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Neon Genesis Evangelion: 3-in-1 Edition, Vol. 4
The classic series, now available in a deluxe omnibus edition!
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.
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.
576 pages, Paperback
First published August 13, 2013
63 people are currently reading
584 people want to read
About the author
Yoshiyuki Sadamoto
166 books251 followersYoshiyuki 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.
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.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
January 20, 2022
(Finally finished Vol 4... after several months of not reading it).
I had to start this over, since I hadn't touched it in a while.
Without going into too much detail, it seems like things are finally coming to a head. And I suspect that a lot of the story in this collection has been drawn from "End of Evangelion".
I'm tagging the following as spoilers, since I'm summarising for my own sake, major moments that have transpired.
And now to the final volume!
I had to start this over, since I hadn't touched it in a while.
Without going into too much detail, it seems like things are finally coming to a head. And I suspect that a lot of the story in this collection has been drawn from "End of Evangelion".
I'm tagging the following as spoilers, since I'm summarising for my own sake, major moments that have transpired.
And now to the final volume!
October 16, 2013
Vol. 10 - I love this series soooo much! Awesome science fiction! I could read this whole book in one sitting but I'm going to make myself read one volume a day to make it last ... As we near the end of the series lots of revelations going on, pure adrenaline throughout. The mystery of Rei is finally revealed. She is probably my favourite manga character ever Only thing I didn't like was the small introduction of a bit of homo-eroticism in this volume as the series hasn't been anything like that otherwise. (4/5)
Vol. 11 - Deeper and deeper into the true meaning of it all here. Tons of biblical allusions, but it is all warped and while based on creation (adam & eve) and resurrection it is all so mixed-up from its roots that it has no allegorical meanings. Christians will get all the allusions though. This is the end of the fifth child. He was just plain weird and I didn't get his role at all (I haven't watched the anime). Shinji is miserable as he's basically on his own now but behind the scenes people in charge are turning against NERV and Shinji's Dad, while NERV has finally had their fill of Shinji's Dad. Tons happening, lots of action and character insight as the whole third impact dawns near, or will it be averted? (4/5)
Vol. 12 - Absolutely amazing! Asuka is back, kicking butt. Shinji learns the truth but can he pull himself together to do what is right. Best moment in the whole book is when Shinji gets a real kiss from an unexpected person. Loved it! Death abounds though and there are some sad moments and what a cliffhanging ending! (5/5)
Vol. 11 - Deeper and deeper into the true meaning of it all here. Tons of biblical allusions, but it is all warped and while based on creation (adam & eve) and resurrection it is all so mixed-up from its roots that it has no allegorical meanings. Christians will get all the allusions though. This is the end of the fifth child. He was just plain weird and I didn't get his role at all (I haven't watched the anime). Shinji is miserable as he's basically on his own now but behind the scenes people in charge are turning against NERV and Shinji's Dad, while NERV has finally had their fill of Shinji's Dad. Tons happening, lots of action and character insight as the whole third impact dawns near, or will it be averted? (4/5)
Vol. 12 - Absolutely amazing! Asuka is back, kicking butt. Shinji learns the truth but can he pull himself together to do what is right. Best moment in the whole book is when Shinji gets a real kiss from an unexpected person. Loved it! Death abounds though and there are some sad moments and what a cliffhanging ending! (5/5)
March 26, 2025
“But the cat…would’ve died. If it had a mother, it would be fed. If we both left, who else would come? And if that’s all there is—then what I do is kinder.”
I’ve been making my way through the Neon Genesis Evangelion Manga Series. I like them, the characterisation isn’t drastically different to the Anime, just in bits and pieces, but then I got to Volumes 9, 10, & 11 and I was promptly destroyed. The main difference in the Manga to Anime is in it’s treatment of Kaworu, which I find fascinating.
Kaworu, in his grand total of 13 minutes of screen time stood out in multiple ways, given the fact everything he says is either religious, gay or vaguely autistic, but he was most notable in his relationship with Shinji. He was the one person who cared for Shiji’s happiness as his own, wanting nothing in return except the knowledge that it was true. He’s odd and awkward and difficult but kind and genuine in his wish for Shinji’s happiness.
“Maybe I was born to meet you.”
