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book_geek96's review against another edition
4.0
First impressions : Back to classics: Neon Genesis Evangelion ( I love the name)
Here we have evil "angels" which are robotic artificial intelligences that came from (space? another planet?).. And we have Evangelions which are man made robots that battle angles and also have their human riders. ...
Shinji is a depressed boy who is summoned to his father's , whom he hasn't seen for three years. And now he has to ride one of the Evas to battle an angel. ..
Interesting beginning and cool concept. I especially wonder how the man-robot interaction works. And what the hell are angels?
People call Shinji a whiny brat, but he seemed okay to me, If not a little depressed. I also loved Misato, she is funny and sisterly towards Shinji.
Artwork is well, but as always, I have problems with understanding fight scenes, especially with Mechas. Let's see how it will turn out.
Final rating : 4.43 stars
They told me that it is one messed up manga. After finishing the original anime, I was confused as hell. Then manga finished and additionally I saw the movie "End of Evangelion" and.. Why, God, they couldn't make an actual finished, satisfying ending or at least the ending that could be understood! That gave me a headache..
I am going to list my reasons why I liked the manga, then begin ranting about messed up things:
1. The story was complex and I love complex storylines. It was my second post-apocalyptic manga, and first mecha manga, and I am pleased with the story, the events. The disaster, the causes and consequences was interesting and complicated but on the negative note, it was not explained enough. I read fan theories and additional explanations for understanding it. However, it doesn't reduce the geniusness of the story.
2. The underlying themes mainly I liked how Shinji's depression was demonstrated in the story. I never hated Shinji for being weak, self-loathed or depressed, because it is somehow the feeling everyone gets in a while and it is a real thing. Shinji was real, depression was real, and I understood his motivations.
The theme of Christianity, religion, the beginning and the end of the world was fascinating. I liked the idea of two life seeds and human instrumentality project and all. I am a sucker for these things.
The mother-child theme was especially my favorite, that how Evas contained the souls of their mothers and the inside was like the womb, how primordial soup and life source themes collide together, those were fantastic!
3. Characters The characters were perfectly imperfect. I mean, look at Shinji who hates himself, passive, coward, but also caring, sensitive, nice towards people, and could be much better person if those messed up things didn't happen to him.
Asuka hot-headed, rude, confident and overachieving girl and Misato professional at work, carefree at home , were my favorite female characters in the manga. I didn't particularly like Rei mainly because Rei was underdeveloped as she was a clone. Gendo could be the second worst father figure after Oz Bezarius' father (Pandora Hearts). I liked Ritsuko, Kaji, Toji, Aida, Yui, a bit Nagisa . I mentioned these characters because they are worth mentioning.
4. The art was clean and nice. It was easy to read pictures and imagine what happened.
Now, on the negative side:
1. I hated how the story was confusing and wasn't explained enough. The information was scattered through the story and never given in a whole and simple way. The ending was different in anime and manga and it made me frustrated. It didn't make sense in both versions, while in manga it was on a positive tone, it was unexplained and in anime, it was somehow explained but was depressing and sad. I am glad that the manga wasn't too long because if it was 20 + volumes, I would be extremely mad that I spent my time for a messed up ending like that ( Looking at you, Tsubasa Reservoir chronicles) I gave up on explanation, I'll interpret my own story.
2. There was many things that was disturbing. Some symbolism was overdone, there were too many sexual references/symbolism, some nudity (some of them was reasonable though) and emotionally it left me drained. It was good psychological manga that made me cry, ask why, think metaphorical and made philosophical discussion within myself but again, the ending was wtf.
So, it became one of my favorite stories (excluding the ending) and it gave me some ideas in my own writing too. Thus, I am glad that I started this manga in the first place!
Here we have evil "angels" which are robotic artificial intelligences that came from (space? another planet?).. And we have Evangelions which are man made robots that battle angles and also have their human riders. ...
