Neon Genesis Evangelion: 3-in-1 Edition, Vol. 2

by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto

The manga adaptation of the landmark animated series that changed the mecha genre. Each volume contains three of the original graphic novels and includes pages of stunning, full-color art.

Once Shinji didn’t care about anything; then he found people to fight for—only to learn that he couldn’t protect them, or keep those he let into his heart from going away. As mankind tilts on the brink of the apocalyptic Third Impact, human feelings are fault lines leading to destruction and just maybe, redemption and rebirth.

Reads R to L (Japanese Style) for teen plus audiences.

Genres: Manga, Science Fiction, Graphic Novels, Comics, Fiction, Comics Manga, Action

576 pages, Paperback

First published March 12, 2013

About the author

Yoshiyuki Sadamoto (貞本義行) is a Japanese character designer, mangaka, and one of the founding members of the Gainax anime studio.

His notable works include Neon Genesis Evangelion character design and manga.
He is also the character designer for the .hack//Games and the Package designer for the .hack//GU games.
Also publishes with the doujinshi pen name 45yen.

Reviews

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vol. 4 - A new member is brought in to pilot Eva 3, Asuka from Germany. And wow, does she ever have a chip on her shoulder! She comes in with major attitude, all bossy and mean. She and Shinji fight an Angel and lose. When it is discovered that the Angel works in harmony with itself when split in two Asuka and Shinji have to live together and learn to work in tandem in five days. Needless to say this causes a lot of tension. Along with Shinji came a man who was a former lover of Misato's and there is some character development there along with some storyline. Great battle scene at the end. Absolutely loving this series!! (5/5)

Vol. 5 - Oh man, this is getting so good! Asuka moves in with Misato and Shinji, lots of fun comic stuff there. More serious stuff in the relationships between Shinji and Ayanami and Shinji and his dad. The plot thickens as we learn there is an enemy within Nerv itself and Mr. Kaji's secret is found out. He then lets Misato and Shinji in on a creepy secret and tells Shinji some secrets about Nerv, his dad and his dead mother. A great battle in the middle as some freaky giant eye thing attacks the city. Story ends with a stunning visual. Loving both the plot and the characters! (5/5)

Vol. 6 - Wow, wow. Totally emotional, intense volume. The intrigue gets deeper with the corporation. At this point it's looking like Shinji's dad is a bad guy. He's appeared that way from the beginning, but he just keeps getting worse and worse! There is something really weird we are going to find out about his mom too, I'm sure as he keeps remembering his past. But wow this volume concentrates on the new 4th pilot and the battle is extremely intense, the whole storyline is unexpected and emotional. I really can't believe this happened! The best volume to date and worthy of a 6. (5/5)

[Chi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This set of the original volumes 4, 5 and 6 gets dark super quickly.

Spoilers under the cut:
In volume 4, we're given a stronger, and more holistic picture of Asuka Soryu as a person, and we can see that her split personality is her coping mechanism: she aims to please the adults in her life, and covers up her fears and uncertainties through arrogance. And yet, she can act completely her true self only when she's around peers her age, such as Shinji (and mostly Shinji), Kensuke and Toji (Shinji's friends), and Rei and Hikari (the class rep).

This set of 3 volumes is where you get a more thorough view of how Shinji relates to his friends too, and how he is allowing himself to form bonds with them rather than holding them at arm's length. We are also given a window into what happened to his mother, Yui, and shown that Shinji was present at the time of her disappearance. We are shown how in order to protect his mental wellbeing, he has blocked out all memories of this traumatic event, only recalling it at Kaji's behest.

Ah, Kaji himself. We're given glimpses of his double life, and dual purposes. That while working on behalf of NERV, he has also been gathering evidence at another's behest. I don't fully recall who he worked for, but I have my suspicions, given the hints dropped thus far.

What ultimately breaks my heart occurs in volumes 5 and 6, is when Toji is selected to be the fourth child. Yoshiyuki Sadamoto beautifully conveys his fear, his uncertainty, and pretty much his ultimate sacrifice, to become an Eva pilot, all for the sole purpose of providing care for his incapacitated younger sister. We can see how Shinji runs away from the unknown and things that he fear; that Asuka treats others with arrogance and disdain, but that is a front for her fears and uncertainty; and Toji confronts the unknown with eyes open.

