Review by Frank Plowright

The previous two volumes have been a continued story in which for the first time a female Titan was not only seen, but briefly captured. Attack on Titan 7 ended with the survey team returning within the safety of the city walls, and Eren having to be turned over to the military police.

It’s with the police that this volume begins, as we learn power has led to complacency and corruption. Some of the people Eren completed his military training with opted to serve with the police, and it seems the recruits have greater integrity than those giving them orders. A discussion lasting several pages considers the best options for progress.

That’s before a magnificent revelation midway through, supplied by Hajime Isayama in a beautifully understated way. Even knowing it’s coming, it will surprise. As noted when reviewing earlier Attack on Titan volumes, Isayama isn’t one to keep mysteries bubbling for too long, and this revelation actually solves two recent mysteries. Once the unmasking has taken place the subtle clues supplied earlier can be admired.

There’s a reprise of an earlier battle, but this time with the stakes far higher, and don’t figure the surprises are over with the revelation. It’s not something with immediate impact, but it seems the walls protecting humanity may not be all they seem, and it undermines fundamental assumptions of those protecting humanity. Since introducing them, Isayama has drawn members of the ruling hierarchy as sinister looking, and now it seems they’ve been hiding something all along.

Until now Attack on Titan has delivered a decent level of action enjoyment backed up by a solid premise, but with Attack on Titan 8 Isayama shifts gears into something more interesting. Bring on Attack on Titan 9, or buy three combined volumes as the slightly larger format Attack on Titan Omnibus 3.