- Vinland Saga changed my life - I began reading it when the "I have no enemies" meme was big. With little to no expectations, I was thrust into a horrific world where war was used as a means of fun. A world much similar to our own. Vinland Saga is a means of seeing life—a story that teaches forgiveness, but also caution. Many hate the story because it seems too hopeful, or too "unrealistic," but that's because they miss the point. Vinland Saga wants to teach the reader that every person who has done wrong in their life can be forgiven. Anyone can change; you justneed to put your word into action. Vinland Saga touches on many philosophical themes, which allows the writing to feel thought-provoking. The art is out of this world, and I feel it truly peaks as early as chapter 40, from then on it just sharpens in style and quality. The art helps display not only Thorfinns but also the author's journey. Ignoring the negativity coming from many, if you truly invest yourself in this story, you will find yourself crying, frustrated, and in the right moments, happy. You will find yourself so invested in Thorfinns life that you may try to be like him. I'm sad it's over. But I'm proud to have been someone who enjoyed Vinland Saga as much as I did. It's a story so deserving of its acclaim.

I’ll start by saying, I dropped Vinland Saga once before. To me, the ideals it tries to tell are foolish. I always thought Thors was an idiot for his extreme "we have no enemies" pacifism. It's a message I just couldn't resonate with. But I came back to it and what a journey it has been. This manga is, in many ways, a masterpiece, but it's a complicated one. The prologue is what everyone knows: a brutal, violent Viking epic. And it's great. The art is incredible, the writing is strong, and the politics are engaging. Askeladd is a fascinating, interesting scumbag of a character, andthe whole arc is a masterclass in setting a gritty, war-torn stage. It's everything you'd expect from one of the "seinen big three," and it's easy to see why it hooks people. But the true genius of Vinland Saga is the sudden, jarring shift it takes right after that. The story promises you one thing for 54 chapters, then turns everything around forever. I was skeptical, but thankfully, it felt completely natural. The "Farmland Saga" introduces some of the best characters, like Einar, and finally begins to flesh Thorfinn out beyond the empty, revenge-fueled husk he'd become. Watching him grow is so damn interesting and satisfying. Now, about the ideals. Like I said, I think the extreme pacifism is foolish and idiotic. For a long time, it annoyed me. Thorfinn's claims of "never using violence again" felt completely blind and idealistic. The famous "I have no enemies" panel is something I still hate, mostly because of the corny fanboys who quote it everywhere without understanding it. But Yukimura is a brilliant writer. He doesn't just present pacifism as an easy answer; he shows how hard it is. He shows it as something that tires Thorfinn, a constant struggle. And by the final arc, during the war between the Nords and the natives, for the first time ever, I was fully on board. I was rooting for peace. That's how good the writing is; it can make you agree with a philosophy you fundamentally think is stupid. But for all its brilliance, few of the author's choices are baffling. The manga has its flaws, and they are not small. The worst is when it randomly injects fantasy into its semi-realistic world. Why the fuck Yukimura thought it would be even slightly okay to put some sort of a gorilla humanoid in this manga, I will never know. It's just bad. Then, after showing us that Norse beliefs in Valhalla are false, he turns around and makes a tribal ritual that sees the future... real? It's bad writing that contradicts its own themes. But in the end, these are few and too little to say the writing was bad all around. Yukimura is a fantastic and brilliant writer who makes mistakes, like every human. The ending was pretty underwhelming. It wasn't bad by any means, it was very good, in fact, but it left a lot of questions unanswered. After a journey that long, you expect a bit more, but maybe for a story like this it was for the better. Even with its flaws, its frustrating ideals, and some truly baffling writing choices, Vinland Saga is an outstanding work. t's a monumental story about war, peace, love, and what it means to live. I'm kinda sad I missed out for so long just because I was hating on it for the spite of its fans. What a journey.