Except... that EVA-03 turns into an angel, and rampages towards Tokyo-3, prompting defence from the 3 EVAs. Shinji's wish, to protect Kaji's life at the expense of his own (and potentially Tokyo-3 / NERV's as well), comes with a greater cost still, when Gendo Ikari activates the Dummy System in EVA-01. He is forced to watch as EVA-03 is torn apart. The brutal destruction, bloodshed on the surrounding buildings, and shocked expressions are all lingered upon (in a similar manner as it did in the anime).

And the fate of Toji is now completely unambiguous. From memory, I think there is a faint suggestion that Toji lives, though is now as unresponsive as his younger sister. In the manga, that ambiguity is removed. We are shown his battered body, told about his extensive physical trauma, as well as his shattered and unresponsive expression.

And on that note, onto the next collection of volumes.

[Darcofi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Casualmente, este tomo vuelve a abarcar la trama de una película de los Rebuilds (la 2, en este caso). Estoy disfrutando de revivir Evangelion y en este volumen casi me emociono un par de veces, pero le falta parte de lo que hace a este anime grande: los tiempos, la música, la trama confusa... Siento que aquí van más al grano y no me gusta del todo. Se entiende mejor, sí. Pero, ¿desde cuándo entender la trama de Evangelion ha sido el principal objetivo?

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Volumes 4, 5, and 6 are even better than the first three. Big emotional impact and payoffs, deeper backstory... This is good stuff. I'm really enjoying reading the manga because it's letting me ruminate on some of the plot elements that happened very quickly in the anime, or were glossed over. Good stuff.

[Steffany .O (coffee over apples) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What the actual $@%#!!!????

I was hoping this reboot would answer some questions that the early 90s anime posed. And it sure did! As well as gave 1,000 MORE! SO MANY ASPECTS OF THIS ARE VASTLY DIFFERENT so if you are a fan of the anime I implore you to read the manga. Shinji's character growth is so much more satisfying. Questions about Asuka's paternal history are answered. The history of this world is explained further in depth including the origins of Seele. Information dumps are much cleaner and skillfully placed.

Will be putting up a very indepth review on my channel soon.

[Camilo · Rating 4 out of 5]

damn

[Héctor Méndez Gómez · Rating 5 out of 5]

En esta edición tenemos los volumenes 4, 5 y 6 del manga Evangelion.

El volumen 4 nos introducen Asuka, una chica alemán con un pasado muy partícular.

En el volumen 5, cuando Shinji pareciera tener ya cierta estabilidad psicológica, nos muestran al primer ángel Adán en una escena muy épica que ocupa una doble página, y luego aparece nuevamente la crisis psicológica de Shinji. Cosas muy revaladoras.

Y en el volumen 6, de forma muy impactante, está como acto principal la muerte de uno de los personajes de la serie.

[suri · Rating 5 out of 5]

i am begging literally anyone please give me this book im on my hands and knees 🙏🏼. what i would do to physically acquire this cover is insane, i would sell my soul for free. i would kiss the devils feet and burn for all of eternity if it meant that i could touch this book😁. who the fuck is buying all of this volume why can i not find this anywhere💔waterstones please restock this rn idc how much it cost i will pay triple the price if i have too😔

[ms1v · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost exactly one year later and I have finished the second volume of the mangalization (novelization but manga — you get it.) of Neon Genesis Evangelion. We are still recapping episodes of the show here, haven't really got to any manga-exclusive content yet, but the differences in characterization are interesting. I think I may prefer manga Shinji to anime Shinji. Oh, God, am I going to become one of those “Uhm, well, actually, in the manga...” people!?
The artwork is awesome here. Makes me pity the printer that had to go through so much black ink. Unit-03 hits harder in this than the show.

