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Attack on Titan: Before the Fall

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Attack on Titan: Before the Fall
The cover of the first light novel volume.
Light novel
Written byRyō Suzukaze
Illustrated byTHORES Shibamoto
Published byKodansha
English publisher
Vertical
ImprintKodansha Ranobe Bunko
DemographicMale
Original runDecember 2, 2011 – June 29, 2012
Volumes3 (List of volumes)
Manga
Written byRyō Suzukaze
Illustrated bySatoshi Shiki
Published byKodansha
English publisher
MagazineMonthly Shōnen Sirius
DemographicShōnen
Original runAugust 26, 2013 – March 26, 2019
Volumes17 (List of volumes)

Attack on Titan: Before the Fall (進撃の巨人 Before the fall, Shingeki no Kyojin: Before the Fall) is a series of Japanese light novels written by Ryō Suzukaze and illustrated by THORES Shibamoto. The three novels were published in 2011 and 2012. The series is a prequel to Hajime Isayama's Attack on Titan manga.

A manga adaptation by Satoshi Shiki was serialized between 2013 and 2019.

Plot[]

The series is set 70 years before the events of Attack on Titan,[1] and is divided into two parts: the first focuses on Angel Aaltonen,[2] the developer of the Vertical Maneuvering Equipment;[3] the second part follows the life of Kuklo, a boy who was found as a baby in a pile of Titan vomit, having been birthed by one of the Titan's victims after they were eaten. He is labelled the "Titan's son" and imprisoned for many of his younger years, before being freed by his owner's daughter, Sharle, and eventually joining the Survey Corps.[4]

Media[]

Light novel[]

The series of light novels is written by Ryō Suzukaze, with illustrations by THORES Shibamoto. Three volumes were released between 2011 and 2012. It serves as a prequel to the Attack on Titan manga, written and illustrated by Hajime Isayama.[1]

The series was licensed in North America by Vertical,[1] who published the first volume in summer 2014,[5] followed by the second and third volumes in a 2-in-1 omnibus format in summer 2015.[6][7] Attack on Titan: Before the Fall 3 part novel series begins with Volume 1 named Attack on Titan: Before the Fall, Volume 2 is Marching Giants and Volume 3 is Kuklo Unbound. The English version combines Volumes 2 and 3 into Kuklo Unbound.

Volume list[]

No.Japanese release dateJapanese ISBNEnglish release dateEnglish ISBN
1 December 2, 2011[8]ISBN 978-4-06-375202-1September 16, 2014[9]ISBN 978-1-939130-86-0
2 March 30, 2012[10]ISBN 978-4-06-375228-1May 26, 2015[11]ISBN 978-1-939130-87-7
3 June 29, 2012[12]ISBN 978-4-06-375243-4May 26, 2015[11]ISBN 978-1-939130-87-7

Manga[]

A manga adaptation, written by Suzukaze and illustrated by Satoshi Shiki, was published in Kodansha's Monthly Shōnen Sirius magazine from August 26, 2013[3][13][14] to March 26, 2019 and was collected in seventeen volumes. The series received a special chapter in the May issue of Monthly Shōnen Sirius on March 25, 2014.[15]

Kodansha USA announced in October 2013 that it had licensed the series, and began releasing it in North America in spring 2014.[14]

Volume list[]

