Manga Review: Attack on Titan: Before the Fall, Volume 8, by Satoshi Shiki, Ryo Suzukaze, Hajime Isayama, and Thores Shibamoto

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: August 2016

Volumes: 11+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 7. 9.

Goodreads Synopsis:

WAITING IN THE DARK

Kuklo heads to Shiganshina District to test the new model of the Device, while Sharle anxiously awaits his return at Xenophon's workshop. But long after Kuklo’s expected date of return, there is still no sign of him… Meanwhile, an anti-government group carries out a plan in the Industrial City, where Sharle works. Little do they know, Xavi has infiltrated the mission on orders from above.

Review:

A lot of this volume is taken up by the underground movement, as they're planning an attack and to overtake the government. Xavi is a clear part in this, but he's also working behind the scenes to get to Sharle.

I will admit that I'm not a fan of Xavi, and I don't trust him. But I do like that he's worried for Sharle, and he had plans to get her to safety before everything blew up when he didn't have all of the information. And when things blow up, he doesn't even bother with formalities and his promised part in the scheme, he goes straight to find her. It makes me more confused about his intentions.

It's the same with Kuklo, of course. As soon as he finds out, he goes on a mission to get back to her.

I do enjoy this series. It's has it's ups and downs, and goes back and forth with each volume. But I'm enjoying it for the most part.

Manga Review: Attack on Titan: Before the Fall, Volume 7, by Satoshi Shiki, Ryo Suzukaze, Hajime Isayama, and Thores Shibamoto

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: April 2016

Volumes: 10+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 6. 8.

Goodreads Synopsis:

TURNING ON THEIR OWN
The Survey Corps sets a cunning trap to capture the mysterious Abnormal Titan that broke through their ranks. As Arwin tries to determine the grotesque creature’s identity and purpose, scouts report Titans closing in on all sides! But they don’t seem to be after the humans – instead they’re targeting the Titan!

Review:

Kuklo and Sharle and the group are getting along mostly fine in their little corner. Kuklo is learning everything he can about the vertical maneuvering equipment, and they go on their first titan expedition to use it and fight. It goes probably how you'd think it would.

Meanwhile, Xavi is getting along in the ranks. Slowly, in the background, he's working toward finding Kuklo and Sharle. He has a vendetta and he's not letting go of it any time soon.

I really like the artwork in this series, and I really like the main characters. I don't care for Xavi, he's a typical jerk villain. But I'm a fan of Sharle, and I really like her relationship with Kuklo. It's my favorite part of this series. I also like the glimpses of development we see in Kuklo's character. But this series does get quite boring at times. The heavy storyline, all the time spent on explaining backstory or mechanics. It can be very boring.

I'm still reading. I like it, but I don't love it.

Manga Review: Attack on Titan, Volume 19, by Hajime Isayama

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: August 2016

Volumes: 20+

Spoilers?: Light.

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

Volume: 1. 18. 20.

Goodreads Synopsis:

CAGE MATCH
The Survey Corps is engaged in a desperate, final battle to retake Wall Maria and defeat the Titans once and for all. Eren must use his new powers to seal the holes created five years ago in the Shiganshina District gates, not to mention to finally reach the basement of his old home and find what secrets lie hidden there. But the most difficult part of the operation will be surviving whatever clever traps the Colossus Titan, Armored Titan, and Beast Titan have prepared for them! Now that Erwin is gambling with every last human life, who will triumph?

Review:

The group meets up with the rebels in this volume, the human titans who are fighting the humans. Eren fights with the armored titan for a while.

It's mainly when Armin attempts to talk to Bertolt that we get some kind of understanding what their goal is. It still doesn't make much sense, though. Bertolt claims that everyone inside the walls needs to die—they just do. He's decided this. Even when Armin tries talking sense, or just understand what his reasons are, he doesn't give much else. It's an interesting conversation to see play out, though.

And then the volume ends with a large blast in the middle of town, as he changes into a titan. It might have killed a lot of people, though.

The long time between each volume makes the enthusiasm lessen, and gives me more time to forget what's happening in the series, sadly.

Still, the next volume is always on my list.

Wishlist Thursday[166]: Attack on Titan: Lost Girls (manga) 1 by Hajime Isayama

Cover Not Final?

Attack on Titan: Lost Girls (manga) 1 by Hajime Isayama

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: July 12, 2016

Volumes: 2.

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

Add on Goodreads

B&N  Synopsis:

WHAT NO ONE KNEW…
That day, Annie Leonhart woke up in the barracks. It was the morning of her day off. The feeling of freedom doesn’t last long, for tomorrow holds her biggest mission yet: During the 57th Expedition Outside the Walls, seize Eren Yaeger.

The manga based on the Attack on Titan spin-off novel, Lost Girls!