[litsioydaki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ένα πράγμα για το ευαγγέλιον, θα ξεγυμνώσει τους χαρακτήρες του συναισθηματικά με τον πιο συγκλονιστικό τρόπο. Έχω δει 3 φορές τη σειρά, την ταινία και τα rebuilds αμέτρητες φορές, και τώρα διαβάζω και τα μάνγκα. Είμαι gagged με το ότι οι χαρακτήρες σε όλες τους τις εκδοχές είναι πρακτικά ίδιοι με ελάχιστες διαφορές, κι όμως καθε φορά το συναισθηματικο τους φάσμα αλλάζει. Έχω φάει τα νιάτα μου σε αυτό το franchise και συνεχώς εκπλήσσομαι από την ικανότητα του Anno να με διαλύει ψυχικά, γιατί σε κάθε νέα εκδοχή νιώθω μια αποξένωση, ότι ε καλά τι έκαναν πάλι για το cash grab. Κι όμως εκεί περίπου στο 4th child κάτι βάζουν και με ξαναπιάνουν τα κλάματα για όλα μαζί. Feliz Jueves

[Evan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somehow more depressing than the TV show, and (like the Rebuild movies) just different enough to be annoying. A bit of a drag by the end, although that may be just a me problem as I've watching the anime a few times at this point. Great artwork!

[Jonathan Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving this series!

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent manga telling of the Neon Genesis Evangelion anime. As previously stated in my Volume 1 review, it's great to savor the story.

[cheer · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's a minor plot change from the anime in this volume, and I think it improves the emotional impact of the story as a whole. That's all I can say without spoiling anything.

[Nate Hermann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too much lust in my Christian manga

[maggie]

wow sometimes i forget how absolutely horrible and unforgiving this series is. then it reminds me!

[Jade-Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

killing off kids left right and center

[Charlie Benjamin Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I have to say is, HELL YEAH!

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second 3 in 1 is where things get a bit weird, because combining three volumes of the manga into one book causes some serious mood whiplash. The first part is the classic Shinji and Asuka are forced to live together to learn how to defeat an Angel that can split in two, while by the end Eva unit 03 has been ripped apart while Shinji watches. It's also interesting to me that the Unit 03 stuff happens less than halfway through the manga's run. While it's likely Sadamoto didn't intend the timing, it still means that things get a lot grimmer and more serious faster than they do in the anime. It's no surprise that I gave up on the whole franchise when I reached this point as a kid. (Not that I really should've been getting into Eva then anyway, but I wasn't aware of the super robot stuff that preceded it.) In general, the plot is rather more accelerated here compared to the manga. Much like the second Rebuild film, Asuka is introduced defeating an Angel single-handed, though here it happens almost entirely off-panel. This somewhat changes the dynamic between Asuka and Shinji, because it means they're first thrown into battle with very little idea of who the other is. The second part of this collection tends to whip through episodes in a single chapter. The Angel falling from space is dispensed with quickly, and the blackout is just a blackout, without an Angelic incursion. The latter is definitely for the best, since the Angel from the equivalent TV episode is pretty lame. There are significant revelations about the truth behind NERV earlier than in the show, such as the Angel in the basement, as well as various stuff revealed in the liner notes. I will say that the final volume collected here is interesting because in some ways it's not as good as the TV version, but on the other hand, there's the fact that the focus on Shinji has made Toji much more of a built up character, so the emotional impact from what happens to him is bigger, even if the level of violence can't be communicated as well in a comic format. Plus, unlike in the show, Toji is killed off, which again leads to a bigger emotional impact but also makes some level of sense from the streamlining things POV cause he never really reappears in the show. There are more changes here than in the first volume, and while they haven't sent the plot completely off the rails, the way things go in this volume of the manga make it feel like a much more worthwhile thing. The first volume was a fairly straight adaptation, whereas this volume plays around with the story a lot more and does some fairly interesting things. Though I will admit I'm amused that it still takes another 8 volumes to tell the rest of the story, meaning that the pacing is going to get kinda odd. Overall, I enjoyed this more than the first volume, and I think it's a good sign that I'm going to keep enjoying the manga adaptation of Evangelion, as it promises to offer new and different things compared to the manga.

