Awesome Vikings

Mention the word “Vikings” and it conjures up images of burly warriors with horned helmets, laying waste to all who stood in their way. But as Justin from Mental Floss explains, most modern conceptions about these feared Norsemen are totally wrong.

This unique beard comb from Ukraine shop Wikked Knot helps modern-day Vikings keep their grooming in check. The handmade bronze comb looks like a miniature Viking ship, decorated with sigils of the tiny Norsemen we imagine rowing this thing through your thick facial hair. It’s a bit small, measuring just 2-3/4″ long.

(Spoilers) This pre-battle scene from a Vikings episode in the final half of season six gives away the big secret from the mid-season finale’s cliffhanger. It involves Ivan the Boneless, his brother Hvitserk, Oleg of Novgorod, and his nephew… and the identity of a mysterious horseman. Vikings’ final season ends this fall on The History Channel.

While it’s surely not as brutal as a real Viking brawl, we’re glad we’re only virtually attending Poland’s Wolin Viking Festival rather than being in the middle of its 600 hardcore participants. NatGeo’s brief documentary gives us a look inside the world of these dedicated reenactors.

So this is “how the way to fight.” Forget all that Hollywood crap. Kelle Longbow proves that our spastic sword technique is not all that different from what Vikings actually did to earn a place in Valhalla.

Take Predator and Critters and throw in some Viking warriors and you’ve either got the bomb of the summer or an insanely cool sci-fi flick; either way, the Outlander trailer above rocks.