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Neon Genesis Evangelion 2-in-1 Edition, Vol. 5: Includes vols. 13 & 14
The Instrumentality Project comes to its apocalyptic conclusion. With the earth now covered in a sea of LCL, every human consciousness in the world has become one—a combined entity waiting to be reborn. Deep within Lilith, Shinji comes face-to-face with everything he ever knew, loved and feared. The fate of the world is in his hands, and the choice he makes will doom or redeem humanity. Everything ends here. Everything begins here. This is the epic finale of Neon Genesis Evangelion!
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 14, 2016
36 people are currently reading
511 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
August 31, 2023
I finally finished the manga of the famous anime tv series Evangelion and i must say i liked the manga alot better because of the different ending. It's a deeper series than your avarage manga. It was a series that heavy on the christian mythology, especially symbolic use of christian mythology. There were probably parts that i didn't understand because i don't know christianty very well as a guy who was raised as a muslim but the human side of the story was very good, that's what really impresed me. All of them aside what they tried to achive with the story was make Shinji who was the main character want to live, he was a 14 years old angsty boy who the creative team saw as their audiance lol (i'm not Shinji, damn it ! lol) so by making Shinji want to live in the end, they hope that their audiance who are 14 years old (in spirit) sulky otakus will want to live... well, we all hope so.
It was a mecha manga and the main mecha Eva 01's design was so good, i really loved that design. The other Evas' designs which were variations of Eva 01's design were good too since the original source is very good.
Misato was such a lovely character, waifu metarial desu. (:
It was a mecha manga and the main mecha Eva 01's design was so good, i really loved that design. The other Evas' designs which were variations of Eva 01's design were good too since the original source is very good.
Misato was such a lovely character, waifu metarial desu. (:
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 11, 2021
Nunca va a ser el anime, pero creo que esta revisión posterior de la historia original no está nada mal. Te lleva más de la mano, haciendo la experiencia menos frustrante para los que buscan entenderlo todo, y tiene un final más que satisfactorio. Muy guay.
March 12, 2025
differs from the anime in parts, but still largely keeps its heart. i do think i like the anime a little better, but i think manga kaworu is more interesting than his anime counterpart. asuka i love you forever
November 15, 2019
Whew! What an exhilarating read. I've been a fan of the anime for quite some time and I think it's a hot mess, but glorious and stunning in its own way. Reading this manga was a pleasure and I feel it's certainly different enough from the anime to warrant a read through for fans.
This manga seemed to make a little more sense to me than the anime. Maybe it was because I could take my time digesting the ideas, or maybe it's the simple difference between the two different art forms? Who knows.
The idea of the Human Instrumentality Project attempting to create a "perfect" world by taking away pain and suffering without realizing the pain and pleasure is what makes life worth living and frankly, makes life - life. There's a line from Shinji where he says something like "It doesn't feel bad, but it's not good, either." That kind of sums it up for me. You need bad and good to make up a whole of experiences in life. Bad stuff sucks, but it needs to be there to make the good that much better. (...or something like that....) Highly reccommended.
This manga seemed to make a little more sense to me than the anime. Maybe it was because I could take my time digesting the ideas, or maybe it's the simple difference between the two different art forms? Who knows.
The idea of the Human Instrumentality Project attempting to create a "perfect" world by taking away pain and suffering without realizing the pain and pleasure is what makes life worth living and frankly, makes life - life. There's a line from Shinji where he says something like "It doesn't feel bad, but it's not good, either." That kind of sums it up for me. You need bad and good to make up a whole of experiences in life. Bad stuff sucks, but it needs to be there to make the good that much better. (...or something like that....) Highly reccommended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2022
The final volume is an examination of what is means to be human: that despite hurting others and becoming hurt by others, we still seek comfort and companionship.
It's about Shinji overcoming his desire to relinquish pain and suffering, and instead realising that it is because that we hurt, that we ultimately understand the meaning of happiness.
I especially liked the epilogue (though I had to read through the WTF-ery of the ending): that in this alternate reality, Shinji was able to forge friendships and have positive relationships in his life. And that he was able to meet important people in his previous reality.
Regarding the ending, although it was full of incomprehensible moments, at least there seemed to be an attempt for an explanation of different factions' motivations and a greater insight into what has happened.
