EVA-303: Chapter 22 ONLINE NOW!

[Xairathan]

I'm all for this Evangelion fanwriter support group.
[s:1902onbp]Is supposed to be doing an EVA fic for NaNoWriMo, is procrastinating[/s:1902onbp]

[GrummanCat]

So... is it abandoned, then?

No it's NOT abandoned!

I like xanderkh's idea actually. I started listening to some of the music lately and I was about to put an episode on earlier today.

I actually think the best place to start is with assembling the new chapter. I have the art for all but the last scene done actually (just need pick-up shots of exteriors and airplanes flying shots).

So beginning tonight I'm putting all the drawn panels into place leaving blank panels where the airplane shots and exterior building shots will need to go. Once I see a chapter come together it won't seem so vaguely unmanageable anymore.


Thank you guys for hanging in there and tapping me on the shoulder.

I CAN promise you guys that you are going to enjoy Asuka v. Mari.

********EDIT********
I have assembled 6 pages. Woohoo

[Literary Eagle]

Great to hear from you again, GrummanCat! I'm sure the new chapter will be worth the wait. After all, things are bound to be entertaining with Mari and her harpy-plane around.

[GrummanCat]

I'm worried that it won't be eventful enough. After 6 months since the last chapter, what if people are let down. I mean the Asuka/Mari clash will be memorable, but I just feel like there's no way to make it 'big' enough with the scenes I've got to make it all seem worthwhile.

In some ways it will be nice of course to reconnect with my readers, but it also feels like I'm going to actually have to REBUILD my readership So many people must have drifted away. I miss Maru's detailed reviews of my work and I see he hasn't been online in a while. I see Bagheera is still around but I had hundreds of people downloading the chapters to say nothing of the ones reading it off of Smackjeeves. If reception to the new chapter is light what effect will it have on Chapter 16? It's almost like stage fright LOL

[KingXanaduu]

Remember Grummcat why you are writing in the first place: To tell a story. Not for the recognition, but to tell the tale of two lovers, and the trials and tribulations they had to go through to find out the love they gained through each other.

It doesn't matter how MANY people read it, but for those who do read it, and UNDERSTAND or want to understand the characters and learn for their mistakes so they in turn can apply the lessons to themselves. :)

[GrummanCat]

Remember Grummcat why you are writing in the first place: To tell a story. Not for the recognition, but to tell the tale of two lovers, and the trials and tribulations they had to go through to find out the love they gained through each other.

It doesn't matter how MANY people read it, but for those who do read it, and UNDERSTAND or want to understand the characters and learn for their mistakes so they in turn can apply the lessons to themselves. :)

Thank you, Xander! You are right, that is what matters most.

So far, the chapter is 19 pages long. I expect we'll probably finish in the 30-40 page range. Sorry that looks a little disappointing considering I have been 'at this' for half a year! LOL I think my average chapter size is something like 60-80 pages. I really should have been able to crank this thing out in no time.

As for new art, I sketched the final scene last week. But I'm sharing this one here 'cause it's in full color. Asuka is modeling a new shirt I put her in for the Pancho's scene. I'm trying not to lean too often on canon civilian clothes (such as Asuka's sun dress). Also, it is probably still winter (or spring) and in the Mojave, them nights can be pretty damn cold, so she needs a long sleeve shirt which was something she didn't have to worry about in Tokyo 3.

SPOILER: Show

[mechashiva]

So I actually started reading the webcomic and I like the deviations from the original NGE plot, transplanting it from Japan to the US during the post-9/11 War on Terror and the EVAs being fighter planes (sort of like "Last of the Starfighters" but much more exciting )

You've already curried my favor by having Shinji wearing a Monarch shirt and watching MST3K but to have Asuka/Shinji in it and Asuka in denial about her feelings for Shinji...GEEEEE XD

They're my secret ship. What can I say?

I'm on Chapter 5 rn [s]and probably going to read the whole thing and not sleep a wink[/s]

[GrummanCat]

So I actually started reading the webcomic and I like the deviations from the original NGE plot, transplanting it from Japan to the US during the post-9/11 War on Terror and the EVAs being fighter planes (sort of like "Last of the Starfighters" but much more exciting )

You've already curried my favor by having Shinji wearing a Monarch shirt and watching MST3K but to have Asuka/Shinji in it and Asuka in denial about her feelings for Shinji...GEEEEE XD

They're my secret ship. What can I say?

I'm on Chapter 5 rn [s]and probably going to read the whole thing and not sleep a wink[/s]

It's a pleasure to have you aboard, Mecha! Thank you! You might find though that you need a break after chapter 5 LOL. No one should go through chapters 7-13 in one sitting though!

OH ONE MORE THING! Please be aware that the Smackjeeves chapters are NSFW. You should have gotten a notice when you checked in on SJ, but just sayin'. This is especially true in the final scene of chapter 5 and portions of chapter 6. I hope that doesn't bother you too much...