Kaworu is untouchable, Shinji’s guardian angel, a small light Shinji barely realises is in his own two palms. But Manga Kaworu is not, he is not any of those things. He is dark and visercal and *real*, a blackhole sucking up all it can. More than anything else, he is an angel, a being that cannot be understood by humans and cannot understand humanity in return. But he wants to understand, he wants to know of the disgusting feeling he gained from Rei’s contamination, to know why humans care despite endlessly hurting each other, he wants Shiji’s love, but can’t. And he is direct in those wants, he feels jealousy at Rei’s feelings, he encroaches on Shiji’s space, chides him for his grief, and he is horrifying. He honestly feels Lovecraftian in his design, this inescapable, unintelligible being, yet tangible in the vicerality of his feelings.
In the Anime, it’s clear that Shinji returns Kaworu’s feelings on some level, but because of his internalised homophobia & fragile masculinity, it isn’t something he can accept. On the other hand, Manga Shinji despises Kaworu, and with good reason. At a time when all of Shinji’s hopes for human connection have been severed, the harsh reality Kaworu’s propagates is far too much to bear. Made even worse by his desperation to be someone Shinji holds dear, even if it’s through hatred. He sees Shinji’s nightmares as a breathing problem, and out of his own morbid curiosity, kisses him to regulate it. He is happy at the fact he won’t need to get a bag, as well as the being flustered at his choice, then fails to understand Shinji’s distress. Kaworu mixes scientific fact with wild emotion, unable to truely understand the byproduct, because that is the world of human beings.
In his eyes, killing the kitten is easier for it than the life of suffering that awaits it. The final choice is decided anyway, because even if Shinji despises him, the act betrays him, it shows he cares. It is an action of both violence and kindness, love and hate. In his death, he is one of the people Shiji will remember, he will be someone Shiji wished to protect. In a life of observation and a decided fate, Kaworu wants choice by his own freewill, despite the end result being the same, he wanted to be loved by Shinji, as unintelligible as that is, and so asks to die by his hands.
The cat will have nothing left, alone, wandering the ruins, so to kill it is to be kind.
I’ve been making my way through the Neon Genesis Evangelion Manga Series. I like them, the characterisation isn’t drastically different to the Anime, just in bits and pieces, but then I got to Volumes 9, 10, & 11 and I was promptly destroyed. The main difference in the Manga to Anime is in it’s treatment of Kaworu, which I find fascinating.
Kaworu, in his grand total of 13 minutes of screen time stood out in multiple ways, given the fact everything he says is either religious, gay or vaguely autistic, but he was most notable in his relationship with Shinji. He was the one person who cared for Shiji’s happiness as his own, wanting nothing in return except the knowledge that it was true. He’s odd and awkward and difficult but kind and genuine in his wish for Shinji’s happiness.
“Maybe I was born to meet you.”
Kaworu is untouchable, Shinji’s guardian angel, a small light Shinji barely realises is in his own two palms. But Manga Kaworu is not, he is not any of those things. He is dark and visercal and *real*, a blackhole sucking up all it can. More than anything else, he is an angel, a being that cannot be understood by humans and cannot understand humanity in return. But he wants to understand, he wants to know of the disgusting feeling he gained from Rei’s contamination, to know why humans care despite endlessly hurting each other, he wants Shiji’s love, but can’t. And he is direct in those wants, he feels jealousy at Rei’s feelings, he encroaches on Shiji’s space, chides him for his grief, and he is horrifying. He honestly feels Lovecraftian in his design, this inescapable, unintelligible being, yet tangible in the vicerality of his feelings.
In the Anime, it’s clear that Shinji returns Kaworu’s feelings on some level, but because of his internalised homophobia & fragile masculinity, it isn’t something he can accept. On the other hand, Manga Shinji despises Kaworu, and with good reason. At a time when all of Shinji’s hopes for human connection have been severed, the harsh reality Kaworu’s propagates is far too much to bear. Made even worse by his desperation to be someone Shinji holds dear, even if it’s through hatred. He sees Shinji’s nightmares as a breathing problem, and out of his own morbid curiosity, kisses him to regulate it. He is happy at the fact he won’t need to get a bag, as well as the being flustered at his choice, then fails to understand Shinji’s distress. Kaworu mixes scientific fact with wild emotion, unable to truely understand the byproduct, because that is the world of human beings.
