Library Read // Attack on Titan, Volumes 26 - 27 (Hajime Isayama)

It feels like a joke. It's April 1st and I'm reading manga. That's the tweet. No, but seriously. Me from two years ago, look at me now. Gwao.

*Update; it's not 11:28pm, April 3rd and I've only now started, this evening, in earnest, volume 26.*

This is gonna follow the format of the previous manga post, where I just jot my reactions and general thoughts down as I go along.

---April 3---

Volume 26

CLASH OF THE ELDIANS The deadly pageant directed by and starring Willy Tybur clearly illustrates the threat posed by the island of Paradis, as the dangerous rebel Eren Yeager mows down civilians and deals a massive blow to the Marleyan army. Meanwhile, the Eldian soldiers including Mikasa, Connie, and Sasha sow chaos in the city and disrupt military communications. But the battle between Eren and the War Hammer Titan isn't over, and it's about to draw in the full might of this land's warriors...

• What a fantastic mix of fast paced action and plot furtherance. There are unspoken tensions among the Eldians, it seems like, unsurprisingly, there's been a big enough or significant enough act of insubordination. The Marleyans, the upstart warrior candidates - well, mostly Gabi - are righteously indignant. I expect that even when she learns some truth, presumably from Reiner, that she's still be hungry for revenge, a la Eren.
• "Eldian empire?" That's weird.
• Poor Gabi, bought too much of the sales pitch. But there's hope for Falco. But then that's because he knows more?
• Zeke?! What is happening?! Was Reiner left out of the plan? If so, why? Who is Yelena?
• The "Anti-Marleyan Volunteers." Ooh, sounds ominous. But with a plan!
• Why do I feel bad for the Marleyans?
• I'm suspicious of Yelena in this panel where ?Onyankopon? is asserting freedom of thought.
• Nihilistic Armin! I like it.
• And I don't get these end of volume high school comic panels, but okay. But are they previewing something? Or referencing something that we'll find out happened in the last volume? I haven't really been reading them. Did Eren eat Historia? I guess we'll find out.

We're back to this big unknown behind the scenes conspiracy and I like it. Wheels are in motion, I'm not feeling like any true victory is possible for either side, but what is true victory. Maybe true victory is possible for others if there's a mutually assured destruction for Marley and Eldia. Anyway, 5 stars.

---April 4--- 

Volume 27

MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT Eren has infiltrated Marley territory and dealt the empire a devastating blow. But the real goal of the mission was always to get Zeke back to Paradis Island in secrecy. Now that this Titan heir of royal blood is inside the Walls, the island's military government has its "earth-rumbling" weapon of mass destruction. But has this supposed deterrent actually started a countdown to total world war?

• Already, with the list of character, we have Historia listed here. But being that we just ended in a flashback, I wonder if we'll start in a flashback and if she's still alive.
• And then here's why these intro character sheets come in clutch. I thought Armin had been the soldier to trap Pieck and Porco. But not the dialogue, and the Armin's late appearance make sense. Okay.
• Okay, so Hizuru, clearly the stand-in for Japan, is the only nation friendly to Paradis, home of the Eldians. Are the Eldians then stand-ins for the Germans? Given all the Nazi Germany similarities. Are we doing some type of weird reverse racism thing here?
• Wow, Zeke's been playing the longest game.
• Historia gotta throw some box.
• Eren's a grown as man.
• I'm also surprised that in 5 years, with a timer on their lives, that, at least yet, seemingly Eren and Armin haven't been going buck wild, sowing oats.
• Who is Historia's baby daddy?
• Ooh, another plot at work?
• I love seeing Mikasa's delusions crushed. It's a mood.
• Or is Reiner involved?
• I've already forgotten why Willy Tybur wanted to raise a big Marleyan army. Thankfully I still have from vol. 24 on on loan, but that's still a lot.
• For future reference the Tybur family goal was "to bring the history of the Eldian empire to an end."
• Internal discussion of imperialism.
• Okay, so on the one hand, the sins of the father aren't the sins of the son? Except they are when the son benefits from them? But also, war is terrible. 
• But also, the Marleyan imperialist soldier/soldier-in-training demonizing the Eldians for their imperialism is fantastic irony.
• Double agent?! That would make sense.
• How do you go from just trying to survive to trying to impose your military might on the world?
• wow, I'm actually feeling sad for Mikasa. Her delusions have been shattered.
• Who is this woman by the fountain? And no, who really is Yelena?
• WHAT IS THE TRUTH?

There was a lot of story told, but again, more questions than answers. But still enjoyable. 4 stars.

*(More shower thoughts) But no, really, are the Eldian’s stand-ins for the Nazi Germans? Who are the Marleyans then?*