If you need a SFW alternative, I have some beginning from Chapter 6.

[ONIAgent150]

I mean the Asuka/Mari clash will be memorable,

To quote Kenny Powers: "Finally mother@#$*!"

Can't wait for the next chapter!

[GrummanCat]

To quote Kenny Powers: "Finally mother@#$*!"

Can't wait for the next chapter!

Sorry for the wait! Only one scene left to compile. Then I have to get the airplane shots done and final editing.

[GrummanCat]

Another little update- inked and scanned the last drawn art of the chapter. I'm hoping to get the aircraft shots by Thursday. Hopefully we can talk release date after that! Wish me luck!

[Literary Eagle]

Good luck, GrummanCat! You can do it!

[GrummanCat]

Good luck, GrummanCat! You can do it!

Yes, I think I can!


WE HAVE A RELEASE DATE! FINALLY after 7 G--Damned months, we have a release date!

Friday, December 12th! Please check back in for updates! I'm working on final edits now!


Man. This is the first time we've seen Unit 02 since Chapter 5! And that was just a shot of it sitting on the ground.

SPOILER: Show

[GrummanCat]

Umm...

It's here, guys!

http://www.mediafire.com/download/bl2u72abljqnhbt/Eva_303_Ch._15.zip

Once again, I am truly sorry to my readers for making you wait so long, especially for such a small chapter as 40 pages. I do hope you find it amusing and worth the read!


PLEASE let me know what you think! I think feedback may be especially important this time around as I attempt to re-start the comic as it were.

I am already going to be getting started on Chapter 16 next week, so hopefully, we can keep this ball rolling from now!

[Literary Eagle]

Yay, new chapter! I really like Asuka's Unit-02 shirt.

Although I prefer Asuka and Mari's more collaborative relationship in 3.0, your version of them is still very amusing, especially since you hinted that there may be some actual respect and fondness hidden beneath the surface. Also, Mari as an Elvis fan is hilarious!

Thanks so much for updating, GrummanCat! It's always a pleasure to see more of this story, and I look forward to finding out what's next for Shinji and Asuka, plus seeing more of Mari's Elvis fangirling... and hopefully, more of Kaworu and Rei's budding relationship.

[GrummanCat]

Yay, new chapter! I really like Asuka's Unit-02 shirt.

Although I prefer Asuka and Mari's more collaborative relationship in 3.0, your version of them is still very amusing, especially since you hinted that there may be some actual respect and fondness hidden beneath the surface. Also, Mari as an Elvis fan is hilarious!

Thanks so much for updating, GrummanCat! It's always a pleasure to see more of this story, and I look forward to finding out what's next for Shinji and Asuka, plus seeing more of Mari's Elvis fangirling... and hopefully, more of Kaworu and Rei's budding relationship.

THANKS! I'm so glad it was worth the wait for you!

At least for my purposes, I think a vanilla relationship between Asuka and Mari would be kinda boring. I think competitiveness is a deeply engrained part of Asuka's character. Shinji used to be her outlet for that, which is why she became so volitile and bitchy when she was crippled in Volume 2. Now things are pretty neutralized between SXA and they don't have any big psychological issues for the rest of the comic (hope I'm not spoiling anything there). With Mari arriving precisely at the moment when Asuka is getting back on her feet again, she is the logical target for Asuka's ferocity. Even then, I don't think it's quite as vicious as Asuka vs. Shinji was.

A non-combative relationship would also be a bit too much like Jessika. As if I had simply switched the characters out, or replaced Jessika.

As for Elvis, I realized going into this that I was going to have to fill in a lot of the blanks on Mari's character myself. We just don't get to know too much about Mari in Rebuild. I wanted to avoid cliches (she's from England, so she must love the Beatles or Stones, etc.).

So I thought I would flip that completely on its head and make her an Elvis fan. With Vegas coming, up, we're sure to see more of that soon.

[Ænimal]

fuck off

[Bagheera]

Glorious. Absolutely glorious. I can't wait to see what happens next, you've absolutely nailed everyone at this point.

[Sailor Star Dust]

GrummanCat: Just wanted to offer some words of encouragement and hope you keep on keepin' on with your little doujin (of sorts).

Though I'm insanely busy with RL these days, I think I read some of the original chapters back in the day (2010!)--and probably left my thoughts either here or THAT BOARD, I'm sure.

So happy to see you're still working on this project of yours and that people are enjoying it. This better have plenty of A/S and K/R WAFF in it. :P

[GrummanCat]

Bag and Sailor-

THANK YOU BOTH for your reading and support! Feedback is the fuel that keeps the chapters coming, and this is the comic that wouldn't die

Next month begins 5 years of EVA-303 BTW.

And for your information, Chapter 16 will be another short chapter and I'm hoping to begin this week! It is entirely devoted to the Kaworu/Rei/Saburo plot. Please look forward to it.