No.Japanese release dateJapanese ISBNEnglish release dateEnglish ISBN
1 December 9, 2013[16]ISBN 978-4-06-376439-0March 11, 2014[17]ISBN 978-1-61262-910-0
  1. "The Titan's Son" (巨人の子, Kyojin no Ko)
  2. "Her Determination" (覚悟の少女, Kakugo no Shōjo)
  3. "Moonlit Oath" (月下の約束, Gekka no Yakusoku)
  • "Trailer"
2 April 9, 2014[18]ISBN 978-4-06-376460-4August 19, 2014[19]ISBN 978-1-61262-912-4
  1. "Stormy Night" (嵐の夜, Arashi no Yoru)
  2. "Predawn Departure" (未明の出立, Mimei no Shuttatsu)
  3. "Proof of Humanity" (人間の証明, Ningen no Shōmei)
  4. "The Freshly Blood-Soaked Earth" (鮮血の大地, Senketsu no Daichi)
3 August 8, 2014[20]ISBN 978-4-06-376486-4December 9, 2014[21]ISBN 978-1-61262-914-8
  1. "Predatory Cycle" (捕食の構図, Hoshoku no Kōzu)
  2. "The Crimson Tower" (紅蓮の巨塔, Guren no Kyotō)
  3. "The Unicorn's Plight" (一角獣の陥穽, Yunikōn no Kansei)
  • "Carlo Pikale's Expedition Report" (カルロ・ピケール 遠征報告, Karuro Pikēru Repōto)
4 December 9, 2014[22]ISBN 978-4-06-376515-1March 31, 2015[23]ISBN 978-1-61262-981-0
  1. "Serendipity Behind Bars" (獄中の奇縁, Gokuchū no Kien)
  2. "The Killing Fields" (刑戮の荒野, Keiriku no Kōya)
  3. "Left for Dead" (苟且の死者, Kōsho no Shisha)
  • "Sharle's Shiganshina Diary" (シャルルのシガンシナ日誌, Sharuru no Shiganshina Nisshi)
5 April 9, 2015[24]ISBN 978-4-06-376537-3August 25, 2015[25]ISBN 978-1-61262-982-7
  1. "Visitors to the Industrial City" (工場都市の来者, Kōjō Toshi no Raisha)
  2. "Visions of the Future" (幻視の未来, Genshi no Mirai)
  3. "Thicket of Iron Bamboo" (黑金の竹林, Kurogane no Chikurin)
  4. "The Corps Collapses" (潰乱の兵団, Kairan no Heidan)
6 August 7, 2015[26]ISBN 978-4-06-376564-9December 29, 2015[27]ISBN 978-1-63236-224-7
  1. "Bacchanalia of Greed" (強欲の狂宴, Gōyoku no Kyōen)
  2. "Oath in the Bamboo Thicket" (竹林の誓い, Chikurin no Chikai)
  3. "The Quickening of Ambition" (野望の胎動, Yabō no Taidō)
  • "The Recruit's First Mission" (或る新兵の初陣, Aru Shinpei no Uijin)
  • "The Girl Waiting in the Workshop" (工房で待つ少女, Kōbō de Matsu Shōjo)
7 December 9, 2015[28]ISBN 978-4-06-376590-8April 12, 2016[29]ISBN 978-1-63236-225-4
  1. "Den of Treachery" (詭謀の栖, Kibō no Su)
  2. "Abyss Below the Wall" (壁下の深淵, Hekika no Shin'en)
  3. "Rondo of Darkness" (闇の輪舞, Yami no Rinbu)
  4. "Wail from the Shadows" (晦冥の鬼哭, Kaimei no Kikoku)
  • "Swear upon Wall Maria" (ウォール・マリアに誓う, Wōru Maria ni Chikau)
8 April 8, 2016[30]ISBN 978-4-06-390619-6August 9, 2016[31]ISBN 978-1-63236-260-5
  1. "Before The Storm" (嵐の前, Arashi no Mae)
  2. "The Fires of Upheaval" (動乱の炎, Dōran no Honō)
  3. "The Rivalry's Outcome" (相克の行方, Sōkoku no Yukue)
  4. "Dense Space" (堅緻の空隙, Kenchi no Kūgeki)
  • "Master of Vertical Maneuvering" (立体機動の師, Rittai Kidō no Shi)
9 August 9, 2016[32]ISBN 978-4-06-390641-7December 13, 2016[33]ISBN 978-1-63236-320-6
  1. Disturbance in the City (擾乱の都市, Jōran no Toshi)
  2. Fallout of Rebellion (逆乱の果て, Gekiran no Hate)
  3. Blades of Karma (宿縁の双剣, Shukuen no Sōken)
  4. Caged Ball (籠中の夜宴, Kochū no Yaen)
  • Budding Ambition (野望の萌芽, Yabō no Hōga)
10 December 9, 2016[34]ISBN 978-4-06-390667-7April 18, 2017[35]ISBN 978-1-63236-381-7
  1. The Imprisoned Princess Flees (遁逃の籠姫, Tontō no Kago Hime)
  2. Town of Eternal Night (常夜の街, Tokoyo no Machi)
  3. Lone Shadow in the Town That Never Sleeps (不夜街の孤影, Fu Yagai no Koei)
  4. Craftsmen of Yore (職人達の昔日, Shokunin-tachi no Sekijitsu)
  • Greater Intimacy Through Self-Defense (護身術で大接近, Goshin-jutsu de dai Sekkin)
11 April 7, 2017[36]ISBN 978-4-06-390696-7August 8, 2017[37]ISBN 978-1-63236-382-4
12 August 9, 2017[38]ISBN 978-4-06-390725-4December 26, 2017[39]ISBN 978-1-63236-383-1
13 December 8, 2017[40]ISBN 978-4-06-510504-7April 3, 2018[41]ISBN 978-1-63236-536-1
14 April 9, 2018[42]ISBN 978-4-06-511218-2August 21, 2018[43]ISBN 978-1-63236-614-6
15 August 9, 2018[44]ISBN 978-4-06-512288-4December 4, 2018[45]ISBN 978-1-63236-657-3
16 December 7, 2018[46]ISBN 978-4-06-513812-0April 4, 2019[47]ISBN 978-1-63236-829-4
17 April 9, 2019[48]ISBN 978-4-06-515204-1August 27, 2019[49]ISBN 978-1-63236-875-1

