\ ff Episode, CH y, aii sealA A Basic O it f th Poel - Vertical ManAiveric Devices Avatlablelinionmation ‘THE OPERATING DEVICE IS RUN BY A BLACK BOX (TECHNICAL SPECS, MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENT OF THESE SPECS ARE SECRET). (THE VERTICAL, MAIN TAP MANEUVERING DEVICE) CONNECTED TO THE ‘STEEL WIRE IS STORED IN CYLINDER Z THE OPERATIVE SECTION aff ® consecrey | > TOTHE BELT STEEL OE connecteD 10 INDEPENDENTLY WIRE TO 3 1 THE OPERATING PIERCE DEVICE TNS, GAS IS BLOWN ETC. DIRECTLY AT THE FAN TO WAKE IT SPIN. ¥v THE PART THAT BLOWS GAS TOWARDS THE FAN AND THE EMISSION B) SYSTEM ARE BLACK “\ BOXES (TECHNICAL \,_ SPECS, MAINTENANCE \ SAND IMPROVEMENT OF 5S. \ Ng THESE SPECS ARE HU) \s SECRET) X \% , \ ) THE EMISSION SYSTEM IS SHAPED LIKE A ‘SHUTTLECOCK SO (T DOESN'T INTERFERE WITH (PARTS OF GAS PRESSURE IS THE GAS COMING THE FAN) ADJUSTED TO MANAGE IN THROUGH THE THE OUTPUT. INTAKE PORT. THE GAS IS COMPRESSED INTO THE CYLINDER, THEN INJECTED INTO THE TUBE. THANKS TO MY SCIENTIST FRIEND WHO HELPED ME COME UP WITH THIS!May pully LM foe py4 __—— ND TANTS be @ oO SNOT ALL! oo ee ae p ‘i eTHIS IS THE ONLY ONE THAT CANBREAK 2 THROUGH THE ge zai i= oO = HR uD uPTHIS ANY TIME TO YOu TRAINEES, DOING?! ISN'T PLUGGED UP FAST, WE'LL GET ANOTHER TITAN INCURSION ITO YOUR POSTS ON THE DOUBLE!EVACUATE { CALMLY! THEREFORE, WE IN THE GARRISON ARE CURRENTLY ALONE IN REPAIRING THE WALL AND. PREPARING. FOR AN INCURSION. LEAVE ALL MATERIAL, POSSESSIONS BEHIND! REGRETTABLY, THE SURVEY CORPS, WHICH HAS THE MOST ACTUAL COMBAT EXPERIENCE, IS OUTSIDE THE WALL ON AN EXPLORATORY EXPEDITION.KY THINGS WILL SN _ SETTLE DOWN SOON! YOU TRAINEES FA PASSED THE | GRADUATION DRILLS! You'RE =U} FIRSTCLASS SOLDIERSTHEY PUT THAT ROCK THERE TO PLUG AHOLE, BUT WE CAN'T EVEN MOVE Tl MINATE. THE HUMAN RACE AT ANY TIME!! S-STILL... THIS jj ISN'T GOOD! WE'VE STILL GOT AN EIGHT-METER HIGH HOLE IN THE WALL AND NO WAY TO FIX \T QUICKLY! AND THE MOMENT WE REALIZE WE CAN'T FILL IN THE HOLE, THIS TOWN WILLBE, ABANDONED... AFTER THAT, (T'S. ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THEY GET THROUGH WALL ROSE... TO SAS BEGIN WITH...YOUR DUTIES ARE SUPPORT, COMMUNICATIONS, TITAN-KILLING AND ANYTHING. ELSE THAT'S NEEDED. YOU TRAINEES ARE MIDDLE AND THE GARRISON’S ELITE UNIT WILL BE EVERY LAST MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD HAS SAFELY EVACUATED. SUST LIKE IN YOUR TRAINING, EACH SQUAD WILL TAKE A DIFFER- ENT STREET. YOU'RE UNDER GARRISON COMMAND. THE GARRISON WILL TAKE A \IANGUARD... TIME FOR US FREELOADERS TO PAY OUR TAB. WE'VE GOTTA DEFEND WALL ROSE TO THEBE PREPARED TO SACRIFICE YOUR LIVES, PEOPLE. OH, AND AS YOU'RE AWARE, DESERTING IN THE FACE OF THE ENEMY \S CONSIDERED A CAPITAL OFFENSE.THINGS DON'T GO BY THE BOOK IN CHAOTIC. CIRCUM- STANCES. TRAINEE MIKASAI! MNT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?! WE'RE \FTHE ON DIFFERENT BATTLE ‘SQUADS! \\Waan GETS Sy } yt HAIRY, FIND ME. YOU'VE BEEN SPECIALLY \Y AssigNeD ‘Y TOREAR- GUARD!EVAC'S GOING SLOWLY RIGHT NOW, SO WE NEED THE BEST OF THE BEST GUARDING THE HUMANITY ISON THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION AND YOU'RE TRYING TO > ENOUGH, QoL MIKASA! DICTATE YOUR OWN RULES?! WASN'T THINKING IDOWNE A FAVOR TO ASK... JUST ONE...ICANT DIE HERE. EVEN IN OUR WRITTEN ABOUT THE ORIGINOFTHE = TITANS. WE KNOW NEXT TO NOTHING ABOUT THEM STILL DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE WORLD OUTSIDE \\ OUR WALL...Irsers , THERE IS NO PRECEDENT FOR MUTUAL. THEIR BODIES HAVE EXTREMELY HIGH TEMPERATURES AND, STRANGELY, THEY SHOW ABSOLUTELY NO INTEREST IN LIFE, FORMS OTHER THAN BUT WHEN WE CONSIDER THAT THEY EXISTED IN AN ENVIRONMENT DEVOID OF PEOPLE FOR OVER 100 YEARS... WE MAY MAKE THE CONJECTURE THAT TITANS, DON’T ACTUALLY NEED HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO CONFIRM WHETHER THE TITANS POSSESS, INTELLI- GENCE. WHAT WE'VE LEARNED ABOUT THE TITANS, SUCH AS THEIR MODE OF LIFE, WE OWE TO THE LATEST REPORTS BY THE SURVEY STRUCTURE OF THE TITAN BODY IS FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT FROM OTHER LIVING BEINGS... THEY HAVE NO SEXUAL ORGANS AND THE METHOD BY WHICH THEY REPRODUCE |S UNKNOWN. MOST OF THEM TEND TO HAVE AMALE PHYSIQUE. TITANS’ SOLE BEHAVIORAL PRINCIPLE (S EATING HUMAN BEINGS...RATHER PURELY KILLING. TITANS’ ASTOUNDING ABILITY TO ‘SURVIVE. THERE ARE INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES, BUT IN MOST CASES, HEADS THAT ARE BLOWN OFF REGENERATE IN ONE TO TWO MINUTES. HOWEVER, THAT ALONE WASN'T ENOUGH TO COPE WITH ORIN OTHER WORDS, THEIR PURPOSE ISN'T PREDATORY... _ THE MAIN REASON THE J HUMAN RACE HAS BEEN DRIVEN INTOA CORNER... ‘SINCE LONG AGO, HUMANITY HAS POSSESSED ENOUGH POWER TO BLOW THE TITANS’ HEADS OFF.AIM FOR RIGHT HERE! IFA TITAN SUSTAINS MAJOR DAMAGE HERE, \T DOESN'T REGENERATE, BUT DIES. AT PRESENT, THE MOST EFFICACIOUS MEANS OF REPELLING THE ENEMY IS THROUGH COMBAT ‘SKILLS THAT MAKE. THE BEST USE OF MOBILITY. yy UKE IT’S, NOT BAD ENOUGH THAT THEY'RE HUGE... WA a THERE'S ONE WAY THIS AREA BELOW THE OCCIPITAL, REGION, AT THE NAPE OF THE FOR THAT VERY PURPOSE, YOU MUST ALL MASTER THIS, VERTICAL MANUEVERING EQUIPMENT.STEEL WIRE DISCHARGED FROM INSIDE A CYLINDER IS REELED IN THROUGH PRESSURIZED GAS. \NORDER TO CUT THROUGH A CHUNK OF TOUGH MEAT, THE BLADE IS MADE TO BE FLEXIBLE. \F THE ATTACK HITS THE TITAN'S VITAL SPOT, IT DIES INSTANTLY, BEFORE (TS REGENERATIVE SYSTEM CAN KICK IN. THE FIRING MECHANISM AT] BOTH SIDES OF THE WAIST LAUNCHES AN ANCHOR. THIS DEVICE ‘TO OPERATE THIS RE- PLACEABLE BLADE |S YOUR WEAPON. YOU USE THESE TWO BLADES TO SLICE THROUGH THE AREA.f THISISA Good ea AS Vz ano waren YY HOW FAST wecet bf PROMOTED FX OP THE LADDER! A BUT ALOT OF PEOPLE FROM OUR CLASSARE fi APPLYINGFOR NNN THE SURVEY CoRPs!!YOU LEFT ME IN THE DUST BEFORE, EREN, BUT THIS TIME, T'MKEEPINGON?! USUALLY, OUR PEERS IN THE VANGUARD THEY'RE EVEN ROPING THE MIDDLE GUARD. INTO THE VANGUARD?!= IT'SNOT = LKEIWASsosdaus--HAVE TO WATCH... RADES BEING EATEN?IT'S ABOOK ABOUT THE tl OUTSIDE WORLD! ACCORDING TO THE BOOK, THE MAJORITY OF THIS WORLD IS COVERED BY WATER CALLED THIS... MY GRANDPA HAD IT HIDDEN AWAY! THIS IS MUCH MORE \MPORTANT THAN THAT! A BOOK ABOUT THE OUTSIDE WORLD?! THAT'S. \LLEGAL! YOU'RE GONNA GET CAUGHT BY THE MP BRIGADE!THE OUTSIDE WORLD MUST BETEN TIMES BIGGER THAN INSIDE THE WALL NO, THAT'S THE THING! THE “SEN' IS SO HUGE, IT CAN'T BE DEPLETED! (LIAR! T. MEAN, SALT?! THAT WOULD BEA TREASURE TROVE! MERCHANTS WOULD'VE ALREADY EXHAUSTED THE SUPPLY! ‘SAYS THE “SEA'IS, ALL SALT AND IT'S NOT JUST AHEAPOF f. SALTILSOT... GOING TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD... Q u i Cc K L YContinued in Volume 2SHINX-SAN OUMI-SAN SOMETIMES TAKANIWA-SAN EVERYONE WHO READ “ATTACK ON TITAN” THANK YOU VERY MUCHULTRA-SPECIAL TET are EU Ha. iy Ly TTD) y Aoi We asked you, the readers, to send in questions you want to ask Mr. Isayama, and many of you obliged. We