Things you thought the manga did better?

[NemZ]

+ Rei/Shinji interactions
+ Kaji backstory
+ Shinji backstory (bike)
+ Kaworu shows up earlier and is a total weirdo
+ Eva-sized chainsaw weapon
+ Shinji tries to punch Gendo, lol
+ Gendo's ATF fun times
+ Shinji actually fights the harpies

- Missing a few angels
- Gendo's ridiculous 'i'll become a god' motivation
- Asuka the testube ninja, wha?
- Lame ending copout

[Guy Nacks]

I think some people generally tend to give Sadamoto more shit than he deserves, but the dude did have some interesting additions and modifications to NGE. NemZ's list pretty much sums up my feelings.

[Bagheera]

I did like Kaji's backstory, but the fact he was a total asshole while relating it tainted it something fierce.

[Reichu]

What did Kaji's backstory actually have to do with becoming a triple agent? It's been a while.

I think some people generally tend to give Sadamoto more shit than he deserves

Manga that take so long to finish invite mockery upon them. It's just how it is. (Even something as great as Berserk can't escape "lol miura's playing id@lmaster again!" jokes.)

I think I learned to hate the manga by spending some time at the Eva Mailing List, where the shear amount of (in my mind) undeserved love for Sadamoto's version at the expense of the original resulted in me developing an "allergy" toward any positive sentiment expressed toward Sadamoto's adaptation, which can only be relieved by being a hate machine.

So remember, kids: love the things you love a little less, so that other people will love them a little more.

[cyharding]

I think I learned to hate the manga by spending some time at the Eva Mailing List, where the shear amount of (in my mind) undeserved love for Sadamoto's version at the expense of the original resulted in me developing an "allergy" toward any positive sentiment expressed toward Sadamoto's adaptation, which can only be relieved by being a hate machine.

I don't have too much experience with EML, but I think one of the reasons that it may have gotten that much attention was that until Rebuild came along, it was only part of the main franchise where new material was being released (if you don't count the spinoff stories), so it would be discussed by more people who liked it than those who didn't.

[Chainsaw Owl]

The manga has a massive double-bladed chainsaw. That's good enough for me.

[Reichu]

The manga has a massive double-bladed chainsaw. That's good enough for me.

That was just a cross-promotional stunt for a video game. If the Dual Saw is all you care about, get a copy of NGE2 and have the deep satisfaction of using it with (almost) any Eva on any Angel. (I really thought the Dual Saw was dumb, until I got to see it in action. Pity there's no blood and gore splatter, though.)

[Chuckman]

Next to each other Doom 64 style or opposed, Darth Maul style? This is important.

[ElMariachi]

Next to each other, think double chainfist from Warhammer 40K.

[NemZ]

[Bagheera]

Prog knife still best weapon.

[Chuckman]

I was with it until I saw the arrows. To truly please the blood god, the teeth should move in opposite directions.

[ElMariachi]

I was with it until I saw the arrows. To truly please the blood god, the teeth should move in opposite directions.

Quite the contrary: less pointed teeth means that it takes more time to cut the target, which makes for more blood spilled, which pleases more the blood god! ;)

[Chainsaw Owl]

That was just a cross-promotional stunt for a video game. If the Dual Saw is all you care about, get a copy of NGE2 and have the deep satisfaction of using it with (almost) any Eva on any Angel. (I really thought the Dual Saw was dumb, until I got to see it in action. Pity there's no blood and gore splatter, though.)

Far from all. The Prog Knife (bowie style) will always be my first love, but I shall always remain a creature of the saw.

More specifically on topic, I don't honestly believe the manga did anything better. I generally tend to prefer manga over anime, but in this case, the anime wins.

[Mr. Tines]

I generally tend to prefer manga over anime

That's because typically, the anime adapts the manga and there is adaptation decay going in that direction. NGE, and a few other cases, where the two are part of the same project (e.g. Utena), get to be exceptions to the rule by the anime not being an adaptation as such.

[Chainsaw Owl]

That's because typically, the anime adapts the manga and there is adaptation decay going in that direction. NGE, and a few other cases, where the two are part of the same project (e.g. Utena), get to be exceptions to the rule by the anime not being an adaptation as such.

That's what I equate it to as well, though there are a few exceptions. For example the Yu Yu Hakusho manga came first, but I just plain hate it. Love the anime though.

Ah, and just to give credit where credit is due, I think Sadamato's manga gets a star for keeing the art more consistent. Man-in-a-suit Unit 02 still haunts my dreams.

[Cosmo11]

The more conisistent art style and Kaji's backstory (except the way it's presented) are the only parts of the manga which are better for me.

[mechashiva]

I got kind of sidetracked but I read the first few volumes of the manga and the things I liked were:

-YMMV but I kind of liked deadpan/snarky Shinji, maybe not better than anime Shinji, but it sort of took a different path from a constant given of his personality in that he chooses to express himself with dry jokes
-introducing Rei fighting the Angel as Misato is picking Shinji up instead of seeing her first as a mirage in the street and then on the hospital gurney as Gendo makes her pilot the EVA-01 after Shinji refuses. It sort of establishes her as a pilot first than a source of pity and sympathy as a damsel in distress.
-When Misato takes Shinji to the Neo-Tokyo 3 overlook to show him the buildings rising out of the ground, she congratulates him and tells him he did a good job, he bursts into tears and said "I just wish he (Gendo) told me that."

aww.
yeah, I'm a sap but it was heartbreaking