Reception[]

The manga had 1.4 million copies in print in August 2015.[50]

A number of volumes of the manga have made it onto The New York Times manga best-sellers list:

  • Volume one was on the list for five non-consecutive weeks: for the first two weeks it ranked at number one.[51]
  • Volume two was on the list for one week at fifth place.[52]
  • Volume three was on the list for one week at fourth place.[53]
  • Volume four was on the list for two weeks, ranking at fourth and eighth place, respectively.[54]
  • Volume seven was on the list for one week, ranking at fourth place.[55]

Reviewing the first novel for Anime News Network, Rebecca Silverman called it "well-written, engrossing, and with the feel of historical fiction rather than fantasy". She wrote that "Suzukaze's writing style is very visual ... the prose can make your stomach churn and hair stand on end, not so much in a straight horror way, but more in the sense of a nightmare coming true when you had convinced yourself that it was just a dream." She concluded by saying "If you aren't tired of Attack on Titan or perhaps just want a boost to flagging interest, Before the Fall is absolutely worth reading", and gave the book a grade of A−.[2] Reviewing the second, omnibus volume, she also gave it a grade of A−, calling the book "an exciting read that requires little prior knowledge of the AoT world." She was critical of the fact that "Sharle, who begins as a promising character, is woefully underdeveloped and underutilized", but concluded her review by saying that the story "gives us what the original manga does in novel form, and there really isn't much higher praise that an adaptation can get than that."[4]