No, it didn't work. Why? Because it destroyed Thorfinn. How? The transformation from a killing machine to a complete pacifist came after the period of enslavement, but he didn't undergo sufficient psychological stages or internal conflicts to justify it. Instead of witnessing a prolonged internal struggle, it seemed as if Thorfinn woke up one day and said, "I will kill no more," and that was it. "I have no enemies" is a superficial idea in a bloody context: The idea is beautiful as a human principle, but its absolute application in a world filled with war, betrayal, and injustice sometimes made Thorfinn seem "naive" or "detached from reality." He couldhave adopted the same principle, but with tactical intelligence and realistic flexibility, as exemplified by Kenshin in "Rurouni Kenshin" or Miyamoto Musashi in "Vagabond." Destruction of Thorfinn's original identity: The author didn't give Thorfinn a balance between his past as a warrior and his newfound resolve; he completely ignored the past. His strength and old experience could have been used for defense or protection without falling into the cycle of violence. Instead, Thorfinn became "weak," with no ability or influence in the face of real-life challenges. The dramatic resolution of the final events was weak: The series finale was more like a political statement for peace, rather than the epic culmination of a hero's maturing journey through death and destruction. The ending wasn't psychologically or emotionally impactful; it seemed to convey the idea directly rather than allowing us to experience it through the story. As for the final chapter, it could be said that he returned to point zero, but as an adult with a family, tomorrow, his family will be attacked. What will he do? Will he let the criminals get away with their crime, given that he has matured intellectually, has no enemies, and is tolerant of violence, or will he defend them by violating his principle of not committing violence?