[Jaime]

THIS IS SO COOL BUT SO SAD

[chrysa · Rating 4 out of 5]

kaji, if you read this, i’m free on thursday night and would like to hang out. please respond to this and then hang out with me on thursday night when i’m free.

[Curtis Mullins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an improvement over the first volume. I have gotten use to this different Shinji and have began to like him. I still believe that most of the characters are lesser when compared to their anime and Rebuild counterparts, but I'm starting to appreciate them on their own.

Characters
As mentioned above, Manga Shinji is starting to grow on me, but only because this volume did some good character development and moments with him. Rei is also good, but with only a few scenes. This disappoints me a bit. Rei is the best Eva girl in my opinion and I was always told Rei had a much bigger role in the manga. There's three more volumes, so these scenes might be farther along. The big thing in this volume is the introduction of Asuka. Asuka's backstory is slightly changed from the anime, can't say for Rebuild yet. I would say this might make Asuka less interesting, since her feelings of being abandoned and neglected by her father is also a thing that messes with her in the anime. Manga Asuka is more or less the same though. I find her a bit more humorous than anime Asuka, but that is about it. Toji gets a good amount of time and I appreciated it, even with his horrible Brooklyn accent. I would say he has more character development than the anime, but its more the manga is just more in your face. Perhaps its the change in mediums.

Plot
The plot begins to diverge a bit in this volume. Sadamoto has axed some Angels, one maybe for the better. I feel cutting Leliel might have been too much. The scene with Kaji in the aquarium is meant to be the manga equivalent, but it just feels less impactful. I would really say that for the Kaji/Misato romance in the manga. I enjoy it much better in the anime, not to say it is bad. I enjoyed numerous added scenes and some of the reworks were interesting. They mix the time around a lot, but it was fine. I would say that its version of episode 11 feels rushed and worst. I understand it though. They cut the Angel and Gendo in the manga is just a massive dick with no redeeming qualities, so his "look, he really does believe in Shinji and them" moment is gone. Its just disappointing as it is one of my favorites, and a lot of its great editing is lost in the transition to manga. On the same note they cut Gendo's compliment of Shinji, which once more makes sense in its version of Eva. Shinji's inspiration from Misato opening up about her past is gone from the fight with Sahaquiel. I enjoyed Shinji talking to Rei about his father, too bad it was ruined by Asuka. I also thought it was a good twist to have Shinji see Lilith. The biggest change is Toji dies. This change is very interesting and disturbing. It got an emotional response from me to see Toji with a bloodied face and glossed over, dead eyes. Over all mostly small differences, but it still can't come to the same level of the anime.

Art
The art remains top notch and good. I enjoy Sadamoto's art. I find it interesting he draws Shinji with brown eyes.

Over all, its an interesting read. Started it in preparation for 3.0 + 1.0, but with it now delayed it has given me some new Eva content to enjoy till the release.

[Michael Sorbello · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a review of the entire series!

After the disastrous results of a cataclysmic event known as the Second Impact, an alien species known only as Angels terrorizes the last remnants of humanity. Young children are raised in military schools and trained to combat these godlike entities by piloting giant biomechanical mechas into battle. The story revolves around the personal struggles of the members of NERV, the shady organization responsible for the creation of these mechas; most notably the cold and calculated leader Gendo Ikari and his chronically depressed son Shinji.

The surface level story of Evangelion is deceptively simple. It appears to be a straightforward apocalypse story about the last survivors of humanity fighting back against an alien race that nearly drove them to extinction, but there’s a lot of depth in the background of the plot. There’s more to the Angels than meets the eye. NERV has a disturbing number of skeletons in its closet. And the few survivors in charge of fighting against the aliens have an abundance of mental scars in desperate need of being healed lest they destroy themselves before the Angels can get to them.

I love the subtle depth of the characters. Shinji appears to be a cold and distant boy with odd tendencies that are almost sociopathic in nature, but he turns out to be an extremely sensitive and anxiety-ridden teen who suffers from a lack of parental guidance and affection. He’s not always likable, but he’s uncomfortably relatable. Asuka appears to be a bratty and spunky girl with all the confidence in the world, but she suffers from a self-destructive inferiority complex caused by past tragedies that causes her to act out in front of adults to make herself appear more mature than she really is while struggling with emotional breakdowns in her private time.

