There are several aspects in which Vinland Saga sets itself apart from other series. It has especially to do with its compelling storyline. Makoto Yukimura’s story blends fiction and history perfectly. His intricate art and finesse are the cherry on top.
With more than 7 million copies sold worldwide, the series is a true bestseller. But that is not all. The series lives up to its title as a bestseller in most aspects. Especially the mangaka’s brilliant writing.
Yukimura san is praised for his fleshed-out characters. From Einar to Snake, the characters outline layers of complexities. This also applies to Thorfinn’s journey as well.
The mangaka opens up about the character’s philosophy in an interview. The way of life is intermingled with morals and ethics in the storyline.
Vinland Saga Mangaka had countermeasures for his fans
Vinland Saga is a riveting story of a young boy and his quest for vengeance. The series is remarkable in most aspects. But especially with the mangaka’s intensive research and process. Yukimura San traveled to Norway in 2003 for his research on Vikings.
That is not all, considering the historical accuracy of the series. The series is set in 1013 AD and outlines the war between Denmark and England. Amidst the war, the hero prepares for his vengeance against his father’s killer. And there’s more to it.
Yukimura’s series is laden with themes of war and violence. It is brilliant in its portrayal of loss and trauma. More often than not, the series is compared to its contemporary Attack on Titan. While both series are different, they have semblances.
This is especially true with the portrayal of a war-torn society. Both have morally grey characters. With Yukimura’s series, however, he gives his character redemption. The mangaka was quite cautious regarding his approach to the character.
In an interview with Anime Corner, the mangaka revealed his countermeasures for fans. He quoted:
I also don’t want to project that only Thorfinn’s way of life is the correct way of life. That would mean that I’m rejecting the other ways of life. That would also cause a divide. Other people should be able to pursue their life with their own beliefs.
The complexities and profundity of the characters are attributed to their layered personalities. The mangaka’s exploration of the moral conflicts ties these complexities together.
Thorfinn and the ever-present conflict of morality
People often parallels between Yukimura’s manga and Attack on Titan. There are, however, stark differences between both series. Apart from the semblances in art and storyline, both series differ in their moral conflicts.
Thorfinn is often labeled as an anti-hero. Choosing to do violence doesn’t exempt him from censure. Especially when it comes to his bystander attitude and apathy while witnessing violence. The same applies to Eren, however, it was his twisted notion of altruism. And there’s more to it.
Thorfinn’s redemption and lack of purpose tie well with his situation. From witnessing his father’s death to choosing violence, he is a morally grey character. He represents a moral conflict through his mere choices.
In his quest for vengeance, he turned ballistic. This is especially true with his killing of innocent civilians. Interestingly though, the path from vengeance to redemption blurs binaries. Rather than an anti-hero or anti-villain, he is a rather morally grey character.
All in all, Yukimura’s perspectives and ideas are pivotal in understanding characters. This is evident in his well-written storyline and layered characters. His thoughts outline a spectrum of ideologies that tie well with the themes in his manga.
Vinland Saga is available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
