Attack on Titan: Before the Fall

In the decades before the Titans breached humanity’s walls, Attack on Titan: Before the Fall (2014–2019) explores the origins of the anti-Titan weaponry and the first, desperate attempts to fight back. Published by Kodansha USA, this 17-issue prequel series expands the world of Hajime Isayama’s manga, focusing on the inventors and soldiers who pioneered the technology that would later define the Survey Corps. Written by Ryo Suzukaze and illustrated by Satoshi Shiki, the story grounds the epic conflict in the gritty, early struggles of a society still learning to resist its monstrous enemies. It matters as a crucial piece of the Attack on Titan mythos, showing how hope and innovation first flickered in the shadow of despair.