Asuka's has finally arrived! Volume 4 deals with episodes 8 and 9, and let me tell you this... this one's a knockout! Expect a lot of changes in this book like Shinji's 1st meeting with her in an arcade and their synchronized dancing ala "Dirty Dancing". Although I was never a huge fan of hers, the one thing i love about the whole thing is how Sadamoto depicted Asuka. Can you see her as a martial arts expert? How about her being a "test tube" baby? Hard to believe but that's how Asuka is in Sadamoto's world. He gave her this "sweet, demure" act as a front when in fact she's a real "tough, kick-ass" kind of babe which is a really treat for all Asuka fanatics. And do she and Shinji get along? ABSOLUTELY NOT! They fight more often than ever! I mean they say and do mean things to each other everytime their paths cross, they end up looking so damn funny! I would definitely say that if you like Asuka's "bitchness" (sorry about that to all you Asuka fans out there), then you'll love her in here. Also appearing for the 1st time is EVA's certified "playboy" Ryoji Kaji. He still throws his charms all over the place... which drives Misato to the brink of insanity! hehehe...

One of the highlights for me in this installment is the actual training of the two for their fight against the 7th angel. I love how Sadamoto decided to do away with those "Twister-like" dance pad and create the real thing. I mean, I totally went nuts on the whole ballroom dancing these two did. Let me also add that the whole synchronization fight was excellent! It was quite fluid and very well executed. When the fight's all over... instead of the two arguing all over again... they doze off in their respective units!?! Truly light and sweet indeed!

If you guys are expecting "MagmaDiver"... sorry to disappoint you guys but Sadamoto also dumped this storyline as well, which kinda confuses me because we amy never know what happened to the 8th angel Sandalphon. If you guys noticed, he tries as much as possible to finish a regular animé episode in just 3 manga installments which is not typical at all (most manga artists takes up to 5 manga comics just to tell 1 episode). In my honest opinion, he decided to do such so as to give the manga a different feel from the animé... and he's doing a terrific job at it. Although i definitely would miss this story... i think he has a lot of surprises up his sleeve so we might as well wait and see.

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