Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama is one of my favorite series, so when I heard they were coming out with Attack on Titan Colossal Editions I was excited, to say the least. Mainly because I was looking forward to experiencing the series all over again in this new, larger format, but also because I’m a sucker for special editions as well. But how do they stack up to the individual volumes, box sets, and omnibuses, and most importantly, are they worth it?
With the manga now completed with the release of Volume 34 and the anime about to wrap up with Attack on Titan Season 4 Part 2 airing in January 2022, it is a great time to get into the series with new editions, such as the Colossal Editions, and more recently, the Attack on Titan omnibuses being released. I also wrote an in-depth comparison of the best way to read Attack on Titan, if you can’t decide between all of the different formats available.
Check out my full review and get an inside look at the first Attack on Titan Colossal Edition below!
Attack on Titan Colossal Edition vs Normal Volumes – What makes them different from the individual volumes and Attack on Titan manga box sets?
At the time of writing this post, you can purchase Attack on Titan’s manga in three formats: Individual volumes, box sets, and Colossal Editions. As to where each is at in terms of release, the Attack on Titan individual volumes are currently fully released, whereas the Colossal Editions have only been released up through Volume 30 so far.
The Attack on Titan manga box sets are even more behind the Colossal Editions since they align with each season of Attack on Titan’s anime with the most recent to be released from Attack on Titan, Season 3 (Part 2) that collects Volumes 18-22. Since the time of writing this post, Attack on Titan omnibuses are releasing and they are 3-in-1 editions with Volume 1, which collects Attack on Titan Volumes 1-3, having been released in October 2021.
The benefits of the individual volumes are that you stay up to date with the series as it’s released and you can collect each individual cover. The benefits to the box sets are that you can get the volumes for a cheaper price when you can find them on sale and they come with exclusive items, such as short story books.
If you are looking for the cheapest way to collect AoT though, it is going to be through the omnibuses that began releasing in Fall 2021. Finally, the benefits of the Colossal Editions are their extra-large format, they are a good deal in terms of price, and they also have color pages that are not published in any other book.
How many volumes of the Attack on Titan Colossal Editions are there
At the time of writing this post, 6 Attack on Titan Colossal Editions have released, Attack on Titan Colossal Edition 1 collects volumes 1-5, Attack on Titan Colossal Edition 2 collects volumes 6-10, Attack on Titan Colossal Edition 3 collects volumes 11-15, Attack on Titan Colossal Edition 4 collects volumes 16-20, Attack on Titan Colossal Edition 5 collects volumes 21-25, Attack on Titan Colossal Edition 6 collects volumes 26-30, Attack on Titan Colossal Edition 7 collects volumes 31-34.
In terms of how many Attack on Titan Colossal Editions there will be since they each collect five individual volumes of Attack on Titan, and with there being 34 volumes that complete the series, there will be 7 Attack on Titan Colossal Editions.
Where to Shop the Attack on Titan Colossal Editions
Potential Negatives to Buying the Colossal Editions
The Colossal Editions take longer to release
If you’re someone who wants to catch up on the manga soon, you may want to consider the individual volumes, because the Attack on Titan Colossal Editions will not be fully released until late 2022. With that said, it does take longer for these specially formatted books to release, which may be seen as a negative by some.
The large format can make it difficult to read at times
While the larger format really benefits the art, which I’ll get into in the positives below, I will say that it is somewhat tough to read at times. With the thickness of the book, it takes some time for the spine to become flexible and even after it has become flexible, until you get to a certain point in the book, words can sometimes be difficult to read because they become obstructed by the centerfold.
I found myself having to move my head in weird positions to fully read some pages, which was somewhat frustrating. But just when I’d start getting annoyed with this issue, a panel would show up that would make me enamored yet again by its larger format.
The Colossal Editions are heavy
Also important to note is that the books are heavy, so they do live up to their colossal name. This is one you’ll have to read in your lap or on a desk. It’s not one that can be easily held. The one thing I wish is that the Colossal Editions came with hardcovers, because the covers are rather flimsy for the weight of the book.
Because of this, you really have to be careful when reading that you don’t dent or crease the cover and you also have to put it back on the shelf with care to prevent any rips or tears, especially around the corners and spine. If you are wanting something that’s more portable or something you can take and read with you along the way, the Colossal Editions may not be for you since they are quite cumbersome to travel with due to their size.
Benefits to buying the Attack on Titan Colossal Editions
The extra-large format makes the art and panels in Attack on Titan look even better
In my opinion, the positives of the Colossal Editions far outweigh its negatives. The larger format, which is 7×10.5in size in comparison to the individual volumes 5×0.64×7.44in, allows the art in Attack on Titan to have an even greater impact with massive panels that make the scenes and moments in the series even more impressive to witness. Yet another bonus to Colossal Editions are the colored pages within them that you can’t see anywhere else. These look amazing as well and add even more to the reading experience.
The Colossal Editions take up less space on the shelf
Another big positive to the Colossal Editions is that they save space on the shelf, and if you are someone like me who is constantly running out of room, this is a huge plus. To give you an idea, five volumes of Attack of Titan take up around 3.5in give or take versus approximately 1.5in for one Colossal Edition that contains the same amount of volumes.
Final Verdict: Are the Attack on Titan Colossal Editions worth it?
I personally really love and prefer the Attack on Titan Colossal Editions even though there are some improvements that can be made, but whether they are worth it or not depends on your preferences and needs as a reader. They will allow fans who’ve already read the manga to get a whole new reading experience thanks to its larger format, but they are also a good starting point for first-time readers as well.
I especially recommend them if you are someone who prefers a larger format and wants to save shelf space. But if you are someone who wants to read the volumes as they are released or are in search of a lighter book you can take with you on the run, I would recommend the individual volumes instead.
You can get an inside and all-around look at the first Attack on Titan Colossal Edition in the video below!
Attack on Titan Colossal Editions Review with Inside Look of Volume 1 Video
As of now, these are the Colossal Editions that are currently out for release, but more are on the way with the sixth Edition releasing on September 28th, 2021 according to Amazon.
In other manga news, check out all the manga that’s releasing in 2022!