Every character has a facade they put on in front of their peers, only for it to be revealed that they’re hiding a brutal amount of unhealed trauma and emotional baggage that usually causes more damage than the main threat of the story. In fact, the main story is just a part of the background. What makes Evangelion a masterpiece in my eyes is how horrifyingly human the characters are, how painful their struggles are and how disastrous their bad choices end up being.

A very bleak, depressing and terrifying series that tackles nihilistic philosophy and twisted religious allegories in abundance, but there are faint glimmers of hope and lessons to be learned from the catastrophic mistakes made by the mentally and emotionally broken cast.

I enjoyed reading this much more as an adult than I did as a teen!

[Simon Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Neon Genesis Evangelion is quickly becoming my favorite manga, the characters are all excellent each with their own flaws and motivations. And even when we don't know exactly what they are, there is still a tangible feeling that they exist.

When Asuka was first introduced I thought she was going to be a very shallow character but I quickly realized how wrong I was, she is brilliant. A bundle of fear of rejection and abandonment, fear that those she cares about don't return that affection, fear of failure and what that will bring (and I don't just mean the potential world-ending consequences). All this wrapped up in the mind of a fourteen-year-old girl makes for a truly fascinating character.

Rei is an utter mystery, who is she and why does Commander Ikki care for her so deeply when he has basically abandoned his own son? I have some thoughts but nothing concrete just yet. Her relationship with Shinji is compelling, despite how little they actually talk and interact, their budding relationship is something I look forward to seeing more of.

Shinji's story absolutely captivates me, the apathy and depression he feels toward the world around him, but his will to keep going, spurred on by his newfound friendships both in NERV and in his school life, is refreshing.

As for the plot itself, well the manga is excellent at building its air of mystery and the level of fear that the people who inhabit the world constantly live it and how they feel numb towards the danger, knowing there is little or nothing most of them can actually do about it. The Angels are fascinating, what are they, and where did they come from, are they the byproduct of something that humans did, something humans released through experimentation, or something truly alien? I need to find out, I cannot wait to continue reading.

The final volume in this edition, hurt me, I saw it coming from early on, I knew it couldn't end well but I didn't expect it to hurt so much. It was brutal, I didn't expect it to be so, the way it happened - the art was excellent, absolutely on point - you could feel the pain of everyone involved and the utter callousness of the Commander.

The information sections at the end of each volume are really quite good, it would be better if the information could fit into the manga more organically, but I can see why the choice was made and it still feels like in-world information, rather than the author backfilling.

[Ulyera · Rating 4 out of 5]

The strength of Neon Genesis Evangelion definitely lies in its conflicts and character developments (though I will put a caveat to this and say its MALE character development). Shinji, a depressed fourteen year old, finally acquires friends and is finally becoming comfortable in his Eva suit. And then shit hits the fan.
I cannot tell you the shock that registered in my face when I saw that Toji died, and that it was at the hands of a very unwilling Shinji. It is interesting that though Shinji has been coerced to become an Eva pilot, he has always had an illusion of choice. Granted, this choice would come with the potential destruction of mankind, but a choice nonetheless. In these volumes, we begin to see that Shinji really has had no choice.
This is greatly illustrated by Shinji's Eva taking over and killing Toji. The brutality of the scene is compounded by the fact that it's Shinji's father, who Shinji has been searching for validation, who gives the ultimate order. He forces his son to commit the murder of one of his best friends.
There is no doubt that this will fundamentally shift Shinji's personality, and I think Misato as well. Misato is Shinji's guardian, and has worked hard in order to get Shinji to be more open. Her first question coming to is: "How is Shinji?" How much guilt will she be feeling, asking Shinji to complete this momentous task, and then having him kill one of his best friends? Knowing her backstory, how can she not draw parallels between her relationship with her father, and Shinji's?

