#very thankful this chapter isnt nearly as involved as the last one. god genuinely how the fuck did i manage 17k words in a month

[gontagokuhara]

its a miracle (im writing on the pointy objects doc)

[snkpolls]

SnK Chapter 97 Poll Results

The chapter 97 poll closed with 1,235 responses. Thank you to everyone for participating.

  RATE THE CHAPTER (1,157 RESPONSES)

This is the highest rated chapter since we started asking this question 6 months ago. Many were delighted to see Eren again and felt that the plot was moving forward.

This is the chapter I've been waiting months for. Flashbacks with meaning. Plot progression. New revelations. Great chapter.

Best Marley chapter yet.

This chapter was honestly amazing, easily one of my favorite chapters. Not only do we get to see my boy Kenny again, Annie is there kicking his ass. We got Bertholdt's fortune telling sleeping positions(bless him). We got Reiner who is so fucking gone, I lost my shit for a second when I thought it was all gonna be over for him. Then we finally hear from the Tybur's and learn that Amputee-kun was Eren(no surprise with that one). Honestly just a beautiful chapter!

Made me more happy than getting a buy one get one coupon for Chick Fil A

Honestly I was expecting this chapter to be another flashback and generally boring instead I was pleasurably surprised by seeing my boi eren and Kenny ~wipes tear~ I JUST HAVE SO MANY FEELINGS ABOUT THIS CHAPTER O

This is the chapter we all needed. Finally, the plot's moving forward, and it's doing so really quickly! Hyped!

We went from "another useless flashback chapter" to "omg Isayama let us catch our breath" and this is hilarious. Not that I disliked flashback chapters, they were great...but THIS was THE chapter.

It's about time we had a chapter that pushed the plot forward and gave us some juicy reveals. The curtain has been down for far too long and it's now time for some conflict. Gimme grim reminder in the next chapter as well as more Pieck and Porky.

This chapter is just amazing. We got Eren as Amputee-kun, Willy Tybur, and a hint of Zekerets. Plus, there's also Eren's letter to look forward to. I feel like we'll be seeing the Paradis crew towards the end of Chapter 98. It serves as a great way to end the volume.

I was so happy to see the plot finally starting to move forwards again. I've loved getting the Marley perspective, but as I've said before, the pacing of these chapters has been abysmal. The plot's been largely stalled for nearly a year at this point, and I'm very excited to see it finally seeming to pick up direction again. 

  WHAT WAS THE BEST PART OF THE CHAPTER? (1,169 RESPONSES)

Things Involving Eren made up more than 55% of the vote. Anny vs Kenny pulled in 16.8% coming in third. And yes, I screwed up. I should’ve made Reiner’s suicide attempt a “best part” but I got caught up in the semantics of it all. I couldn’t see it as anything but a tragedy.

FINALLY!!! WE GOT TO SEE EVEN THE TINIEST GLIMPSE OF EREN.

Reiner's attempted suicide was one of the best moments of the chapter but you only made it an option under "worst"

Voted for nothing in the first two sections as the suicide attempt my favorite  part of the chapter in terms of emotion and character development.

Annie "badass" Leonhardt was definitely a highlight of this chapter, though Eren's conversation just edged out ahead

Eren's character development and understanding Falco's situation

Loved the insight into Reiner's frame of mind on paradis. It seems like he was just as much in denial while being a warrior as he was as a soldier. Neither seem to be his genuine self. Poor kid!

MY SON IS BACK, MY SON IS BACK!!! Also I will eat my left shoe if the whole survey corps isnt nearby. This plan just seems like it has Armin written all over it.

It's so exciting to finally have the plot picking up again after an entire year of mostly exposition and development. Shit is definitely going down at that Tyber festival. Also lets just call Billy Thor because I can't deal with the idea that that is his name

  WORST PART OF THE CHAPTER (1,080 RESPONSES)

What’s more tragic, the unfortunate name of the 9th titan shifter or Reiner’s desperate situation? Rather than include Reiner’s suicide in either of these questions, I probably should’ve just asked “How much do you want to hug Reiner?” because so many people do.

