Fullmetal Alchemist Manga Online

Fullmetal Alchemist
Cover of the first manga volume featuring the protagonists Edward (right) and Alphonse Elric (left).
鋼の錬金術師
(Hagane no Renkinjutsushi)
GenreAdventure, dark fantasy, science fiction[1][2]
Manga
Written byHiromu Arakawa
Published byEnix(2001–2003)
Square Enix(2003–2010)
English publisher
Viz Media(2005-)
Yen Press(2014-) (digital releases only)[3]
DemographicShōnen
MagazineMonthly Shōnen Gangan
Original runJuly 12, 2001June 12, 2010
Volumes27 (List of volumes)
Light novel
Written byMakoto Inoue
Illustrated byHiromu Arakawa
Published bySquare Enix
English publisher
Viz Media
Original runFebruary 28, 2003April 22, 2010
Volumes10 (List of volumes)
Anime
  • Fullmetal Alchemist(2003 anime)
    • Conqueror of Shamballa(2005 film)
  • Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood(2009 anime)
    • The Sacred Star of Milos(2011 film)
Live-action film
  • Fullmetal Alchemist(2017)
  1. Arakawa Hiromu's smash hit manga 'Fullmetal Alchemist' inspired an anime series, a remake of the anime series, a few movies, and a sequel. So it should come as no surprise that this is perhaps one of the most popular anime/manga franchises of all time.
  2. Fullmetal Alchemist is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hiromu Arakawa. It was serialized in Square Enix's manga anthology magazine Monthly Shōnen Gangan from July 12, 2001 to June 11, 2010 with one new chapter per issue.
  3. Fullmetal Alchemist (Light Novel) manga info and recommendations. Somewhere between magic, art and science exists a.
  4. Fullmetal Alchemist Bonus Manga for Live-Action Filmgoers Reveals Cover Image, Story (Nov 10, 2017) Anime NYC to Host Live-Action Fullmetal Alchemist Screening With Director Fumihiko Sori (Oct 16.
  5. Looking for information on the manga Fullmetal Alchemist? Find out more with MyAnimeList, the world's most active online anime and manga community and database. Alchemists are knowledgeable and naturally talented individuals who can manipulate and modify matter due to their art.

Fullmetal Alchemist (Japanese: 鋼の錬金術師Hepburn: Hagane no Renkinjutsushi, lit. 'Alchemist of Steel') is a Japanese shōnenmanga series written and illustrated by Hiromu Arakawa. It was serialized in Square Enix's Monthly Shōnen Gangan magazine between August 2001 and June 2010; the publisher later collected the individual chapters into twenty-seven tankōbon volumes. The world of Fullmetal Alchemist is styled after the European Industrial Revolution. Set in a fictional universe in which alchemy is one of the advanced natural techniques revolved around scientific laws of equal exchange, the story follows two alchemist brothers named Edward and Alphonse Elric, who are searching for the philosopher's stone to restore their bodies after a failed attempt to bring their mother back to life using alchemy. They are especially driven as Alphonse's body has been entirely removed, and he now lives as a soul trapped in a lifeless armor, while Edward has exchanged his leg to attempt to bring his mother back, and his arm to tie Alphonse's soul to a set of armor that was laying nearby.

The manga was published and localized in English by Viz Media in North America, Madman Entertainment in Australasia, and Chuang Yi in Singapore. Yen Press also has the rights for the digital release of the volumes in North America due to the series being a Square Enix title.[3] It has been adapted into two animetelevision series, two animated films—all animated by Bones studio—and light novels. Funimation dubbed the television series, films and video games. The series has generated original video animations, video games, supplementary books, a collectible card game, and a variety of action figures and other merchandise. A live action film based on the series was also released in 2017.

Jan 20, 2016  The brothers perform the banned alchemic technique of human transmutation in a effort to resurrect her when Trisha dies of the plague. As a result, the transmutation backfires and in law with equal exchange, the left leg and Alphonse's whole body of Edward are ruined.

The manga has sold over 70 million volumes worldwide, making it one of the best-selling manga series. The English release of the manga's first volume was the top-selling graphic novel during 2005. In two TV Asahi web polls, the anime was voted the most popular anime of all time in Japan. At the American Anime Awards in February 2007, it was eligible for eight awards, nominated for six, and won five. Reviewers from several media conglomerations had positive comments on the series, particularly for its character development, action scenes, symbolism and philosophical references.

