Evangelion ch.68 / Blood+ ch.2

September 7, 2005 | 10 Comments

Well, here's the latest Evangelion chapter for everyone who still follows the manga's storyline. I'm sorry that I can't keep up with the series on a more consistent basis, but unfortunately I only like one or two series featured in Shounen Ace. As a result, I usually consider this anthology as a side purchase rather than one of those items that I must buy right away. As a side note, I decided to include Blood+ manga in this entry for those of you who are curious about the story of this upcoming fall anime series. Just be aware that there's a possibility that the anime story will be fairly close to the manga. So by reading this entry, you may end up spoiling the first couple episodes of the anime series. As usual, please do not make direct link to the images here or reproduce them on other site/board. If you want to link, then link to this entry instead.

Shinseiki Evangelion: Stage 68

This chapter begins with Shinji visiting Rei at the hospital after the explosion that destroyed her EVA. It seems that in the previous chapter Rei told Shinji that she's 'the third one', leading Shinji to wonder what she meant by this. Before Rei can answer the question, however, Ritsuko comes out and asks Rei to return to her hospital room, making it impossible for Shinji to ask any other question. Meanwhile, Gendou is seen informing his subordinates through a phone that Rei's condition has returned to status quo because of this he tells them that observation is no longer required. Once the conversation is over, however, Fuyutsuki warns Gendou that if Chairman Keel knows that Rei is alive, he'll demand some kind of explanation. Because of this Fuyutsuki wants to know what kind of excuse Gendou has in mind if he has to explain Rei's status.

Gendou, however, tells Fuyutsuki not to worry about the 'old men' of SEELE. He assures his second-in-command that he will present 'something else' for SEELE to look at. Back in her office, Ritsuko wonders how long she is going to be bothered by Rei's presence. Her thought, however, is interrupted by a few MIB who ask her to come with them to see the SEELE committee. The scene then cuts to Shinji, who's in the middle of telling Kaworu that he's going to go back to Misato's apartment and that he's sorry he's stayed there for days. Kaworu, however, asks Shinji if he really feels sorry at all. Shinji doesn't answer this and only gives Kaworu a curt 'thank you' before exiting the apartment. Once Shinji left, Kaworu bitterly thinks to himself about how quickly Shinji returns back home after he finds out that Rei is okay. It is obvious here that the situation bothers Kaworu a lot.

Shinji himself is now back in Misato's apartment having a rather quiet dinner with Misato and Pen Pen. Shinji decides to ask Misato what she thinks about Rei's comment that she's 'the third one'. Misato coldly replies that she doesn't know herself and at any rate, she thinks Shinji should feel relieved that Rei is safe. Shinji admits that he does feel relieved but he thinks that this Rei is different. Upon hearing this, Misato quietly comments to herself that the reality is, no one can actually survive from such explosion. Misato thinks that up until recently, the big secret has always been hidden, however, she now feels that she's getting closer to the truth. With that in mind, she wonders what Ritsuko is actually hiding. Speaking of Ritsuko, she's seen naked standing in front of the SEELE monolith while being interrogated by its members.

SEELE members ask Ritsuko not to embarrass herself further and just co-operate with them. Ritsuko tries to put a brave mask and tells them that she doesn't feel embarrassed. In reply, one of the members tells her that he can see she's a strong woman, which is probably why Gendou wants her by his side. However, she has to understand that it was Gendou who sent her to them so that he doesn't have to send Rei. Upon hearing this, Ritsuko realises that she's simply a replacement for Rei. Rei herself is now back in her apartment wondering why she's still alive and for whose sake. She then looks at Gendou's glasses and tries to destroy it but unable to do so when tears begin to form in her eyes. The chapter then ends with a montage of panel featuring the characters in contemplative mode while Rei is seen asking herself why she's crying.

Impression:

Despite its similarity to the anime version, I find this chapter to be rather interesting mostly due to its ability to flesh out the motivation of the characters. The most interesting one here is probably Gendou's lack of concern for Ritsuko. As implied by his conversation with Fuyutsuki about SEELE, Gendou clearly sees Ritsuko as nothing more than a tool for him to use. I used to think that Ritsuko is simply insecure in her relationship with Gendou but it doesn't seem to be the case here. Another interesting character in this chapter is Kaworu, who seems to be envious of the attention that Shinji gives to Rei. It appears to me that in the previous chapter, Kaworu offered his friendship and place to Shinji after the incident that caused Rei II's death. Thus, it is understandable that he feels hurt when Shinji acts as if his kindness meant nothing. I suspect that this incident will eventually become one of the reasons as to why later on in the story, Shinji feels that he has 'hurt' other people.

Blood+: Chapter 2

Previously on Blood+: Saya is a high school girl who lives a normal life in Koza city, Okinawa, with her (possibly adopted) father, elder brother, and younger brother. At her school, she is also one of the more promising high jump athlete. The only crack in this seemingly picture perfect life is the fact that Saya can't remember her life beyond that of the past one year. An encounter with a young Cello player who claimed that he's been searching for her, however, will soon shaken Saya from her present normal life. The chapter then starts by showing a man talking about how even though one year has passed, there doesn't seem to be any change so far. Upon hearing this, another man tells the first guy not to say that kind of thing because even though the first guy and everyone else sees her as nothing more than 'Saya', for this guy Saya is his own daughter.

