His Book Review: Attack on Titan No. 1-14 by Hajime Isayama (2012-14)

Why he read it: Watched the animated series

Would he recommend it: Yes

His review: I appreciate what graphic novels can do in blending visuals with story. I think Watchmen is a superb piece of fiction, and I can understand why The Sandman series is popular. Just like literary fiction, these works tells a story that takes us journey with the characters, drawing us into their lives. I like how this are very much like novels–an arc of a story, of character development.

I don’t appreciate comic books as much. I don’t mind the serialized nature of comics, and the visuals and story can be equally strong. What I don’t like is the seemingly never-ending nature of comics. I have no interest in The Walking Dead (comic or TV show) because it seems to have no clear arc. From what I’ve seen and read about this comic, it seems very cyclical in his storytelling, like a video game. Battles with zombies until they fight the big boss; reset and do again. I want to feel that the author has a vision, a place where the narrative is going. I’m not expecting a traditional plotline or structure, but if I’m going on the journey I don’t want to feel like the author is making up as we travel.

I started this series with the misconception that it come to an end; that no. 14 or 15 was the finish. When I realized that it wasn’t, that didn’t immediate change my reaction, as I was enjoying the story. While the visuals aren’t always the best (depth is not the artist’s strong suit) the world he’s created is fascinating, and I want to see what is in it. I want to know about these titans, and the humans, and the humans who become titans. I want to know about the walls of titans, and the young men and women fighting for a world free of the titans.

For most of the series, my intrigued has maintained. With each new unexplained revolution, I felt that it was all part of a story that would be told and I wanted to know that story. And perhaps it touches my own desire to be a big strong hero–the Hulk is my favorite comic character. I’m not interested in being fast, or invisible, or flying, or turning into fire, or stretching, or reading minds. I want to unleash unchecked rage and wreck havoc (on the bad guys, of course). Attack on Titan gives us, albeit somewhat briefly, that experience through Eren when he uses his titan form to fight for the humans.

What I started to question, though, was the political manipulations that took center stage with the final nos. that have been printed in English. (No 15 was released in English this month). It started to feel a bit more like a diversion, or lengthening of the story. It didn’t help when I read that the publisher already has plans to continue the story beyond the original author. It definitely will take on that comic book world of a never-ending stories. I’m still going to read these, as this could all fit together–it has too. The author has put out too many unexplained story lines that need to all come together. But I’m not going to read forever. A good novel has to end, as the ending is as significant as the beginning. In the beginning there was a world of humans hiding from titans–where is that world when it ends?