Vinland Saga is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Makoto Yukimura, published by Kodansha. The series focuses on Thorfinn, a young viking who wishes to avenge his father, Thors, who was killed by his current superior, Askeladd. The manga began serialization in April 2005 in the shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Magazine. In December 2005, it moved to the monthly seinen manga magazine Monthly Afternoon. The first two volumes were initially released under the Shōnen Magazine Comics imprint, and then reissued under the Afternoon KC imprint after the manga's serialization switch. As of June 2023, the chapters have been collected in twenty-seven tankōbon volumes.
In North America, the series is licensed for English release by Kodansha USA.[1] It is being published in a two-in-one hardcover book edition and the first volume was released on October 14, 2013.[2] As of December 20, 2022, thirteen volumes have been released.
Volumes
No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English release date | English ISBN | |
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1 | July 15, 2005 (Shōnen Magazine Comics)[3] August 23, 2006 (Afternoon)[4] | 978-4-06-363559-1 (Afternoon KC) 978-4-06-314423-9 (Afternoon) | October 13, 2013[5] | 978-1-61262-420-4 | |
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In 1013 AD, the young warrior Thorfinn is in the raiding party of the Viking Askeladd, doing jobs for the man in exchange for a duel with him. However, Thorfinn is easily defeated by his superior when he loses his temper after being reminded of his late father Thors, a very strong but peaceful man who died at Askeladd's hands. As Thorfinn rests alone, he remembers his childhood in Iceland when he wished to become an adventurer like his acquaintance Leif Eriksson, who often talked about a peaceful land known as Vinland. One day, the Jomsvikings appear in Iceland led by Floki to recruit Thors for a war. | |||||
2 | November 17, 2005 (Shōnen Magazine Comics)[6] August 23, 2006 (Afternoon)[7] | 978-4-06-363580-5 (Afternoon KC) 978-4-06-314428-4 (Afternoon) | October 13, 2013[5] | 978-1-61262-420-4 | |
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Floki conspires with Askeladd to slaughter Thors and his crew once they arrive at the Faroe Islands, as punishment for deserting fifteen years earlier. When Thors and rookie soldiers leave Iceland, Thorfinn hides in their ship, aspiring to become a warrior like his father. Askeladd's forces eventually cross paths with Thors. The two leaders engage in a one-on-one fight, and although Thors wins the duel, he gives up his life in exchange for the protection of his people. Thorfinn becomes enraged upon seeing his father's death and swears revenge against Askeladd, sneaking aboard the man's ship among the chaos. | |||||
3 | October 23, 2006[8] | 978-4-06-314433-8 | January 21, 2014[9] | 978-1-61262-421-1 | |
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For the twelve years of his life following Thors's death, Thorfinn spends his life raiding alongside Askeladd's group who are siding with King Sweyn. While he succeeds in his goals, he cannot defeat Askeladd in a duel and is forced to retreat from a fight against Thorkell, who has sided with the English. Though unable to defeat Thorkell during the siege of London, the Danes decide to attack him again when they learn that he has kindapped Sweyn's son, Prince Canute. Askeladd decides to enter the fight as a third party. Meanwhile, in Iceland, Thors's wife and daughter mourn his death and Thorfinn's disappearance. | |||||
4 | February 23, 2007[10] | 978-4-06-314440-6 | January 21, 2014[9] | 978-1-61262-421-1 | |
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Thorfinn and Askeladd manage to trick Thorkell's forces and save Canute alongside his servant Ragnar. Thorkell is curious about Thorfinn's ancestry, having fought alongside Thors in the past. In escaping from Thorkell, Askeladd's forces move to Wales. Privately with the Welsh commanders, Askeladd reveals himself as half-Welsh; the son of a high-ranking Viking, Olaf, and a Welsh woman with claimed ancestral ties to the legendary hero Artorius. As they move, Askeladd's Vikings commit mass murder to obtain food in a town. | |||||
5 | October 23, 2007[11] | 978-4-06-314473-4 | April 29, 2014[12] | 978-1-61262-422-8 | |
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Askeladd kills Ragnar to awaken a more independent Canute. Meanwhile, Thorkell's forces drive Askeladd into a corner, leading to Askeladd's men rising up in a mutiny and Askeladd being forced to fight effectively alone. Fearing Askeladd will be killed by his foes, Thorfinn goes back to the battlefield, aiming to defeat Thorkell in order to prevent the outcome of Askeladd being killed by someone else. Thorkell happily agrees to fight Thorfinn. | |||||
6 | June 23, 2008[13] | 978-4-06-314510-6 | April 29, 2014[12] | 978-1-61262-422-8 | |
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As Canute mourns Ragnar's death, he has a sharp reversal of personality, becomes strong and kingly, and develops an ambition to create utopia on Earth before God's return. He decides to stop the fights, with Bjorn being wounded in the process. Meanwhile, Thorfinn is stopped from fighting by Askeladd who instructs him to follow his orders to defeat Thorkell who is revealed to be related to Thor's, making them family. In the eventual fight, Thorfinn takes one of Thorkell's eyes but is attacked by his underlings before he can finish him. An enraged Thorkell accepts his defeat and decides to join Canute's quest to kill King Sweyn upon testing his new resolve. | |||||
7 | February 23, 2009[14] | 978-4-06-314544-1 | July 29, 2014[15] | 978-1-61262-423-5 | |
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Following Canute's return to his homeland, Askeladd plots the assassination of the King so that Canute will command the country. In the meantime, most of Askeladd's soldiers abandon him with the exception of Bjorn who is killed by him. Frustrated by Bjorn's confession of hoping to be his friend, Askeladd beats Thorfinn in a duel as he remembers how he committed patricide against Olaf for abandoning his mother. Shortly afterwards, a man tries to kill Canute, but, as he fails, Thorfinn meets Leif again who wants him to return to Iceland. | |||||
8 | September 23, 2009[16] | 978-4-06-314581-6 | July 29, 2014[15] | 978-1-61262-423-5 | |
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King Sweyn angers Askeladd in a meeting, having deduced his conspiracy, and plays with him by threatening to attack his homeland. Askeladd fakes madness and kills Sweyn so that Canute will kill him. As Thorfinn is alerted by this chaos, he reaches the scene as Canute kills Askeladd. Thorfinn is shocked to see Askeladd dying and tries to kill Canute, only to be interrupted by Thorkell. A year passes and a slave named Einar is sold to a farm owned by Ketil where a silent Thorfinn works and becomes attached to it upon seeing a beautiful slave named Arnheid. | |||||
9 | June 23, 2010[17] | 978-4-06-310672-5 | October 7, 2014[18] | 978-1-61262-424-2 | |
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Kethil's son Olmar wishes to become a warriors and the mercenaries decide to help by testing his weapon against the Thorfinn and Einar. Einar tries to stop them but Thorfinn allows them to be the target as he has no desire to live. The other mercenary Snake stops them before Thorfinn's death and tests him in combat to make him realize he wants to live. Einar becomes disturbed when learning that Thorfinn is a former Viking and tries to cheer him up even if he is still a slave. Meanwhile, a corrupted Canute uses violence to become the King of England. As Thorfinn and Einar keep working, they meet Kethil's father Sverker who gives lends them a horse in exchange of helping him with his farm. | |||||
10 | April 22, 2011[19] | 978-4-06-310736-4 | October 7, 2014[18] | 978-1-61262-424-2 | |
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Thorfinn and Einar become friends as they work together with the latter still feeling attracted to Arnheid. Arnheid is revealed to be Ketil's personal slave with the man having the reputation of feared veteran only to reveal to her his cowardice and his fears of being killed by Thorgil. As time passes, Einar learns that Thorfinn constantly suffers nightmares about his father and Askeladd, which leads to his sense of emptiness now that Askeladd is death and has no idea what to do after the violence he caused alongside him. When guards ruin their work, an enraged Einar tries to kill them only to be interrupted by Thorfinn's punch against them. In the aftermath, Einar forces them to escape while a wounded Thorfinn has another nightmare where he sees all his former partners in Valhalla. Upon seeing his own victims, Thorfinn is told by Askeladd to become a true warrior, which leads to his awakening and oath that he will never harm anybody again. | |||||
11 | January 23, 2012[20] | 978-4-06-387801-1 | September 29, 2015[21] | 978-1-61262-803-5 | |
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Canute poisons his brother King Harald to take over Denmark following his death which causes him to suffer hallucinations in the form of his father's severed head that taunts him. With Denmark under Canute's control, the King talks with Ketil in regard to the values of his farm which Harald valued. Accompanying his father, Olmar requests to join Canute's army but fails in a test and is humiliated. The embarrassment causes him to face Canute's servants. Thorgil takes advantage of the situation to kill the soldiers following Olmar's first victory. A shocked Ketil escapes to his farm with his children in Leif's ship as the latter discovers Thorfinn on their farm. Canute decides to take this situation to take over Denmark's farm by force. | |||||
