Attack on Titan (2014)

[進撃の巨人]

Volume 13

Author/Artist: Hajime Isayama
Publisher: KC Magazine

Synopsis:
Eren has been saved, but the Survey Corps is in tatters and the revelation of the Titans' true nature shakes everyone to their cores.

Story/Characters:
Now that confrontation with the Titan Shifters has been sorted out, we enter a new stage of the story that seems to be somewhat divisive among fans. The focus shifts from the Titans to political intrigue. This volume doesn't have much in the way of action and while a slow buildup can make for good suspense, it may be a little too slow for some people's tastes. If you're interested in how this world really works, though, I think there's enough to keep you going. Unraveling the mystery of Historia Reis may not be quite as compelling as our long journey to figure out the true nature of the Titans, but it's still pretty good. There's a nice quiet scene of Eren with Historia that I liked.

Art:
Because there's not much action, Isayama doesn't have many scenes of dynamism that makes his work stand out. It's solid enough and a lot of the wonkiness of the early volumes has been ironed out, but it can still be awkward in places.

Conclusion:
The new direction in the story may put off some people and the general lack of action may turn off those who come the series for high-intensity Titan slaying, but there's a lot of careful setup for the coming chapters being done here. If you're collecting, you'll be buying this volume anyway. Otherwise, I'd say it's at least worth a read.

Rating:
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