Makoto Yukimura, the creator of the popular manga series Vinland Saga, recently posted some disappointing news for fans. On December 20th, he announced via Twitter that the release of Chapter 208 would be postponed until January 2024.
Yukimura explained that both he and his family have fallen ill with severe colds, which has prevented him from completing the next chapter as originally planned. He shared that his eldest son had developed a worryingly high fever, reaching 39°C (102°F). While thankfully not COVID-19 or influenza, the illness has still left the family feeling quite unwell.
As a result, Chapter 208, which was supposed to be released on December 25th as a holiday gift for fans, has had to be canceled and delayed by two months.
Yukimura offered his sincere apologies, recognizing fans were eager to read more about the unfolding story around Cordelia. He committed to using the additional time to recuperate so he could deliver the next installment.
The news comes as a letdown for avid readers who will have to patiently wait until the New Year. Still, most fans responded with understanding and wished the Yukimura family a full recovery.
No New Vinland Saga Chapter This Month
Makoto Yukimura, the esteemed manga artist behind the critically acclaimed series Vinland Saga, recently shared some unfortunate news with his dedicated readership.
He posted a detailed message via his Twitter account on December 20th, apologizing that the highly anticipated next chapter of Vinland Saga would not be released as originally planned on December 25th.
Yukimura explained that both he and several family members had suddenly fallen seriously ill with what was eventually diagnosed by doctors to be a severe cold and not the flu or COVID-19 as initially feared.
He disclosed that his eldest son had developed an alarmingly high fever, reaching 102°F (39°C), which left Yukimura thinking, “That’s ridiculous!” even though the cause was determined to be viral rather than bacterial.
While the family is now recovering, Yukimura realized he urgently needs to prioritize his health and take better care of himself.
As a result, the next chapter is postponed until January 2024, meaning an excruciating two-month wait for eager fans who are following the dramatic story arc surrounding Thorkell’s daughter, Cordelia.
Yukimura sincerely apologized for the inconvenience and disappointment, expressing his deep appreciation and sensitivity towards his loyal readers’ anticipation.
He promised to utilize the additional time wisely in order to deliver the next breathtaking installment in Cordelia’s fate.
The announcement serves as an important reminder that even world-class manga artists are human too and are vulnerable to falling ill despite strict deadlines and intense fan expectations.
Most fans responded compassionately, conveying understanding along with thoughtful well-wishes for the Yukimura family’s full recovery.
Makoto Yukimura’s Health Scare
Makoto Yukimura’s epic historical fiction manga, Vinland Saga, has garnered widespread acclaim since its 2005 debut in Weekly Shonen Magazine before shifting to Monthly Afternoon.
As of mid-2023, Vinland Saga’s complex storyline spanning over 27 volumes has amassed a passionate global readership eager to follow the brooding antihero Thorfinn’s quest for redemption.
On the heels of Vinland Saga’s long-awaited anime adaptation premiering its second season in January 2023, Yukimura aimed to celebrate the holidays by releasing the next highly dramatic installment of his manga on December 25th.
However, the overworked artist revealed via Twitter that both he and his family had suddenly fallen severely ill with flu-like viruses.
While thankfully testing negative for COVID-19 or influenza, Yukimura’s eldest son spiked a dangerously high 102°F fever.
This health scare served as a wake-up call about the 52-year-old manga author’s need to take better self-care to sustain his grueling creative efforts. Hence, Chapter 208’s publication is postponed for 2 months until January 2024.
Yukimura issued heartfelt apologies to his patient fanbase, who will anxiously have to wait to learn more about the perilous fate of Thorkell’s daughter, Cordelia.
Most empathetic fans offered encouragement for the Yukimura family’s full recovery with adapted expectations for any manga delays.
Just as Vinland Saga highlights the all-too-human struggles of its characters, readers thoughtfully acknowledge the wellness limitations of even acclaimed artists like Yukimura.
About Vinland Sage
The epic saga of Thorfinn’s quest for redemption across the merciless world of the Vikings springs from the creative mind of mangaka Makoto Yukimura.
Vinland Saga chronicles Thorfinn’s dramatic transformation from an innocent child to a hardened warrior, fueled by a burning desire to avenge his family’s murder at the hands of the notorious band led by Askeladd.
As a boy enraptured by tales of the fabled westward land known as Vinland from the explorer Leif Ericson, Thorfinn nurtured dreams of a peaceful utopia free of violence and bondage.
But his idyllic childhood was shattered when Askeladd’s mercenary gang ransacked his village and executed his father, staining the young Thorfinn’s worldview with tragedy.
