Volume 1 (Neon Genesis Evangelion)

Volume 1
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Volume 1 is the first release of Yoshiyuki Sadamoto's manga adaptation of Neon Genesis Evangelion. It is comprised of 6 chapters, or "stages."

Overview

Volume 1 is equivalent to Episode 1 and the first half of Episode 2 of the TV series.

Summary

Stage 1: Angel Attack

The manga opens with a monologue from Shinji, describing his mental state.

“

I've never had any cherished ambitions. I don't aspire to any future profession or career. So far, in the first fourteen years of my life, things have always happened as they had to. And things will probably continue the same way. That's why I've never really cared whether I got into an accident or something and died.

„

An alarm sounds, and Tokyo-3 is attacked by a monster. Misato Katsuragi arrives to pick up Shinji, who explains the situation; while the monster, the Angel Sachiel, is held off by a robot, Eva-01, piloted by Rei. Misato takes Shinji to Nerv HQ.

Stage 2: Reunion

Misato escorts Shinji through Nerv HQ, meeting Ritsuko Akagi along the way. They take him to the Cage, where Shinji comes face to face with Eva-01, as well as his father, Gendo Ikari. Gendo demands that Shinji pilot Eva-01, but Shinji refuses. Gendo has Rei brought to the Cage, to pilot the Evangelion instead, but before she can pilot it, the Angel attacks the HQ.

Stage 3: Unit-01, Lift Off

After seeing Rei's condition, Shinji agrees to pilot Eva-01. He is put inside the Entry Plug, and after some thinking, he is launched into battle against the Angel.

Stage 4: Silence...

Shinji attempts to battle the Angel, however he is easily defeated, and the Eva is damaged. The Eva goes silent, and Nerv is unable to eject the Entry Plug.

Stage 5: What Was Seen In The Well Of Light

Shinji has a vision of a woman reaching out to him, to embrace him, however the woman transforms into a grotesque creature as it approaches, and Shinji realizes that he doesn't want to die. At the same time, the Eva reactivates on its own, and goes berserk, defeating the Angel with ease.

Stage 6: I...Cry...

While unconscious, Shinji dreams of the grotesque creature chasing after him. He wakes up to find himself in a hospital. The scene switches to the Committee, where the members scold Gendo for the damages caused to Eva-01. Chairman Keel reminds him that the Instrumentality Project is the most important thing. Shinji wanders around the hospital, seeing Rei again. Misato decides to take care of Shinji, and becomes his legal guardian. She takes him to a viewpoint, where they look over Tokyo-3. Misato praises Shinji, who cries, saying that he wished his father would do the same.

Notes

• Even at this point, the manga already began to diverge from the anime.
  • For example, Shinji mentions in the first stage that he was "dumped off to his uncle's," whereas in the series, he was at his teacher's.