Attack on Titan is like fast food. Enjoy it while it's hot. You shouldn't think about or doubt it while you're reading it; just keep reading and enjoy the actions, plot twists, and deaths. If you take too long to read it, the plot will become nonsense.

Attack on Titan is highly enjoyable. It doesn't have fan-service to distract you, no 30 chapter long fight scenes, nor does it drag on about the importance of friendship and other garbage that shounen mangas force you to worship. It's flat out action with "kill or be killed" perspective. The fights are thrilling, the deaths are emotional, the plot twists are surprising, and the setting is mysterious.

The manga tries to keep it real: humans are fragile, corrupted, greedy, and mostly selfish. I guess that's the selling point of this manga. Where you have characters shooting beams out of their mouth in most mangas, here is an action manga that actually shows that humans are not invisible. It doesn't matter if the character is major or minor, death is an inevitable fate, and the mangaka doesn't hesitate to kill his characters. Death isn't glorifying, it's not sweet, it's not fun, and for a soldier, it definitely isn't welcomed. This is where the enjoyment hits the peak, the idea that a death in battlefield is anything but important. The war goes on and lost ones are replaces. Some rue, some forget. But the courage to fight knowing dismal rates of survival is truly heroic and when the protagonists achieve victory, you can feel it. I guess this part of Attack on Titan is what I enjoy, it's keen details on death, human nature, and sacrifice.

Now, I told you to read it as quickly as you can. Why? The plot is a mess. It lacks originality and logic. The whole idea of monsters invading humans and fighting monsters with monsters is copied from Claymore. It's sad just how much it borrows from the older series. The concept of corruption, mysterious setting, and grand conspiracy all comes of Claymore. I can go on about every little thing Attack on Titan borrow (copies) from Claymore, but it would be a disappointing experience.

The other thing wrong with the plot is its inconsistent pacing and explanations. The author tried to put too many ideas into one story; it's just a big mess. It has come to the point where the author is contradicting himself and pulling out explanations out of the blue. And as each chapter moves on, the only thing interesting to happen is character deaths.

Characters, like the story itself, is also copies. Hot-headed young man with power trying to pursue goals with help of childhood friends under a prodigy lieutenant in an organization full of conspiracy that is somehow related to the character's father...yes, it's Fullmetal Alchemist all over again. There is just nothing to speak about them, no originality whatsoever.

I can't give it a 10, 9, or 8. It's not creative, not original, nor full of intelligence. It doesn't bring anything new to the table. It's a mix of Claymore and Fullmetal Alchemist set with an apocalypse setting. It's not qualified for a 7 either. But it's enjoyable. It's fun to read. I appreciate the author's effort to portray the dark themes, and he executes them well. And with a sketchy, unique, and not-moe art style, the author deserves a little praise.

As I said, read it quick, appreciate the intense setting and action. Appreciate the twists and turns. Be overwhelmed by the titans and their actions. Be anxious about the culprits, be thrilled by the conspiracy. Just don't think, don't compare, that's the best way to enjoy this manga.

Overall: 6.25