[Michael Bertrand · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am an old-school fan of Neon Genesis Evangelion. For those who don't know, NGE is a 26 episode anime series that first aired in 1996 in Japan. The plot revolves around a group of teenagers that fight angels using giant robots called Evas. There's a lot more to the plot, but anyone reading this review either a) already knows NGE backwards and forwards or b) isn't interested in NGE.

I knew a manga (comic book) of NGE existed, but I've always assumed it was a straight retelling of the animated series. The library has a set so I tried it out. Here's what I found:

1. The manga was published from 1994 to 2013. It predates the anime and was written and illustrated by the character designer for NGE.
2. The manga follows the general plot of the anime, but it does diverge, sometimes substantially. In general, the manga-plot is much clearer than the anime-plot.
3. The characters are slightly different. Rei talks more. Shinji's more aggressive. Asuka's more manipulative/ childish. Relationships between characters are better developed than the anime- especially the ones between Rei and Shinji and Misato and Kaji.
4. The art is better than the average manga. I have little trouble following the action or telling what's happening.

If you like NGE and wish the anime had a clearer plot, then you should check out the manga.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m really enjoying the Evangelion manga series. Both the Anime and the Manga are fantastic in their own ways but the manga being a completly different medium, it tells the story in a much different way than the show, with much more emphasis on the characters. which only makes sense, as there’s no sound, music or long frame pauses for effect in the manga like there is in the anime. There’s just the characters, so you come to understand them all better and feel their pain more. For this reason it’s even more depressing to me and this volume made me cry a bit. But it’s poignant and beautiful as well. While there are slight pros and cons to both versions of the story, one thing that can’t be replicated or made better by the manga is the journey the viewer takes as the writing in the later episodes turns incredibly philosophical while Anno had a existential crisis. In the manga, you’re following the story and the characters in a much more clear cut way. For this reason, I would highly suggest both watching the Anime and reading the Manga.

[Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Neon Genesis Evangelion reeled me in with its promise of action and adventure. But as I read later volumes I see the more psychic horror element provided in the self-loathing of the main character Shinji and the monumental burden he carries not only knowing he is the most well developed Eva pilot but for the neglection, he faces from his abusive fathers who is aware of his actions. This book has given me a deeper understanding of the traumatizing story that Yoshiyuki Sakamoto was developing as he illustrated this graphic novel. I would recommend to those who appreciate dark themes and settings in books they read which also happens to be supported by the graphics battle scenes. Through reading deeper into the series I have been able to translate the passion and effort that has been put into this series and I now understand why the author gets so much praise for the disgusting yet beautiful art form he has created.

[Kelsey Hlavaty (readingwithkelsey) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars - This volume was much more impactful and sad than its predecessor for multiple reasons. Firstly, we are introduced to Asuka - arguably one of my favourite Children in the anime and in the manga. She is firey and spunky which leads to some funny moments between her and Shinji. However, we also see into her insecurities and I always really enjoyed how Sadamato kind of turns the tsundere trope on its head by giving more layers to her character. Additionally, we really get a glimpse into Shinji's psyche that completely destroys me. There's a lot of discussions on depression, specifically how each individual Child is affected by piloting the Evas. This manga also opens up what becomes the ultimate moving plot in the novel looking at what the Evas are and what is being hidden from the children. Finally, the novel ends on a very somber note and even though I knew what was going to happen, that scene makes me cry every time no matter how many times I experience it.

[Reece · Rating 5 out of 5]

The series continues to have me reconsidering perspectives in NGE. This volume really addresses the conflict between the sense of obligation and moral objections. Shinji is listless and doesn't want to be an EVA pilot, but there is little else in his small world. Even his caregiver Misato heaps demands on him, and his emotional well-being is secondary to the survival of all humanity. But what good is saving it when you abandon your own humanity in the process?

Anno's original use of Christian imagery is put front and centre in this volume; featuring the cross, Adam, the Lance of Longinus, etc. This is also the point where Anno starts making the search of self fulfilment in Evangelion; the only advice Gendo ever imparts to Shinji is to find the strength to stand on his own. The battle with Unit 04 is one of the more emotionally weighted battles in the entire series, in my opinion.