I had Vinland Saga on my list of mangas to watch for a long time, because I had heard that it was a cult work, being part of a very select group that it shares with others like Berserk, Vagabond, or Kingdom. The question is: Is Vinland Saga on par with these other great cult mangas?
Before answering this question (with spoilers), in case you have arrived here when you are thinking about whether or not to read this manga, I leave you a couple of reasons in favor, and some others against so that you can decide for yourself whether to start reading a great manga like Vinland Saga.
Post content:
Should you watch Vinland Saga?
Reasons to watch Vinland Saga:
- It has a frenetic start with a very interesting story.
- Their characters are unique; built in a very natural and human way.
- Two of the most memorable antagonists in seinen manga.
- It is a manga made to reflect. It has a good dose of philosophy and humanism.
- Your drawing is incredible. On par with Vagabond or Berserk.
- You will learn about history (it is based on the war between England and Denmark around the year 1000).
Reasons NOT to watch Vinland Saga:
- Despite its frenetic beginning, it is a very calm manga, made for reflection. Something that not everyone enjoys.
- It also has a lot of dialogue and a very natural evolution of the story. Not every chapter has to have something relevant happen; which can be negative for retaining readers who seek to read only epic moments or action.
Vinland Saga, the best cult manga?
At the beginning of the post we asked ourselves if Vinland Saga is on par with other great cult mangas such as Berserk, Kingdom or Vagabond.
My answer is a resounding YES. I would even say that is a few centimeters above Vagabond, and a millimeter above Berserk. I haven't read Kingdom yet :)
*Spoilers for Vinland and Vagabond.
Vinland Saga – Comparison to Vagabond and Berserk
The thing is, Vinland Saga bears a striking resemblance to Vagabond. Both mangas begin in a frantic manner and with a bloodthirsty protagonist, and little by little this protagonist evolves and grows, realizing that he has been on the wrong path all his life.
After this turning point, both protagonists embark on a path of redemption, reflecting a lot on their actions and finding an answer that fulfills their adult lives much more.
In this sense, I think Vinland Saga focuses the story much better than Vagabond. The development of Vinland seemed completely natural to me, and something that has fascinated me the most is that it seems that the writer of Vinland Saga was improvising and discovering new things with each chapter, and growing together with the protagonist and the viewer. That's how natural the growth of Thornfinn, our protagonist, seemed to me.
On the other hand, the story of Vagabond is very noticeable where it is going to lead from the first moment. It is built from the beginning to end with the protagonist's redemption, and each element of the reading seems to be there because the script needs it.
Don't get me wrong: Vagabond is amazing at telling you this story. It is very well built and transmits an exceptional philosophy, which is the point on which the author wanted to focus. On the other hand, reading Vinland Saga you get the same feeling and you have a somewhat more unexpected and casual story.
Regarding Berserk, it is not too similar, and perhaps I enjoyed reading Berserk a little more. However The taste that Vinland leaves in your mouth after reading it is far superior to that of Berserk.. They are different works: one is enjoyed for its story, and the other for the reflections it leaves.
Because of who I am, I value slightly more the fact of transmitting and making people reflect beyond reading each chapter, which is why Vinland seems superior to me. Although as I said, they are not really comparable.
Three excellent vignettes from Vinland Saga:
"All these battles... and none of them have made any difference..."
Said a soldier when reflecting on the existence of Valhalla and the importance of the battles it has fought until that day.
In the end, violence is a loop without end or purpose. When you win a war, only another war awaits you.
«Life has stolen more from him than death ever will. For her, death was not something terrifying, but rather her salvation.
It is the reflection that our protagonist reaches when witnessing the death of a girl who loses her home, her husband, her son and her fetus due to the wars waged by man.
He tries to console her on her deathbed and give her some reason to remain conscious, but he finds none, and is unable to speak. In the end the girl ends up dying and he understands that there was no point in encouraging her to stay alive. Sometimes dying is less painful than facing reality.
"I dont have enemies"
"No one in the world is your enemy" and "A true warrior does not need a sword" are the two pillar phrases on which the entire work is articulated.
It is easier to make enemies than to stop to think and understand the circumstances of others, in the same way that it is easier to face and resolve a conflict by force and imposing your reality than by using empathy and reaching an agreement.
Going the easy way is what anyone can do. Vinland is about the opposite perspective: the difficult path is the only one that can truly make someone truly happy.
Vinland Recommendation – The best cult manga I've ever read
Without a doubt, I recommend reading Vinland Saga to anyone who likes a story with a very human character, capable of leaving great reflections after reading each chapter. If in your case you prefer a manga with a lot of action, or a faster development, perhaps Vinland is not your read.
Either way, leave a comment about your opinion of Vinland Saga, and whether or not you recommend it to the rest of the people who read your comment.
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