Like any literature, readers are always hooked on a good plot and how the writer made the story flow, from the beginning to the end. Makoto Yukimura’s Vinland Saga is one exceptional manga that shows the creator’s ingenuity. Working for 14 years, Makoto Yukimura has been able to capture the complexity of life, hopes, aspirations, and dreams of each character in his manga against the backdrop of continuing wars between kingdoms. It is about a quest for peace of a son, based on the dream of his late father.
The manga—and now, with an anime adaptation—Vinland Saga is an exciting combination of beautiful art and superb storytelling by the author, capturing the events—factual and fictional—in just one epic tale. All of this is through the effort of the author himself who traveled far and wide just to develop the plot and setting of the story. He said in one of his interviews, his fascination with the Vikings, their customs, and traditions led him to write this manga, which now has 26 volumes. The production itself, according to the author, has been complicated and quite difficult since his drawing technique costs him a lot of time to finish. He needs to work 18 hours to complete a page.
Rich, Complex, and Interesting Narrative
The anime adaptation of Vinland Saga was released on Netflix in 2019, interestingly, the story focuses not on Japan but on faraway Europe, where the Vikings lived. The setting is the year 1103 AD, when the country was conquered by Denmark under the reign of King Sweyn Forkbeard.
What makes this manga more interesting is that the author used the storytelling method called in medias res, which means “starting in the middle.” Makoto Yukimura painstakingly—yet, beautifully—crafted and sewn the whole story starting with the events that are transpiring right now, which is the impending duel between Askeladd and Thorfinn.
As the story continues, you will find the reason behind Thorfinn’s desire to kill Askeladd—and that is to avenge his father’s death. Askeladd killed Thorfinn several years before the latter became part of the former’s band of mercenaries. However, what makes the relationship between these two characters is that Thorfinn sees Askeladd as his mentor. However, because Askeladd killed Thorfinn’s father, Thors, he also sees him as an enemy, a villain in his personal story.
Meanwhile, another interesting thing about Vinland Saga is the relationship between Einar and Thorfinn, which, according to the author himself, is “too dark.” On the other hand, aside from the complex relationship between its characters, the whole story is based on real historical events involving real people and life situations. These historical facts were interwoven with works of fiction, thus, further enriching the narrative of this epic story.
One of the historical figures that Makoto Yukimura, who served as the basis of one of the characters in this manga, was Leif Erikson—a Norse explorer that lived between the years 970 and 1019-1025 AD.
As Makoto Yukimura explains it:
“The historical Leif Eiriksson is probably one of the most famous Norsemen. However, I could imagine that he would have had a very weak nature as a warrior. I had a strong image of an adventurer, so I fleshed it out from there.He's short and doesn't have a good physique, but he has a lively and lively wind. He is a person who seeks the unknown, so I feel that he was indispensable for the image.”
Furthermore, to accurately depict the life, culture, and tradition of the Vikings, Makoto Yukimura traveled to Norway and Scandinavia to do intensive research about these people, which the author finds difficult since he only knows little English and can’t speak Norwegian. He also went to England, Denmark, France, Iceland, and Canada. In Newfoundland, Canada, you will find the remains of the 11th-century Viking settlement.
But his hard work paid off since he has been able to capture in the story that portion of humankind’s colorful history through the pages of Vinland Saga. Meanwhile, another noticeable point about Viking Saga’s storytelling is that it focuses on the reality that villains and heroes are people, and they are living in a world of both hardships and opportunities.
Moreover, Makoto Yukimura has been able to depict the humanity of each character, no matter how the reader sees them—a friend or a foe, a hero or a villain. The encompassing nature of the story enables the readers to shift from one perspective to another without feeling lost or something—despite the story’s complexity.
Magnificent Works of Art That Complement the Story
Since Makoto Yukimura is also a master illustrator, the illustrations for Vinland Saga's manga are superb. While the pictures aren’t moving, they enable you to travel into the world of the characters. The pen-and-ink effect that Makoto Yukimura has used added to the dramatic effect of the already exciting plot. As one reviewer of the English translation of the work describes the artwork:
"A Viking setting is so ideal for a medium drawn in shades of black and white. Yukimura brings texture to the bleak and desolate landscapes of Scandinavia over and again in new and exciting ways.His backdrops are stunning, shifting between layers of intricate detail and a sparse, calming openness. This shift between the two also happens when the emotions of his plot’s events call for it."
With much fluidity when it comes to his illustrations, Makoto Yukimura has been able to capture not only the scenes but also the exact emotions of the characters—and the heaviness or lightness of the situation.
The Potential to Become A Contemporary Classic
The well-researched characters, places, customs, and traditions, the Vinland Saga will take you to the world of Vikings, which is also a world of people whose emotions, experiences, hope, despair, and dreams are intertwined.
Furthermore, the stories of the individual characters will also make you think about human nature, social relationships, and the roots of social conflicts. Since the manga also speaks deeply about morality and ethics, its philosophical undertones add to the story’s richness. With a great plot, interesting story, and great works of art, the Vinland Saga is one of the best manga you will enjoy reading, not to mention that it will soon become a contemporary classic.