Attack on Titan

This debut series flew largely under the radar until its anime adaptation took the Internet by storm earlier this spring. It features a unique mix of late Renaissance technology and culture with a postapocalyptic atmosphere. Humanity's remnants live behind layers of massive walls for protection from the human-eating titans outside. Suddenly, after decades of peace, the titans smash through the outermost wall and slaughter the residents. Eren, Armin, and Mikasa, three young survivors of the massacre, join the army in their desperate struggle against the unstoppable giants. Along with the setting and intricate, twisting plot, Attack on Titan derives its appeal from its willingness to bend the conventions of shounen manga. Here, friendship and burning spirit do not conquer all, and your favorite character stands a good chance of getting eaten without the opportunity to give a cool speech first. The sketchy, oddly proportioned art style and flashback-heavy pacing may be a turnoff for some, though. Verdict Not for everyone but definitely worth a look. Recommended for shounen manga readers looking for a fresh twist on the genre and fans of horror-survival stories in the vein of Aliens or The Walking Dead.-Neil Derksen, Pierce Cty. Lib. Syst., Tacoma (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.