Lack of best girl Pieke

Can someone like... hug reiner?  

Fucking WILLY is his name?!?!?

We thought Reiner's life couldn't get worse. Isayama works his magic yet again.

Willy is a term for dick so in actuality his name is Dick Tybur, the Wardick titan shifter

Blessed Reigner need not turn to suicide, fulfillment is in the self

Willy the Warhammer is even worse than Billy.

Reiner's  suicide attempt was WICKED.

i wanna die almost as bad as reiner

  WHAT WAS THE BEST REVEAL? (1,173 RESPONSES)

The Best Reveal is that we were all correct about Eren being Amuptee-kun. In a series this unpredictable, we take our victories where we can.

Since we're right about Eren being Amputee-kun, we might (should) as well be right with Annie x Father Leonhardt siding with Paradis! (please)

That justice boner being exactly right about Eren being the bum.

Annie and crazy uncle Kenny did meet and were on screen together. That makes me happy. I'm trying to understand Kenny's appearance lol. Did Isayama miss him or what ?

    WE ASKED THIS LAST MONTH, BUT SINCE BERTOLT BROUGHT IT UP IT, LET’S DO IT AGAIN. DO YOU THINK ANNIE AND REINER ACTED ALONE AND KILLED THE MAN FOUND HANGING IN THE TREE? (1,087 RESPONSES)

When we first asked this question last month only 22% thought RBA might be involved in killing the man in order to create a bullet-proof hometown alibi.  With the inclusion of Bert’s nightmares and Reiner’s shady expression, it looks like more people are coming around to the idea.

Why the hell people still think RBA or RA killed that man? It makes absolutely no sense and has no basis in the story.They kept saying it last chapter and it was proven wrong, and now they say Bert just didn't know about it? Really? Why wouldn't they tell him? They always discuss everything together, why not this? That look Reiner gave Bert was just him worried about his friend having nightmares or, if he's in his warrior mindset, worried that it might affect his performance.

I think Reiner was clearly involved in the hanged man's death, but there's little to zero evidence Annie was involved. I think this chapter also emphasized, despite his affection for Bert, how unreliable Reiner considered Bert to be.

'the man who hung himself' srsly the answers right there are u retarded?

I actually think Reiner killed the old man solo and didn't tell Bertholdt and Annie, though I'm not quite sure why he would do that.

  CHAPTER 97'S "HOT OR NOT"

Annie got the most positive responses but it seems everyone is this chapter is hot except poor Magath. (That’s ok, Theo. I will continue to love you!)

Kenny is hot, Eren will be hot when he takes a shower, Reigner is hot too but is also broken beyond repair. This chapter fucked me up, everyone needs a rest.

You much awesomeness in this chapter! Willy is hot af!

I want Kenny to be my sugar daddy

My beautiful best girl Annie is back, and is cuter than ever. I love her. I want her to come back

my son looks like a hobo and I don't know how to cope with this

eren should fucking shave

Magath is making me wet with his humanity once more.

Annie is bae

  WHO WORE IT BETTER?

  LONG HAIR (1,172 RESPONSES)

For the "who wore it better" for long hair I didn't choose because both Willy and Eren look fab

Eren always looked a lot like his mother, but now he started looking like grisha too

The old Eren can't come to the phone rn. Why? Cause he's DEAD

eren became daddy

Eren looks like a pedo-hobo hybrid just so everyone knows.

How dare you not like Eren's hair mom

 👀

  PIGTAILS (1,126 Responses)

Poor Mina. Less than 30% felt like the original was better.

HAT (1,170 Responses)

Thank you fandom! My faith is restored.

THE " OH CRAP I'M USELESS" EXPRESSION (1,180 Responses)

Eren wins for now but hopefully Falco  has a few more years to work on mastering the expression.