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Vertical Adds Attack on Titan: Before the Fall Light Novel Series". Anime News Network. October 11, 2013. Retrieved October 9, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Silverman, Rebecca (September 25, 2014). "Attack on Titan: Before the Fall Novel 1". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 9, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Green, Scott (August 20, 2013). ""Attack on Titan: Before the Fall" Prequel Manga Launches Next Week". Crunchyroll. Retrieved October 9, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Silverman, Rebecca (May 29, 2015). "Attack on Titan: Before the Fall Novel 2 - Kyklo". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 9, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  5. ↑ Green, Scott (October 11, 2013). "Vertical Announces "Attack on Titan" Light Novels". Crunchyroll. Retrieved October 9, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  6. ↑ "Vertical Licenses More Attack on Titan Light Novels". Anime News Network. October 11, 2014. Retrieved October 9, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  7. ↑ Green, Scott (October 12, 2014). "Vertical Announces "Attack on Titan: Harsh Mistress of the City" Light Novel". Crunchyroll. Retrieved October 9, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  8. ↑ 進撃の巨人　Ｂｅｆｏｒｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｆａｌｌ [Attack on Titan: Before the Fall]. Kodansha . Retrieved October 9, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  9. ↑ "Attack on Titan: Before the Fall (Novel)". Penguin Random House. Retrieved October 9, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  10. ↑ 進撃の巨人　Ｂｅｆｏｒｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｆａｌｌ２ [Attack on Titan: Before the Fall 2]. Kodansha . Retrieved October 9, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Attack on Titan: Kuklo Unbound". Penguin Random House. Retrieved October 9, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  12. ↑ 進撃の巨人　Ｂｅｆｏｒｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｆａｌｌ３ [Attack on Titan: Before the Fall 3]. Kodansha . Retrieved October 9, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  13. ↑ "Daphne in the Brilliant Blue's Shiki Penning Attack on Titan Spinoff Manga (Updated)". Anime News Network. August 20, 2013. Retrieved October 9, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Kodansha Comics Adds Attack on Titan: Before the Fall, No Regrets Spinoff Manga". Anime News Network. October 11, 2013. Retrieved October 9, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  15. ↑ "3 Attack on Titan Spin-Off Manga Series Get Special Chapters in Sirius". Anime News Network. February 26, 2014. Retrieved October 9, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  16. ↑ 進撃の巨人　Ｂｅｆｏｒｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｆａｌｌ（１） [Attack on Titan: Before the Fall (1)]. Kodansha . Retrieved October 9, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  17. ↑ "Attack on Titan: Before the Fall 1". Penguin Random House. Retrieved October 9, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  18. ↑ 進撃の巨人　Ｂｅｆｏｒｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｆａｌｌ（２） [Attack on Titan: Before the Fall (2)]. Kodansha . Retrieved October 9, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  19. ↑ "Attack on Titan: Before the Fall 2". Penguin Random House. Retrieved October 9, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  20. ↑ 進撃の巨人　Ｂｅｆｏｒｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｆａｌｌ（３） [Attack on Titan: Before the Fall (3)]. Kodansha . Retrieved October 9, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  21. ↑ "Attack on Titan: Before the Fall 3". Penguin Random House. Retrieved October 9, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  22. ↑ 進撃の巨人　Ｂｅｆｏｒｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｆａｌｌ（４） [Attack on Titan: Before the Fall (4)]. Kodansha . Retrieved October 9, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  23. ↑ "Attack on Titan: Before the Fall 4". Penguin Random House. Retrieved October 9, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  24. ↑ 進撃の巨人　Ｂｅｆｏｒｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｆａｌｌ（５） [Attack on Titan: Before the Fall (5)]. Kodansha . Retrieved October 9, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  25. ↑ "Attack on Titan: Before the Fall 5". Penguin Random House. Retrieved October 9, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  26. ↑ 進撃の巨人　Ｂｅｆｏｒｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｆａｌｌ（６） [Attack on Titan: Before the Fall (6)]. Kodansha . Retrieved October 9, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  27. ↑ "Attack on Titan: Before the Fall 6". Penguin Random House. Retrieved October 9, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  28. ↑ 進撃の巨人　Ｂｅｆｏｒｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｆａｌｌ（７） [Attack on Titan: Before the Fall (7)]. Kodansha . Retrieved December 17, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  29. ↑ "Attack on Titan: Before the Fall 7". Penguin Random House. Retrieved October 9, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  30. ↑ 進撃の巨人　Ｂｅｆｏｒｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｆａｌｌ（８） [Attack on Titan: Before the Fall (8)]. Kodansha . Retrieved April 7, 2016. {{cite web}}:
  31. ↑ "Attack on Titan: Before the Fall 8". Penguin Random House. Retrieved March 23, 2016. {{cite web}}:
  32. ↑ 進撃の巨人　Ｂｅｆｏｒｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｆａｌｌ（９） [Attack on Titan: Before the Fall (9)]. Kodansha . Retrieved August 5, 2016. {{cite web}}:
  33. ↑ "Attack on Titan: Before the Fall 9". Penguin Random House. Retrieved August 9, 2016. {{cite web}}:
  34. ↑ "進撃の巨人　Ｂｅｆｏｒｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｆａｌｌ（１０）" [Attack on Titan: Before the Fall (10)]. Kodansha . Retrieved December 5, 2016. {{cite web}}:
  35. ↑ "Attack on Titan: Before the Fall 10". Penguin Random House. Retrieved August 9, 2016. {{cite web}}:
  36. ↑ "進撃の巨人　Ｂｅｆｏｒｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｆａｌｌ（１１）" [Attack on Titan: Before the Fall (11)]. Kodansha . Archived from the original on April 7, 2017. Retrieved June 26, 2017. {{cite web}}:
  37. ↑ "Attack on Titan: Before the Fall 11". Penguin Random House. Retrieved August 9, 2017. {{cite web}}:
  38. ↑ "進撃の巨人　Ｂｅｆｏｒｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｆａｌｌ（１２）" [Attack on Titan: Before the Fall (12)]. Kodansha . Archived from the original on August 9, 2017. Retrieved July 26, 2017. {{cite web}}:
  39. ↑ "Attack on Titan: Before the Fall 12". Penguin Random House. Retrieved January 9, 2018. {{cite web}}:
  40. ↑ "進撃の巨人　Ｂｅｆｏｒｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｆａｌｌ（１３）" [Attack on Titan: Before the Fall (13)]. Kodansha . Archived from the original on December 9, 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2017. {{cite web}}: ; December 30, 2017
  41. ↑ "Attack on Titan: Before the Fall 13". Penguin Random House. Retrieved January 19, 2018. {{cite web}}:
  42. ↑ "進撃の巨人　Ｂｅｆｏｒｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｆａｌｌ（１４）" [Attack on Titan: Before the Fall (14)]. Kodansha . Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved June 15, 2018. {{cite web}}: ; December 30, 2017
  43. ↑ "Attack on Titan: Before the Fall 14". Penguin Random House. Retrieved May 19, 2018. {{cite web}}:
  44. ↑ "進撃の巨人　Ｂｅｆｏｒｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｆａｌｌ（１５）" [Attack on Titan: Before the Fall (15)]. Kodansha . Archived from the original on July 31, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2018. {{cite web}}: ; December 30, 2017
  45. ↑ "Attack on Titan: Before the Fall 15". Penguin Random House. Retrieved June 15, 2018. {{cite web}}:
  46. ↑ "進撃の巨人　Ｂｅｆｏｒｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｆａｌｌ（１６）" [Attack on Titan: Before the Fall (16)]. Kodansha . Archived from the original on December 7, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  47. ↑ "Attack on Titan: Before the Fall 16". Penguin Random House. Retrieved February 3, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  48. ↑ "進撃の巨人　Ｂｅｆｏｒｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｆａｌｌ（１７）" [Attack on Titan: Before the Fall (17)]. Kodansha . Archived from the original on March 30, 2019. Retrieved March 30, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  49. ↑ "Attack on Titan: Before the Fall 17". Penguin Random House. Retrieved March 30, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  50. ↑ "Attack on Titan: Before the Fall Manga Has 1.4 Million Copies in Print". Anime News Network. August 8, 2015. Retrieved October 9, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  51. ↑
  52. ↑ "Best Sellers - Manga". The New York Times. September 7, 2014. Retrieved October 9, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  53. ↑ "Best Sellers - Manga". The New York Times. December 28, 2014. Retrieved October 9, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  54. ↑
  55. ↑ "Best Sellers - Manga". The New York Times. May 1, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2016. {{cite web}}:

External links[]

Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama
Media Chapters • Television series (Season 1 • 2 • 3) • Before the Fall • Junior High • Lost Girls • No Regrets • Spoof on Titan • Harsh Mistress of the City
Live-action Attack on Titan • Counter Rockets
Video games Humanity in Chains • Attack on Titan • Attack on Titan 2
Characters Eren Yeager • Mikasa Ackerman • Armin Arlert
Universe Titan (Power of the Titans) • Subjects of Ymir • Ackerman clan • Military (Survey Corps • Garrison • Military Police Brigade • Walls
Related "Jiyū e no Shingeki" by Linked Horizon • "Red Swan" by Yoshiki feat. Hyde
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