And the final chapter? Yui's attraction to Gendo is still a bit confusing, but it was nice having that point of view nevertheless
It's about Shinji overcoming his desire to relinquish pain and suffering, and instead realising that it is because that we hurt, that we ultimately understand the meaning of happiness.
I especially liked the epilogue (though I had to read through the WTF-ery of the ending): that in this alternate reality, Shinji was able to forge friendships and have positive relationships in his life. And that he was able to meet important people in his previous reality.
Regarding the ending, although it was full of incomprehensible moments, at least there seemed to be an attempt for an explanation of different factions' motivations and a greater insight into what has happened.
And the final chapter? Yui's attraction to Gendo is still a bit confusing, but it was nice having that point of view nevertheless
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2020
NGE is a incomparable piece of art among the Japanese animation/manga. From the art concept through the thrilling story development, without forgetting the incredible characters and their growth, we dwell in a reflection upon what it means to be human, using as background a complex story about advanced technology for the fulfilment of old and mystic prophecies. For sure this is a delight for the fans of Sci-Fi genre, but also for the many enthusiasts of the mind out there! 10 out of 5! ♡
Read
January 14, 2024I have never felt as invested in any piece of media before, this volume was particularly difficult to get through i cried too much, but so deeply psychologically rewarding, i felt emotions ive never or at least not recently felt. It is perfect and will go to my favorites for the way this entire thing has made me feel, the conclusion is TOP NOTCH
April 11, 2019
Did not want this series to ever end.
June 11, 2024
Que hermoso final, de todos los finales este es el mejor
August 6, 2024
This is now my favorite version of Neon Genesis Evangelion
July 2, 2025
Could it be that the manga ending is better than the anime one? I probably have to watch the anime again.
January 24, 2022
Finally, after potentially over a year, I have finished the Evangelion manga. Loved the show, love the movies, and really enjoyed reading all of this. Some interesting differences between the show and the manga. Nothing that completely alters the course of the story, but enough to raise an eyebrow and give me something to keep coming back for.
January 24, 2022
More vaginas than I expected 🧐
November 24, 2018
No pude evitarlo y leí los dos últimos tomos compilatorios uno tras otro, Neon Genesis Evangelion no sólo es mi serie favorita, es una de las que más aprecio porque significa a nivel emocional muchísimo para mi, me recuerda un momento simple pero que para mi significó una unión muy grande, entendimiento, y uno delos mejores recuerdos que tengo de mi hermano mayor.
La serie tiene grandes personajes, tiene a Rei mi waifu de waifus, tiene un diseño genial, tiene muchas cosas, por sí misma la serie es una de las más grandes de todos los tiempos, pero si le añades ese toque sentimental lo es más, ya en otras reseñas mencioné que coleccionaba los mangas publicados por Editorial Vid, pero los imbéciles se fueron a la bancarrota por... pues por imbéciles y nos pasaron a joder a los demás dejando ésta y otras series inconclusas.
Al pasar el tiempo y 10 años después de que comenzó a publicarse al fin puedo leer el final del manga y vaya maldito final hermoso, nostálgico, no esperanzador pero sí tranquilizador, además de un "tie in" con las nuevas películas que me dejó con una sonrisa en la boca, para mi ha sido un viaje emocional muy fuerte el revivir y conocer las páginas del manga, tantos recuerdos que se vienen a la mente, en especial ese maratón de 24 horas en el extinto canal "Locomotion" un sábado, 13 horas ininterrumpidas de un capítulo tras otro es uno de mis recuerdos más preciados, ver esa serie que conocí al sintonizar dicho canal de televisión y ver el último episodio y pensar: "¿Qué clase de mierda presuntuosa es ésta?" y después de ver la serie pensar: "¡Es la mejor mierda presuntuosa del mundo!".
Cada historia y recuento de Eva es un mundo paralelo, la serie y las películas, o la serie, las películas, mangas, videojuegos, etc., cada una es un mundo alterno que nos cuenta la misma historia de amor, intriga, esperanza, desesperación, pérdida, encuentro, odio y naturaleza humana, jamás me canso ni me cansaré de esta historia.
La serie tiene grandes personajes, tiene a Rei mi waifu de waifus, tiene un diseño genial, tiene muchas cosas, por sí misma la serie es una de las más grandes de todos los tiempos, pero si le añades ese toque sentimental lo es más, ya en otras reseñas mencioné que coleccionaba los mangas publicados por Editorial Vid, pero los imbéciles se fueron a la bancarrota por... pues por imbéciles y nos pasaron a joder a los demás dejando ésta y otras series inconclusas.