The first guy quickly replies that he hasn't forgotten the importance of Saya's existence and the truth is, all he wants is for her to be happy. The two then talk about how this year Saya has lived an ordinary high school student's life and how they have to continue their observation and set aside their feelings for now. The two believe that by denying the importance of Saya's existence, they will indirectly deny the existence of Saya itself. Cut to a two-page spread of a helicopter flying over a city. People in the copter seems to be ordering another group of people who are inland to remain in a standby mode until there is further order. The story then shifts to Saya herself, who's in the middle of having dinner with her two brothers. One of the brothers, Riku, makes a comment that their father is unusually late tonight.

The boy, however, quickly changes his conversation when he sees his sister eating like there's no tomorrow. He tells Saya that no matter how many foods are available, it seems she can eat all of them. Not wanting to be outdone, Saya shouts back and says that Riku is the one who is a light eater. Riku immediately gives up and makes a silent, grumbling comment about how hard it is to know someone who eats a lot and doesn't gain weight. Upon hearing their light banter, the other boy called Kai makes a remark that right now he's not sure if Saya is a man or a woman and adds that if Saya is not eating enough, she can always go to a field and find some food there. Saya is of course not happy with the sarcastic remark but before she can reply, Kai has already ask her another question. It seems that Saya met a guy in a park that afternoon and Kai wants to know his identity. Upon hearing this, Saya becomes panic and tries to deflect the question.

She pretends that they're running out of Calpis Water (some kind of Lactobacillus drink they sell in Japan) so she's going to buy some more. When Riku points out that they still have some, she quickly drinks all of them and proceeds to run out of the house to buy some more. Once outside, Saya remembers the event that happened in the afternoon when a mysterious Cello player approached her. The guy claimed that he's been searching for Saya and then tries to touch her with his bandaged hand. Saya, however, recoiled in fear and before the guy can say anything else, Riku and Kai arrived to see her. Kai wondered if the guy is Saya's friend but Saya claimed that she doesn't know him. Back to the present time, Saya quietly making a remark that she really didn't know him even though the guy knows her name. Nevertheless, she wonders if he knows about her past life.

Before she can think further, however, she's startled by a strange sound. Saya looks around but can only find a black cat hissing at her. Nevertheless, she has a bad feeling about the sound and decides to go back home. Unknown to her, a shadowy figure is seen watching over her from a rooftop. Meanwhile in the nearby area, a mysterious little boy makes a remark about how the sound is not beautiful at all but confirms that the person they're looking for does indeed exist in this neighbourhood. The boy then reveals his vampire-like teeth and makes a comment about doing some 'rat hunting' so he can make fun of someone else's incompetence. Back to Saya, she ends up bumping into Kai who wonders why she is so out of breath. He also lets her know that she dropped her cell phone along the way and returns the item to her after commenting about her strange behaviour.

Saya is unhappy being treated like a kid but quickly calms down when she realises that Kai was worried that she got lost. Kai then tries to ask Saya again about the guy that they saw in the afternoon but once again Saya claims that she doesn't know about him. She, however, suddenly asks Kai if he will still be her brother if her memory returns one day. In reply, Kai bangs his head into Saya and tells her that he's heard enough of her strange questions today. He assures her that no matter what she did or who she was, he will still love her. At this point I'd like to interject and ask what kind of love that will be. Brotherly? Or something more than that? It seems Saya also wonders about this because her face turns red when she becomes aware of her close physical proximity with her 'brother'. She quickly tries to put some distance between her and Kai, much to Kai's confusion.

Kai wonders why Saya's face suddenly turns crimson red so she tells him that it's because he doesn't treat girls with delicacy. Before she can say anything else, however, she suddenly realises that there's no sound around them apart their own voices. Meanwhile the two guys who were first scene in this chapter become worried when they received an information that a group of people have started to move to a particular destination. Back to Saya and Kai, Saya realises that her instinct was not wrong after all. She can hear a bird-like sound, which Kai can't seem to hear. Her sixth sense then kicks in and she orders Kai to run away from the place. Before Kai can understand what she means, however, a big hulking monster appears in front of them and proceeds to attack the two. Kai instinctively tries to protect Saya but he is quickly knocked over to the side by the monster.

The monster eventually manages to corner a terrified Saya but before it manages to do anything else, a sword suddenly spears the head of the monster. Saya then looks up and sees the mysterious Cello player standing on top of her with another sword and asks her to fight. In the midst of her confusion, Saya wonders what was the creature that just attacked her and Kai. So the guy tells her that the creature is a Chiropteran, a monster that devours the blood of a living being. He then adds that right now, Saya is the only person who can kill that creature. Saya, however, is still in shock and becomes even more so when the guy offers her to drink some of his blood. Seeing her reluctance, the guy decides to lift Saya up and kiss her on the lips, dropping some of his blood into her mouth. He then asks Sara if she remembers as Saya's eyes turn savage. The chapter then ends with Saya grabbing the sword and brutally kills the monster herself.

Impression:

I have to say that the last few panels of this chapter are quite intense. I admit that I was shocked when the Cello player kissed Saya in order to give her some of his blood. Ever since I've seen the film, I always wonder if Saya herself is partly a vampire. Saya's savage eyes towards the end of the chapter was also nicely drawn and reminds me of the same savage eyes that Saya in the original film had. Having said that, I wonder where else to go from here. The story seems to base itself on the premise that Saya can't remember her past but I wonder if there is much story to be derived from this kind of premise. I supposed the fact that it's now revealed that there's an intelligent group of Chiropterans who look exactly like human beings make things slightly more interesting. Anyway, it's impossible to know how similar the story of the manga will be to the story of the anime until the series begin on the 8th of October. But I'll be interested to know what you guys think about this series' potential.

© memento 2003