In his eyes, killing the kitten is easier for it than the life of suffering that awaits it. The final choice is decided anyway, because even if Shinji despises him, the act betrays him, it shows he cares. It is an action of both violence and kindness, love and hate. In his death, he is one of the people Shiji will remember, he will be someone Shiji wished to protect. In a life of observation and a decided fate, Kaworu wants choice by his own freewill, despite the end result being the same, he wanted to be loved by Shinji, as unintelligible as that is, and so asks to die by his hands.
The cat will have nothing left, alone, wandering the ruins, so to kill it is to be kind.
September 2, 2013
Amazing. Just so good. I am really enjoying the ways in which Sadamoto deviates from the plot of the anime, while still remaining absolutely true to the nature of Evangelion. The artwork in the volumes contained herein is particularly gorgeous, and the final scenes with Asuka fighting the other Evas were AMAZING.
January 13, 2019
There is phenomenal character development as the story enters its climax. Each of them goes through extremely human struggles. However, Kaworu Nagisa becomes a crucial foil in the story, forcing Shinji to confront his own struggles and ideas of the world around him. A stunning read in what it means to be human and the consequences of attempting to recreate an ideal world.
May 21, 2023
Didn't know there were Four different endings to Neon Genesis Evangelion. They start all very similarly, with in the beginning the same structure and adventures, but eventually the story start diverting and goes completely off rails.
Now that I've read the manga, The original TV series, The original Movies and the Amazon Prime Rebuild Movies. I can acknowledge that this is one of the best Japanese psychological drama / mecha series there is.
Now that I've read the manga, The original TV series, The original Movies and the Amazon Prime Rebuild Movies. I can acknowledge that this is one of the best Japanese psychological drama / mecha series there is.
November 13, 2019
Fantastic high-energy volume. Loved it.
August 6, 2024
Adaptation of “End of Evangelion” begins!
November 3, 2024
❤️❤️❤️
March 26, 2025
I’m in favor of the Gendo and Kaworu edits.
August 11, 2021
No hay paja y eso me pone contento. Y no me refiero a contenido de relleno.
August 29, 2021
The art is STUNNING and crisp as per usual... I just LOVE the aesthetic of Evangelion.
Regarding the story - It's really interesting to see the differences between the Manga and the Anime, but for different reasons than usual. Even though these were semi-running in parallel, the key differences between Kaworu and Gendo really make an impact to how the overall story pans out.
Regarding the story - It's really interesting to see the differences between the Manga and the Anime, but for different reasons than usual. Even though these were semi-running in parallel, the key differences between Kaworu and Gendo really make an impact to how the overall story pans out.
May 18, 2023
One star off because, and I know I may regret this one day, because as any Eva fan knows our interpretations of and perceptions of and perspectives on the characters and the stories are extremely subjective with regards to time and place and latest iteration, I simply did not appreciate Sadamoto’s Kaworu. I’m not against it, no, but I think the religious overtones suggested something about his character was edited, admonished even, for being what it was. Maybe it’s a cultural thing, but, reading this in 2023, especially after 3.0+1.0, I can’t help but acknowledge that this Kaworu isn’t characterized in a way that progresses the story except as a plot device. There’s a nuance to him, yes, but instead of developing and discovering himself and Shinji, this Kaworu is merely and self-admittedly there to facilitate Instrumentality. I’m not entirely certain that was kind or necessary of Sadamoto. But, again, I’m willing to leave that question open-ended, as I choose to revisit Eva again and again and again over the course of my life.
March 25, 2017
4 1/2 stars
October 5, 2016
If you think you know Eva, think again. Another great, fun and enjoyable instalment. An amalgamation of new ideas, the anime, the movies and the director's cut episodes. I can't even imagine where we're going to end up in the final volume.
September 13, 2013
Amazing manga!! the artwork is so good! but i think this manga is for adults not for kids :/
August 4, 2024
10/10 for no hospital scene (if I remember correctly - maybe I erased it from my brain)
February 13, 2023
I’ve only read this version of the manga, which is volumes 10-12 (I plan to read 7-9 as well because I only care to see Kaworu’s chapters), but I already like this better than the anime. The rebuilds are still my favourite… Anyway, I think the manga explains everything better, at least it helps to see the information/lore in writing. I also really love the art.