Shinji is a depressed boy who is summoned to his father's , whom he hasn't seen for three years. And now he has to ride one of the Evas to battle an angel. ..
Interesting beginning and cool concept. I especially wonder how the man-robot interaction works. And what the hell are angels?
People call Shinji a whiny brat, but he seemed okay to me, If not a little depressed. I also loved Misato, she is funny and sisterly towards Shinji.
Artwork is well, but as always, I have problems with understanding fight scenes, especially with Mechas. Let's see how it will turn out.
Final rating : 4.43 stars
They told me that it is one messed up manga. After finishing the original anime, I was confused as hell. Then manga finished and additionally I saw the movie "End of Evangelion" and.. Why, God, they couldn't make an actual finished, satisfying ending or at least the ending that could be understood! That gave me a headache..
I am going to list my reasons why I liked the manga, then begin ranting about messed up things:
1. The story was complex and I love complex storylines. It was my second post-apocalyptic manga, and first mecha manga, and I am pleased with the story, the events. The disaster, the causes and consequences was interesting and complicated but on the negative note, it was not explained enough. I read fan theories and additional explanations for understanding it. However, it doesn't reduce the geniusness of the story.
2. The underlying themes mainly I liked how Shinji's depression was demonstrated in the story. I never hated Shinji for being weak, self-loathed or depressed, because it is somehow the feeling everyone gets in a while and it is a real thing. Shinji was real, depression was real, and I understood his motivations.
The theme of Christianity, religion, the beginning and the end of the world was fascinating. I liked the idea of two life seeds and human instrumentality project and all. I am a sucker for these things.
The mother-child theme was especially my favorite, that how Evas contained the souls of their mothers and the inside was like the womb, how primordial soup and life source themes collide together, those were fantastic!
3. Characters The characters were perfectly imperfect. I mean, look at Shinji who hates himself, passive, coward, but also caring, sensitive, nice towards people, and could be much better person if those messed up things didn't happen to him.
Asuka hot-headed, rude, confident and overachieving girl and Misato professional at work, carefree at home , were my favorite female characters in the manga. I didn't particularly like Rei mainly because Rei was underdeveloped as she was a clone. Gendo could be the second worst father figure after Oz Bezarius' father (Pandora Hearts). I liked Ritsuko, Kaji, Toji, Aida, Yui, a bit Nagisa . I mentioned these characters because they are worth mentioning.
4. The art was clean and nice. It was easy to read pictures and imagine what happened.
Now, on the negative side:
1. I hated how the story was confusing and wasn't explained enough. The information was scattered through the story and never given in a whole and simple way. The ending was different in anime and manga and it made me frustrated. It didn't make sense in both versions, while in manga it was on a positive tone, it was unexplained and in anime, it was somehow explained but was depressing and sad. I am glad that the manga wasn't too long because if it was 20 + volumes, I would be extremely mad that I spent my time for a messed up ending like that ( Looking at you, Tsubasa Reservoir chronicles) I gave up on explanation, I'll interpret my own story.
2. There was many things that was disturbing. Some symbolism was overdone, there were too many sexual references/symbolism, some nudity (some of them was reasonable though) and emotionally it left me drained. It was good psychological manga that made me cry, ask why, think metaphorical and made philosophical discussion within myself but again, the ending was wtf.
So, it became one of my favorite stories (excluding the ending) and it gave me some ideas in my own writing too. Thus, I am glad that I started this manga in the first place!
nymavi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
possumjuice's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
eilif_has_no_gender's review against another edition
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
It's good but not really the best and you could probably find better manga. Don't get spooked out about the adult/minor relationship since it is a very small thing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
insectcondo's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Abandonment, and War
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
skypotion's review against another edition
4.0
y'all ever reconnect with the child you abandoned just to send him into the front line of a secret war? wild
drdalim's review against another edition
5.0
A great intro to manga for western audiences. It deserves several reads (this would be my... Umm fourth maybe?
Also love the movies and TV show.
Also love the movies and TV show.
brerasterne's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0