pitched them one by one to Mr. lsayama and he came back with answers we never would've expected. This interview of a sort demands to be read and we're using several pages to bring it to you. We weren't able to print every single question and answer, but please enjoy the Qand A with as much space as we were able to provide! EDITOR: Thank you for being here today. We've received a lot of questions from the readers. Please answer to the best of your ability. MR. ISAYAMA (hence referred to as ISA): | have a feeling most of my answers will be boring, but... fire away, Nothing is taboo. EDITOR: Then let's begin. “Why did you decide on giants as the theme of this work?" ISA: Well, giants are kind of gross, aren't they? That's why. “Has anything in your life changed since the series has become so popular?” ISA: | got a weird phone call from my bank. They were wondering about the sudden increase of funds in my savings, so they probably thought | was running some bank transfer scam. (LOL) “Do you have a way to clear out the cobwebs when youre tired or when you need to decide some important story point?” ISA: Shadowboxing with the hanging lamp cord in my house is very soothing. “What made you decide to become a manga artist?” ISA: | just decided one day, is all. | had a habit of doodling and daydreaming anyway, so | was fortunate that my interests were compatible with something that's profitable. “Mr. lsayama, what is your fetish?" ISA: | have a body hair fetish. “How do you get over those times when making manga gets tough?" ISA: | don't. (al) | think it's always equal parts tough and fun. “Where do you get your ideas for stories?”ISA: This doesn't have to do with creating stories, but when I'm half- awake, like just before | drift off to sleep, my mind gets flooded with information I've seen or heard subconsciously. | call it “Super Enlighten- ment Time.” And this is true, I'm not kidding. “lf a character fram another manga series in Betsu Maga became a Titan, what would it look like?" ISA: Maybe something like this. EDITOR: I'm surprised! You actually drew a sketch here! ISA: Yes. | said that nothing was taboo, so... (LOL) I'm worried that Ill get blasted for overdoing it in the sketch... A signed sketch by an artist. e W m wr. kavama respects. Mr. Nine. | apologize with you. But on to the next question... “ls there a manga artist It’s @ treasured possession that: EDITOR: Well, if you do ruffle some feathers with this, I'll ga over and ngs on fs Wall wham you respect? ISA: There are plenty of them. Of course, there are my fellow manga artists in Betsu Maga, but also Tsutomu Nihei, Ryouji Minagawa, Kentarou Miura, Hideki Arai, Tooru Mitsumine, and | could go on and on. I'm still a fledgling. “Who is your favorite character in Atak on Titan?" ISA: That would be Jean. Jean comes right out and says what he's thinking, even if it's samething you normal ly wouldn't be able to say. That's what | like about him. “Qut of all the manga you've read, which has had the most NATE) sci EG8 PON abe are y * i #5 "How far ahead do you have Attack on Titan platted aut?” He 4 a 3 In terms of broad strokes, I've got it pretty well thought out a # ‘ 2 to way, way down the line. And I've got outlines that say like, e a such-and-such a truth will be revealed in volume § and around ‘Jean Kirstein. T like the name, too. volume 10, this situation is going to happen. See, if | didn't decide these things before it sees publication, | wouldn't even