Why does Misato have to kiss Shinji? Why is there ANY romance between them at all? Misato is 29. Shinji is 14. She is his GUARDIAN. This is disgusting. I love Misato’s character but her kissing Shinji just absolutely ruins her for me.
I liked Asuka’s personality at first but she never grows or matures, so I don’t like her and find her annoying. I am very glad she was barely featured in these volumes. Rei is fine, I actually like her but I don’t like her with Shinji when you consider the fact she’s modeled after his MOTHER, Yui. It’s not incest, but it feels like it.
Since I watched Evangelion, Kaworu was my favourite character. He still very much is. Kaworu is such an interesting character in every version of Eva. Personally, I’m drawn to the more wholesome Kaworu of the anime and rebuilds, but I’ve come to love manga Kaworu as well.
Here’s my take on each version of Kaworu:
Anime: doesn’t understand human social cues, whimsical and sweet, tried to gain Shinji’s trust with the intention of betraying him, but fell for him in the process and sacrificed himself (died by Shinji’s hand). Shinji felt loved by him and was attracted to him.
Rebuild: charming and kind, showing Shinji affection he never got, genuinely felt what he and Shinji were doing was for the good and when he realized it was bad, he sacrificed himself for Shinji (killed by outside forces). Shinji overtly fell for him.
Manga: blunt and nihilistic, frustrated with his human emotions, desperately wants Shinji to love him the way he loves Shinji, betrayed Shinji but sacrificed himself (died by Shinji’s hand). Shinji was subconsciously attracted to him and liked him back (as admitted by the author).
Out of all these slightly different iterations, Kaworu loves Shinji and sacrifices himself for him, and Shinji has complicated feelings of love/attraction towards Kaworu. My favourite is the rebuild since they made Kaworu more sympathetic, and you felt that Kaworu really did love Shinji and Shinji loved Kaworu. It was incredibly cute. But the manga was more explicit with having them kiss and share a bed. People said the kiss was Kaworu taking advantage of Shinji’s panic attack, but he wasn’t really…? He didn’t have a bag on hand so he used his mouth (stupid but it freaking worked somehow). I don’t think it was malicious, nor do I think Kaworu really understand what that kiss signifies.
I have complicated feelings towards Evangelion. I really only like it for Shinji and Kaworu. Otherwise I don’t really care.
Why does Misato have to kiss Shinji? Why is there ANY romance between them at all? Misato is 29. Shinji is 14. She is his GUARDIAN. This is disgusting. I love Misato’s character but her kissing Shinji just absolutely ruins her for me.
I liked Asuka’s personality at first but she never grows or matures, so I don’t like her and find her annoying. I am very glad she was barely featured in these volumes. Rei is fine, I actually like her but I don’t like her with Shinji when you consider the fact she’s modeled after his MOTHER, Yui. It’s not incest, but it feels like it.
Since I watched Evangelion, Kaworu was my favourite character. He still very much is. Kaworu is such an interesting character in every version of Eva. Personally, I’m drawn to the more wholesome Kaworu of the anime and rebuilds, but I’ve come to love manga Kaworu as well.
Here’s my take on each version of Kaworu:
Anime: doesn’t understand human social cues, whimsical and sweet, tried to gain Shinji’s trust with the intention of betraying him, but fell for him in the process and sacrificed himself (died by Shinji’s hand). Shinji felt loved by him and was attracted to him.
Rebuild: charming and kind, showing Shinji affection he never got, genuinely felt what he and Shinji were doing was for the good and when he realized it was bad, he sacrificed himself for Shinji (killed by outside forces). Shinji overtly fell for him.
Manga: blunt and nihilistic, frustrated with his human emotions, desperately wants Shinji to love him the way he loves Shinji, betrayed Shinji but sacrificed himself (died by Shinji’s hand). Shinji was subconsciously attracted to him and liked him back (as admitted by the author).
