What Evangelion should a new collector buy first?

A first Evangelion shelf should cover the story before it covers the rarities. The foundation is a complete high definition edition of the 26 television episodes plus The End of Evangelion, which in English means the current GKIDS Blu-ray releases and in Japanese the Khara era boxes. Decide which English dub and translation you prefer before choosing an edition, since that choice, more than packaging, is what you will live with.

Second, add the manga. Sadamoto's retelling is a complete, finished third version of the story, and the English 3-in-1 omnibuses make it the cheapest complete Evangelion a new collector can own, while Japanese single volumes make the better display set. Reading it after the anime is the usual recommendation, because its quieter Shinji and different ending read as commentary on the version you already know.

Third, one art book: Der Mond, for Sadamoto's finished illustrations, is the standard choice, and a Groundwork volume is the alternative for readers who prefer production drawings. After those three purchases, let taste direct the rest. Rebuild completists chase the four films in their numbered Japanese editions, media historians chase the Genesis 0 LaserDiscs, and game collectors build outward from the Nintendo 64 title.

Two cautions save money at the start. Spinoff manga, however charming, are not the main series, so check author credits before paying main series prices. And Evangelion merchandise was produced in enormous quantity across three decades, so common items at high prices can almost always be waited out; the genuinely scarce objects, early printings with obi, complete LaserDisc runs, deluxe boxes with all inserts, announce themselves through completeness rather than asking price.