  IN THIS PANEL, WILLY TYBUR IS: (1,090 Responses)

I think if I’d included a “both” option it would’ve been a landslide. Next chapter I hope we see Willy’s “I 💖 Helos” tattoo.

  WHERE DO YOU THINK WILLY TYBUR IS GOING TO LAND ON THE MORALITY SCALE (1,120 Responses)

The range was from “Cinnamon Roll (1)” to “Final Boss (5)”. Most people seem to think Willy will end up the series being mostly bad news.

I almost wonder if Billy is a red flag and is going to end up dead or eaten instead of serving as a "final boss"

Billy Tybur is totes gonna be morally ambiguous , like every other villain.

DO YOU THINK THE ORIGINAL HELOS WAS AN ACKERMAN? (1,122 Responses)

  WILLY SAID “MARLEY NEEDS HELOS ONCE MORE.” WHO DO YOU THINK THAT NEW HERO WILL BE? (1,054 Responses)

We are crazy divided on this question. While most seem confident the original Helos was an Ackerman, we have no idea who the new one will be.  Eren is narrowly ahead of Levi. Mikasa and Zeke are battling it out for third. And even Magath pulled in a  chunk of the vote with almost 7%. Gabi and Falco were popular choices. And Jean, Connie, Flocke, Sasha and Hange all got included as well.

Bertholdt rises from the dead and becomes the hero.

Obviously Mads I mean...duh

Pieck (As expected)

Falco will save marley with his cuteness

I really hope Mikasa, so she can be more relevant again.

I think Tybur referred to himself.

It's going to be Magath, but he will be used as a scapegoat; i don't see willy really trying to change the status quo.

There won't be a new Helos.  The idea of becoming Helos is the apple that Willy is using to tempt Magath into doing something horribly stupid that is probably going to get him killed and fuck up the lives of all of his Titan Children even more.  If that's even possible.

Udon, the reincarnation of Borutoruto, the God of Destruction and the right hand of Our Lord and Savior Reigner Braun.

Zofia, the true key character of this story, Helos reincarnated, Bringer of Doom and Savior of the Weak.

WHAT’S THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PANEL OF ZEKE ON THE PHONE: (1,100 Responses)

Slightly more than half the fandom believe the single panel of Zeke was included because he’s on the receiving end of Eren’s letter.

zeke looked like a fucking 70s teenage girl talking to her crush on the phone in that panel and that is the best part of the chapter to me

Zeke might be listening to the Willy/Magath coversation via a bug, or Magath wearing a wire. A Zeke/Magath plot is possible.

Significance of Zeke's panel is Zekerets

zeke's totally plotting something- don't know what but there's no way he's not. oh and eren pls. the mop needs to go.

I think Zeke was plotting with Magath, not the Tybur

I feel like Zeke being on the phone IS significant but not for any of the answers listed so I just had to say none.

what if Zeke was talking to one of the SC members & said something along the lines of ""He's here"" or something like that? Just thought that would kinda be badass.

  IS EREN IN MARLEY ON A PERSONAL MISSION OR A SURVEY CORPS ONE? (1,108 Responses)

I was a bit surprised that this chart was so lopsided. I think a strong case could be made either way as to whether or not Eren is operating alone.

The "It's hard for me to show my face to my family now" line honestly has me worried.  If the story takes it down this path as opposed to what we expect, then something ground-breaking must have happened during the time-skip.  Eren, Mikasa, and Armin have been through everything together.  If that was somehow torn apart, then so will my heart.

I wonder if Eren saying that he "can't go back" is a reference to Paradis (and he's acting on his own) or a reference to a more innocent past, where they knew nothing of the world and he didn't have all these memories inside him

I'm surprised there wasn't a question about whether or not Eren being there meant EMA separation, but I guess that'll be speculated until we get info one way or the other.

