C# - ADO.NET Entity Framework Quirk - Statement Always Returns Null

When I run the code below, it works

int charId = int.Parse(Request.Params["charId"]);
EveFPT ctx = new EveFPT();
var theCharQuery = from a in ctx.tblChars
where a.id == charId
select new
{
Name = a.name,
CorpName = a.tblCorps.name,
AllianceName = a.tblCorps.tblAlliances.name
};
if(theCharQuery.Count() == 1)
{
var theChar = theCharQuery.First();
lblCharName.Text = theChar.Name;
lblCorpName.Text = theChar.CorpName;
lblAllianceName.Text = theChar.AllianceName;
}

However, If I the below

var theCharQuery = from a in ctx.tblChars
where a.id == charId
select a;
if(theCharQuery.Count() == 1)
{
tblChars theChar = theCharQuery.First();
lblCharName.Text = theChar.name;
lblCorpName.Text = theChar.tblCorps.name;
lblAllianceName.Text = theChar.tblCorps.tblAlliances.name;
}

the statement theChar.tblCorps always returns null.