Manga Review – Neon Genesis Evangelion, Vol. 5

The first of the “wham” volumes, and the manga doesn’t stop from here on.

Title: Neon Genesis Evangelion, Volume 5
Story and Art: Yoshiyuki Sadamoto
Creator: Hideaki Anno
Translator: Lillian Olsen
English Adaptation: Fred Burke & Carl Gustav Horn
Publisher: Lillian Olsen

Available from Amazon.com

The Premise

Asuka is settling in to Tokyo-3, and has moved in with Shinji & Misato. Meanwhile, Kaji has been investigating NERV and trying to figure out what their agenda is, and how they relate to an organization called SEELE (derived from the German word for “Soul”). Oh, and there’s an Angel attacking Tokyo-3 with kinetic weapons from orbit.

High Points

The reveals about the NERV/SEELE conspiracy are handled very well, with a real tense tone to them. The action scene during the angel attack was handled very well.

Low Points

While we gain some big things this volume, we also lose some very important stuff as well.

Scores

Originality: The changes from the show continue here, with the players involved in several events changed, and some significant events dropped. 4/6

Artwork: 6/6

Story: This volume takes the focus off the combat with the monsters, and puts it almost entirely on the intrigue. 5/6

Characterization: We get a whole bunch of new character development for Shinji, Kaji, Rei, Gendo and Misato. 5/6

Emotional Response: I can safely call this a “Wham” volume. 5/6

Flow: 6/6

Overall: 6/6

In total, this volume gets 37/42.

Significant Changes

  • Sandalphon (the volcano Angel), Matarael (the spider Angel), and Ireul (the computer virus Angel), do not appear. This means that the first time Shinji, Asuka, and Rei work together at the same time to fight an Angel is Sahaquiel (the kinetic weapon Angel).
  • Shinji and Asuka do not kiss.
  • Shinji and Rei have a moment in her apartment where Rei attempts to make tea.
  • Gendo rejects Shinji during their conversation at Yui’s grave.
  • Shinji is present when Kaji shows Adam (actually Lillith) to Misato.
  • Kaji takes Shinji to the aquarium, and tells him everything he knows about NERV & SEELE.