manga Mac's Manga Reviews (Dark Horse) - Page 2

Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Shinji Ikari Rising Project Volume 10

Writer: Osamu Takahashi
Artist: Osamu Takahashi

Getting past the mouthful of a title...

If you see the name Evangelion and are expecting Evas, Angels, and massive battles, those aren't going on. The focus of the series is more along the lines of Shinji's everyday life and social blunders, which Shinji being Shinji, provides several opportunities for comedy before other characters and their antics are brought into things be it Asuka, Misato Katsuragi, or even Shinji's father. While anime and manga fans will throw out the term "fan service", let's just say things are along the lines of a racier set of Archie stories, or a pg-13 and up teen comedy/drama if you will.

This volume opens up with Shinji, Rei, Asuka along with others from NERV involved with a sports festival in which NERV representatives compete against reps on behalf of the city. Of course, Morisatio gambles with her paycheck. And while there's some funny bits here and there mainly from Shinji's social blunders, the sight gag of the drag race takes the cake.

As funny as that is, the string of disasters which is Shinji and Asuka on a date might be funnier. Later on however, the irony of Dr. Ikari getting lost in the corridors of NERV just like the Eva pilots do. This sequence serves for the main fan service portion of the volume with the obligatory bath scene with the ladies from wandering dusty corridors.

Hijinx TRULY ensue when the socially inept (Shinji) plays nursemaid to the socially withdrawn (Rei). However, that pales in comparison to the Homeroom 2-A 's theme for the school festival is cosplay. The boys conspire for it, and only the girls end up in costume (with Morisato really getting into the opportunity to wear a police outfit). Almost as funny (and in character) is the transformation of the musical show originally involving Shinji with a cello to an all girl rock band (with Shinji in a dress). Asuka doesn't miss a chance at any opportunity to be herself through this, and a couple of excellent moments involving Rei occur.

A "behind the scenes" or more like a film outtake section involving Dr. Ikari's presence at the festival rounds things out, and while not essential to the flow of things, the laughs continue here.

Solid are and entertaining writing throughout. Those big on action or mech action should be aware that none is present as it's more day in life and comedy with the characters. Those familiar with the franchise or this particular version shouldn't be surprised. Amusing and well illustrated and paced. A 3.5 out of 5 overall.

Writer: Kosuke Fujishima
Artist: Kosuke Fujishima


Time for another manga review! And this one is going to be volume 19 of Oh My Goddess!. For the unfamiliar, the series focuses on Keiichi, a college student who through a quirk of fate and wit ended up with a GODDESS for a girlfriend. And the friendliest of the three sister goddesses who appear in the series she is. Belldandy's sisters Urd (femme fatale) and Skuld (young genius) also end up contributing to the insanity which becomes Keiichi's life.

This particular volume has three stories. The first involves Keiichi and Belldandy solving the mystery of a ghost (and racing with said ghost). The second focuses on Keiichi's attempt to abdicate his position of authority in the motorcycle club with the hijinx which ensue. The third deals with one of Keiichi's professor and his obsession for experimentation and invention... which shifts to obsessive desire to dismantle and study Skuld's robotic creations. Speaking of, Banpei and the "Welcome Robot" get up to their own slapstick hijinx which contributes most of the funny in this story. The story isn't all funny as Keiichi's professor who has earned the nickname "Dr. Moreau" lends a fairly sinister air to things with his own motivations, noble and misguided they may be. Which in turn leads to obsession with Bell having to teach him a lesson that was also intended as a gift. However, we learn it's not necessarily the intention of a goddess whether an action toward a mortal is a blessing or a curse, but sometimes it's the outlook of the recipient in question. And to top it off, the Welcome Robot gets a name.

Overall, while this series is very much a romantic comedy, this volume does a good job of showing the diversity of what can happen in the series what with the ghost story, races, mad scientist, robot hijinx, and straight up humor. All in all, a solid 3.5 out of 5.

I did on the previous page Miragedres...

Guess someone wasn't as clever as he thought!

quote Miragedres

I'm just waiting for the day you give a review of over/under 3.5 Mister MacPhisto.

Yeah... you made THAT statement. Day came and went, you couldn't be arsed to back your smack before trying to be clever. Deal with it.

And your cleverness is somewhere between pet rock and banana slug, buddy.

I wanted it to as well, but too much robots and mad scientists and too little principle characters. Normally, I really like most of the Oh My Goddess that I read, but the most interesting story was the shortest and the least interesting was the longest.

Because they were better than the 50's Tarzan collection I reviewed but not as good as Rex Mundi (other comics I've reviewed). The bulk of the manga I've been looking at and reviewing has been coming across to me as "entertaining enough read, but not OMFG! THIS IS AWESOME... or DAMN! THIS IS ASS!", Mastix. Besides, the number rating doesn't matter a hill of beans in comparison to the actual write-up with everything having their own pros and cons.