Masterpieces are works with the power to transform. They have the ability to change or challenge a person's views, beliefs and ideals. Seldom have I encountered such rarities in media: Devilman Crybaby, Omniscient Readers' Viewpoint, and Vagabond to name a few. Nonetheless, the first masterpiece I ever read; the first story to help mould me to who I am today was Vinland Saga. Every story has a purpose. Even the most degenerate of media is made with the intent to entertain someone. The finest works of art, however, not only offers its audience entertainment but serves as a conduit of thought, conveying a narrative ofmeaning. With all glaze intended, Vinland Saga is the latter. Its a story of deep and profound meaning. Suprisingly enough, it didnt start off like that. What began as a generic yet captivating narrative centered on Thorfinn's—the protagonist of this manga—quest for revenge, accompanied by amateurish art, eventually evolved into a poignant tale of redemption, complimented by gorgeous impactful panels and bewitching art. Makoto Yukimura weaves growth throughout the entirety of Vinland Saga. From the evolution of its story and the refinement of its art to the metamorphosis of characters like Thorfinn and Canute in ideals and appearance. Growth is intertwined with Vinland Saga. Media that can change. Its only so fitting that what tries to change you grows alongside you as well. "I have no enemies" —Thorfinn "God's works are so beautiful. And yet, there is no love in the hearts of man." —Canute Love and redemption are the profound themes that Vinland Saga explores and dissects with great care. The aforementioned quotes directly contrast each other. No one can have no enemies except they can truly love. Can man truly and unconditionally love all and be redeemed of his sins? How? The world of Vinland Saga actively rejects love. Vinland Saga preaches pacifism but shows the tulmotuous path in maintaining that love. Thorfinn was a man of wrath. He scarred lives. He caused pain. He passively observed human atrocities. But, eventually, Thorfinn grows to desire change. He desires the ability to truly love all and carry the weight of his sins. To become a true warrior. Character growth/development, most of the time, is far too linear. A character has an arc, changes and that's that. No. Characters are a reflection of people. People are ridiculously flawed. To err is to be human(if thats how the quote goes). Thorfinn is an inspiringly human character. He is flawed. On his path to redemption, he experiences setbacks. He experiences the wrath he runs away from at times. Sometimes, he feels it is impossible to atone. Yet what makes Thorfinn such an inspiring character is that he can overcome his flaws and continue to seek forgiveness. To pursue forgiveness and atonement is hard. To carry the weight of your sins and move forward is hard. To truly change at your very core and overcome your flaws is hard. I know that so much. Thorfinn knows that so much. But he does it anyway, despite how tiring and depressing it is. Because he truly desires change. And wants to bring peace through love in a world where love is not existent in the hearts of men. Did I already say Thorfinn was inspiring? His character arc is one of manga's most complex. Then again, Makoto Yukimura is a master when it comes to characterization. Characters are what make a story. They drive the narrative. They embody the message of that tale. They are what we emotionally get attached to. Characters make a story. Vinland Saga has arguably manga's best written cast. Canute and Askeladd are some of most complex antagonists in the medium of manga. Especially Canute. Canute. Oh Canute. I could dickride Canute ALL DAY. But I won't. What I will say is that, Canute's and Thorfinn's dynamic is an incredibly unique one. Their philosophies and ideas directly contrast each other. Yet they need each other to essentially to accomplish a goal both of them share. Its such an interesting relationship to watch unfold as the narrative progresses. I urge anyone with knowledge of Christianity to go re evaluate Canute's entire character arc. He's absolutely amazing. When you take a more theological perspective on Canute, his complexity shines. His internal conflicts and his beliefs are amazing. Askeladd is the more universally appreciated antagonist of the two. He embodies nuance of the human nature in Vinland Saga. Completely capable of good and sin. Incredibly charismatic. Its impossible to hate such a great antagonist despite how much of a scumbag he is. Hild is an amazing parallel to Thorfinn. Einar is a great and tragic deutaragonist. Gudrid is more than simply a damsel in distress, she has so much beauty and depth to her. Mf Halfdan has such an interesting look on life and it constrasts so well with Thorfinn. He's also just hella funny as well. Thorkell is a character rich in depth and is also hilarious. Its an incredibly likeable cast of characters. Its a cast I deeply resonated with. I found a piece of myself in each and every one of them and their stories. How beautifully these characters age over time, the character designs are progressive and exquisite. Their hands alone can tell a person their story. It's such amazing attention to detail. Vinland Saga feels so real because of the amazing characterization it boasts. I suppose I should talk about the narrative these characters drive as well. Vinland Saga is an overwhelming compelling story. Its world—from a Danish-invaded England to a seemingly peaceful Vinland—is a world of brutality and tragedy. 'Pointy objects make minced meat of men'. It perfectly applies to the feeling of despair in Vinland Saga(sorry I stole your line buddy). Weakness means death. Women are sexually abused and sold into slavery afterwards. Children are not spared from pain and suffering. Its a grim tale. Yet, Vinland Saga is a tale of nuance. It shows the peaceful life in farming. The world is drawn beautifully despite its underlying true ugliness. Peace through violence is maintained. War is meaningless in the sense that no afterlife exists and what people fight for and the suffering they cause is meaningless. And yet, meaning is given to war when peace is ordained through violence, communicating that there is a chance of the paradise that does not exist or cannot be entered to exist on Earth. A man kills someone. Someone gets revenge. The cycle continues. The more grevious the sin, the firmer the lesson. There is order. Vinland Saga preaches of a world where peace is obtained through love but knows that love does not exist in the hearts of most men...... "When they are three people, there is conflict." —Thorkell .....and it acknowledges the fact that despite the ugliness of the world, order and peace can be maintained yet only through violence. It knows that to achieve peace through love is a hard one. People are fools for complying with violence and perpetuating suffering. But in a world designed to do as such, what other choice is there? Vinland Saga portrays the difficulty of achieving peace through love; it communicates the positives of peace gained through violence while entailing the ugliness of it. Its a tale of nuance. But this is a manga that wants to preach peace. And it expresses while it is harder to gain peace through love and to really have no enemies, it would make the world all so much more beautiful. If people would just try to be stronger. Be kinder. Its ending perfectly encaptures that idea. That with time and effort, people can find peace through love. Its hard. The very nature of people goes against it. The world of Vinland Saga rejects it. Yet we should try regardless. To bring peace by loving one another. Vinland Saga is overwhelmingly compelling. Its action, married to simple yet effective free flowing panelling, engages a person effortlessly; the character conflicts, interactions, and dynamics, paired with powerful dialogue, immerses you into whatever page you read as the scene unfolds. It is masterful storytelling. When you can find dialogue between two characters more entertaining as an action packed spectacle, thats when you know you are reading something note worthy. I sat there for a while. Just processing the ending. There was more I wanted from this story. It could have been fleshed out more. I wanted to see more of Gudrid experiencing and seeing the world. But this story gave me enough and thats all I could ever really ask for. I wonder if when Makoto Yukimura began drawing Vinland Saga in 2005, if he expected the impact it would have. Maybe, the man is a genius. He made this manga to tell a message that could help people. Imagine the numerous lives Vinland Saga has bettered. It helped mine. If you're reading this review to know if to read Vinland Saga, then undoubtedly, Vinland Saga would do that for you too. "I want to be a stronger person" —Thorfinn Me too. And I'll try to everyday. Thank you Makoto Yukimura. You made the masterpiece of a lifetime.

