[EVA] Evangelion Chronicle -- My (tentative) verdict

[Rachel K. Clark]

On Sun Jul 23, "M" wrote:

<<...llike these materials the text is peppered with qualifiers like 
"might", "seems", "appears to be" and "but the truth is unknown".>>

In other words, "you get to find (or fanwank) the answers on your own". The 
proliferance of these qualifiers has always peeved me.

<<"The EVA are said to be copies of the 1st Angel Adam, but only EVA-01
is said to have been made from the 2nd Angel Lilith, although the
truth is unknown."

*gah!!*  @_@;;;

So in other words, near the front of the very first issue they
confirm one of the biggest mysteries that is never clearly stated in
the show (Lilith =2nd Angel) while at the same time labeling as
unclear which SoL the various EVA were made from even though that is
clearly stated in the TV series + movie.>>

Where is this clearly stated? As far as I recall, only the relationship 
between the Evas and Adam is made lucid (and on multiple occasions; EVA-01's 
naked face is even juxtaposed with the title "ADAM" in the OP), whereas 
EVA-01's relationship with Lilith is left at a very vague "alter-ego" level, 
and the associations with Adam continue unabated afterwards. The "RCB" 
merely 'suggests' a "copy" relationship between the two. The only 
possibility that has ever made an iota of sense to me is of EVA-01 being a 
"surrogate daughter" of Lilith -- of Adam's genes, from Lilith's flesh.

<< It was the contrived vagueness (seems/appears/etc.)
that bugged me, especially since Evangelion Chronicle is being billed
as an "Evangelion Encyclopedia" that supposedly answers all the
questions. >>

The NGE2 Classified Information was supposed to be the same dealio, and that 
was a big, fat lie. For my part, I expect nothing but perhaps some 
additional tidbits scattered throughout the superfluous, like the fossils of 
an unknown species mixed up with one people are sick of digging up. So far, 
Anno has not broken his promise -- for better or for worse.

<< See what I mean by misleading?  It never actually says [Core = S2
Engine], but the wording and juxtaposition of images and text
strongly implies it >>

There is nothing misleading about this. The core is a container for the S2 
Engine. In fact, episode #05 was given additional 5.1 audio track dialogue 
to make this point more clear. Here's any relevant lines; you can see the 
full scene at 
http://www.evacommentary.org/episode-05/episode-05A-scene2.html

*****
Man 2 "The analysis from the 2nd Branch in Germany is scheduled to arrive 
within 5 minutes. Director in the S² block, wait for further instruction."
Woman ".Recovering the existing core is the highest priority."
(Ritsuko "I see. Almost everything except the core remains intact. Truly an 
ideal sample.")
(Misato "Well, you at least found its power source, right?")
Man 2 "The Power Analysis Unit from Germany's 2nd Branch is currently 
arriving."
(Ritsuko "Something like that. But we haven't been able to figure out any of 
its operating principles.")
Fuyutsuki "This is the core?. How is the rest of it?"
Man "It is severely deteriorated. We can't expect to use it as a reference."
Ikari "Not a problem. Dispose of everything else."
*****

Another thing: When EVA-01 is "taking the S2 Engine into herself", she's 
sticking her face into Zeruel's core. (See images here: 
http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/Reichu/Core/)

How did the wisdom that the core and Super Solenoid have nothing to do with 
one another come about? (Backlash against the misconception that they are 
the same thing?)

--Reichu