Newtype USA to Launch Evangelion Serial Manga

Date: 2005 July 19 22:38

Posted by Jeremy

Newtype USA will be releasing game-based Evangelion manga, Angelic Hearts, as serial starting in August issue.

Full Story

Manga readers waiting for the next volume of the adaptation of the hit anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion won't have to wait much longer for new manga adventures of Shinji, Rei and Asuka. Newtype USA, the official English-language version of Japan's number 1 anime magazine, has announced that they will be begin running Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days as a monthly serial in its pages starting this August.

Angelic Days is based on the popular PC and PlayStation 2 game Girlfriend of Steel 2, which was released only in Japan. In it, the angst-ridden pilots of Evangelion are living in a lighter, brighter world where choosing the right girlfriend is more important than saving Earth from the Angels on a regular basis. Packed with comedy, action, romance and a nice dose of fan service, Angelic Days is sure to please hardcore Evangelion fans as well as casual readers simply looking for a lighthearted manga romp.

According to Newtype USA editor-in-chief Gary Steinman, American fans have waiting for this manga to be released in English ever since it first debuted in Japan. "We are so pleased to be able to offer it first in the pages of our magazine," Steinman stated. "It's so much fun to see familiar characters like Shinji, Asuka and Rei dealing with everyday problems instead of imminent destruction!"

Evangelion fans will also, no doubt, be happy to see new manga material featuring the familiar characters, given the time passing between volumes of the manga adaptation of the anime series. Drawn by Evangelion character designer Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, the manga, released in America by VIZ Media, almost completely retells the anime's story, adding new material to both expand the story and provide new insights and ideas to it. Sadamoto's busy schedule has been the primary reason for the delay in new chapters of the manga, and it is unknown whether or not he has contributed to the Angelic Days manga in any way.

The first chapter of Angelic Days will debut in Newtype USA Volume 4, Issue 8, which will be available August 1, 2005. And once the serialization is finished, the complete story will be released in graphic novel format from ADV Manga. No final release date has been set, but the first volume is expected sometime in 2006.