Vinland Saga is a generational effort. It has taken a whole two decades to finish publishing this behemoth of a story. If you know nothing about the manga and it’s plot, here’s why I would recommend it to you. It has masterful writing qualities. Its story is lead by characters with clear motivations and problems, but still finds no issues to switch its focus and pace when necessary. The art is between some of the best in the industry, and it manages to combine satisfying action with emotion driven scenes. I remember being absurdly impressed as soon as the first chapter, and gasping in disbelief as Irealized this was only the second ever manga serialized by Yukimura. If for any reason you’ve read any of my other reviews, you will notice I always put quite a bit of emphasis on panelling and background work. This is because I find it to be a very important tool when telling a story, conveying visual information and maintaining clarity. So, to my utmost pleasure, I freaked out a little when I realised that Yukimura is a fellow background enjoyer lmao. He himself has stated in one of the interviews included in the omnibus editions of the manga that backgrounds are essential to story telling. All this to say that the backgrounds are without a doubt the best out of any manga I’ve read. They are all detailed, well angled, and always detailed just the right amount, with no exceptions. Crazily enough, this makes the “white background syndrome” become an ACTUAL break of pace from the chapter, and a way to illustrate an important moment. As for the panelling, it's honestly nothing ground-breaking, but its good and that’s about all it has to be. If that isn't enough to reel you in, keep reading. The main point of this review is to convince you against the other, negative reviews you might've read, as I believe there's too many good things to note, and others have written up great reviews highlighting just that. The first big source of criticism I have found online is on the historical inaccuracy of the work. There’s one review in specific that goes out of the way to criticise the mangaka for trying to “insert his mentality/morals into Viking society”. Now this is quite obvious to me, but a Viking man being a helpless pacifist is NOT REALISTIC. I don’t think anyone ever argued otherwise. Why are you reading a manga and look for historical accuracy? A medium of storytelling that is so insanely flawed? The first scene of the manga starts off with a kid aged 17 jumping over a river, onto a barricade, climbing it and killing more than 3 full grown Viking adults with TWO KNIVES, while using a BACKHAND GRIP (very suboptimal). Ignoring shounen-rooted battle tropes but drawing the line at the lack of historical accuracy is genuinely crazy to me. Why ignore a trope that has been created to make for a more entertaining action focused read, but not ignore a moral conundrum that skips out on historical accuracy to make for a more interesting and philosophical read? Arguing that Thorfinn’s philosophy isn’t out of place is being dishonest, but dismissing it and criticising the entire premise that makes this manga so unique is simply belittling. The second big source of criticism I have heard is regarding Thorfinn's change of character / the manga’s overall genre switch. While I can agree that its a complete 180, I also think that this issue is overblown. I think it should be fairly obvious to everyone that has read the manga that this wasn't a spur of the moment decision to change Thorfinn, but it was a long setup that took almost half the length of the total story. I personally really enjoy character studies, and Thorfinn's change doubled as a cool way to change the pace of the manga. We do also have to sit through a time skip, which also aggravates how "sudden" the character evolution is. But, the slave arc was in my opinion superb, and ties the whole character together perfectly, as well as explains his newfound moral stance. About the manga dropping the action, yea, I'd be lying if I didn't say I missed it sometimes. That goes to show how well made the first half of the manga is. I enjoyed the second half regardless, and I only felt it slowing down right before the final trip. The final arc was good, and also finished tying up all the rest of the cast. What I want to highlight the most is that Yukimura's writing skills are better showcased through this calmer, travel setting. I wish we got to see them travel all the way to Greece, but alas, my guess is that Yukimura didn't want to keep publishing this for another decade. Overall, the manga is a one of a kind. I greatly enjoyed it, and I think its way above most of the things I've read. The story is gripping enough that even if you started because of the action, you'll keep reading out of pure attachment and curiosity. Highly recommend for sure. 8.5 / 9-

'I want to be...a stronger person' A subtle quote, and quite surface level when read out of context. The ramifications of this quote though, would heavily impact not only my own personal life, but the fans of Vinland Saga for the foreseeable future to come. Vinland Saga is a viking tale, following alongside a true story (granted, some fictional spice) featuring Thorfinn Karlsefni and his journey to seek revenge. Similarly to the opening quote, the series has a much, MUCH greater depth to be explored than just those themes alone. Without diving heavily into spoilers, the arc directly after the prologue is my favourite arc in theentirety of fiction, closely followed by the closing arc of Vinland Saga itself. From my personal experience, Vinland Saga found me at a time where I was changing. My own personal demons were getting the better of me and I was unsure of how to continue in the future. A pathway led me to tackling the Vinland Saga anime again and from there, I've never looked back. If you're reading this and have the desire to become a better person, or even just tackle some of that inner filth that has plagued and disgusted you for so long - please give Vinland Saga a read. Depending on your preferences, you may find the prologue or just after the prologue a little slow, but if you're truly trying to change yourself, anybody can find something of worth from this masterpiece. Don't look at any spoilers and enjoy it at your own pace, there is no rush and the journey itself is the joy of this series. Upon finishing this series now, and writing this review alongside some self reflection and accountability, becoming a better, stronger person has always been a personal goal of mine. Making mistakes in the past does not and should not ever dictate the person you are today. We need to own those mistakes and move forward with grace and integrity in achieving a world of peace and harmony with not only ourselves, but those around us and nature itself. Travel the world of Vinland Saga, spread love where you can and find your own place that is- 'Somewhere not here'.

