Shinji Ikari is an average teenage boy, summoned to Tokyo-3 by his estranged father, Gendo Ikari. To his shock, he learnt that he would be the pilot to a powerful machine called an Evangelion.
However as this occurred, an Angel, a powerful organism, attacked the city. With no choice, Shinji took the responsibility and accepted his new role. In order to pilot the Evangelion, Shinji was given a weird bracelet that when he put it on his wrist, the device injected him with the DNA of the Spider Angel, granting him an array of abilities of a spider.
Can he and the other pilots turn the tide against the Angels and save the world?
Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Spider's Thesis is a fanfiction created by PowerCore Productions. It is a crossover between Neon Genesis Evangelion and Spider-Man and is part of the second phase of Anime X Marvel - The Spiderverse Saga. It is a What If? scenario where Shinji Ikari became the Japanese Spider-Man. It can be read here
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This fic contains the following tropes:
- Adaptational Abomination: Garia went from an alien from the Planet Spider to an otherworldly Angelic Abomination.
- Adaptational Backstory Change:
- Peni Parker's father worked for NERV, who later sought out Peni due to her being the Fifth Child.
- The Living Brain in this fic is created by Japan Heavy Chemical Industries to act as Jet Alone's brain and perform logical choices in fighting the Angels.
- Adaptational Badass: Beyond piloting the EVAs, Shinji, Asuka, Rei, and the other Children were still normal teenagers. In Spider's Thesis, they have the strength and powers of Spider-Men.
- Adaptational Heroism: All of Spider-Man's Rogues Gallery are not villains in this fic, but victims forced to commit crimes by the Angels possessing them.
- Adaptational Wimp: Kraven the Hunter was one of Spider-Man's most challenging opponents in canon. Here, he got killed easily by Shinji.
- All the Other Reindeer: Downplayed. Peni is regulated to rescue operations until her EVA arrives, and only assists the other Children in dire situations, but almost everyone never treats her unfairly for lacking her own EVA. The only exception was Asuka.
- And I Must Scream: Anyone possessed by the Angels have some awareness what's going on and can only beg for someone to put them out of their misery.
- Armor-Piercing Question: Just as it seems Shinji agrees with the practicality of the Jet Alone, he then asks Shiro Tokita this response:Shinji: Tell me, if a large building was going to crush your daughter and your Jet Alone is fighting against an Angel. He has a chance to take out the Angel to destroy it but in doing so, he may not get to your daughter. Or it can protect your daughter but potentially could harm it. Your logic would dictate that the course of action is to defeat the Angel at all cost and in the eyes of the public, no one would fault your for saying that. And in the eyes of the public, defeating the Angel should be your top priority and in the eyes of the public and in the eyes of the law, you did the right thing. But tell me, is your daughter's life worth the right thing?
- Big Good: It's implied by the Angels that Garia betrayed them to protect humanity. All the Children possess their DNA, allowing them to use spider powers.
- Both Sides Have a Point: Both Asuka and Shinji make valid points about how they should best use their status as EVA pilots and Spider-Men. Asuka is right to say that Shinji should focus more on training to become a better pilot and fight the Angels. On the other hand, Shinji points out that since NERV focuses too much on the Angels, they forgot the people they are supposed to protect, so Shinji has to be responsible for their sakes.
- Brought Down to Normal: Shinji has his Spider powers forcibly removed by NERV after he couldn't tolerate his father's manipulations anymore. But it's later revealed he still has the powers thanks to Garia's help.
- Calling the Old Man Out: Shinji chews Gendo out for how much of a failure of a father he is and that it's his fault that Shinji's mother died.
- Code Name: The Angels are given additional titles which are based on Spider-Man and Marvel mythos.
- Sachiel: Hydro Man
- Ramiel: Spectrum
- Gaghiel: Tiger Shark
- Sandalphon: Molten Man
- Leliel: The Spot
- Arael: Mysterio
- Composite Character: The EVA pilots are a mix of their anime counterparts and the various Spider people.
- Shinji Ikari is the Japanese Tokusatsu Spider-Man (Japan).
- Rei Ayanami is Spider-Girl.
- Asuka Langley Soryu is Arachne.
- Toji Suzuhara is Armored Spider-Man from Spider-Man: The Animated Series.
- Demonic Possession: For some reason, Angels take over the body of humans, acting as their hosts and making them do whatever they desired of their hosts — including committing horrible crimes.
- Earn Your Happy Ending: The Angels are finally gone and NERV and Seele are taken down. Shinji and Asuka are starting a relationship, Misato and Kaji are married and the world is being rebuilt after the end of the crisis
- Evil Counterpart: Anton Miguel Rodriquez, aka Tarantula, is given Spider powers by an Angel but is keen on humanity's destruction as a direct contrast to the Children's mission to protect humanity.
- Genki Girl: Peni is a bundle of positive energy, always jumping around and cheering up people.
- Humongous Mecha: NERV has their EVAs and Shinji's Leopardon.
- In Spite of a Nail: While Toji's sister was spared from Shinji's fight with Sachiel, Shinji would still feel uncomfortable being an EVA pilot, especially the praise that came with it.
- Mercy Kill: Shinji and the other EVA pilots kill the Angels to ensure the humans trapped inside are no longer suffering from Demonic Possession.
- Mythology Gag:
- Peni Parker being one of the main EVA pilots is due to how her SP//dr suit was inspired by Neon Genesis Evangelion.
- Shinji and Asuka remarking that they might one day be the only survivors if the world came to an end is a nod to the ending to The End of Evangelion.
- Shinji and Asuka perform the famous kiss scene from Spider-Man.
- The EVA pilots discuss both You Can't Fight Fate and Screw Destiny in terms like "canon events" and "doing their own thing".
- Shinji's new suit is based on Spider-Man's black suit from when he was bonded with the Venom symbiote.
- Peni's father's full name is revealed to be Peter B. Parker.
- Gendo Ikari is given a prisoner number by the TVA, 3.0+1.01
- Not What It Looks Like: As Asuka intimidates Shinji, the two hear a cup being loudly sipped and they see Peni is beside them watching the whole thing. They immediately realize that Asuka is seemingly straddling Shinji.
- Point of Divergence:
- Instead of Misato going alone to Jet Alone, Peni goes with her to help.
- Shinji did not return to NERV to battle Zereul as the plane he was in was shot down by a missile, seemingly killing him.
- Kaworu Nagisa would be tasked by NERV and Seele to pilot EVA Unit 01 following Shinji's supposed death.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Two given to Gendo Ikari.
- Shinji calls out Gendo for his abusive tendencies, along with pointing out his arrogance and being the one responsible for his mother's death.
- Ritsuko gives a bigger one, saying to Gendo that he is nothing more than an incompetent fool that is weak and worthless unlike his son, Shinji, who Yui loved more than him.
- Rule of Symbolism: The battle between Shinji and Gendo involved using Leopardon, which represented the hope and optimism of Spider-Man, and EVA Unit 01, which represented the dark and cynical nature of Neon Genesis Evangelion.
- Ship Tease: Shinji hints that Peni has a thing for Kensuke Aida. Upon hearing this, Peni responds by kicking Shinji.
- Soul-Powered Engine: The true power source of the Evangelions with Units 1, 2 and 4 containing Yui Ikari, Asuka's mother and Peter B. Parker.
- Spared By Adaptation: Kaji is spared from his canon death by assassination thanks to Shinji's interference.
- Wham Shot: Just as the EVAs are about to be overwhelmed by Armisael, coming to their aid is the Angel Slayer, Leopardon.