Why?:

Mikasa has always been one of my favorites in this series, so of course I’m excited to read the manga focusing on her, and the other girls. We haven’t gotten much of an idea on where Annie is from, and I’m interested to read more on that. This is definitely a spin-off I will be picking up.

There's also the novel, released on June 28 from Vertical, but I'm a little iffy on the novels. If i enjoy this enough and want more, I might pick it up, too, though.

(I think this is being released on July 12? It's possible it was pushed back to August 23, though. I'm getting mixed messages.)

What’s on your list?

Manga Review: Attack on Titan: Before the Fall, Volume 6, by Satoshi Shiki, Ryo Suzukaze, Hajime Isayama, Thores Shibamoto

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: December 2015

Volumes: 8+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 5. 7.

Goodreads Synopsis:

ON THE SHOULDERS OF TITANS
Fifteen years ago, humanity led a last-ditch attempt to discover the Titans' weakness – a survey expedition to capture one of the beasts. But the ten-meter Titan who appeared during the capture attempt threw the expedition into chaos. Among those who escaped behind Wall Maria was the genius craftsman Angel, a weapon-developer who was participating in the expedition as a researcher. What would he conjure up from this failure?

Review:

The first half of the volume continues the history lesson, showing us the first real titan death, and the weapon used for it. From there, it pushes the group to continue learning and practicing, and figuring out how to use the weapons and the maneuvering equipment correctly and how to develop it more effectively.

Aside from that, it looks like Sharle’s family is going to be causing some real drama soon. I don’t look forward to that.

I am still enjoying this series, though some of the history and teaching and politics can get a little long-winded and boring at times. I do enjoy the characterizing, and I like Sharle and Kuklo as characters. Will be reading more.

Manga Review: Attack on Titan, Volume 18, by Hajime Isayama

Rating (Out of 5): ~4
Publisher: Kodansha Comics
Release Date: April 5, 2016
Volumes: 19+
Spoilers?: No.
Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble.
Volume: 1. 17. 19.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Brand new anime episode on DVD: "Attack on Titan: No Regrets" – the backstory of Captain Levi!
Special variant dust jacket by comics artist Cameron Stewart (Batgirl, Catwoman)!

AVE MARIA
The Survey Corps has overthrown the Royal Government and swept away the tyranny of the king. The next step: Move to retake Wall Maria, with the helpf of a newly-discovered metallic ore and Eren's miraculous Titan hardening powers. But as humanity pulls together, its enemies also unite beyond the Walls... now that the Beast Titan has joined Reiner and Bertolt, what havoc will they wreak?

Review:

We’re getting real answer about Eren’s father now.
We get a backstory from an observer of where his father came from and how he acted, and what happened when Eren was taken in the forest and blacked out, and then when his mother was killed. It’s a bit weirder than I expected, but it does make some sense.
The group then moves forward with taking back their land, and going to Eren’s old house to see what is in the basement that his father left behind. Their march forward goes well, but it’s when they find Reiner and Bertolt and their gang of rebels that they run into real trouble. Armin has to think outside the box, but they find them, and then they’re ganged up on fast. This fight starts the cliffhanger, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it goes forward next. It’ll be bad, I’m sure.
This series is good, for sure. I’m really looking forward to seeing what happens next, how the fight goes and then what they discover about Eren’s past. It’ll be good.

Manga Review: Attack on Titan, Volume 17, by Hajime Isayama

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: December 15, 2015

Volumes: 17+

Spoilers?: Not really.

Standard: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Special Edition: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 16. 18.

Goodreads Synopsis:

ESCAPE FROM KING TITAN: Thanks to Rod Reiss, Eren finally knows the terrible truth behind how he acquired his Titan powers, and the depth of his father's crimes. The king orders his daughter Historia to kill Eren and restore the power of the Titans to its rightful place, but she chooses her own selfish path: survival. As the cavern crumbles around the Survey Corps, Eren must make another last-minute decision, with the lives of all his friends in the balance.

Review:

In this volume, we get some new developments about Eren’s titan and what Historia’s father had planned. We have a better idea of what Eren’s father did.

We have a big fight with Historia’s father’s titan, and Historia finally takes her rightful place as ruler of the kingdom. Eren is doing what he can to save the humans from the titans, even if it exhausts him to change so often. I like what Historia starts doing for the underprivileged once she’s in a place of power—it only makes me like her more.

There’s also a pause in the action as we see Kenny’s history, and his relation to Levi (and possibly Mikasa?) with a little bit of Levi’s backstory as a child mixed in. It’s interesting, and possibly going to lead to something else. And then we get a cliffhanger, which of course has me intrigued.

I am absolutely loving this series so far, and it seems like we’re starting a new arc now. I can’t wait for the next one.

Also, I am loving these special editions. This one, much like for volume 17, comes in a shrink-wrapped box, that is super pretty. It has space for the DVD and the manga, and I love it. I hope there are more coming.