  • 1Synopsis
  • 4Media
    • 4.3Theatrical films
  • 5Reception
    • 5.1Manga
    • 5.2Anime

Synopsis[edit]

Setting[edit]

Fullmetal Alchemist takes place in the fictional country of Amestris (アメストリスAmesutorisu). In this world, alchemy is one of the most-practiced sciences; Alchemists who work for the government are known as State Alchemists (国家錬金術師Kokka Renkinjutsushi) and are automatically given the rank of Major in the military. Alchemists have the ability, with the help of patterns called Transmutation Circles, to create almost anything they desire. However, when they do so, they must provide something of equal value in accordance with the Law of Equivalent Exchange. The only things Alchemists are forbidden from transmuting are humans and gold. There has never been a successful human transmutation; those who attempt it lose a part of their body and the result is a horrific inhuman mass. Attemptees are confronted by Truth (真理Shinri), a pantheistic or possibly transtheistic due to clearly existing yet having the god like status being treated indifferently by the cast, and semi-cerebral God-like being who tauntingly regulates all alchemy use and whose nigh-featureless appearance is relative to the person to whom Truth is conversing with; the series' antagonist, Father, and some other characters, claim and believe that Truth is a personal God who punishes the arrogant, a belief that Edward denies, citing a flaw in Father's interpretation of Truth's works.

Attemptees of Human Transmutation are also thrown into the Gate of Truth (真理の扉Shinri no Tobira), where they receive an overwhelming dose of information, but also allowing them to transmute without a circle. All living things possess their own Gate of Truth, and per the Gaea hypothesis heavenly bodies like planets also have their own Gates of Truth. It is possible to bypass the Law of Equivalent Exchange (to an extent) using a Philosopher's Stone, a red, enigmatic substance. Philosopher's Stones can be used to create Homunculi, artificial humans of proud nature. Homunculi have numerous superhuman abilities unique amongst each other and look down upon all humanity. With the exception of one, they do not age and can only be killed via the destruction of their Philosopher's Stones.

There are several cities throughout Amestris. The main setting is the capital of Central City (セントラルシティSentoraru Shiti), along with other military cities such as the northern city of Briggs (ブリッグズBurigguzu). Towns featured include Resembool (リゼンブールRizenbūru), the rural hometown of the Elrics; Liore (リオールRiōru), a city tricked into following a cult; Rush Valley (ラッシュバレーRasshu Barē), a town that specializes in automail manufacturing; and Ishbal, a conservative-religion region that rejects alchemy and was destroyed in the Ishbalan Civil War instigated after a soldier shot an Ishbalan child. Outside of Amestris, there are few named countries, and none are seen in the main story. The main foreign country is Xing. Heavily reminiscent of China, Xing has a complex system of clans and emperors, as opposed to Amestris's government-controlled election of a Führer. It also has its own system of alchemy, called Alkahestry (錬丹術Rentanjutsu), which is more medical and can be bi-located using kunai; in turn, it is implied that all countries have different forms of alchemy.

Fullmetal Alchemist Manga Online

Plot[edit]

Edward and Alphonse Elric live in the rural town of Resembool with their mother Trisha, their father Van Hohenheim having left without a reason. Edward bears a grudge against their father as he and Alphonse showed a talent for alchemy before Trisha died of the plague. After finishing their alchemy training under Izumi Curtis, the brothers attempt to bring their mother back with alchemy. But the transmutation backfires and in law with equivalent exchange, Edward loses his left leg while Alphonse is dragged into the Gate of Truth. Edward sacrifices his right arm to retrieve Alphonse's soul, binding it to a suit of armor with a blood seal. Edward is invited by Roy Mustang to become a State Alchemist to research a way to restore Alphonse's body, passing his exams while given the title of Fullmetal Alchemist based on his prosthetic automail limbs and use of metal in his alchemy. The Elrics spent the next three years searching for the mythical Philosopher's Stone to achieve their goals. One such lead results in them exposing a corrupt religious leader in the city of Liore while unaware of events occurring behind the scenes by the mysterious Homunculi.

