User blog:Winston4278/Kuklo Munsell vs. Eren Yeager

Over the course of Attack on Titan, we've seen Eren change from a child wishing to explore the outside world by joining the Survey Corps to a numb and battle-ready soldier burdened by the power (and curse) of being a holder of a Titan power. Forced to grow up quickly after the fall of Shiganshina (and the loss of his parents), Eren has become more calculated and passionate about bringing his enemies to justice, regardless of how many people (and friends) are sacrificed in the process. At the same time, another main protagonist underwent a significant change: Kuklo Munsell from the prequel series Before the Fall. Both have gone through a similar transformation over the years, and are the main character of their stories without question. But which one should be considered the true hero of the Attack on Titan story?

Let's start first with why it should be Eren. Eren had a regular life but was thrust into a new one due to the fall of Shiganshina. As he trains and later joins the Survey Corps, Eren has been the focal point of many people's lives and caused them to change the course of their fate. People like Armin, Connie and even Erwin Smith have noted Eren's influential and charismatic ability in bringing others towards his cause due to his selfless desire to be free. Initially just a regular person, Eren was granted the powers of one of the nine Titans by his father, and would use this for the good of humanity; he would eventually learn he had the powers of the Founding Titan also, as well as gaining a third Titan power, the War Hammer Titan, years later. Seen to the people of Paradis as a possible divine force, they are confident Eren will lead them to overall victory. However, the years of constant fighting has numbed Eren to the horrors of war and now no longer expresses any emotions as a result of his actions. Whether it is witnessing the deaths of his friends or innocent civilians, Eren has driven many of his former comrades away due to his change in behavior and thirst for blood. Also, having 1/3rd of the nine Titan powers has made Eren ridiculously overpowered in a fight, taking away some of the suspense when squaring off against other Titans or Titan shifters.

Now, let's go back in time and take a look at Kuklo Munsell. Living a life of servitude due to being seen as an offspring of a Titan, he would break the shackles of being a slave and set out to find his own destiny. A chance encounter with the head of the Survey Corps would later pay dividends as Kuklo would later go one to become a staunch ally (and later member) of the Corps. He also had a hand in devising an essential tool for the Survey Corps: the vertical manuevering equipment. Finding possible flaws in the design and learning how to use it would lead to him and several others to pass down the knowledge of how to operate it to future members. He also faced numerous enemies (both human and Titan) and survived with just his quick thinking and ability to think on the fly. However, Kuklo is still just a human and, with no Titan powers to aid him, is susceptible to pain and injuries like everyone else. While usually level-headed, Kuklo can also occasionally act without thinking when his friends are threatened.

It is a close match and both have valid points as to why they are the main protagonist of Attack on Titan. However, despite his increasing sociopathy, I still think Eren is the main protagonist of the story. While Kuklo is a more likeable character and changed a lot from his beginnings as a mute slave seen as an abomination, he simply has not had as much time as Eren to leave a mark on the story. While this may change with a timeskip in the prequel series, Eren will still be the face (and main driving force) of Attack on Titan.