Attack on Titan's penultimate chapter arrives with a host of reunions, revelations, and heart-breaking plot twists; setting the stage for a conclusion that still remains very-much up in the air.
This month's entry opens with a glimmer of hope, one far more innocent than anything Isayama has offered his readers in a long while. Previously seen handed between those desperate to escape the torturous death of the Rumbling, the nameless orphan baby held over the heads of survivors is crying no longer. There is a moment of stillness, and those protecting the child stare in bewilderment as the approaching Colossal Titans stop in their tracks. Armin and Zeke's plan has worked, with the latter's sacrificial death at the hands of rival Levi causing the the Rumbling to cease. The carcass-like Founding Titan crumbles, and with Eren initially nowhere in sight, the Alliance make their way to Fort Salta for some long-awaited reunions with their families.
However, in spite of their tearful embraces, Isayama is quick to clarify that the Alliance are fully aware their fight is far from over. The cryptic Hallucigenia-shaped creature- the physical embodiment of the anomaly come to be known as the "source of all living matter"- emerges from the rubble unscathed, alongside a new Titan form of Eren. This final Founding form is far more human-like than the gigantic spinal mass seen previously, a Colossal-sized incarnation of Eren's original Attack Titan. Reiner and Armin try their best to hold off each of the threats, though in a last-minute turn of events, the chapter crushes the hearts of many-a-reader with a guttural blow.
Much like the method Marley used to poison Connie's hometown of Rakago, the anomaly emits a gas into the air which immediately threatens to turn the Subjects of Ymir at the fort into Pure Titans. Captain Levi is the one to think fast, fleeing with Mikasa, Peick, and Falco, those close to him and immune. Tragically, this transformation also comes to pass only seconds before Annie is to be reunited with her father, something each of them have long strived towards. What is ultimately confusing however, is how exactly those affected come to be turned, as it had been previously established that those who ingested this spinal fluid (either in gas or liquid form) would only transform upon the Scream of the Beast Titan. In order to avoid such an immense plot hole, I believe it important that Attack on Titan's final chapter does address this; and there are many potential scenarios which may account for it. With Zeke now dead, it remains unclear whether the power of the Beast Titan automatically transferred into a newborn Subject of Ymir, or if it returned back to the anomaly itself. If this first theory were to be the case, than it is not impossible for Historia's baby to have inherited the power upon its (yet unseen) birth. While there is obvious room for debate surrounding the Scream's reach, it would indeed be ironic for the very child Historia had in the hopes of delaying inheriting the Beast Titan, would instead be passed on regardless.
Beyond the most plausible scenario that the seemingly indestructible "source of all living matter" harbours the power to initiate transformations itself, Isayama does offer a rather questionable alternative theory: with one panel depicting the Jaw Titan Falco cry out just before the transformation occurs. Could Falco also hold the ability to initiate transformations, and if so is there perhaps a way in which to reverse this fate? Only time will tell, however, one can only hope that Attack on Titan's finale might shed some much-needed light on the nature of this most mysterious anomaly.
Regardless, it is the victims of this transformation themselves that are rightfully are the forefront of readers minds; most notably Survey Corps veterans Jean and Connie, alongside the young Gabi Braun. For the latter of these, should this event truly mark Gabi's death, this feels somewhat poor and disingenuous to the character arcs of not only herself, but of Falco and Reiner too. For this very reason alone, I cannot personally consider these transformations to be absolute, at the very least in the case of Gabi. On the other hand, the prospect of loosing fan-favourites Jean and Connie so late in the game is a bitter pill to swallow, and indeed the sort of bleak scenario Isayama's manga has become famous for. Jean and Connie's conversation with one another, arm-in-arm, feels very much like a final farewell. Particularly potent are Connie's last words, calling back to the two men's decision to abandon their dreams of the Military Police and join the Survey Corps. Connie cites that because of Jean's motivation, because of Jean himself, they have been able to save the world. Jean's character arc has come full circle; from selfish and brash to selfless and loving, Jean's very human growth and the trials and tribulations he has experienced has been one of Attack on Titan's greatest joys. He is one of the franchise's strongest characters (my own personal favourite), and it is incredibly difficult to consider that this might be the end of the road for him.
Similarly tragic is Connie, a ray of sunshine amongst the cast of characters. Connie has been dealt a harsh hand over the course of the narrative: loosing first his friends and later his family in the Rakago attack, witnessing his mother trapped in a Pure Titan form, being forced to kill his own comrades, and- perhaps most crucially- the death of his "twin" Sasha. For these hardships Connie is particularly deserving of a happy ending, and should a scenario come to pass which sees those transformed become human again, how fitting an ending would it be to see Connie and his mother reunited, both human once more?
If former Attack Titan Eren Kruger's cryptic words are to be believed, everything happens for a reason, and should this very scenario be what Eren had always intended: in Kruger's own word, in order to save Mikasa, Armin, and everybody else, he must see his mission through. A correlation could perhaps be drawn between Attack on Titan and Marvel's Avengers film franchise in regards to fates and timelines. In Avengers: Infinity War (Russo & Russo, 2018), sorcerer Doctor Strange outlines that there exists only one possible scenario in which the heroes might succeed, and part of this timeline involves half of humanity itself first dying/disappearing. For Attack on Titan, it has already been hinted that Eren has always intended to be stopped by the Alliance. Eren desires nothing more than long happy lives and freedom for his closest friends. He has seen the future, we know this, and even amidst the chaos of the Rumbling, Eren claims that his friends are free to stop him, or rather, he wants them to.
