Manga Review – Neon Genesis Evangelion, Vol. 10

We have Kaworu’s first outing in the Eva.

Title: Neon Genesis Evangelion, Volume 10
Story & Art by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto
Based on the series created by Hideaki Anno
Translated by June Honma
Adapted by Carl Gustav Horn
Published by Viz Media

Available from Amazon.com

The Premise

Rei Ayanami is currently being probed by the latest Angel, Armisael. To save Shinji, Rei self-destructs Unit-01, destroying the Angel & much of Tokyo-3. Gendo activates Rei’s 3rd clone, and Shinji flees to Kaworu’s apartment. We learn Ritsuko’s back-story, and her connection to Rei.

High Points

The sequence with Ritsuko and SEELE leading up to the sequence in the Rei-quarium is incredibly tense and tightly written.

Low Points

I can’t see Shinji turning to Kaworu after Rei’s death. The way the show handles it, where Shinji withdraws into his room, with Misato trying to draw him out and failing, works better for me. Kaworu & Shinji haven’t reconciled enough for Shinji to turn to Kaworu to help him now.

Scores

Originality: Kaworu’s involvement shakes things up, but some of the beats are pretty much the same. 4/6

Artwork: 6/6

Story: This volume is very well written, though I have some characterization problems. 4/6

Characterization: Kaworu & Shinji just don’t have the chemistry in the manga that they do in the show. One would think that having the two characters have more time together would develop their relationship more, but by having Shinji & Kaworu get off on the wrong foot the way do, it means that I can’t buy into them becoming as close as they do in the show. 4/6.

Emotional Response: Thus far, every volume has something I’ve generally needed to emotionally brace for. This is no exception. 5/6

Flow: 6/6

Overall: 6/6

In total, this volume gets 35/42.

Differences

  • Kaworu’s feelings about Shinji are more implicitly homosexual.
  • Ritsuko witnesses her mother’s murder of Rei I & suicide.