There is little doubt that Levi Ackerman is one of the most intriguing characters in Attack on Titan. But how did the character come to be? Hajime Isayama has revealed the true inspiration for Levi and it's actually one of the best DC comic book characters.
Attack on Titan might be all about Eren Jaeger, Mikasa Ackerman, and Armin Arlert but fans have always been drawn to Levi Ackerman. As the Survey Corps squad captain, he is also the most powerful soldier who happens to be an exceptionally well-written character.
There's a good reason why Levi is so interesting and it's not just because he is perfect for the yaoi fandom. Isayama admitted to Brutus magazine that the character came to be after he watched a certain Zack Snyder movie.
"Levi is a character I accidentally created while idly doodling, and I, of course, knew I had something. Then I saw Watchmen, and the character Rorschach really stuck with me and I decided I wanted to try doing a similar character, so I combined him with that doodle," Isayama said.
It's no surprise that Isayama was inspired by Rorschach. The character, who was played by Jackie Earle Haley in the 2009 film, towered over the movie. Although Alan Moore's crime-fighter was the primary influence on Isayama while working on the manga, it was another anime character that led to Levi leaning towards the yaoi fandom.
"I was going for something similar to Hiei in Yu Yu Hakusho, and the moment I finished his design I knew I had something good," Isayama stated.
It's great to know that there were several influences on the creation of Levi but the character still stands on his own. This has a lot to do with Isayama's own brilliant writing.
The manga might be over but Levi will return in Attack on Titan Season 4 Part 2. The final season's latter part has not yet been given an official release date but is set to premiere in Winter 2022.
Related: Attack on Titan Confirms New Volume, Special Episode Ahead of Season 4 Return
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