Out of all these slightly different iterations, Kaworu loves Shinji and sacrifices himself for him, and Shinji has complicated feelings of love/attraction towards Kaworu. My favourite is the rebuild since they made Kaworu more sympathetic, and you felt that Kaworu really did love Shinji and Shinji loved Kaworu. It was incredibly cute. But the manga was more explicit with having them kiss and share a bed. People said the kiss was Kaworu taking advantage of Shinji’s panic attack, but he wasn’t really…? He didn’t have a bag on hand so he used his mouth (stupid but it freaking worked somehow). I don’t think it was malicious, nor do I think Kaworu really understand what that kiss signifies.
I have complicated feelings towards Evangelion. I really only like it for Shinji and Kaworu. Otherwise I don’t really care.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2022
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!
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!
August 28, 2023
This volume mostly centres around the ideas of choice and free will. The introduction of Kaworu Nagisa is the main focal point of this; Encouraging Shinji to make his own choices that will decide humanity's future even at the detriment of the human race: better to die free than to live as a slave.
The lines between humanity and godliness are blurred massively. We see humans without souls and angels clad in human form. We see good in those previously portrayed as enemies and see the true nature of Commander Ikari laid out. His selfish ambition would see humanity lose its identity and become a new being, but would that he so bad given the pain individualism has caused everyone in the series so far?
The secret machinations of SEELE and NERV are laid out much more clearly by Misato in this volume. It's a relatively clunky info dump but lays it out much more clearly than the Anime ever did.
This series also carries the emotional traumas of nearly all central characters; humanity is the only species capable of hating itself, and that is shown in everyone's collective pain. These stories are what elevated NGE above other contemporary mecha series and all series since.
The lines between humanity and godliness are blurred massively. We see humans without souls and angels clad in human form. We see good in those previously portrayed as enemies and see the true nature of Commander Ikari laid out. His selfish ambition would see humanity lose its identity and become a new being, but would that he so bad given the pain individualism has caused everyone in the series so far?
The secret machinations of SEELE and NERV are laid out much more clearly by Misato in this volume. It's a relatively clunky info dump but lays it out much more clearly than the Anime ever did.
This series also carries the emotional traumas of nearly all central characters; humanity is the only species capable of hating itself, and that is shown in everyone's collective pain. These stories are what elevated NGE above other contemporary mecha series and all series since.
August 29, 2020
Theme: If all that happens is god's will and we made in his likeness, so is hell god's creation and that which we deem evil part of his plan. This 👏🏽 series 👏🏽 is 👏🏽 insanely good!! 😱 It makes reference to mark twain's "the mysterious stranger" which I must now read to understand the relationship between Shinji and Kaworu.
Trigger warnings for gore, sexual harrassment, and destruction of religious iconography.
This series calls into question: what would you do if you learned that god does not exist? Who takes it's place?
Shinji and Kaworu's character development here was a complete 180 from the show. Kaworu had much more screen (page?) Time and his role within seele was MUCH BETTER explained here. Gendo and ritsuko's intentions are verbalized. We find out what happened to kensuke and the other kids. The action was exquisite and I found myself SCREAMING at the page "wtf?.. wtF?! ...WTF!?!?"
A must read for fans of heavy science fiction and the matrix series. FULL REVIEW TO COME ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL. LINK IN BIO.
Trigger warnings for gore, sexual harrassment, and destruction of religious iconography.
This series calls into question: what would you do if you learned that god does not exist? Who takes it's place?
Shinji and Kaworu's character development here was a complete 180 from the show. Kaworu had much more screen (page?) Time and his role within seele was MUCH BETTER explained here. Gendo and ritsuko's intentions are verbalized. We find out what happened to kensuke and the other kids. The action was exquisite and I found myself SCREAMING at the page "wtf?.. wtF?! ...WTF!?!?"
A must read for fans of heavy science fiction and the matrix series. FULL REVIEW TO COME ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL. LINK IN BIO.
December 2, 2021
Firstly to get one thing straight this book is not similar to the show and some events within it are not paralleled in the show. However, I found that to be enjoyable as one of my favorite characters, Kaworu, was introduced in earlier in the book compared to the show. I love the art style and the panels are masterpieces themselves. I found that some characters were actually more tolerable in the book series then in the show however Kaworu was not. This goes to say that I did not enjoy his character in the book but there were some moments that made me very frustrated with the character. However I feel as though his death was not as rushed as the show but was less impactful to shinji. Despite this I think Kaworu's death was beautifully contrasted with the cat that he killed in a previous book almost to signify that in the end he really didn't have a place in this world.
