The Critical Miss Experience

[LazyAza]

I like reading comments of people experiencing eva for the first time, that original series just fucking breaks by the end. It literally turns in to nonsensical madness and the ending... god almighty how dumb it still is to this day.

Then they made end of evangelion and that movie is 100% mind fuck. Then they made remake movie 1, it was awesome, remake movie 2, it was even more awesome, then they made 3 and... well, now I never want to watch anything eva related ever again. Fuck that third movie was so completely terrible. Two words: time skip.

 

[Izanagi009_v1legacy]

Shinji, to me, seems to exhibit symptoms of manic depression, or bipolar disorder.

I always find it funny when people do this, because mental illness in Japan operates on a completely different (anti-Freudian) understanding and does not generally share our diagnostic criteria. The emphasis is far more on correcting flaws in social functioning rather than attempting to alter or treat underlying personality problems.

Bipolar disorder doesn't go away once a person realizes that they don't need to worry what others think about them. That kind of "oh, you're just worrying too much" response is a very Japanese way of thinking about mental illness.

In Japan, it seems to put more of an emphasis on social interaction which is why they focus on social stuff more. I will comment that it's a bit ineffective if not downright stupid but at the same time, I can understand that it may be a first step to full personality recovery.

It seems to be more coping than curing. In the case of bipolar, they probably want people to be able to handle their mind instead of curing it fully.

I will note that my comprehension of psychiatric care is minimal so correct me if wrong

edit: news is coming in that Japan's mental care is horrible, maybe worse than the U.S. and that's saying something given our issues and stigmas combined with inefficiency shown after Sandy Hook.

As I said, please comment and correct if needed

 

[Izanagi009_v1legacy]

Woah woah woah.....you're supposed to understand Evangelion?!

I just watch it to see giant robots in battle with monsters and to oggle Asuka.

Watch the rebuilds then. They're a lot more action heavy.

and much more crazy, especially in 3.33 which goes completely insane. I can't imagine what Evangelion:Final will be like.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Not specifically aimed at you, Shinji, but this is a fanbase that needs to get over themselves. and stop finding offense in something that wasn't aimed at them in the first place. Otherwise, they're kind of fulfilling a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Probably, but at this point it's just rattling the cage for the sake of rattling the cage.

If I'd jump on anyone taking the piss out of something I like I'd be dead by now, but when it's a professional content provider riling up the crowd this blatantly, my patience starts to wear a bit thin.

But then I should've know better and simply have ignored the thumbnail bait right from the very start.

 

[Salad Is Murder]

I approve.

Mostly because I think the series was mediocre at best and gets far accolades than it deserves. Also the fanbase is crazy-go-nuts about defending its flaws (which there are plenty, so I guess that can keep them busy) and shouting down opposing arguments because 'we just don't get it' or something.

Seriously, it's the Twilight of the anime world.

 

[The Ubermensch]

I approve.

Mostly because I think the series was mediocre at best and gets far accolades than it deserves. Also the fanbase is crazy-go-nuts about defending its flaws (which there are plenty, so I guess that can keep them busy) and shouting down opposing arguments because 'we just don't get it' or something.

Seriously, it's the Twilight of the anime world.

A lot of Hikikomori and NEETs identify with Shinji and the themes spoke to him, and he was a relatively fresh character archetype, so I guess thats arguably true from the standpoint of "Eva was the first in a long time to cater to the Hikikomori, Twilight was the first in a long time to cater to tween girls interested in supernatural themes but not interested in anime for some strange reason."

And even that's a stretch. I realise I'm taking the bait here, but Anno did at least think about the themes and messages he wanted to get across while he exploited a demographic. You can see this in the way target audiences ideals were challenged. Myer just exploited a demographic by pandering to them.

Anno is really bad at doing this mind you, he either explains things in no uncertain terms, but can't make it entertaining (NGE 25/26), or he can make it entertaining but can't explain what the hell he's rabbiting on about (EOE).

The only man who can do both is this guy

 

[Malty Milk Whistle]

Wait, it's satirizing Critical Miss Satirizing Eva due to the lack of new gen games to satirize?
Woah.

 

[Malty Milk Whistle]

Is this seriously what you're going to do EVERY SINGLE TIME you can't think of what to make?

Yes. Yes, that's precisely what they said. This webcomic is actually a binding agreement, and if they don't, they could go to jail. DO YOU WANT THEM TO GO TO JAIL?????

