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"Attack on Titan" is a series that is so detailed, phenomenally written and planned that it's hard to believe any other series could hold a torch too it- even if it shares the same name. "Attack on Titan: Before the Fall" might not be as impressive, ground-breaking, and beautiful as it's sequel counterpart, however it still effectively explores the themes of freedom, conflict and the nature of humanity through the parallelism of Kuklo and Eren Jaeger in the harsh, cruel setting of Paradis. The boy born of titan and the titan born of man, both rejected by a fearful and ignorant society yet standing tall ... as a symbol of hope against the oppression of their enemies. A romantic tale wrapped in bloodshed, caged by iron bars and hardened walls.

An aspect of "Before the Fall" (as it will be referred to as to differentiate from "Attack on Titan") that most compares the text to it's parent series is the idea that the titans are truly the oppressors. However, Attack on Titan later reveals that the titans are merely a force symbolic of the racism and prejudice of the Marleyan people, organic weapons abusing the cursed blood of the Eldians who reside on Paradis as a means of twisted irony. Comparatively, Kuklo believes that the titans would one day steal his peoples freedom once again, breaking through the walls that protect and cage the banished Eldians, a foreshadowing as to the events of the Marleyan warriors 55 years in the future. Whilst Kuklo is motivated to prevent this eventual attack from happening, Eren is motivated by the same attack that Kuklo had predicted. Both motivated by the same event, 55 years prior and '2,000' years after, and incredible use of both characters and their potential.

Attack on Titan has many arcs exploring themes of anti-government and authoritarian state, which is the catalyst of Kuklo's story. Being the 'son of a titan', Kuklo himself was purchased as if an object by the royal family. In Attack on Titan, it's later revealed that the royal family is fake and is being used as a front for a shadow government in the innermost walls of Paradis. The very people that abused Kuklo had no authority, a facade used to further parallel unjustifiable prejudice. The hypocrisy of false authority that had caused the very inception of Paradis, and continues to spawn hatred through the Marleyan's and titan's that scratch at the walls every waking moment. A cycle of hatred that is perpetuated through the abuse of Kuklo, who himself is caged and surrounded by oppressive monsters.

In spite of some plot holes such as titan's moving at night and Marley being to the South of Shiganshina, Before the Fall is nothing short of a worthy prequel to Attack on Titan's legacy and is a must-read for any fans of the series. The tone of the series is much more hopeful and light in comparison to the main text, being much more generically conventional to that of a Shonen series, and it's a great refresher after the crushing, harrowing end to the main series. Humanity is awful, but perhaps the son of titan and his friends can revolt against the prejudice in and outside of the walls.