Following their time with the State Alchemist Shou Tucker, which teaches them a horrific lesson, the Elric brothers have a near-death experience from encountering an Ishbalan serial killer labeled as Scar who targets State Alchemists for his people's genocide in the Ishbalan civil war. After returning to Resembool to have Edward's limbs repaired by their childhood friend and mechanic, Winry Rockbell, the Elrics meet the guilt-ridden former State Alchemist Dr. Marcoh who provides them with clues to learn that a Philosopher's Stone is created from human souls. After the Homunculi hinder them by destroying the hidden laboratory, the brothers are joined by Winry as they attempt to find an alternate means to restore themselves. At the same time, Mustang's friend Maes Hughes continues the Elrics' research and ends up murdered by a disguised homonculus, Envy, when he learns of the Homunculi's plan.

After their defeat at the hands of Scar, the Elric Brothers decide to visit their teacher Izumi Curtis in the city of Dublith, hoping that she might be able to train them in higher forms of alchemy. This backfires when she discovers their failed attempt at Human Transmutation, with Izumi telling the Elrics how she committed human transmutation on her stillborn child. Izumi expels them as her apprentices, though following a determined argument, she allows them to stay with her for extra training. Following this, Alphonse is captured by the rogue homunculus Greed, who in turn is attacked by Amestris' leader King Bradley, revealed to be the homunculus Wrath. When Greed refuses to rejoin his fellow Homunculi, he is consequently melted down by and reabsorbed within the Homunculi's creator, Father.

After running into the Xingese prince Lin Yao, who is also after a Philosopher's Stone to cement his position as heir to his country's throne, the Elrics and Winry return to Central City where they learn of Hughes's death with Lieutenant Maria Ross framed for the murder. Mustang fakes Maria's death and smuggles her out of the country with Lin's help so he can focus on the Homunculi. The events that follow result in the death of the homunculi Lust, revealing that a Philosopher's Stone forms a Homunculus's core along with an upcoming event the Homunculi are working towards. Meanwhile, Scar forms a small band with the Xingese princess May Chang, who also seeks the stone, and a former military officer named Yoki whom the Elrics exposed as a corrupt official.

Following an attempt to capture the homonculi Gluttony using Lin's sensory skills, the Homunculus end up accidentally swallowing Edward, Lin, and Envy into his void-like stomach, with the two humans learning the Homunculi orchestrated Ametris's history over the centuries. Gluttony takes Alphonse to meet Father whilst the others manage to escape from Gluttony's stomach, eventually meeting Father. Father considers killing Lin for not being one of the human sacrifices like the Elrics. Instead, he makes Lin the vessel of a new incarnation of Greed with the Elrics attempting to escape upon seeing Scar. Edward has Envy admit to having caused the Ishbalan civil war, whilst Scar meets Winry and realises the evil nature of his desire for revenge. Soon after, with Winry used against them as a hostage, the Elrics are allowed to continue their quest as long as they no longer oppose Father. Mustang receives a similar threat with his subordinates scattered to the other military branches. At the same time, finding Dr. Marcoh held captive, Scar spirited him out of Central as Scar's group head north.

The Elrics eventually reach Fort Briggs under the command of General Olivier Armstrong, revealing what they know following the discovery of an underground tunnel beneath Briggs made by the Homunculus Sloth. The brothers soon learn from Hughes's research that Father created Amestris to amass a large enough population to create a massive Philosopher's Stone. Forced to work with Solf J. Kimblee, a murderous former State Alchemist and willing ally of the Homunculi in tracking down Scar, the Elrics make their move to save Winry and split up with Kimblee's chimera subordinates joining them. As Edward is joined by Lin/Greed, who regained his former self's memories, Alphonse encounters Hohenheim in Liore. Honenheim reveals he was made an immortal when Father, once simply known as ‘Homunculus’, arranged the fall of Cselkcess four centuries ago to create his body while giving half of the sacrificed souls to Hohenheim. Hohenheim also explains he left his family to try and stop Father from sacrificing the Amestrisan people to create a massive philosopher’s stone, and achieving godhood by absorbing the being beyond the Gate of Truth on the ‘Promised Day’.