WHO IS EREN’S LETTER ADDRESSED TO (1,105 Responses)

The majority say the letter is for Zeke, but some write-ins include Pieck, Marcel and the Restorationists. Annie’s father showed up several times as well.

This question is Annie's father who happens to be harboring the Survey Corps

Armin and Mikasa explaining why he left alone without warning them

Eldian doctor that work with the owl

I think all these options are possible but I hope it's for Reiner.

I'm still debating on who it is but it's either Zeke or the SC

It could be either one of the survey corps or annie's father. I don't know, let's see in the future chapters ^^

It's not addressed to anyone, but delivering it is a signal to the others "Begin Operation Grim Reminder 2.0"

it's probably Zeke but I hope he contacts Reigner at some point

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO SEE IN CHAPTER 98? (CHOOSE 3) (1,190 Responses)

The recipient of the letter was top pick with 54% followed by the Tybur Family Festival with 44%. “The Survey Corp” and “Reiner and Eren Reunion” tied for third with 40.4%.

I really hope we don't have to wait too long to learn more about Eren's letter like we did with Ymir. Nonetheless I'm looking forward to future chapters!

I really need to see the Warhammer Titan in action

Can Reiner just be happy for once. Like please

This is it. Next chapter we'll get to see everyone else from paradis whether they're in Marley or not. It's the end of the volume! AAAH!

Damn excited for that festival!!!

Marley final arc is clearly a go now. Eren's in place, I suspect the Survey Corps are in place, reintroductions will happen soon and then everything will get moving. I still stand that 96 felt like stalling, but I totally get it, Isayama wants a big ch. 98 moment and we're getting it.

I really want to see more of Pieck and Porco. PLUS I want to see Porco meet Historia because that'd be an interesting conversation/fight!

I want to see adult Annie and Mikasa, and also Historia

My heart is beating whenever I think about chapter 98.

I'm really looking forward to knowing what the end-game is, and what plans the Teibers and Zeke have. Also, I'm really looking forward to what Eren is up to. I think next chapter is going to be a doozy and I can't wait!

  HOW BADLY DO YOU WANT TO RETURN TO THE ORIGINAL CAST ON PARADIS? (1,189 Responses)

Last month 58% would sell theirs souls to see the original cast. That was down very slightly this month to 54%. Despite Eren being included in this chapter most are still anxious for news about the rest of the Survey Corps.

With Amputee-kun being Eren, there is no reason to want to return to Paradis. The important stuff is happening in Liberio, Paradis has nothing new.

Now that eren is back i think that the story will stay in Marley till the end, barring the occasional flashback

Would like to see how the original cast looks now.

I miss Levi and it's been so long since we've seen any of the main cast.  It's nice to see the effects of the last four years on Reiner, but I'm very curious to see how Levi and the rest of the SC are dealing with their new knowledge, the loss of Erwin, their island without titans.  Please, please get back to the main cast. 

I wonder what is Mikasa's and the others' view on Eren's doings (yeah i understand that Marley is important but gimme Paradis already... please?

  WHICH CHARACTERS DO YOU GENERALLY ENJOY THE MOST (1,195 Responses)

Very little changed from last month. I suspect it will remain consistent from here on out.

I love the 104th with all my heart!! But they can only truly qualify as my favourite group if RBA are included...

  WHERE DO YOU PRIMARILY DISCUSS THE SERIES (1,103 Responses)

 We took away the “other” option on this question to simplify the results and  allowed people to check more than one. Hopefully this makes a better reflection of how we are discussing the series.

Thoughts about Reiner

Since I screwed Reiner over in the best/worst question, here’s a whole section of love for him

GIVE. REINER. HAPPINESS. NOW!!!

Plot armoured Titan strikes the feels.

#save reiner braun

Give Reiner some hapiness Isayama :(

That sequence of flashbacks interwoven with Reiner's suicide attempt are some of the strongest pages of this goddamn manga. I was so shook by it when I first saw it that I was left in a morbidly awed silence at how powerful the delivery was. I actually couldn't speak, so bravo isayama.

