Q&A with Antony Cummins: Vikings, Samurai and Ninja

Let’s be honest, as cool as VIKINGS vs SAMURAI is, the premise is ridiculous. C’mon, Vikings duking it out with samurai? That’s like asking who would win in a fight: The Hulk or Superman? To help suspend your disbelief so you’re along for the ride, I do a lot of research.

Right now, I’m knee-deep in two gems: Vikings at War by Kim Hjardar and Vegard Vike, and Samurai Arms, Armour & Tactics of Warfare by Antony Cummins, and these books are a treasure trove of information.

Antony, he’s a historian with a laser focus on Japanese warfare. He’s also the founder of the Historical Ninjutsu Research Team, a crew dedicated to translating and publishing old-school shinobi manuals in English. His work unearths the lost ninja arts, epic samurai sagas, and secrets buried for centuries.

So, I hit up Antony with burning questions: what would happen if Vikings faced off with samurai? And you know what he did? He didn’t just shoot back an email. The dude recorded his answers as a voice memo.

I’ll let you in on what he said, but first, let me walk you through what I asked him.

1. VIKINGS vs SAMURA takes place in the 13th century. What were there precursors to ninja at that time? Ninja weren’t a thing back then.
2. How would a katana hold up against a Viking sword?
3. What are some advantages and disadvantages a samurai would have fighting a Viking?
4. What would samurai’s strategies and tactics be fighting a Viking force?
5. The Vikings raid the island of Tsushima. Who would a samurai send amongst them to warn the mainland?

Thanks, Antony, for helping me out. You did me a solid.

If you want to keep up with Antony’s research, hit up his site at antonycummins.com. And don’t sleep on his YouTube channel; just punch in Samurai and Ninja History with Antony Cummins.

Mark your calendars. The next issue of VIKINGS vs SAMURAI drops Wednesday, May 22nd. It’s a yarn called “Ægir and Shōjō Hoist a Few,” penned by my pal, Paul Di Filippo. Sign up for our monthly newsletter and never miss a blood-soaked issue.

Some Books by Antony Cummins

1. The Ultimate Art of War: A Step-by-Step Illustrated Guide to Sun Tzu's Teachings (The Ultimate Series)
2. Samurai and Ninja: The Real Story Behind the Japanese Warrior Myth that Shatters the Bushido Mystique
3. Samurai Death Cult: The Dark Side of Bushido
4. The Book of Ninja: The Bansenshukai - Japan’s Premier Ninja Manual
5. The Lost Samurai School: Secrets of Mubyoshi Ryu