“Attack on Titan: Before the Fall” is an entertaining book that I recommend for those who have knowledge of the series. Many fans of the “Attack on Titan” series will no doubt enjoy the way of how the equipment was found and developed but also be entranced by the development of the characters and their unique skills. If you enjoy “Attack on Titan”, you will definitely want to give the prequel “Before the Fall” a chance! Recommended.
TITLE: Attack on Titan: Before the Fall
BY: Ryo Suzukake and Art by Thores Shibamoto
PUBLISHER: Vertical Inc.
PAGE COUNT: 204
RELEASED: September 7, 2014
Before the fall, and before the trials of “the Titan’s son” Kyklo, a young smith by the name of Angel Aaltonen grappled with the giants as only a craftsman could…
The first of the three-part Before the Fall light novels, whose second and third installments have been adapted into a manga of the same name, this prequel of prequels details the origins of the devices that humanity developed to take on the mysterious Titans.
Back in 2006, Hajime Isayama wrote a 65-page one-shot of “Shingeki no Kyojinâ€. Inspired during an encounter with an irate customer while working at an internet cafe, the encounter would eventually be the basis of his hit series which is known internationally as “Attack on Titanâ€.
In 2009, “Shingeki no Kyojin†began serialization in Kodanasha’s “Bessatsu Shonen Magazine†and has spawned a popular manga and anime series, three light novel volumes, multiple video games, manga spin-offs and a live-action film set for release in theaters in 2015.
For author Ryo Suzukake, his book “Attack on Titan: Before the Fall” was not a series to feature the primary characters from the series, but to create a story that is based on whatever was left of humanity and needing the weaponry to fight against the Titans.
The first of the three-part “Before the Fall” light novels, whose second and third installments have been adapted into a manga of the same name, this prequel of prequels details the origins of the devices that humanity has developed to take on the Titans.
“Before the Fall” takes place when only less than 500,000 humans were left after being decimated by the mysterious behemoths known as Titans.  To protect what was left of humanity, three walls…Wall Maria, Wall Rose and Wall Sheena were created in hopes that it would be enough to keep the Titans away.   This story takes place before the fall of Wall Maria (which more can also be read or viewed in the popular “Attack on Titan” hit manga or anime series).
But in the Shiganshina District, working in Wall Maria is craftsmen Angel Aaltonen, a craftsman who along with his assistant Corina Ilmari and his close friends Solm, Maria and alchemist Xenophon are enjoying the peace behind the walls that protect them from danger.
Danger from behemoths known as Titans. Who are they? What are they? Angel and his friends don’t know, but to see the Survey Corps decimated each time they go outside of the city, he knows that they need better weaponry but what kind of weaponry will defeat these Titans?
But one day, Angel’s life would change as the Titans would enter the city and nearly destroy everything in its path.
For Angel, he knows he has to craft something to give humanity a chance and through many adventures he will discover the materials that will no doubt give humanity a fighting chance!
For any reader and viewer that has been captivated by “Attack on Titan”, Ryo Suzukake’s book “Attack on Titan: Before the Fall” is an amusing and exciting side-story as it features an adventurous storyline that is less about those who fight with the behemoths known as the titans but regular normal people living within the city and trying to live a normal life and survive, despite a major threat looming outside their great walls.
Having not seen a Titan, they do know that the Survey Corps has dwindled each time they have gone outside to fight and with peace in the area, that peace is disturbed when body parts are thrown over the walls and it begins to cause panic and fear as they wonder what kind of thing could have caused such disturbance.
Suffice to say, society has a curiosity of what is outside the walls and as for craftsman, Angel Aaltonen, his work is creating weapons for the Survey Corps, as his words are “A Best Offense is a Best Defense”.
But when the Titans make their presence known inside the city and watch as humanity is slowly crushed. Angel and his friends are in a panic and are attacked as their curiosity to see a Titan upfront leads to the demise of people that are close to Angel. Watch the Titans, as the smiling behemoths would grab humans just to snap their bodies or trample them, and pick them up and eat them just to regurgitate and spit whatever is left of a person out of their mouths.
To find out that all weapons that have been created are not working and there is no weakness. Could these Titans be invulnerable?
Just when you think that life for humanity shows no signs of any chance of fighting back, Angel and his friends learn about Iron Bamboo. Bamboo laced with iron and despite its consistency, still remains light. But can something be crafted with it and what is it about this iron bamboo that would make it a great weapon or perhaps a best offense or defense? That is what Angel must find out and they need to get more of it.
Part of what is alluring about the storyline is seeing how Angel and his friends go from calm individuals to sickened and scared as the Titans invade their home and having to endure a journey to discover other artifacts in order to fight evil. As the Titans are not the only ones causing fear, as there are anti-establishment forces also wanting to kill anyone who comes from within the walls.
But aside from the Titans themselves and those who live behind the walls, the most important correlation are the contraptions that we see in the “Attack on Titan” manga and anime series.  For example, the importance of the Vertical Maneuvering Equipment, or the grappling hook and how was it discovered, how was it implemented and how it relates to the character, Angel.
For Ryo Suzukake, he manages to make the connection between the popular hit series and his manga by showing us how the Vertical Maneuvering Equipment was developed and the important materials that were needed to created it. But most importantly, how the weak spot of the Titan was discovered with hopes that this will give humanity a fighting chance.
But for Angel and his friends, it’s the pursuit of how they came about these materials and how they were tested and the deadly adventures just to obtain the materials, is what makes this book so captivating.
This first light novel (of the three part “Before the Fall” light novels) does feature a few pages with illustrations by Thores Shibamoto but “Attack on Titan: Before the Fall” is a prequel that is all about the story and less about the illustrations. A story about a craftsman, Angel who will eventually change after the experience and contact with the Titans but to see people he once knew, people he was close with, under the perilous attacks of the deadly Titans.
Overall, “Attack on Titan: Before the Fall” is an entertaining book that I recommend for those who have knowledge of the series. Many fans of the “Attack on Titan” series will no doubt enjoy the way of how the equipment was found and developed but also be entranced by the development of the characters and their unique skills.
If you enjoy “Attack on Titan”, you will definitely want to give the prequel “Before the Fall” a chance! Recommended.