But seriously, you're taking a comic that's not taking itself seriously way too seriously. Not only are you overreacting to a joke about people overreacting, you're taking it as though it's also a future promise. Which, because of the reactions here, promises to be a future recurring deal.

Are you NEVER gonna stop beating this dead horse?

The three non-response comics they've made regarding NGE have all touched upon different subjects. That's not beating a dead horse.

The constant piling of Evangelion comics isn't even funny more, it's just boring and predictable.

I don't get this portrayal as constant. There have been what? Four comics? Looking through both the Escapist and Google, that appears to be accurate. Four comics in aboot a year? That's constant? That's predictable? What?

I don't think this bloke quite realises that they're taking the piss out of themselves more than EVA in this strip.
Then again, it's probably just too deep and meaningful for them to understand.

 

[Terminal Blue]

It seems to be more coping than curing. In the case of bipolar, they probably want people to be able to handle their mind instead of curing it fully.

Exactly.

Interestingly, the Japanese way of looking at mental illness was quite ahead of its time at one point, in that it kind of preempted things like cognitive behavioural therapy. The problem in my experience is that everything tends to get bought back to anxiety, it's too often assumed that a person is worrying too much, or trying to control things they can't control, or is stressing themselves out by thinking about their own mental state rather than just focusing on being productive all the time.

And that's probably great for some things, but it's a woefully inadequate response sometimes. If you come in and say "I feel like nothing in my life is worthwhile and I fantasize about killing myself all the time" you don't really need someone to say "hmm, well it's normal to feel sad so don't worry so much about it so much and just try to act like a normal person".

news is coming in that Japan's mental care is horrible, maybe worse than the U.S. and that's saying something given our issues and stigmas combined with inefficiency shown after Sandy Hook.

Yes, it really is.

 

[Izanagi009_v1legacy]

It seems to be more coping than curing. In the case of bipolar, they probably want people to be able to handle their mind instead of curing it fully.

Exactly.

Interestingly, the Japanese way of looking at mental illness was quite ahead of its time at one point, in that it kind of preempted things like cognitive behavioural therapy. The problem in my experience is that everything tends to get bought back to anxiety, it's too often assumed that a person is worrying too much, or trying to control things they can't control, or is stressing themselves out by thinking about their own mental state rather than just focusing on being productive all the time.

And that's probably great for some things, but it's a woefully inadequate response sometimes. If you come in and say "I feel like nothing in my life is worthwhile and I fantasize about killing myself all the time" you don't really need someone to say "hmm, well it's normal to feel sad so don't worry so much about it so much and just try to act like a normal person".

news is coming in that Japan's mental care is horrible, maybe worse than the U.S. and that's saying something given our issues and stigmas combined with inefficiency shown after Sandy Hook.

Yes, it really is.

The issue may actually be the culture. A person in Japan is expected to stand both on their feet while being able to interact with others; in addition, mental issues or any type of stigmas have greater impact than in America. That would lead to more of a coping society instead of a curative society. What is interesting is that in the teenage demographic, a lot of Japanese have cases of anti-social behavior and depression (theory is that an oppressive school system (Japan due to it's group emphasis really hammers on outsiders such as otaku) and potential generational difference) that leads to suicides, some of the highest among youth in the world while American teenagers have cases of violence, anger management issues, and the like (note: this is based of high school experience from 2008-2012 in combination of news from within the country).

How is it a country with an arguably worse mental health care have more suicides and minimal violent crimes but America has much fewer suicides but has far higher violent crime rates?

as always, correct if needed

 

[Imp_Emissary]

Was it really the comic strip that had the fans up in arms? I think you guys might be taking too much credit, for the most part it's the little nuggets of wisdom shit out from follow up comments that Eva fans get up in arms over.

You make a good point. Most of the comments I've seen complaining about the comic were not complaining about the comic itself(at least not today's comic), but instead talking more about the "EVA haters" coming in to call EVA dumb.

If you're experiencing a drought then BRING BACK PENNY! Woo-hoo!!!

And the other's in Erin's workplace.

Some of us miss them... D:

I second this. D: I miss them all. Even Sharon.

 

[Nouw]

I think you mean flame-bait ;P.

Oh come on, it's like the 4th Critical Miss on Evangelion don't try to deny it! There are two running gags with these strips, one is Shinji being a pussy and the other is outraged Eva fans.

Totally fucking called it in the last webcomic. Glad to see we're not even trying to hide it anymore although it is a bit disappointing to see that this is all they came up with. I'm waiting for the smack-down on 3.0 damn it x3.

