Manga Review: Attack on Titan, Volume 13, by Hajime Isayama

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: August 26, 2014

Volumes: 14+

Spoilers?: Minor.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 12. 14.

Goodreads Synopsis:

In this post-apocalyptic sci-fi story, humanity has been devastated by the bizarre, giant humanoids known as the Titans. Little is known about where they came from or why they are bent on consuming mankind. Seemingly unintelligent, they have roamed the world for years, killing everyone they see. For the past century, what's left of the human race has hidden in a giant, three-walled city. People believe their 100-metre-high walls will protect them from the Titans, but the sudden appearance of an immense Titan is about to change everything.

Review:

This volume actually had some humor in it. I was surprised by this, especially because this is a really serious series. Given all the murder and twists thrown at us, there isn’t much time for the characters to hang out and joke around. And while this volume didn’t slow anything down, there were a few moments where the characters joked around and teased each other. It was a nice, tiny, reprieve. Including seeing how Levi is anal about cleaning, which is just oddly funny to me.

For the first half, the characters are dealing with the fall-out of the previous volume’s titan fight. All of the characters talk a lot, about what they found out, revealing new matters. The titan problem is getting exciting, but the religious matter is also going somewhere surprising. We find out more about Krista/Historia, even if I think she’s supposed to know more about the titan’s than we’ve heard yet.

The group is trying to keep Eren and Krista safe, because everyone is after them. They’re also trying to figure out how Eren’s titan powers work. Then the plot goes in a different direction, pushing everything forward while also pushing the government issues in a new direction. This new taking-over-the-government thing is something I’d thought about, but not something that I was expecting to happen, especially not so soon. But I’m excited. It should be good, and it looks like it might push some other issues to happen soon, as well.

I’m really enjoying this series. It’s going to be a while till the next book comes out, but there are a lot of other Attack on Titan-related things being released before then, so it shouldn’t be too long of a wait.

Also, I wanted to mention that I just love the cover of this volume. This volume and the next one have a different vibe to them, and I just think they’re kind of gorgeous.