An innovative work from master fanfic writers (who made their reputations in the Ranma fanfic world) combining the best of NGE and 1920s horror. Once in a while, there are good cross-overs that make you think 'Now why didn't I think of that?' and there are sheer works of genius that just leave you speechless with wonder. CoaEG falls under the latter.

It is set in an 'elseworlds' - a NGE world with an alternate history and timeline, a place that is familiar yet different. Essentially the Cthulhu Mythos is the dominant theme while the Judeo-Christian symbolism remains as a mere veneer. The insignificance and irrelevance of the human race which contributes so much horror of the former has no truck with the anthropocentricism of the latter. In CoaEG, Mythos elements meld surprisingly well with NGE's Evangelions, SEELE and even Rei's origins. It advances NGE by giving things an even more sinister twist. The motif of classical music calls to mind scenes from the movie Evangelion:Death as well as the relationship between music and the Mythos.

There is an air of mystery that keeps the reader hooked while the authors toss us little clues to whet our appetites, sending me back to re-read my H.P. Lovecraft compendiums and 'Call of Cthulhu' Chaosium guidebook. Dammit, I even went to read R.W. Chamber's 'The King in Yellow' because of CoaEG! Oh, and did I mention that I ordered 'The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath' from BOL.com as well?

Characterisation is just *sweet*. Everyone is a lot more balanced thus making them more sympathetic - Shinji has some spine and is closer to the Sadamoto manga character than the Anno anime character. I smile at Asuka's fairly happy childhood and her endless piles of cheesy romance novels and Rei (reviewer sighs and goes dewey eyed) - it is SUCH a pleasure to read Rei as written in CoaEG. Gendou is also used to great effect in some comic situations thus giving him the humanity that is not so apparent in NGE. But sometimes I get the feeling that this is part of the authors' evil plot to get us to feel for the characters before sending them to a horrible fate.

My only gripe about CoaEG is the proof-reading, particularly the shocking frequency with which Asuka's name is spelt 'Langely'. But that's as small a fault as it gets. An additional bonus is the excellent MSTings of the series by Mercutio.

The Stars Are Right. The best NGE elseworlds/x-over to date has arrived.