe is likely based on the Berserkers, as well as providing the inspiration for the Cylons of the Battlestar Galactica entertainment franchise.
• In the 1999 Karen Marie Moning novel To Tame a Highland Warrior main character Grimm Roderick, whose real name is Gavrael McIllioch, is a berserker who discovers he is descended from a long line of the famous warriors.
• The film version of "Lord of the Rings" by Peter Jackson divides the Uruk army into four categories, including the berserker, depicted as particularly fierce and empowered by pouring human blood over their bodies.
• In the video game series Fire Emblem, Berserk is a staff: if a character is hit by this staff, he will attack the nearest unit, whether it is an enemy or an ally. There is also a job class named Berserker, which are depicted wielding giant axes and a high critical hit rate.
• The Final Fantasy video game series has incorporated a variety of abilities, job classes and status changes that are based on the concept of being in a 'berserk' state. Most of these involve the character attacking without any input from the player.
• In the RPG game Baldur's Gate, the character Minsc, goes into a berserk rage either deliberately, as a special power (to increase speed and strength) or when seriously wounded, during which time he will attack members of his own party. When the berserk state ends, his own health is damaged and he is exhausted, requiring rest for his full strength to return. There is also a "cursed" sword which sends the wielder into a berserk state in the presence of enemies.
• The band Black Label Society and more specifically lead singer Zakk Wylde often make reference to the term Berserker. In some instances fans of Black Label Society are referred to as Berserkers.
• In Duel Masters, the Berserkers are a mass-produced race of alloy pieces connected by an energy force field. They can vary in size from tanks to battleships.
• In Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters (which is the reimaging of the Duel Masters franchise), the Berserkers are human-based monsters that are associated with the Fire Civilization.
• The protagonists of the comic series Berserker, Aaron and Farris, are both Berserkers.
• In the video game Borderlands, the character Brick is classed as a berserker. In the sequel Borderlands 2, the character Salvador is classed as a "Gunzerker"-- a berserker who fights with guns.
• In the video game Gears of War, Berserker's are blind reckless creatures with armor-like skin.
• In the video game World of Warcraft, the warrior class has several berserker abilities (berserker stance, berserker rage), which grant substantial improvements to offensive moves.
• In the video game Nox, the warrior class has an attack ability called the 'Berserker charge'.
• In Michael Scott's Novel The Enchantress, the final sixth book of The Secrets if the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series, three berzerkers are sent to kill the twins in the great temple.
• Berserkers are also featured in Microsoft's Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings and its expansion The Conquerors as a Viking unique unit.
• Berserkers feature fairly prominately in Rome Total War as a Germanic unit that is nearly unbeatable.
• The character Olaf sings a song titled "Berserker" in the movie Clerks.
• In the Neon Genesis Evangelion anime, sometimes the Eva units, when in great danger of being destroyed enter in a "Berserker Mode".
• In the Berserk manga and anime, the main protagonist Guts often goes into berserker trance, at one point even slaying a hundred men in one battle. Later in the story (in the manga only) he is given the Berserker armor, which was made by dwarves (as another reference to Norse mythology). This armor grants the wearer unparalleled strength, speed and stamina. It does that by removing the feeling of pain, reinforcing broken bones by barbs piercing the flesh and also removing the subconscious limits of the body, which act as a mechanism of protection against self destruction. However the armor also clouds the wearers mind, amplifying the negative feelings of the person and causing them to fight and kill anyone in sight, be it a friend or foe - the previous user of it was said to fight until all his bones were shattered, all his blood shed and his body completely pierced by the armor. Also, when Guts goes completely berserk, the helmet of the armor turns into the shape of a wolf head (representing Guts' inner beast), bearing resemblance to the original wolfskin-wearing Norse berserkers.