Reiner deserves all happines in this world

Reiner's suicide attempt made me cry and I've never been any more sad reading the manga..... Suicide is just such a realistic issue in reality that seeing it snk has affected me more than giant man-eating titans ever will

will reigner ever find happiness :(

Man I just really want Reiner to be happy :,((((

Give Reiner some happiness in his life, please ;_;

I hope ReinerxHappiness becomes canon someday.

I feel as if I lose 10 years of my life every time I see Reiner's suicide attempt.

Reiner's suicide attempt messed me up emotionally

Reiner's suicide attempt was the BEST part of the chapter

Reiner's thoughts  about  the  past  and  the  following suicide  attempt  will  fuck  me  up  for  a  whole  month. Please  help  him.  

Reiner was so heartbreaking. But so was eren GAH IT WAS SUCH A BITTERSWEET CHAPTER

Other Comments

I can’t list everything, but I read each comment and thank you for sharing your ideas. Some of the longer comments were theories that I enjoyed but don’t think belonged in the poll results. With some longer comments I extracted a few sentences rather than publish the whole thing.

Willy looks kind of handsome and Falco should stop being a warrior and become a mailman.

More Marley please, more revelations, MORE PAIN.

WhaT iS It ERen?

Apparently, in the japanese version, the warhammers identity was more ambiguous and could be anyone my bet would be the tall guard inside the room. Reiners suicide attempt was depressing, especially if you consider that he was feeling guilty for helping eren improve so much which got Bertholdt killed. Hyped to see what Zeke is up to, he may be plotting with Pieck or something against the Tybur idk.

Eren vs Armin for the final arc - you heard it here first

Everytime I see my top 3 characters (Kenny, Jean, Reiner) they are either suffering or in danger, and the fandom is more focused in others like Annie, Eren or Gabi. Then there will be Zeke with a suicidal, Erwin-like attitude. I always thought that Eren was going to meet his grandparents, but I have no clue of what will happen now. Anyways, Billy is an interesting guy, and Eren has reached Jean's maturity level (after Trost). Let's hope Falco doesn't suffer much, because of his two "teachers". Colt looks like a Farlan figure to me.

The art improvements tho. And i did not know that thor moves to snk u know "warhammer titan" stuff. Nice issayama

I am very happy to see again Eren. He is matured a lot, just thinking about the conversation with Falco. But I am sad for Reiner 'cause it was due the Falco's voice to save him from the suicide and so he went to looking for Falco, tell him that everything will be alright. Reiner is concerned to Falco, he wants to be useful for him but BAM, he found an excited Falco (after talking with Amputee-kun). Reiner can't do anything. He is still alone.

Everyone's going gaga for Eren's new look and I'm sitting here like......ehh..? Seeing Jean (stupid, bratty, Jean) for three panels was wonderful. Zeke and Billy best be plotting. I'd like to see their interactions. I like Billy's character design too, especially the nose and hair.

poll is good but you should do some spell check because you mispelled Tybur as Tyber like 9 times lol

(I know! sorry!)

Great poll, as always, and Billy totally wore wore it better. Also, fingers crossed, Grim Reminder doesn't happen.

FALCO IS A FUCKING CINNAMON ROLL AND DESERVES MORE LOVE!!!!

Reiner's suicide attempt was absolutely haunting. The fact that he didn't hesitate as he loaded up the rifle (Even though doing so would consume a lot of time that could be used to be like 'Wait what am I doing'), the way it was interwoven into the flashbacks (made it seem that everything just piled and piled on him until finally he couldn't take it anymore), the fact that Reiner didn't seem to be thinking about anyone until Falco showed up outside (and that he seemed to only be motivated to live due to the Titan shifter candidates, which would imply a lot about his current connection to his mom ;_;). That shit left me in emotional pain for two days, not even joking. 

the Reiner/Eren parallels reminded me of their fairly friendly dynamic during their 104th days and gave credence to my mini-theory that Reiner asked Eren to come with him and Bertholdt because he was sentimental ;_;. 