If you watched the first season of Vinland Saga, liked it. And watched the second seasond and didnt liked it. Dont start to the manga there is no gorgeous magnificent fights. It has much more meaning and philosophy in it. If youre young person who likes mangas/animes like solo leveling, bleach, kimetsu no yaiba etc. dont read or watch Vinland Saga. When you get older and feel like you can enjoy something other than shounens or romantic comedies, come back and read it. There is so much reviews that critizes characters and story I wont get into that. Its just peak of fiction dont missit(ofc if youre mature enough).

Vinland Saga starts off as a typical revenge seinen story that has good amounts of gore and violence. There are some very good characters, art and fight scenes that keep the reader glued to the pages but deep inside I knew “this can’t be it, this can’t be why the manga is rated so high”. I was right! The manga takes a complete turn in the second arc where our lead protagonist ‘Thorfin’ becomes a pacifist and wants to solve every conflict without violence. Basically a Norse Vash the Stampede. Honestly, in this era when there are multiple active wars happening that have taken holdof global conscience I really wanted Thorfin to prove that his ideals could work; I was really rooting for him all till the end. The manga can be divided into roughly four arcs. The revenge, the guilt, the redemption and the new beginning. I see a lot of reviewers here like the first arc more than the others because of its artistic portrayal of fictionalized Nordic history and warfare which draws parallels to the artistic portrayal in ‘Berserk’ or even ‘Vagabond’. I think that arc was decent enough with good characters like Askeladd, Thorkell and the others. My personal favorite part doesn’t start till the end of the second arc where Thorfin knows what to do now and starts his pacifist journey. Dealing with Half Dan, Joms Viking, Hild and the others were some of my favorite moments in the Journey. The art style of the manga was highly detailed and phenomenal and really stands as tall as the other highest rated Mangas on this site. The facial features, sceneries and fights were detailed and well drawn. Since the story is a romanticized version of real historical events. Thorfin’s journey comes to an abrupt halt at the end of the manga. I don’t mind how the final arc ended but I wish there were a few more chapters before the finale. I really wanted to know how Thorfin will return his debt back to Halfdan, what are his regrets and how he’ll spend his remaining life. Another very minor fact that kind of annoyed me was that there’s a great nihilistic scene where one of the Norse dude is dying in battle and everything is going black for him with the realization that there’s no Valhalla. Then they proceed to show a Native American commune with his deity and see humanity up till the 21st century with guns, nukes and industrialization. That kind of broke the world building for me. Overall, it was an utterly captivating story, especially the middle part. I really wish Thorfin found a way to make his pacifist ideals work, I really wanted to see them work not just for this fictional book but for the sake of the real world that we live in as well.

A beautiful story built on realism, utilizing real-world elements. Unlike most stories where you are dropped into a section or part of the protagonist's life, Vinland Saga takes you through the life of Thorfinn. Growing with him, feeling his pain, shrouded by his darkness. This is one of the most relatable pieces of fiction I have indulged in. Positively, it has made a difference in my life. As you tread through this story's waters, the more you understand the wickedness and beauty this world has to offer. Thorfinn, as a protagonist possessing incredible depth, conveys many themes and philosophies that force you to look withinyourself. And because of this, there is a certain turning point in the story that will differentiate those who comprehend this manga's theme and those who do not. Whether you have low or high expectations, throw them away. Your expectations simply will not be met. Exceeded was mine, for I proclaim this story as a masterpiece, the highest title. The first manga to make me cry, to feel a fictional character's pain on a page as my own. If you're interested in a story containing immeasurable depth, opposing it's assumed surface, then this manga may likely be for you.

