Evangelion's Asuka on learning Japanese

[alicemacher]

So I was thinking recently of posting from the main Neon Genesis Evangelion manga (the one that began as a promotion for the anime and, while covering basically the same story, ended up taking it in rather different directions). But in troubling times like these, I feel we could all use less angst (even well-written and drawn angst) and more lightheartedness. To that end: a one-page bonus chapter from the parody manga Tony Takezaki's Neon Genesis Evangelion (tr. Carl Gustav Horn, Dark Horse, 2015). Read right to left.






For those unfamiliar with the Evangelion franchise: Asuka has badly mangled the names she's written. They should be: Ryoji Kaji, Shinji Ikari, Rei Ayanami, Misato Katsuragi, Ritsuko Akagi. It's fitting I suppose that she came closest to accuracy with the name of her crush.

Comments

[kamino_neko]

*giggles madly at Risky Akagi*

[lego_joker]

Is this parody manga where the panel of Asuka going "You think you can just SAY things to me?!" comes from?

[alicemacher]

No, that's from Chapter 25 of the main manga adaptation I mentioned above, the one by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto. The context is Asuka's first conversation with Shinji since she'd stormed out of their synchronized dance training to mope and he'd tried to give her a pep talk. She says that to him, and for a panel he fears the worst. Instead, she smashes the security camera in their room so they can finally train properly, alone, without Kaji and Misato monitoring them.

[shadur]

Yogi Kaji is at least smarter than the average bear?

[malitia]

I'm not sure the person whose first language genders and conjugates even the freaking "THE" equivalent has a right to call other languages complicated.

[thanekos]

" Misohonee " is an achievement - it's the written equivalent of Homer Simpson burning cereal.

[alicemacher]

Is it just me, or are we meant to see that as a play on "me so horny?" (Which would fit with Misato in canon, or more specifically with her negative self-judgement about her libido.)

[lieut_kettch]

It's not the language, but the writing system. Japanese uses three different systems at the same time depending on the context, often within the same sentence.

[malitia]

I know. I learned some of both. I'm pointing out that "complicated" is relative. Sure... German might only use one alphabet, but has one of the most "structured madness" grammars known to man* (and a penchant for compound words a mile long).


* I'm saying this despite MY main language having 2 separate verb conjugations (depends on the sentence having a direct object or not), and vowel harmony.