I'm actually working on it... “Wha ISA: He's got a permanent crease on his nose from his glasses. “Aren't you going to have female Titans?” ISA: | wonder if | should say this... They're rare. “| always forget how the kanji for “Isa in your last name goes. Is there a good way to remember how to write it?" ISA: You can write it however. I'll answer either way. “Mr. lsayama, | want to see where you work!” ISA: That's the one thing | hope you'll cut me some slack on! | really don't want to show you, since it's a mess... “If you were on a desert island and could only have three things, what would you choose besides me and a guitar?" ISA: Other than you and a guitar, | guess | would bring a U.S. armed forces fleet. “No special question.” : | ISA: Whaaat?! ; wag" We went ahead and took ‘Mr. Isayama, what were yau like as a child? photos of Mr. Isayama’s studio. be able to come up with ideas. Although | don’t flesh it out until fo you think of Miyajima (Masanori Miyajima)?"ISA: | don't really want ta recall my childhood... “Do you use a model for the Titans?" ISA: For the Titan version of Eren, | use martial artist Yuushin Okami's body as a model. My ideal is the physique of a middleweight mixed martial ertist. | only use the shape of the body as a model. “Im guessing that drawing Titans after a long time would do things to your mind. Do you have nightmares about them?” ISA: | don't think giants are really aban in the first place, so no, never. “What's the scariest thing in the world?” ISA: A bunch of middle school girls looking at me and gaing, "Ewwww" while laughing. “Please tell me your basic one-month schedule.” ISA: | take a week to storyboard and three weeks to draw. “Mikasa is always wearing the scarf she gat from Eren. Doesn't she get hot?" ISA: She doesn't wear it when it's hot outside. “Mr. Isayama, at what age did you start drawing?" ISA: | have a memory of being praised for a drawing | did of a dragon when | was in kindergarten. “Are you sometimes mistaken for the manga artist who does the series GIANT KILLING (about soccer)?" ISA: Just recently, my own editor made that mistake. “What manga do you recommend right now?" ISA: All-rounder Meguru and Iran Wind! “Me. Isayama, which character in Attack on Titan most resembles you?” Hmm... Mr. Hannes and the Garrison soldiers in volume | who sit around drinking booze. “Is there a story that you want to do after finishing Attack on Titans?" ISA: There's a story I've had in my mind since high school. If | get lucky enough for it to be published someday, | hope everyone reads it! “Do you have a favorite scene in Attack on Titan?" ISA: The scene where the TV studio gets These Garrison soldiers drink alcoho! in ] taken over and rack ‘n' rall music is the middle of the afternoon, Surely avi S Mr. Isayama doesn't do that at work?! | Playing. oorry... a ‘What's your favorite food? i A ISA: I'm not really inta food.** { “How do you spend your free time?” \ ff | ISA: Drooling as | surf the net. i} H “What would you look like if you were a Titan, Mr. lsayama?" (— Mi ISA: I'm sure I'd look something like this. (LOL) | I] EDITOR: Thank you very much! One last question. “From what page does the stary really get going?” > ISA: Just wait for the 420th page and up! Please keep reading! \ * This interview originally appeared in Bessatsu Shonen Magazine December 2010 issue. al “*Apparently, if he's not careful, he'll drop to 40 kilos [88 lbs] without realizing it... Scary in 8 way.