Broadly speaking, the deaths of numerous Attack on Titan characters has been unnecessary because life itself is ultimately cruel. Yet, narratively, every major death of which Eren has been intrinsically linked has been a necessity in order to reach this very scenario. Carla's death was a catalyst for Eren's anger. Grisha's death provided Eren with his powers. Hannes' death helped activate the Coordinate. Zeke's death put a stop to the Rumbling. Marco's death gave Jean the drive to join the Corps. Sasha's death lead to Gabi's understanding of her prejudices. Erwin's death saved Armin, and Hanji's death made him Commander. As painful as they are, death in Attack on Titan is not without narrative reason, it is the very thing that has lead the characters to where they are now. If the likes of Jean, Connie, and Gabi were to die in this way, this ultimately feels unnecessary.
If humanity is to live on past the events of the Rumbling, and the hate faced by the Subjects of Ymir to be dissolved, one way which this might be achieved could be a change of perspective. If the Marleyan's present at Fort Salta come to understand that the Eldian's potential to turn into Titans does not make them "evil", attitudes might perhaps be changed once and for all. As such, I can only hope that the transformation of these characters into Pure Titans serves some greater narrative purpose, and is not merely meant to serve as least-minute shock-value to shake up readers.
Under the anomaly's control, the Pure Titans are last seen savaging shifters Reiner, Peick, and Annie, who are all desperately battling to destroying the entity. The fates of everyone involved in this thread of the chapter is left unknown. We can all only cross our fingers (and toes) that our favourites will make it out of this last fight alive.
As if that wasn't enough to chew on, the mass transformation and battle with the anomaly serves as only part of Attack on Titan's penultimate chapter. While chapter 127 belonged foremost to Armin, make no mistake, chapter 128 is Mikasa's. The title of chapter 128, A Long Dream, truly takes Attack on Titan back to its very start, and answers two of the franchises' most burning questions: What does that opening scene mean? And What is the significance of Mikasa's headaches?
In the very first moments readers met him, a 10 year-old Eren awoke suddenly and tearful from a dream in which an older Mikasa states, quite simply, "see you later... Eren". Its inclusion was clearly significant, though clouded with uncertainty for years. Countless time-loop theories have spread amongst the Attack on Titan fanbase, and later the reveal that the Attack Titan could see the future of both themselves and succeeding inheritors only added kindling to these flames.
Yet rather than a glimpse into future, chapter 138 reveals that this dream is in fact an alternative reality; a peak into the possibility of what could have been, should Mikasa have confessed her feelings for Eren back in chapter 123. In this reality, rather than fumble over her answer to Eren, Mikasa instead opens her heart, giving Eren the chance to relieve himself of his burdens. As a result the pair run away together, abandoning the Corps and their friends in Marley to live out Eren's final four years alone as war wages on elsewhere. It is both a heartbreaking and perfectly executed scene, and one bound to have left a lump in the throats of many.
The headaches are a part of this- growing unbearable for Mikasa throughout the chapter- a painful pressure on her to escape to this more peaceful reality. As long suspected, Eren indeed lied about the origins of these migraines (chapter 112), never truly a bi-product of an Ackerman instinct to protect the Founding power. Once she learns the truth, and witnesses this reality for herself, Mikasa settles, calm and at peace with the knowledge of what she must do. Mikasa is comforted by the prospect of what might have been- or perhaps, still exists elsewhere- and many readers (Eremika shippers in particular) are likely to feel this sense of closure as well.
With this resolve, in the chapter's final moments, Mikasa reaches Eren with the help of Levi and Armin. She enters the Titan's mouth, finding Eren's head attached to the Colossal by a long spine, and smoothly- with these first and final words, "see you later... Eren"- decapitates our protagonist. The final panel sees Mikasa cradle Eren's head in her hands, gently kissing him on the lips. This inclusion in particular seems to have divided some, though personally I found it felt natural to the scene, a final goodbye both tender and macabre, and entirely fitting of this horror-filled manga.
Eren's death is both brutal and brilliant, unsurprising and yet somehow still entirely shocking. With this chapter alone, Isayama has contributed to a redefining of the shōnen genre; having his heroine be the one to slay his own protagonist-turned-antagonist. Isayama's portrayal of his female characters has always been one of the series' key draws, each deeply complex and individualistic, avoiding the hyper-sexualised tropes frequently associated with the shōnen genre. Chapter 138 merely solidifies Mikasa's place as an animanga character well-deserving of the icon status that shall undoubtably follow her for years to come.
In regards of where Attack on Titan's final chapter may take readers; the answer still remains up in the air. The chapter's closing panel depicts a sweetly-smiling Ymir watching over Eren and Mikasa, hinting that the cursed child and First Titan still has a key role to play. If it is to follow in the footsteps of its two precursory chapters, Attack on Titan's finale should pay particular focus to Eren, posthumous or otherwise. However, we can also expect some final reveals (and twists) regarding both Ymir Fritz and the Power of the Titans itself, as well as the imminent birth of Queen Historia's child. Back in 2018, Isayama gave fans a glimpse of the manga's final panel; an unknown man cradling a newborn child with the simple quote, "You are free." There are indeed a handful of characters which this could be, from Eren, his father Grisha, to the affectionately named Farmer-kun (the presumed father of Historia's baby). The panel may signify peace at the end of the decades-long Titan war, a release from the Curse of Ymir, or perhaps even a flashback or loop in time to before the initial events of the series.
Readers can only wait in anxious anticipation, both for much-needed answers, and for closure to a series that has reshaped the animanga sphere entirely. Attack on Titan has become a worthy cultural phenomenon that has enthralled fans globally for the past decade, and saying goodbye to the series will indeed be bitter-sweet, whatever its conclusion may yet have in store...
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