Attack On Titan Volume 1 Review By Deffinition
Attack On Titan has always fascinated me. Whether it was the concept, the steampunk aesthetic or the unnerving Titans, there was just something about it that caught my eye.
However, I’ve never read the manga even though I adored absolutely every other medium of the franchise. Excuses out the way I’ve decided to dip my toe into the source material to let fans like me know whether it’s worth picking up.
There will be heavy spoilers in this review so if you aren’t caught up on the show or game then it might be worth skipping to the score and reading this review later so that you remain unspoiled.
With that out the way let’s dive into Attack On Titan!!!
Attack Of The Titans
We open 2,000 years from now as the Titans Attack civilisation. These vast, intimidating menaces are just as incredible to behold on the page as they are in the anime series and I was completely gripped from the off. The opener is awash with incredible action and watching the armed forces fly through the air as they desperately attempt to defend the city never gets old.
Eren, the book’s protagonist, initially comes across as a spoiled and whiny child. He argues with soldiers, screams his head off and lives under the shadow of his father, the city’s prime benefactor. Due to this, some may find it difficult to connect with the character but he definitely demonstrates the fear and anxiety that you would possess when living in a complex that could be attacked at any moment.
He witnesses first-hand soldiers returning from battle brutally beaten and it’s a real dour moment that hammers home early on just how terrifying it must be to live under the Titan occupation and why his eventual quest to become a member of the Corps is so important. He is inspired by war and it’s easy to draw up comparisons between the work and the real world enlisting of soldiers who sign up after witnessing the tragedy.
It’s an incredible opener and one that I think will even hook complete newcomers to the franchise. I adored it and recommend that you pick it up just to witness this opener.
‘That Day, The Human Race Remembered’
What I love about the Titans is their almost childlike demeanour. The sheer scale and horror of their actions are made all the more terrifying by the fact that they look like they are having fun and enjoying the devastation that they can cause.
It’s as beautiful as it is deadly and there is just something about their sadistic smile that will haunt you. Watching as they rip people apart that will cement itself in your brain and these harrowing images make the book all the more interesting.
Our heroes are like ants, being burned alive under a microscope and I couldn’t put the book down because of it.
‘Next Time, The Humans Will Devour The Titans’
After the unforgiving Titan Attack, we leap forward in time five years to a point when Eren and his sister: Mikasa, are Corp members. Newly enlisted we follow them and the other top ten ranking officers as they are assigned to a section of the wall.
This chapter provides an in-depth psychological look at the thought process behind joining such an outfit. Some wish to take revenge on the Titans, some are just doing their duty and others are using it as an opportunity to hide behind the wall in a position of privilege. Different ideologies come to blows and it highlights how people use personas like arrogance and confidence to mask their true fears and feelings. It’s heavily engrossing and is needed as necessary character development so readers can choose their favourites from the team.
I loved this aesthetic and as we watch them head into their first campaign I was fully invested in the squad.
‘I’m gonna destroy each and every damn one of them’
The first campaign is rather anticlimactic and doesn’t pack the punch that the initial one had. This is a shame as I was very hyped up to see Eren finally fight back. Whilst what occurs in it isn’t terrible it’s merely over too quickly and leaves a lot more questions than answers.
However, this lacklustre moment is quickly redeemed by the battle that follows shortly after. Wrapping up the first Volume, it feels far more dynamic and is a clear improvement over the previous one. It’s an awesome climax that definitely will leave readers wanting to pick up the follow-up and I felt that it was a fitting finale to end the first chapter.
The Verdict
Attack On Titan gets off to a phenomenal start. The book succeeds in world-building, character development and more. Packed with action and a heart that allows you to relate to the conflict it plants readers firmly in the shoes of the protagonists. The creative team should be commended for this, especially with how alien everything seems.
I absolutely loved this first Volume and can not wait to pick up the second one. I recommend that you check this out as soon as possible as this first outing clearly shows why the storyline has gone on to achieve legendary status.
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