With the official statement that the final chapter of Attack on Titan is to be released in April of this year, eagle-eyed fans have noticed Hajime Isayama's decision to select chapter 139 as the series' finale; an obvious reference to both Ymir Fritz's 13-year curse and the 9 Titan Shifters. However, beyond this realisation, the news that after an impressive12-year run Attack on Titan is finally closing in on its climax, makes this month's release all the more bittersweet and sorrowful.
The chapter's title is an immediate nod to the Paradis military and Survey Corps creed, something Isayama has consistently engrained into his characters, particularly the veterans. Being the sole surviving Corps vet, fan-favourite Levi Ackerman was therefore given particular opportunity to shine this month. Indeed it would seem that the curtain is drawing closed on Levi's character arc, with the possibility of his survival still very much hanging in the balance. However, while the Captain's fate still rests in Isayama's hands, chapter136 marked a long-awaited moment of realisation as to the true meaning behind the ethos Levi has dedicated his life to. Amidst the chaos of the Rumbling, Isayama offers Levi a much-needed moment of peace. The acknowledgement that what he has truly been fighting for is not the memory of the friends and loves he has lost, but rather the future and the dreams of those who will succeed him. Levi's acceptance that he does not regret choosing Armin's life over Erwin's is cathartic, and in turn offers a new resolution to his years-long conflict with Zeke Yeager that may perhaps not see Levi avenge his companion Erwin's death after all.
Yet while Levi may believe whole-heartedly in Armin's capabilities, chapter 136 sees the newly-appointed Survey Corps Commander reach the apex of his long-divulged self-doubt. Armin Arlert's survivors guilt is nothing new. He easily accepted the late Yeagerist Floch Froster's criticisms of him, confided in Mikasa that he was the wrong choice to inherit the Colossal Titan, and even offered himself up as sacrifice for his grieving friend Connie.
Trapped as an out-of-body projection within the Paths, the scenes of Armin knelt over his own body and violently confessing his self-disgust that he has, "Never been able to give [those he loves] anything in return" is heart-wrenching. As readers we know these doubts are unmerited, having seen Armin save the lives of others with his strategic skill and quick-thinking countless times before. Eventually Armin is able to reach this conclusion himself, resolute to think himself out of his dire circumstances. It is only then that Armin is able to see that he is in fact not alone, and that Zeke- seemingly rendered a pawn to Ymir's bidding- is also trapped within the Paths.
Zeke's sombre expression as he sits within Ymir's sandbox is only a further reminder that this man- for all his misguided beliefs- is himself the result of a lack of love and childhood innocence. Zeke's realisation that his father Grisha's treatment of Eren had been far more loving than he had ever offered his first son is something that has clearly broken the man. And while the chapter does not confirm that Zeke's fumbling in the sand is what has resulted in the mass of titans now facing the Alliance, the confrontation between two of Attack on Titan's sharpest minds sets the stage for what could very-well be an end to the chaos of the 9 Titans from eras past.
Yet despite chapter 136's heavy focus upon the psyche's of some of its male leads, it is the woman who are the real MVPs of the month. Having avoided a near-death experience at the hands of the unpredictable Warhammer Titan, Peick fearlessly exhibits that even without the knowledge of nifty ODM gear, she is capable of putting up a hell of a fight. Chapter 136 shows us just how versatile the Cart Titan truly is, and how Peick's extended experience within her titan form make her- above all the shifters- sophisticated in combat. With a goal of making a path for Jean to reach the Founding Titan's nape, Peick masters the Cart Titan's endurance by repeatedly shifting and attacking, while simultaneously avoiding sustaining any personal injuries that would compromise her ability to transform. The worrying notion however, is that Isayama leaves readers with a thread of doubt as to whether Peick's efforts will be enough; offering a grim final image of Jean- Isayama's symbol of honesty and humanity*- alone in the face of endless enemies.
Lastly and most central of all is that chapter 136 finally presents female lead Mikasa Ackerman with her ultimatum: the Alliance must kill Eren. The wide-eyed expression Isayama captures of Mikasa as her comrades admit that any hopes of sparing Eren are lost, is greatly reminiscent of her original loss of innocence all the way back in chapter 6. "The world is cruel" has been a statement etched into Mikasa since she first learned that to survive is to fight and sometimes, even to kill. Eren's genocidal rampage is unsalvageable, our once-protagonist is too far gone. For humanity to survive, they must put an end to him.
Comfortingly though, Mikasa is not left to loose herself to this painful reality, and of all the characters, it is her once-rival Annie Leonhart who comes to Mikasa's emotional aid. Isayama beautifully captures a moment of female solidarity between Mikasa and Annie, and their relationship undoubtably continues to be one of Attack on Titan's most captivating. Annie's voice of compassion offers Mikasa an alternative to immediately facing Eren, instead allowing her to focus her efforts on rescuing Armin. The understanding between these two women: their similar trauma, dreams for normality, capacity to love and desire to be loved themselves, are indeed ties that bind them. Chapter 136 offers us a glimpse of a relationship between these two- often stoic, but ultimately deeply caring- women, and it is one of mutual respect and refreshing light-heartedness. Annie and Mikasa's brief argument over the bizarre Opkai-like Titan is evidence that even in the most desperate of circumstances, Isayama's humour is able to hit the mark and offer both his characters and readers alike a moment of peace.
Indeed, "the world is cruel", though as Mikasa herself admits, "it is also very beautiful". As to whether or not Attack on Titan's cast of characters will be able to resurrect the beauty of the world is still up for debate. But what chapter 136 does show us is that in spite of everything, the hope for a brighter future for all is worth devoting ones heart to.
* In a 2012 interview with MTV, Hajime Isayama cited (at the time) that Jean was his favourite character.
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