Al pasar el tiempo y 10 años después de que comenzó a publicarse al fin puedo leer el final del manga y vaya maldito final hermoso, nostálgico, no esperanzador pero sí tranquilizador, además de un "tie in" con las nuevas películas que me dejó con una sonrisa en la boca, para mi ha sido un viaje emocional muy fuerte el revivir y conocer las páginas del manga, tantos recuerdos que se vienen a la mente, en especial ese maratón de 24 horas en el extinto canal "Locomotion" un sábado, 13 horas ininterrumpidas de un capítulo tras otro es uno de mis recuerdos más preciados, ver esa serie que conocí al sintonizar dicho canal de televisión y ver el último episodio y pensar: "¿Qué clase de mierda presuntuosa es ésta?" y después de ver la serie pensar: "¡Es la mejor mierda presuntuosa del mundo!".
Cada historia y recuento de Eva es un mundo paralelo, la serie y las películas, o la serie, las películas, mangas, videojuegos, etc., cada una es un mundo alterno que nos cuenta la misma historia de amor, intriga, esperanza, desesperación, pérdida, encuentro, odio y naturaleza humana, jamás me canso ni me cansaré de esta historia.
January 14, 2025
Just as a heads up, I'll be using this to give my thoughts on the full manga series as well as Eva as a whole. I'll be going into general spoilers for most Eva media. So if for some reason you have read the manga but still haven't watched the anime, EoE, or the rebuild films please go experience them for yourself they are absolutely beautiful works of art.
I have many favorite things or things I would at least label and describe as being among my favorites. It is a word I have thrown around so much that I personally feel as if it has lost all meaning. This simply might be because of how attached I can become to my interests especially when it comes to the media I read, watch, or play. This is all to say that when it comes to Evangelion I don't think favorite is the proper word I would use to describe my attachment to it.
As an Autistic man who has struggled with both anxiety and what I'm hesitant to label as depression, Evangelion spoke to me more than any other piece of fiction I had ever experienced. And it was horrifying. It perfectly encapsulated how I had felt my entire life, how utterly lonely and avoidant I had been. Running away from everything that came my way good or bad because of how scared I was of being hurt. I don't often like to speak about my own life because in truth I feel as if I will always be as pathetic and helpless as Shinji, as detached an outsider as Rei, and as desperate to prove myself as Asuka. Evangelion was the first time I related to a story on a negative personal level. I did not want to see myself in it and yet I did and I could not look away.
Ever since I watched the anime (Which was close to two years ago now) I have not been able to stop thinking about it. I have only rewatched a few clips of it and somehow I cannot go a single day without thinking about it. Never before had a story affected me this much and gone on to make me want to actively improve as a person. It is almost an understatement to say that Evangelion changed my life. It completely transformed me.
And goddamn it I think it's going to do it again...
I was hesitant to read the manga right away mainly because of how well Thrice Upon a Time serves as an end for the entire franchise fully breaking the time loop and giving every single character an incredibly cathartic and satisfying end to their journey. I think I just didn't want to ruin that hopeful, take on the world, life is amazing, feeling which that film in particular left me with. However, that feeling just like all feelings faded and I returned to the uneasy comfort I felt in despair.
Lately, as I enter adulthood (still not feeling like I've grown up at all) I find myself clinging harder and harder to those thoughts of despair due to how uncertain I feel both for my own future and for the future of the world and those around me. Every time I look online at job offers, attend college courses, or do anything else "adult" all I can hear is the voice in the back of my head telling me that this is all pointless. That things would be easier if I gave up and continued to rot away in my room away from the rest of the world. That if I just linger in this awkward purgatory like I used to that I can avoid being hurt by anything. Like always this is a sad state to be in and with this Evangelion found me again. This time in Manga format.
And what I thought was going to be a rather straightforward Manga adaption with minor changes was anything but...
My only real complaint with this manga is that when compared to the anime I do feel like the pacing is off. The manga moves a bit too fast for my taste and unlike the anime, there's hardly enough time to let the weight of certain events properly sink in before moving on to the next major plot point. It wasn't enough to drag me completely out of the experience but I do feel like excluding minor things like Shinji's confrontation with Leliel and properly witnessing Asuka's declining mental state after Arael's mental attack do lessen the impact of later story events.
With that being said I have no other complaints this was perfect. I loved the small changes like being told Kaji's full backstory and seeing Rei pilot unit-01 before Shinji does not to mention the genius handling of Kaworu. Overall this felt like a more mature, angrier take on Eva rather than the thoughtful, dramatic, and lonely anime or the refined, hopeful, cinematic rebuild films. I feel as if reading the manga in the state I'm in now spoke more to me than rewatching the anime and films would. It feels like the tone of someone who has already been through a lot and will continue to endure more. This Shinji isn't quite helpless or pathetic but he is very cynical and jaded due to his prior experiences. For this reason, I could see this being a more accessible version of Eva for people who have not self-isolated in the way that the original Shinji or I have.
Now finally coming to something of a conclusion for this chaotic word dump of thoughts and emotional venting. (If you read this long I'm sorry) Yeah, I liked the manga. I liked it a lot. The bitterness of this Shinji interwoven with his deeper emotional maturity yet keeping with the same urge to fight for his own agency in a system that is indifferent to him, and his ever-present struggle to connect with others was certainly a departure from the original story but a rather welcome one. After all, it is human nature to be ever-changing. Imperfect yet always striving for some sense of grand fulfillment. Life is hard but we aren't alone in it. We all just have to keep going and hope we can hold each other's hands again.
I have many favorite things or things I would at least label and describe as being among my favorites. It is a word I have thrown around so much that I personally feel as if it has lost all meaning. This simply might be because of how attached I can become to my interests especially when it comes to the media I read, watch, or play. This is all to say that when it comes to Evangelion I don't think favorite is the proper word I would use to describe my attachment to it.
As an Autistic man who has struggled with both anxiety and what I'm hesitant to label as depression, Evangelion spoke to me more than any other piece of fiction I had ever experienced. And it was horrifying. It perfectly encapsulated how I had felt my entire life, how utterly lonely and avoidant I had been. Running away from everything that came my way good or bad because of how scared I was of being hurt. I don't often like to speak about my own life because in truth I feel as if I will always be as pathetic and helpless as Shinji, as detached an outsider as Rei, and as desperate to prove myself as Asuka. Evangelion was the first time I related to a story on a negative personal level. I did not want to see myself in it and yet I did and I could not look away.
Ever since I watched the anime (Which was close to two years ago now) I have not been able to stop thinking about it. I have only rewatched a few clips of it and somehow I cannot go a single day without thinking about it. Never before had a story affected me this much and gone on to make me want to actively improve as a person. It is almost an understatement to say that Evangelion changed my life. It completely transformed me.
And goddamn it I think it's going to do it again...
I was hesitant to read the manga right away mainly because of how well Thrice Upon a Time serves as an end for the entire franchise fully breaking the time loop and giving every single character an incredibly cathartic and satisfying end to their journey. I think I just didn't want to ruin that hopeful, take on the world, life is amazing, feeling which that film in particular left me with. However, that feeling just like all feelings faded and I returned to the uneasy comfort I felt in despair.
Lately, as I enter adulthood (still not feeling like I've grown up at all) I find myself clinging harder and harder to those thoughts of despair due to how uncertain I feel both for my own future and for the future of the world and those around me. Every time I look online at job offers, attend college courses, or do anything else "adult" all I can hear is the voice in the back of my head telling me that this is all pointless. That things would be easier if I gave up and continued to rot away in my room away from the rest of the world. That if I just linger in this awkward purgatory like I used to that I can avoid being hurt by anything. Like always this is a sad state to be in and with this Evangelion found me again. This time in Manga format.
And what I thought was going to be a rather straightforward Manga adaption with minor changes was anything but...
My only real complaint with this manga is that when compared to the anime I do feel like the pacing is off. The manga moves a bit too fast for my taste and unlike the anime, there's hardly enough time to let the weight of certain events properly sink in before moving on to the next major plot point. It wasn't enough to drag me completely out of the experience but I do feel like excluding minor things like Shinji's confrontation with Leliel and properly witnessing Asuka's declining mental state after Arael's mental attack do lessen the impact of later story events.
With that being said I have no other complaints this was perfect. I loved the small changes like being told Kaji's full backstory and seeing Rei pilot unit-01 before Shinji does not to mention the genius handling of Kaworu. Overall this felt like a more mature, angrier take on Eva rather than the thoughtful, dramatic, and lonely anime or the refined, hopeful, cinematic rebuild films. I feel as if reading the manga in the state I'm in now spoke more to me than rewatching the anime and films would. It feels like the tone of someone who has already been through a lot and will continue to endure more. This Shinji isn't quite helpless or pathetic but he is very cynical and jaded due to his prior experiences. For this reason, I could see this being a more accessible version of Eva for people who have not self-isolated in the way that the original Shinji or I have.
Now finally coming to something of a conclusion for this chaotic word dump of thoughts and emotional venting. (If you read this long I'm sorry) Yeah, I liked the manga. I liked it a lot. The bitterness of this Shinji interwoven with his deeper emotional maturity yet keeping with the same urge to fight for his own agency in a system that is indifferent to him, and his ever-present struggle to connect with others was certainly a departure from the original story but a rather welcome one. After all, it is human nature to be ever-changing. Imperfect yet always striving for some sense of grand fulfillment. Life is hard but we aren't alone in it. We all just have to keep going and hope we can hold each other's hands again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2020
what a ride..
October 2, 2021
Treat this as a review for the whole manga.
I've now experienced every version of Evangelion. The anime, the movies, and now the manga. Each version has its advantages and disadvantages and each manages to be noticeably different.
That difference is what interests me here.
The movies--the most recent version of the story--is definitely the most surreal and irrational and wild. I don't think they particularly work as movies unless you've already seen the anime, but to the extent that they do work, they work almost entirely on emotion. They're deeply emotional movies where your ability to feel what you're seeing is going to determine how much you get out of the movies.
The manga--which began before the anime but only finished after a few of the movies came out--is the most concrete and robust. It's very grounded in reality and logistics and character. It almost manages to make Evangelion into hard SF, but it's definitely the version of the story that's most rational and comprehensible. That's not to say it doesn't go to similar wild places.
The anime--second begun and first finished--is for most people the definitive version of the story. It's also nicely balanced between the logical and the logic-breaking. It's concerned with the concrete and human aspects of the story, but also carried on waves of emotion that allow for some hallucinogenic breaks.
Even so, I sort of think this is the real definitive version of the story, even if it's the only version without Anno's input. The characters are different from either of the other versions. I think the biggest differences come through Shinji's shifted personality. Instead of being trapped in himself, this Shinji is sometimes abrasive and caustic, rather than limply depressed. This transforms his relationships with every character and leads to some truly great moments.
But, yeah, Evangelion has been told three times in three different ways with many differences spread throughout the distinct series. But this one spends the msot time with character and worldbuilding. While this could have slowed things down and made the story more annoying or simply stupider, I think it manages to just make it fuller.
I'm not really one for manga (or even anime, honestly), but I did like this. I've been interested in reading more manga, though I seem to give manga and comics a go every few years and almost always end up disappointed.
I've now experienced every version of Evangelion. The anime, the movies, and now the manga. Each version has its advantages and disadvantages and each manages to be noticeably different.
That difference is what interests me here.
The movies--the most recent version of the story--is definitely the most surreal and irrational and wild. I don't think they particularly work as movies unless you've already seen the anime, but to the extent that they do work, they work almost entirely on emotion. They're deeply emotional movies where your ability to feel what you're seeing is going to determine how much you get out of the movies.
The manga--which began before the anime but only finished after a few of the movies came out--is the most concrete and robust. It's very grounded in reality and logistics and character. It almost manages to make Evangelion into hard SF, but it's definitely the version of the story that's most rational and comprehensible. That's not to say it doesn't go to similar wild places.
The anime--second begun and first finished--is for most people the definitive version of the story. It's also nicely balanced between the logical and the logic-breaking. It's concerned with the concrete and human aspects of the story, but also carried on waves of emotion that allow for some hallucinogenic breaks.
Even so, I sort of think this is the real definitive version of the story, even if it's the only version without Anno's input. The characters are different from either of the other versions. I think the biggest differences come through Shinji's shifted personality. Instead of being trapped in himself, this Shinji is sometimes abrasive and caustic, rather than limply depressed. This transforms his relationships with every character and leads to some truly great moments.
But, yeah, Evangelion has been told three times in three different ways with many differences spread throughout the distinct series. But this one spends the msot time with character and worldbuilding. While this could have slowed things down and made the story more annoying or simply stupider, I think it manages to just make it fuller.
I'm not really one for manga (or even anime, honestly), but I did like this. I've been interested in reading more manga, though I seem to give manga and comics a go every few years and almost always end up disappointed.
June 24, 2025
I’ll right a review for the series here:
What made me fall in love with NGE and spawn one of my favorite films, is not present here. The characters have lost themselves in this poor representation. Nuance has been replaced with dialogue. The ending can’t even say what it wants to be.
All nuance is gone and instead over explaining takes its place. It’s not as bad as the Rebuilds but nevertheless is still an issue.
Another huge issue is how characters are treated. Shinji having this level of confidence turns him into just a generic hero who doesn’t really fit into the Evangelion universe. Asuka is essentially just a helpless girl who in the end still needs Shinji to save her. Gendo instead of being afraid of fatherhood and losing Shinji if he gets close to him, hates Shinji because he was envious of the attention he got from Yui. Kaworu is this asshole who kills kittens (yes I get why he does it and the symbolism) and gets rejected by Shinji. What an unconvincing reveal that in fact Shinji cared for Kaworu. Their whole experience together was just Shinji constantly rejecting Kaworu and Kaworu not understanding no. Rei stays exactly the same and I’m happy about that.
While I’m happy to say the ending is better than Rebuild, Shinji is learning to love himself through within rather than through another person, it has this unappealing reset. Plus Mari just has to show up anyway in this sorta bizarre epilogue² that, for me, adds nothing and is essentially setting up rebuilds. This ruins the manga ending by saying the cycle is continuing and explicitly.
Overall the whole manga is a 2.5 but it’s held up by the fact that it’s very similar in its outline to the original and the minor amount of limited good changes. As I said on letterboxd, there absolutely no need for any of this. NGE/EoE was perfect.
What made me fall in love with NGE and spawn one of my favorite films, is not present here. The characters have lost themselves in this poor representation. Nuance has been replaced with dialogue. The ending can’t even say what it wants to be.
All nuance is gone and instead over explaining takes its place. It’s not as bad as the Rebuilds but nevertheless is still an issue.
Another huge issue is how characters are treated. Shinji having this level of confidence turns him into just a generic hero who doesn’t really fit into the Evangelion universe. Asuka is essentially just a helpless girl who in the end still needs Shinji to save her. Gendo instead of being afraid of fatherhood and losing Shinji if he gets close to him, hates Shinji because he was envious of the attention he got from Yui. Kaworu is this asshole who kills kittens (yes I get why he does it and the symbolism) and gets rejected by Shinji. What an unconvincing reveal that in fact Shinji cared for Kaworu. Their whole experience together was just Shinji constantly rejecting Kaworu and Kaworu not understanding no. Rei stays exactly the same and I’m happy about that.
While I’m happy to say the ending is better than Rebuild, Shinji is learning to love himself through within rather than through another person, it has this unappealing reset. Plus Mari just has to show up anyway in this sorta bizarre epilogue² that, for me, adds nothing and is essentially setting up rebuilds. This ruins the manga ending by saying the cycle is continuing and explicitly.
Overall the whole manga is a 2.5 but it’s held up by the fact that it’s very similar in its outline to the original and the minor amount of limited good changes. As I said on letterboxd, there absolutely no need for any of this. NGE/EoE was perfect.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2019
4.5/5
It's been a long time coming, but the Neon Genesis Evangelion manga finally comes to an end nineteen years after its initial debut in 1994, before the show even came out. Now I finally have it on my shelf alongside the previous four volumes in the omnibus publications of the series. Hell, I read it as soon as it arrived at my door, and I'm pretty happy with it.
We all know the story, so I'm not going to go into much detail about it, especially since this plays out similarly to how the show ended--not in the last two low-budget episodes, but in the End of Evangelion film released in 1997. It does, however, have several differences ranging from small little things that the show never addressed to big things that happened much differently on screen. Brings a nice bit of variety to the whole thing, I think.
Sadamoto's artwork is top-notch as usual; clean, intense, and still retaining the now 'retro' style the franchise has more-or-less modernized in all other mediums by now. I'm glad Sadamoto didn't try to 'update' the designs or his style during the two decades he spent working on this adaptation. Kudos, by the way, for sticking with it to the very end.
It's strange and kind of funny how the original character designer of the series was still writing/drawing the manga, while the series creator Hideaki Anno is still working on the Rebuild of Evangelion tetralogy (as of this writing, I continue to impatiently and eagerly await the final film's release in 2020... sigh).
At least now I can reread the manga version all the way through, without further delay.
It's been a long time coming, but the Neon Genesis Evangelion manga finally comes to an end nineteen years after its initial debut in 1994, before the show even came out. Now I finally have it on my shelf alongside the previous four volumes in the omnibus publications of the series. Hell, I read it as soon as it arrived at my door, and I'm pretty happy with it.
We all know the story, so I'm not going to go into much detail about it, especially since this plays out similarly to how the show ended--not in the last two low-budget episodes, but in the End of Evangelion film released in 1997. It does, however, have several differences ranging from small little things that the show never addressed to big things that happened much differently on screen. Brings a nice bit of variety to the whole thing, I think.
Sadamoto's artwork is top-notch as usual; clean, intense, and still retaining the now 'retro' style the franchise has more-or-less modernized in all other mediums by now. I'm glad Sadamoto didn't try to 'update' the designs or his style during the two decades he spent working on this adaptation. Kudos, by the way, for sticking with it to the very end.
It's strange and kind of funny how the original character designer of the series was still writing/drawing the manga, while the series creator Hideaki Anno is still working on the Rebuild of Evangelion tetralogy (as of this writing, I continue to impatiently and eagerly await the final film's release in 2020... sigh).
At least now I can reread the manga version all the way through, without further delay.
August 11, 2025
4.5 - Did I understand everything? No. But I never did with the anime or the films anyways. I think I enjoyed this ending the most of all the media.
Anime Ending - Happy but ambiguous or maybe it was that they were all just non-corporeal
The End of Evangelion - This ending confused me and it felt like the most tragic of them all. That after everything there’s no hope.
The Rebuilds - I thought I liked this one but it fundamentally changed the story and looking back, not in the best way for me. I didn’t like that Shinji ended up with Mari and I hated the big time jump in the whole series.
This manga - This I feel takes the happiness from the rebuilds ending and the original anime and blends it with the choice to become corporeal but without malice and hatred from the end of evangelion.
Again, I do not understand everything that happened. I never have and I’m not sure if I’m smart enough to truly ever learn it all. But, despite this, I still see what I nice ending this was that is still open ended but is a huge payoff for the strife and suffering everybody went through in all the volumes.
Anime Ending - Happy but ambiguous or maybe it was that they were all just non-corporeal
The End of Evangelion - This ending confused me and it felt like the most tragic of them all. That after everything there’s no hope.
The Rebuilds - I thought I liked this one but it fundamentally changed the story and looking back, not in the best way for me. I didn’t like that Shinji ended up with Mari and I hated the big time jump in the whole series.
This manga - This I feel takes the happiness from the rebuilds ending and the original anime and blends it with the choice to become corporeal but without malice and hatred from the end of evangelion.
Again, I do not understand everything that happened. I never have and I’m not sure if I’m smart enough to truly ever learn it all. But, despite this, I still see what I nice ending this was that is still open ended but is a huge payoff for the strife and suffering everybody went through in all the volumes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2023
Hard to put into words how stunning the third impact is represented in this volume, its a very visual experience, one I can't recommend enough. The ending of this really serves to bridge the gap between the original series and the rebuild movies; the ending by extension is a balanced between them, not as melancholy as the original and not as fulfilling as the rebuilds.
At it's heart, this volume represents the message Hideaki Anno has always tried to portray in NGE; to break free of the walls around your heart and to live a life according to your own will. Yes, this series about giant robots isn't really the soul of the series.
Shinji finally finds the life he deserved, with some willingness to find his own path and not merely pass from authority figure to authority figure. There is a certain burden to purpose and Shinji does struggle to break the grip NERV and EVA had on him but the decision is worthwhile. The pain of existence is what makes his life worth living. There is nothing in the listlessness of soulless existence.
At it's heart, this volume represents the message Hideaki Anno has always tried to portray in NGE; to break free of the walls around your heart and to live a life according to your own will. Yes, this series about giant robots isn't really the soul of the series.
Shinji finally finds the life he deserved, with some willingness to find his own path and not merely pass from authority figure to authority figure. There is a certain burden to purpose and Shinji does struggle to break the grip NERV and EVA had on him but the decision is worthwhile. The pain of existence is what makes his life worth living. There is nothing in the listlessness of soulless existence.
June 28, 2024
[This is a review for the whole series, as reviewing each individual book would take time that I simply do not have.]
This series is a true 5 stars in every way possible. It is a strong contender for the best series I’ve ever read. I had started the anime several times before in my life, but was never able to really get into it. The manga was a totally different experience. I was not only instantly hooked, but deeply immersed into this world and these characters. The series never has any dull moments, and I was in awe that a person could come up with something like this. It reminds me of how I feel watching Lord of the Rings—that same amazement of how intricate this world really is. I actually was able to start the anime and stick with it this time, and while I definitely appreciate the series (it’s visually-stunning, and I really do like seeing these characters in color), I think the manga tells the story better. This is a must-read.
This series is a true 5 stars in every way possible. It is a strong contender for the best series I’ve ever read. I had started the anime several times before in my life, but was never able to really get into it. The manga was a totally different experience. I was not only instantly hooked, but deeply immersed into this world and these characters. The series never has any dull moments, and I was in awe that a person could come up with something like this. It reminds me of how I feel watching Lord of the Rings—that same amazement of how intricate this world really is. I actually was able to start the anime and stick with it this time, and while I definitely appreciate the series (it’s visually-stunning, and I really do like seeing these characters in color), I think the manga tells the story better. This is a must-read.
September 15, 2025
This might be the first series that went this far that I consistently gave it a 4-star rating and if chopped into smaller parts would still be all 4-star rating. The series as a whole is 5 star and i believe if you like manga it is required reading because you need to have an opinion on this. You don't have to love it or hate it...but you have to read it. This final volume is not 3-in-1 but 2-in-1 because...well there was only 2 volumes left. Masterpiece and emotional, this ending leaves a lot of hope...which as I think of the world we live in, we can always use another dosage of it. Art...superb and timeless. Story, sometimes confusing but definitely thought provoking. Neon Genesis Evangelion is a masterpiece. Now that you may have completed the manga, watch the anime. You need to have experienced both!
August 5, 2022
A really great ending to a wonderful and heart-wrenching series. I waited to read all the manga first before watching the anime series so I’m excited to see how well they portray the manga. I love the ending when Shinji asks Ayanami for a world of no hurt, but he realizes there’s nobody else and it’s as if being dead. So he reverts the world back to the way it was. It shows his growth as a character. And I like that he has some hope at the end, even if he never had a sense of direction before. Good series. Would recommend to anyone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2022
Much like my feelings after watching End of Evangelion, this gets me exactly in the same places. While I understand why Sadamoto choose to do what he did, I felt that the more positive ending robs some of the story's main themes, which to me wasn't without hope, only that it shouldn't have come full circle. It was still nice to see that but ends up assuring to me that the anime still eclipses the manga, which as two different mediums, was always going to be a strong dividing line.
August 25, 2023
I had a feeling the manga is what informed Rebuild’s characters and wish for a happier ending. The last few pages here are a definite chunk of the puzzle I was missing/only guessing at throughout 2.22-3.0+1.11. Honestly, quality storytelling, and very strong writing: we got the best of Anno’s own version as well as a beautiful and informative take by Sadamoto. I have no qualms with this manga’s interpretation of Evangelion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2024
4.5 stars - Obviously this series as a whole was and will always be very special to me. The final volume was beautiful and really concluded the series in such a meaningful way. Was it a lil cheese? Sure, but I feel like it fits so well with the overall theme of the series that I gobbled it up.
(The only reason I can't give this the full 5 stars is just because there are some things that are very manga-of-this-time that made me a lil uncomfy.)
(The only reason I can't give this the full 5 stars is just because there are some things that are very manga-of-this-time that made me a lil uncomfy.)
March 30, 2025
Yeah I think this is a really good conclusion for the manga series. Although I prefer the movie version of the End of Evangelion, I think the more hopeful ending presented here fits the tone of the manga much better. I really liked the art style for this book (and the preceding 4) it just seemed very Evangelion if that makes sense!
Also, the extra stage at the end - really cool! Didn't expect to see Mari in this whatsoever!
Also, the extra stage at the end - really cool! Didn't expect to see Mari in this whatsoever!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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