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Neon Genesis: Shinji Ikari Raising Project Volume 1 (2014)

by Osamu Takahashi(Favorite Author)

3.5 of 5 Votes: 5

languge

English

genre

Science Fiction

publisher

Dark Horse Manga

series

Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Shinji Ikari Raising Project

review 1: Stuff I Read - Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Shinji Ikari Rising Project Vol 1 ReviewSo I've been a fan of Evangelion since seeing the original anime back in the day. But it's taken me a while to branch out into the other adaptations. I guess that's okay, seeing as how the original wasn't even done until a few years ago. So I've started reading the manga. And this one is...well, it's cute. It's Evangelion if it was a happy high school drama. It's fun and funny and light and all those things you would expect. I'm thinking that, being Evangelion, it must get dark at some point, but for now it's just so darned cute.This could even be considered canon, in a way, based on the false reality that Shinji creates at the end of the anime, the ending that was rather undone by End of E... morevangelion. Basically, Shinji gets the opportunity to remake the world and he makes his life into a dating sim, a harem anime instead of a mech fighting one. And that's exactly what's here, with Shinji as the inexplicable guy all the ladies are trying to attract. Asuka is as fiery as ever, though obviously that's twisted from her aggression to be now covering for her affection of Shinji. And Rei is very different as well, still aloof but now with some personality, some emotions. The rest of the gang is largely unchanged, but everything is tweaked a bit. Misato is the teacher, and Shinji has both parents.It's an interesting concept, and something that I think I'd like to read more of. Really, it's an excuse to see these character used in a different setting. The essence of them is retained, but they are stripped out of their more meaningful setting and given a light and fluffy world to play in. So far it's not life and death, and there's no terrible angst, just some normal teenage stuff. So it's weird to read, because it's so different from what these characters are normally doing, but it's also fun. Maybe not as fun as the one where Shinji solves mysteries, but it's still full of adorable moments. More PenPen!In the end this volume succeeds at doing basically what it promises to do, which is show these characters in a completely different situation. One that's fun and cute and light and won't make you question your life decisions. And for that I think I'd keep going with the series. Nothing super great, but a 6.5/10.
review 2: I sat and read this at a Chapters bookstore while waiting for the GF to get off from work. I usually stay away from Evangelion fanfics (no matter how official this Shinji Ikari Raising Project might be, it's quality is no better than a fanfic) but felt compelled to pick this up out of my blind love for all things Evangelion. It's basically your typical cheesy Japanese high school love drama manga featuring Evangelion cast members. If you're like me and find that stuff juvenile, sexist, and boring, then stay away from this series and stick to the original Evangelion manga. less

Download links for: Neon Genesis: Shinji Ikari Raising Project Volume 1

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