 

[Lunar Templar]

XD!!

you know, I do rather enjoy it when they do take much deserved pot shots at the show

 

[Dr. Cakey]

Is this seriously what you're going to do EVERY SINGLE TIME you can't think of what to make? Are you NEVER gonna stop beating this dead horse? Seriously, if you can't find any new material to use, then go back and make comics about old games, or political issues, or whatever. The constant piling of Evangelion comics isn't even funny more, it's just boring and predictable.

Nope.

Still funny

And I like the series.

God damn it, Daystar. Stop saying exactly what I think!

Again, the joke was never about Evangelion.

They're taking the piss out of themselves for not being able to come up with anything.

There's not liking a joke, and then there's missing the joke entirely.

And yet that penny drops only now, with the first page filled with "*yuck yuck* So deep. Missing the point."

Yes, I get it's a dig at themselves, but it's completely covered in yet more obvious flaming.

The joke is mainly at their own expense. What all those readers get out of it is their own fault and a result of their own biases and sexual frustration over not being able to make sweet love to Kaworu. Er, Rei. I meant Rei.

Yes, definitely Rei.

Question: Am I the only person who liked "Nadia and the Secret Blue Water" more than "Evangelion"?

Yes, because I think you're the only person here who's seen Nadia.

Oh, well, Shinji's probably seen it. He watches good anime. Pffft.

I like reading comments of people experiencing eva for the first time, that original series just fucking breaks by the end. It literally turns in to nonsensical madness and the ending... god almighty how dumb it still is to this day.

Then they made end of evangelion and that movie is 100% mind fuck. Then they made remake movie 1, it was awesome, remake movie 2, it was even more awesome, then they made 3 and... well, now I never want to watch anything eva related ever again. Fuck that third movie was so completely terrible. Two words: time skip.

Time skip? Oh, so it's like Code Geass, then. So it's awesome.

Or is it like Naruto, where it only gets good after the time skip?

*trollface.jpg*

Also, the first Rebuild wasn't very good.

And now I need to learn how to play Magic.

I think you mean flame-bait ;P.

Oh come on, it's like the 4th Critical Miss on Evangelion don't try to deny it! There are two running gags with these strips, one is Shinji being a pussy and the other is outraged Eva fans.

Totally fucking called it in the last webcomic. Glad to see we're not even trying to hide it anymore although it is a bit disappointing to see that this is all they came up with. I'm waiting for the smack-down on 3.0 damn it x3.

You just don't understand Critical Miss. It's very deep.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Question: Am I the only person who liked "Nadia and the Secret Blue Water" more than "Evangelion"?

Yes, because I think you're the only person here who's seen Nadia.

Oh, well, Shinji's probably seen it. He watches good anime. Pffft.

Oy, is that directed at me? How dare you make claims about me watching good stuff!

Eh, Nadia is cool. It's a Gainax show with an actual happy ending, hard to believe though that may be. Apart ofcourse from future WW2 fucking up Jean and Nadia's shit.

 

[Ken_J]

So flaming for the sake of flaming for the sake of flaming, eh.

This is getting deep.

Deep and meaningful

 

[Dr. Cakey]

So flaming for the sake of flaming for the sake of flaming, eh.

This is getting deep.

Deep and meaningful

But not as deep or meaningful as Elfen Lied.

Er, Evangelion. Yes, Evangelion, that's what I meant to say. Because Evangelion is bad and dumb...or something...apparently.

...

*flies away*

 

[llafnwod]

I approve.

Mostly because I think the series was mediocre at best and gets far accolades than it deserves. Also the fanbase is crazy-go-nuts about defending its flaws (which there are plenty, so I guess that can keep them busy) and shouting down opposing arguments because 'we just don't get it' or something.

Seriously, it's the Twilight of the anime world.

In that on all the boards you actually frequent there are far, far more people bitching about it than there are crazy-go-nuts about defending it? Seriously, it seems like a waste of perfectly usable vitriol. This, Twilight, Bieber, Half-Life 2, people just can't seem to get enough of complaining about things other people like.

 

[IndieGinge]

I like how this strip reignited the Eva fan and Eva hater debate, even though clearly Cory and Grey are more poking fun at themselves. I like this streak of self-deprecation, though if you could go back to focusing more on Erin soon, or any of your original characters, that'd be awesome. Not to cramp your style - I know you just did the three page rat story - I'm just seriously aching for some bloody closure, you know?