The Promised Day arrives, with Father preparing to initiate his plan using an eclipse and his desired ‘human sacrifices’ in order to trigger the transmutation. The protagonists, having assembled days prior, orchestrate an all-out attack on Central with Sloth, Envy, and Wrath killed in the process while Gluttony was devoured by Pride. Despite the opposition, Father manages to activate the nationwide transmutation once the Elrics, Izumi, Hohenheim are gathered along with Mustang after being forced by Pride to perform Human Transmutation. Hohenheim and Scar activate the countermeasures put in place by Hohenheim to save the Amestrians, causing Father to become unstable from housing the absorbed superior being within him without the souls needed to subdue it. Father is confronted above ground where the protagonists battle him to wear down his Philosopher's Stone while he attempts to replenish himself, Edward managing to defeat the gravely weakened Pride before joining the fray.

Alphonse, whose armor is all but destroyed, sacrifices his soul to restore Edward's right arm while Greed leaves Lin's body and sacrifices himself to weaken Father's body enough for Edward to destroy Father's Philosopher's Stone. This causes Father to implode out of reality while dragged into the Gate of Truth from which he was created. Edward sacrifices his ability to perform alchemy to retrieve a fully restored Alphonse, Lin receiving a Philosopher's Stone while promising May to be a just ruler. Hohenheim takes his leave and visits Trisha's grave where he dies with a smile on his face. The Elrics return home months later, still motivated by those they failed to save in learning new forms of alchemy to prevent repeated tragedies. This leads to the Elrics leaving Amestris two years later to study other cultures and their knowledge, with Alphonse leaving for Xing in the east while Edward heads westward. The epilogue finishes with a family photo of Alphonse, May, Edward, Winry, and the couple's son and daughter.

Production[edit]

After reading about the concept of the Philosopher's Stone, Arakawa became attracted to the idea of her characters using alchemy in the manga. She started reading books about alchemy, which she found complicated because some books contradict others. Arakawa was attracted more by the philosophical aspects than the practical ones.[4] For the Equivalent Exchange (等価交換Tōka Kōkan) concept, she was inspired by the work of her parents, who had a farm in Hokkaido and worked hard to earn the money to eat.[5]

Arakawa wanted to integrate social problems into the story. Her research involved watching television news programs and talking to refugees, war veterans and former yakuza. Several plot elements, such as Pinako Rockbell caring for the Elric brothers after their mother dies, and the brothers helping people to understand the meaning of family, expand on these themes. When creating the fictional world of Fullmetal Alchemist, Arakawa was inspired after reading about the Industrial Revolution in Europe; she was amazed by differences in the culture, architecture, and clothes of the era and those of her own culture. She was especially interested in England during this period and incorporated these ideas into the manga.[4]

When the manga began serialization, Arakawa was considering several major plot points, including the ending. She wanted the Elric brothers to recover their bodies—at least partly.[6] As the plot continued, she thought that some characters were maturing and decided to change some scenes.[5] Arakawa said the manga authors Suihō Tagawa and Hiroyuki Eto are her main inspirations for her character designs; she describes her artwork as a mix of both of them. She found that the easiest of the series's characters to draw were Alex Louis Armstrong, and the little animals. Arakawa likes dogs so she included several of them in the story.[7] Arakawa made comedy central to the manga's story because she thinks it is intended for entertainment, and tried to minimize sad scenes.[5]

When around forty manga chapters had been published, Arakawa said that as the series was nearing its end and she would try to increase the pace of the narrative. To avoid making some chapters less entertaining than others, unnecessary details from each of them were removed and a climax was developed. The removal of minor details was also necessary because Arakawa had too few pages in Monthly Shōnen Gangan to include all the story content she wanted to add. Some characters' appearances were limited in some chapters.[8] At first, Arakawa thought the series would last twenty-one volumes but the length increased to twenty-seven. Serialization finished after nine years, and Arakawa was satisfied with her work because she had told everything she wanted with the manga.[6]

During the development of the first anime, Arakawa allowed the anime staff to work independently from her, and requested a different ending from that of the manga. She said that she would not like to repeat the same ending in both media, and wanted to make the manga longer so she could develop the characters. When watching the ending of the anime, she was amazed about how different the homunculi creatures were from the manga and enjoyed how the staff speculated about the origins of the villains.[4] