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Vinland Saga Omnibus, Vol. 11

by Makoto Yukimura

bookshelves: currently-reading

Reading for the 3rd time

read in January 2020

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Alex said:

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" This book is jam packed with the art, story, themes, and character development that make Vinland Saga one of the best, if not THE best manga I've ever read.

As always, the art is extraordinary. In particular the framing of violence and carnage is jus This book is jam packed with the art, story, themes, and character development that make Vinland Saga one of the best, if not THE best manga I've ever read.

As always, the art is extraordinary. In particular the framing of violence and carnage is just so exciting and visceral to read. There is a tremendous short 10 page chapter of a nameless soldier's death and realization that there is no afterlife, no Valhalla he had been promised. This chapter is beautifully drawn, with incredible use of black negative space, and wonderfully written. It is juxtaposed against the following chapter where Thorkell violently tears apart enemies, in complete ecstasy of battle.

These are the sort of literary devices and plotting that put Vinland Saga beyond the realm of just a fun action manga (which it is) and into the realm of artistic, thematic, and intelligent historical fiction (which it also is).

This book expands on Garm and makes him a more fully realized and interesting character. It gives extra dimension to Thorkell and provides him tons of fun and exciting things to do. Gudrid and Sigurd have tremendous moments that feel dramatic and yet true to their characters.

It makes Thorfinn face his decision of pacifism in increasingly difficult and exhausting scenarios - he even fully admits that his decision is difficult and exhausting. This doesn't seem like much, but in the context of action manga tropes - this is such a refreshing and realistic approach to the subject matter.

The deep themes, complex ideas, and the matured, intelligent characters mix in with the fast-paced action, exciting plotting, and clean, readable art to make one of the best books of Vinland Saga yet. The War in the Baltic arc now stands next to the Prologue Arc as the best in Vinland Saga's story, which means it stands tall as one of the best arcs in all of action manga.

----- Re read to remember before moving onto the newest volume. Everything I said above still stands. I cant believe it's been 2 years since I've read any Vinland Saga. Volume 11 is great. ...more "

Jul 14, 2026 07:21PM · see review