Matthew 5:39, in a nutshell. With a narrative so masterfully gripping and an art style of such top tier quality, it feels almost unlawful for it to exist. Reading it made me realize that learning to let go is the first brick in rebuilding ourselves. Change is not merely inevitable but essential, and without it we risk staying stuck in a rut that keeps us devoid of meaningful growth. I believe that at the core of this process lies the ability to forgive, because every path toward renewal demands sacrifice. For sure that every trajectory toward renewal entails sacrifice often accompanied by lingering bitterness, butthrough the conscious act of letting go of resentment genuine transformation can take root. It becomes a necessary break, a clean cut to dismantle the corroded structures of conflict so something stronger can rise from the ashes.

You have no enemies. A sentence that Vinland Saga manga clearly conveys and, over the course of the entire work, reveals the true weight of this seemingly simple sentence. As readers, we follow Torfinn's entire journey with rapt attention, understanding his actions but knowing he is acting wrongly. We then witness the transformation of a murderer, embracing the opening sentence as the guiding principle of his life, not only to atone for his crimes but also to help others. This manga imparts so many positive values, is absolutely thrilling, and introduces you to so many characters you will fall in love with.

Vinland Saga is a work of art that depicts the true history of our world, from war to farming, love, children, violence and ambition. This manga series has a wide variety of themes and does it extremely well. First I'll start with the prologue, one of the greatest introductions to a series I've seen. It gets us hooked in the beginning by adding a cast of fun and interesting characters only to show the true reality of what's to come. Then, Thorfinn goes on his own journey of revenge and bloodlust only to learn what comes out at the end is nothing. From there Vinland Saga trulyshines, it has a massive genre switch and goes from a violent, bloody manga to one about growth, development, ideals, purpose and love. Thorfinn embarks on his new path of pacifism but it's a lot more complicated. He's forced into many situations and has to learn how to grow and never succumb to the vicious and bloody grasps of war. To me this is what Vinland Saga does extremely well, the truth of war. Many series have war or fighting in it but Vinland Saga doesn't only show just the fighting, they show the individual's reasonings and ambitions, they show the cross each warrior has to bear, it shows how war is not just a fight between people but a fight between you and yourself. After that comes the third part of Vinland Saga, from here on it's Thorfinn's final journey to build a village of peace and hope. While it is the slowest part this is also beautiful as well. It take real history and mixes fiction into it, the way they interact with the new people and try to strive for peace is amazingly done. The new characters and events that take place in this part are what really makes it good as it's different from what we know. Before it was all about fighting and war but now it's doing everything but that, to work towards living a life of non-violence and peace. Now, what's bad about Vinland Saga. Since the manga revolves around Thorfinn's journey many characters don't get enough time and are left to the reader's thoughts of their future. Another is that Vinland Saga goes down the average Seinen action path from a fighter to a peaceful man, it's not bad and was done very well but this has been done so many times that it's repetitive. Don't get me wrong, Thorfinn's growth was amazing but it was nothing crazy, this was many people's first Seinen so that might be why he is so popular but at the same time it's kind of generic. Finally the conclusion, it's basically an open ended one and I don't mind that for Thorfinn, however for every other character in his past just don't get any confirmation or mention. Personally, I would've liked a tiny message or something similar to Tomodachi game, not an entire chapter for them but a few panels. In conclusion, Vinland Saga is a really good Seinen, the main issue with it is that it's only that, it doesn't do much more but even if it's simple it's amazing because it does the simplicity really well.

I’ve been reading Vinland Saga for years. Reaching the end feels like saying goodbye to an old friend. Perhaps for many, the manga’s final journey (its last chapters) might not have been entirely satisfying. However, much like Thorfinn’s quest for peace, the principle of non-aggression may not necessarily end the way we would like. I’d say that, even though I don’t necessarily agree with the protagonist’s ideals, one thing is worth admiring: the power of mercy, compassion, and kindness is always a fascinating and enviable quality of the human race. Such attitudes shine with an intrinsic need for redemption that resonates in every human heart. Ithink this reminds me of how much these good human qualities are lacking nowadays—whether in online discussions or in daily social interactions. It seems that even good principles are turned into content creation rather than becoming a genuine impact and attitude in each individual. This leads me to think about how Christianity has addressed part of this understanding of the gap in human empathy, observable in our postmodern history (for me, at least). Anyway, I’m rambling. The manga is very good.

