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Neon Genesis Evangelion 3-in-1 Edition, Vol. 1: Includes Vols. 1, 2 & 3 (2012)

by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto(Favorite Author)

4.38 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

1421550792 (ISBN13: 9781421550794)

languge

English

genre

Science Fiction

publisher

VIZ Media LLC

review 1: It's been a few years since I've watched the original series to be able to perhaps accurately compare any subtle differences between this and its source material. The anime remains one of my all-time favorites. The more recent "Rebuild of Evangelion" films are also quite well done. This manga volume, overall, was quite pleasant to read through.The artistry is mostly top-notch, though there were some panels where it seemed like the artist was trying too hard to convey action at once. It caused a few segments to be a little hard to follow. I also liked the art pages between some of the volumes, along with the interviews and inside commentary by some of the anime staff. It added a level of insight that one wouldn't have been able to experience watching the anime alone.I enjoy... moreed the narrative as its being told in this format. Its a bit more condensed, which makes setting the foundation for future plot points easy to follow. (I write "easy" because the end of the series--anime--has some seriously thick elements). I've read other reviews that degrade the change in Shinji and Masato's personality (softening, comical?), but I don't think it's of any detriment. I didn't get the comical shift. The only instance of real "comedy" mirrored the scenes I can remember from the anime quite well. Shinji's character portrayal in this format helps him become more "accessible" to the reader, versus how he was in the anime. There were some flashback moments and internalized thought bubbles that rounded him out, made him more sympathetic. The latter half of this 3-in-1 volume packed a bigger punch--visually, emotionally, etc--than its beginning, but I suppose that's to be expected of any story.This is a nice set-up for what I hope to be a slightly different, perhaps more insightful, look into an already fantastic series.Oh, random gripe... What is up with Toji sounding like he grew up in some New York City borough? Do people in NYC even sound like that? I never watched the dubbed version, so I don't know if this is something they copied over from the anime. Either way, it was annoying and I wasn't a fan.
review 2: Reason for Reading: I love reading omnibus editions of manga series. One is just never enough at a time, but 3 in a row gives you just the right amount of depth to come up for a breather as you wait for the next edition to come out!Publisher recommends this for 13+ but I'm recommending for ages 16+ because of the language which uses a lot of curse words (NOT the f-word, but everything else) and there is female nudity.Vol. 1 starts right in the middle of things and is a fabulous way to begin a manga series. We're just thrown into an intense situation and learn what is happening at the same time as an almost clueless character. Shinji's mother is dead and he has been abandoned by his father at boarding school for the last three years when suddenly he is whisked away at his father's orders. Shinji seems like a nice enough guy though he doesn't really care too much about other's in the grand scheme of things. But we feel for him when we meet his father, a belligerent, unfeeling tyrant who shows no emotion to Shinji and has brought him to headquarters where he can (for some reason) be the only suitable replacement pilot for the huge fighting robot "Evangelion". Basically his father has brought him here to be a warrior (for which he has not trained) and realistically to meet his death in battle. Nice guy ... hate him already. Shinji doesn't want to do this but Japanese culture takes over and he does do it out of pride and honour Shinji is 14 (I think) and a young but grown-up woman scientist befriends him, sympathetic to his father's treatment of him. Great battle scenes which are very easy to follow and an immensely intriguing opening volume to this post-apocalyptic sci-fi manga. 5/5Vol. 2 has me hooked on this series! Concentrating on character and putting battles on the backburner we really get to know Shinji and Misato. I just love Misato! She is a lovely young woman, funny and amazingly at this point in the series, multi-layered. The relationship between the two gets off to a rocky start as both misinterpret the intentions of the other but both come to tell the other the truth of their hidden personalities. Can I say I loved it again?! We get glimpses of Rei, who the extra material at the end of each volume (interviews, etc.) let us know will be a major character and Shinji's father only shows up briefly. The book isn't entirely plot and character though as we get one good battle scene towards the end. I can't wait to read the last volume in this omnibus. 5/5Vol. 3 brings Rei into the fold and introduces her as a character. There is mystery surrounding her; she is totally devoid of emotion, seems to have been wiped of memories prior to when she came to be an Eva pilot and most confusing of all to Shinji she is enamoured with and puts all her trust and faith into his father who still barely speaks a word to him. Shinji finds himself attracted to Rei and they have a very embarrassing first meeting (for him anyway); he sets out to befriend her. Battles feature prominently as we go into the past to learn of Rei's accident the brought about the calling of Shinji and the enemy comes again to attack headquarters prompting the sending of both Rei and Shinji in their Eva's out to work together as a team. Shinji's father is also given a bit of a break as we are shown that he has a human side after all but this doesn't redeem him in anyway in my eyes. A thoroughly satisfactory conclusion to this 3-in-1 omnibus. I greatly look forward to the next volume! 4/5 less

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