Overall I would rate this book a 9/10
Overall I would rate this book a 9/10
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2024
This was the best volume hands down (and also the best part of the season too imo). So much of the secrets NERV is hiding come to head in this one and we learn so much, and yet there are still questions that are left unanswered. The lore is one of the best parts of the anime, and in this one we really get to explore what exactly the angel impacts are and who is behind them. But what really shines in this volume is how much Shinji is forced to "grow up" and confront his own mental demons - which is a running theme throughout the series, but definitely has more forced exploration here.
Also
Also
March 22, 2025
There is a play here between the adults and the children - with the adults constantly forcing the children to account for the sins of the past and forcing their will upon three vulnerable and persuasive agents. Shinji remains in the middle of this cross, much like the angel Lillith, and begins to come to terms with the fact that he has been created for a purpose that intrinsically defines his worth. His Eva being his mother, only reinforces this understanding, subjecting him to an eternal experiment that, resist as he might, will continue on without him. This "him" that I refer to is the internal Shinji, the emotional agent that resists squashing Kaworu Nagisa, even though this is Nagisa's wish, and to do so would be to prevent the Third Impact.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2025
Yeah this was really good. I liked the changes they made from the original series / End of Evangelion, Gendo turning out to properly hate Shinji rather than just not care about him caught me off guard (in a good way!), Kaworu was pretty weird in this although I think this is supposed to be his first meeting with Shinji, so it makes sense why he's so unlike his slightly more adjusted Neon Genesis and 3.33 counterparts. The single best change from the End of Evangelion was the hospital scene, like, not a very high bar to improve that scene but what the manga does is so much better than the movie!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2024
I went into this series knowing how chaotic the ending would be, especially since End of Eva is one of my all-time favorite movies. But nothing could have prepared me for how utterly bleak things got, and how tightly things are wrapped up. I love how every incarnation of Evangelion varies, yet makes sense for each version of the story.
This manga is a must-read for all kinds of fans; sci-fi, horror, existentialists, art fans. If you're even slightly considering this series, I cannot reccomend it enough
This manga is a must-read for all kinds of fans; sci-fi, horror, existentialists, art fans. If you're even slightly considering this series, I cannot reccomend it enough
February 11, 2025
Hey look its the first time i feel i need to write a review! Now heres the thing obviously all the evangelion mangas together are 12/10 masterpieces but this one as a whole and because I need to be fair to non eva books who arent lucky enough to have misato in them is probably my least favorite thus earning the 4 star.
Best parts:
-misatos death scene
-reis death scene
-everything else
Worst parts:
-very little asuka
-i HATE what they did to kaworu
-they end right as it gets good
-nothing really… happens…?
Best parts:
-misatos death scene
-reis death scene
-everything else
Worst parts:
-very little asuka
-i HATE what they did to kaworu
-they end right as it gets good
-nothing really… happens…?
September 11, 2025
So much emotion. So much confusion. So much left unsaid...at least in my opinion. The controversial series comes towards the dramatic conclusion (at least in the manga) and even all these decades later, I don't know how I feel about it. I still think it is a masterpiece...but I wonder how long it will be before I dive back into this series for another read? Will it be 2 decades like I waited since the anime??? Still...the characters and the moments are raw and real, and this series is a requirement for manga lovers. Art...amazing! Story...unforgettable. Still two more volumes left!
September 11, 2017
In this volume, we finally learn the mystery of Rei's identity and the power struggle behind the scenes begins to heat up to the point of all-out war. And in this war, there is no true victory. The death of one character and the triumphic resurgence of another This is the point of no return, where shit truly begins to hit the fan. No turning back now.
September 26, 2023
Really expands on a few characters from the show, and provides some explanations that were missing wholly. The changes are neat and interesting still, though the last third or so is very, very similar to End of Evangelion, with a lot of panels matching shots 1:1. There's enough different going in to the final volume that I'm eager to see if it goes in a different direction.
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