"Deer Isayama Reiner is reindeer Jean is horse Conny is monkey Armin is rabbit Zeke has zekerets And Pieck is exactly right"

I just want to hug Reiner, telling him "it's just two more years, come on, you can do it. Help the younglings and then you'll meet Bert again". Plus, I really really hope that Isayama is showing us a lot of Annie to hint she's soon getting out of that f***ing crystal!

Finally a decent chapter; we have the plot moving forward with the Teiber-Magath convo and the Eren reveal, we have some nice flashbacks and also some character development (Eren maturing and Reiner hitting rock bottom :'( ). The pacing was great, not too much focus on one single thing like last chapter.

Eren is Daddy now and that's all my mind had been able to thoroughly process with this chapter. 

Friendship between Reiner and Bertl was strong in this one. I want... MORE. I would also like some back story on the berb turtle please thanks bye

I have a feeling that Annie is starting to side with Paradis Island (Isayama seems to keep dropping hints).

No. Annie still isn't going to switch sides.

im crying in the club

grim remind me Armin

Every time the warriors are hurt in any way shape or form a hostage dies, you've been warned Isayama-sensei.

Hoping to God Willy/Billy is actually Vili

Yeah could we stop with these flashbacks of Annie and actually see her in the present for once? Thanks bye.

Willy's nose is suspiciously like Armins. I realize they're all related, but the nose makes me wonder if he's an Arlert. If so, is Armin the true hero, as Eren predicted?

i was annoyed with the marley arc the first chapter but now am loving it & the marley mandem. i also used 2 think amputee-kun was 2 people (eren & someone else) but now idk

EXTRA DANCC

I think it's high time we see Pieck being exactly right again! It's been 2 WHOLE chapters man, I need my feed of Pieck

I'm worried to death that Eren is gradually losing his spark D:

When will we see the concluding conflict of this beautiful series? Who will die and survive?

can't wait for Isayama to wreck us with feels and revelations

Seeing Kenny again was such a blessing. Also, I'm super excited where the whole Tybur thing is going and can't wait for the revelations we are bound to see sooner or later.

Love it when Isayama tortures Annie and Reiner.

I think, Reiner sees himself as he sees or remembers falco (whyyy i'm crying when i see this boy???!!! And I see bertolini and reinder when they still a trainee wth i'm dying. Thank you Isayama). it give me heart attack too when seeing reiner and that gun in his hand.

although reiner's almost-suicide attempt was tragic, i feel like it was a long time coming. it seems like isayama has been building up to it for a while

"Light of of the Seven" played in my head when I was reading the chapter. I bet next month "The Rains of Castamere" will be played instead

eeeEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKK

I wonder why Isayama decided to put that panel of Zeke right before Eren gives the letter to Falco. It could have been placed somewhere else, but I think he put it there to signify that Eren's letter is to Zeke (or maybe his grandparents?). But a lot of people think its to the Survey Corps, so... 

How is Annie so much shorter than Kenny how tall is he???

Unexpected turn of events w/the Tybur controlling Marly. Such a shock! Isa will choose more shocking reveals. Im scared. The end will be the hardest choice between the lives of one side opposite the other.

I was so happy to see the Marley arc merge with the Survey Corps and pre-Marley arc events with Eren. It really marks the beginning of something new and epic. That letter is gonna set so many things in motion, and now that we have been properly introduced to the holder of the 9th titan's power, things are bound to be more interesting.

One of the best chapters so far. If not the best.

LET EREN ADOPT FALCO

do you think they have sour cream in marley

(This last was comment played out on Reddit and Tumblr . The OP reached out to me and mentioned that they were eating mexican food while taking the poll. Mystery solved!)