12 | November 22, 2012[22] | 978-4-06-387850-9 | September 29, 2015[21] | 978-1-61262-803-5 | |
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In the farm, Thorfinn and Einar discuss what to do once they are free as they have nearly finished taking the forest down that Ketil requested. Meanwhile, Sverker's health deteriorates which causes Arnheid to make him a meal with Snake and the two slaves. The farm is then invaded by Arnheid's missing husband Gardar who escaped from his own slavery and killed mercenaries to escape with her wife. Snake manages to defeat Snake and lock him. With Arnheid wanting to free her husband, Thorfinn, Einar and Sverker aid him into tricking Snake that he escaped but he confuses him for Einar. Thorfinn uses the distraction to help Arnheid and Gardar to escape but is eventually forced to use violence to face the mercenary. Equally matched, Snake deals a fatal wound in Gardar instead. Despite his condition, Gardar tries to kill Snake and escapes with his wife only to die on the way as he remembers their son. | |||||
13 | July 23, 2013[23] | 978-4-06-387909-4 | December 29, 2015[24] | 978-1-63236-009-0 | |
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Leif's group reaches the farm where a broke down Ketil starts torturing Arnheid for trying to abandon him. As Snake calms Ketil, Canute's forces reach the area too in order to claim it by force. Leif takes Thorfinn, Einar and the wounded Arnheid with him to go back to Iceland but Arnheid deteriorates after Thorfinn tries to comfort her. In the aftermath, a emotionally destroyed Einar is motivated by Thorfinn's desire to form a peaceful area in Vinland in memory of the woman he loved. | |||||
14 | February 21, 2014[25] | 978-4-06-387956-8 | December 29, 2015[24] | 978-1-63236-009-0 | |
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Thorfinn is unable to escape as he feels in debt to the farm for taking care of him after he stopped being a fighter. He then interrupts the war between Canute's and Thorgil's forces. He begs Canute's soldiers to have a meeting with the King to end the war and accepts receiving a hundred punches in exchange for such request. As Thorfinn takes several punches, the soldiers begin and Einar find this sacrifice ridiculous but Thorfinn is able to make peace with the army. Canute then appears and tells his former bodyguard. Thorfinn realizes that he cannot convince Canute to alter his path, and states that he will travel far away from the reach of the king. Canute is bemused, but he accepts Thorfinn's choice, he alters his plan to forcefully seize farms. In the aftermath, Olmar takes inherits the farm, while Leif takes Thorfinn and Einar to Iceland where the former Viking meets his sister and mother after several years. | |||||
15 | October 23, 2014[26] | 978-4-06-387999-5 | December 27, 2016[27] | 978-1-63236-372-5 | |
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16 | June 23, 2015[28] | 978-4-06-388062-5 | December 27, 2016[27] | 978-1-63236-372-5 | |
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17 | January 22, 2016[29] | 978-4-06-388109-7 | June 27, 2017[30] | 978-1-63236-445-6 | |
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18 | August 23, 2016[31] | 978-4-06-388170-7 | June 27, 2017[30] | 978-1-63236-445-6 | |
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19 | April 21, 2017[32] | 978-4-06-388251-3 | June 5, 2018[33] | 978-1-63236-630-6 | |
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20 | November 22, 2017[34] | 978-4-06-510362-3 | June 5, 2018[33] | 978-1-63236-630-6 | |
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21 | August 23, 2018[35] | 978-4-06-512433-8 | November 19, 2019[36] | 978-1-63236-803-4 | |
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22 | June 21, 2019[37] | 978-4-06-515180-8 | November 19, 2019[36] | 978-1-63236-803-4 | |
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23 | November 22, 2019[38] | 978-4-06-517507-1 | December 14, 2021[39] | 978-1-64651-077-1 | |
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24 | October 23, 2020[40] | 978-4-06-521004-8 | December 14, 2021[39] | 978-1-64651-077-1 | |
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25 | July 21, 2021[41] | 978-4-06-523605-5 | December 20, 2022[42] | 978-1-64651-301-7 | |
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26 | May 23, 2022[43] | 978-4-06-527928-1 | December 20, 2022[42] | 978-1-64651-301-7 | |
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27 | June 22, 2023[44] | 978-4-06-531910-9 | — | — | |
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Chapters not yet in tankōbon format
