There’s been a time jump of four years, and we find ourselves among a completely new array of characters (well, mostly), which we quickly learn are from the ‘other’ side of the conflict, the one we’ve regarded as the ‘bad guys’ all along. But as we follow them through this volume, are they really so bad at all? Are they not just normal people who’ve been brainwashed by the Marleyans into garnering hatred against their own distant kin, for atrocities their ancestors might have committed ages ago?
I think this volume provides a fairly accurate description of the ugliness of war (and human nature, in general), indoctrination of the young, and how everything is not just white and black, and how there are two sides to every story. I actually felt sympathy for Reiner, after all he’s done. This is AoT at its peak, highly character driven, which is exactly what endeared it to me in the first place. Sure, the old characters are missed, but it’s honestly very refreshing to see a new bunch who are in no way any less endearing. A quite exciting volume overall, which makes you question who to really root for, if anyone. Really looking forward to where this leads.