Attack on Titan: Before the Fall Review: The Origin Story of the Vertical Maneuvering Equipment and Humanity's First Attempts to Fight Back
by Satoshi Shiki & Ryo Suzukaze
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Quick Take
- A prequel that earns its existence by exploring something genuinely interesting — how the vertical maneuvering equipment was invented and what the world looked like when fighting back wasn't yet possible
- Kuklo's specific origin — born from inside a Titan — gives him an unusual position that the series uses thoughtfully
- 21 volumes complete; substantial prequel for Attack on Titan fans
Who Is This Manga For?
- Attack on Titan readers who want the world's history before the main series
- Anyone interested in how the Survey Corps technology was developed
- Fans of the main series who want more content in the same universe
- Readers who want complete prequel action with the same tone
Content Warnings & Age Rating
Age Rating: T+ (Older Teen) Content Warnings: Titan violence consistent with main series; prequel death of significant characters; body horror elements
T+ rating — consistent with the main series' content level.
Yu's Rating
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Story Depth | ★★★★☆ |
| Art Style | ★★★★☆ |
| Character Development | ★★★★☆ |
| Accessibility for Non-Japanese Readers | ★★★☆☆ |
| Reread Value | ★★★☆☆ |
Story Overview
Generations before Eren Yeager, the world inside the walls was different: the Survey Corps barely existed, the vertical maneuvering equipment had not yet been developed, and fighting Titans was considered essentially impossible.
Kuklo was born from a Titan's stomach after it consumed his mother — he survived in a way no one survived. This makes him an object of fear and disgust in a world that considers Titans monsters. He has been imprisoned as a curiosity and called "Titan's Child."
The series follows his escape, his encounter with the people who will develop the equipment that changes everything, and his participation in the first real attempt to build tools for fighting back.
Characters
Kuklo — A protagonist whose origin puts him at the intersection of human and Titan in a purely physical sense; his determination to be human despite his origin is the character's fundamental drive.
Cardina Baumeister — A character whose technical intellect is the series' innovation driver; the development of the ODM gear through his work is the prequel's most interesting content.
Art Style
Shiki's art maintains visual consistency with the main series' aesthetic — Titan designs, Survey Corps visual language, and the walled world's architecture are all recognizable.
Cultural Context
Before the Fall serves the function of all prequels in established world-building: filling in the implied history that the main series references without depicting. The specific choice to center on ODM gear development is effective because it is something the main series treats as given that readers have never seen invented.
What I Love About It
The gear development. Watching the process by which the vertical maneuvering equipment is designed — the problems, the failures, the gradual improvements — is genuinely interesting. The main series uses this gear on every page; knowing how it came to exist gives that usage additional weight.
What English-Speaking Fans Say
Western readers describe Before the Fall as the best-justified Attack on Titan spinoff — specifically noted for the ODM gear development being genuinely interesting rather than just setting, for Kuklo's origin being used thoughtfully, and for the 21-volume scope giving the prequel genuine depth. Recommended for fans who want the full world history.
Memorable Scene ⚠️ Spoiler Warning
The first successful use of prototype vertical maneuvering equipment — imperfect, dangerous, but demonstrably possible — is the series' most significant moment as a prequel and the payoff for the development arc.
Similar Manga
- Attack on Titan — The main series; recommended before this
- Attack on Titan: No Regrets — AoT prequel about Levi
- Attack on Titan: Lost Girls — AoT side story focusing on female characters
- Vinland Saga — Historical action with similar commitment to world-building
Reading Order / Where to Start
Read the main Attack on Titan series first. Before the Fall is prequel content most rewarding for readers already familiar with the world.
Official English Translation Status
Kodansha published the complete English series. All 21 volumes available.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ODM gear development is genuinely interesting
- Kuklo's origin is used thoughtfully
- Complete at 21 volumes
- Consistent with main series tone
Cons
- Requires familiarity with main series for full appreciation
- Long commitment for spinoff content
- Some characters are less developed than main series cast
Format Comparison
| Format | Notes |
|---|---|
| Individual Volumes | Kodansha; complete series |
| Digital | Available |
Where to Buy
Get Attack on Titan: Before the Fall Vol. 1 on Amazon →
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*Affiliate link — I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Written by
Yu
Manga Enthusiast from Japan
I grew up in Japan and manga literally saved me during a tough time in elementary school. My English isn't perfect, but my love for manga is real — and I want to share it with you.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.