These chapters have yet to be published in a tankōbon volume:
- 202. "Thousand Year Voyage Part 11" (千年航路⑪, Sennen Kōro (11))
- 203. "Thousand Year Voyage Part 12" (千年航路⑫, Sennen Kōro (12))
- 204. "Thousand Year Voyage Part 13" (千年航路⑬, Sennen Kōro (13))
- 205. "Thousand Year Voyage Part 14" (千年航路⑭, Sennen Kōro (14))
- 206. "Thousand Year Voyage Part 15" (千年航路⑮, Sennen Kōro (15))
- 207. "Thousand Year Voyage Part 16" (千年航路⑯, Sennen Kōro (16))
Notes
- ↑ In the Japanese release, the titles of the "Fettered Tern" chapters feature the word kurīa (クリーア) in parentheses after the main part of the title. This is a rendering of kría, the Icelandic word for the Arctic tern.
References
- ↑ Loo, Egan (October 13, 2012). "Kodansha USA Adds Vinland Saga, Sankarea, No. 6, Tokyo Mew Mew A la Mode". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on November 16, 2012. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
- ↑ Loveridge, Lynzee (February 6, 2013). "Kodansha USA Adds Unreleased Yukimura Story to Vinland Saga". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 12, 2013. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
- ↑ ヴィンランド・サガ(1) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
- ↑ ヴィンランド・サガ(1) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
- 1 2 "Vinland Saga 1". Kodansha USA. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
- ↑ ヴィンランド・サガ(2) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
- ↑ ヴィンランド・サガ(2) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
- ↑ ヴィンランド・サガ(3) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
- 1 2 "Vinland Saga 2". Kodansha USA. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
- ↑ ヴィンランド・サガ(4) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
- ↑ ヴィンランド・サガ(5) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
- 1 2 "Vinland Saga 3". Kodansha USA. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
- ↑ ヴィンランド・サガ(6) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
- ↑ ヴィンランド・サガ(7) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
- 1 2 "Vinland Saga 4". Kodansha USA. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
- ↑ ヴィンランド・サガ(8) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
- ↑ ヴィンランド・サガ(9) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
- 1 2 "Vinland Saga 5". Kodansha USA. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
- ↑ ヴィンランド・サガ(10) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
- ↑ ヴィンランド・サガ(11) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
- 1 2 "Vinland Saga 6". Kodansha USA. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
- ↑ ヴィンランド・サガ(12) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
- ↑ ヴィンランド・サガ(13) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
- 1 2 "Vinland Saga 7". Kodansha USA. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
- ↑ ヴィンランド・サガ(14) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
- ↑ ヴィンランド・サガ(15) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
- 1 2 "Vinland Saga 8". Kodansha USA. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
- ↑ ヴィンランド・サガ(16) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
- ↑ ヴィンランド・サガ(17) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
- 1 2 "Vinland Saga 9". Kodansha USA. Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
- ↑ ヴィンランド・サガ(18) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
- ↑ ヴィンランド・サガ(19) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
- 1 2 "Vinland Saga 10". Kodansha USA. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
- ↑ ヴィンランド・サガ(20) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on December 4, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
- ↑ ヴィンランド・サガ(21) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on October 27, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
- 1 2 "Vinland Saga 11". Kodansha USA. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
- ↑ ヴィンランド・サガ(22) (in Japanese). Kodansha.
- ↑ ヴィンランド・サガ(23) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on December 18, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
- 1 2 "Vinland Saga 12". Kodansha USA. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- ↑ ヴィンランド・サガ(24) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on October 13, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
- ↑ ヴィンランド・サガ(25) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
- 1 2 "Vinland Saga 13". Kodansha USA. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
- ↑ ヴィンランド・サガ(26) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on June 1, 2022. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
- ↑ ヴィンランド・サガ(27) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on June 22, 2023. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
External links
- Vinland Saga official manga website at Monthly Afternoon (in Japanese)