I've been reading Vinland Saga for like a loooong time. I first started it when I was in secondary school. The first half is enthralling. Violent, exciting, tragic and also somewhat philosophical. Thorfinn's complex relationship with Askeladd is a big part of what makes this first arc so compelling and interesting. It gives Thorfinn internal contradictions that make him rich with complexity and also, humanity. Of course, all of the first half culminated into a heart wrenching end where Thorfinn has to confront all the bloodshed and lives he had played his part to end. It's truly compelling storytelling. It explores the effects and traumaof violence from a personal perspective while still being entertaining and not overly preachy. The second half is where the story takes an interesting, but I think detrimental turn. I won't explicitly spoil things here, but Thorfinn overall becomes a less interesting character. Yes, he carries the trauma of violence and its burdens, but he also has achieved new clarity and purpose in his life. This removes the interesting contradictions of Thorfinn and severely limits the interesting decisions that he could make as a character. Once we have went past the farm setting (that opens the second half), readers would pretty much know what decisions Thorfinn would make to achieve his goals. To the author's credit, many times, this was done very well and drawn very beautifully. But it gets really quite monotonous past a certain point. The philosophy underlying the story has always been quite simple. It deals with the effects of violence from a personal and individual perspective. Of suffering. Trauma. How it fuels hatred in individuals and begets more violence. This is an important insight. But I think the problem with Vinland Saga is that it doesn't translate this individualistic experience very well onto a systemic or societal point of view. This is partly because Thorfinn's historical narrative is limited and the perspective he lenses the story gives it a rather optimistic but simplistic worldview of preventing violence at all costs. Not saying there's anything wrong with this perspective, but from a storytelling point of view, it prevents the story from building into more interesting thoughts and ideas. I think, overall, with the excitement and unpredictability of the first half gone, I did feel rather muted emotions when I somewhat knew what to expect from the series. This also flows to the inevitably simple ending that I think will disappoint readers wanting a bigger or more emotionally poignant conclusion. Still, Vinland Saga is undoubtedly an amazing series. The story is beautiful and the art is incredible and detailed. It's not flawless and has an issue where the first half is a more interesting read, but I think in years to come it will definitely be known as a classic.

Great manga, cuckold protagonist. Android 16 made the call back in the 90s; violence is acceptable against those who won't listen to reason. Don't get me wrong, I understood the message and plot points of each character, and that the author based it on real events from the beginning of European/Norse colonization in North America, but I still can't swallow that Thorffin gave up on vinland so easily. Einar was the goat until the end, without a doubt. With that i think my biggest issue with the story is the fact that even when you chose to not have enemies at all it dosent mean thatthe other side will just let you live in peace. I really think that Thorfinn could fight back with the ainu in a non lethal way and still stick to his point. Besides that the art its great, it has evolved since early chapters and peaked in the war of northen sea arc, i lked the sense of movement, the overhall battles and close fights and stuff. in terms of character design it has a sense of realims to it, nothing like crazy outfits and stravagant haircuts with some exceptions. 9/10

The ending is fine, consistent with the author's intentions and the message he always intended to convey, but objectively speaking, the ending is lacking. It was rushed, and they should have given some important characters closure and good dialogue. Another thing I find in the work is how much Canute was wasted. He was used to a certain extent, but after that, he simply disappeared. I feel like he was wasted. Besides, in fact, in the last few chapters, it felt like the author rushed the plot. Given what happened, I can't give the manga a 10/10, but it's still an excellent work; a 9 or 8 outof 10 is fine.

Now that Vinland Saga has concluded with Chapter 220, I can confidently say it’s one of the greatest manga I’ve ever read. What begins as a gritty revenge tale set in the violent world of Vikings evolves into a deeply human story about forgiveness, peace, and personal growth. Thorfinn’s character arc is among the best in manga, transforming from a rage-filled child soldier to a man devoted to building a land free of violence. Few stories handle themes like trauma, redemption, and nonviolence with this much maturity and sincerity. The supporting cast, especially Askeladd, Canute, and Einar, are all memorable and meaningful, each playing a vital rolein Thorfinn’s journey. Yukimura’s art steadily improves over the years, blending intense action with beautiful, emotional storytelling. The final chapter doesn’t go out with a bang, but with quiet resolution and hope, perfectly in line with the manga’s message. It’s a bold and peaceful ending to a story that dared to challenge the cycle of violence from beginning to end. If you’re looking for a manga that offers both thrilling historical drama and profound philosophical depth, Vinland Saga is a must-read. Score: 10/10