Attack on Titan, Vol. 1 by Hajime Isayama

 Full Disclosure; I've been watching the anime of this manga on and off for years so I'm only halfway through season two at the moment. 

It's been literal years since I watched the first couple episodes of season one, so I can't specifically remember beat by beat how closely Vol. 1 synchs up, but it definitely feels pretty close. 

The worldbuilding is what always sold me as the best part about the anime. The AOT world is so different and the society so distinct while still retaining some elements that seem vaguely familiar to you....it draws you in and constantly leaves you guessing and scrambling for a foothold of understanding. Honestly, you wind up so much like the main characters. You know a little bit about the past, the history and backstory of your city and the human realm, but you are forced primarily to exist in this moment and in this space where your survival is not guaranteed. You try to figure out what's going on, and you can tell you're missing pieces that are being kept from you, so you have no choice but to go deeper. And deeper we do indeed go. 

But, that being said, I'm still on the fence about continuing on with the manga or if I should double down on trying to finish the anime. Don't get me wrong, the art and writing of the manga is great, I just think that some of the action is definitely missing without the motion involved in the vertical maneuvers. It doesn't hit the same in a static image as it does with the greater sense of motion in the anime. Or the chewing. The chewing in the anime hits differently too what with the screaming and the gnashing of teeth.....literally. 

The other thing that really jumps out at me more now is just how well AOT fits into the Cosmic Horror genre. I've been on a Lovecraft and Co. kick lately, and this definitely fits right in. You've got an unknowable huge threat that is actively antagonistic to humanity, seemingly unstoppable, and then later on.....well.....that would be spoilers....

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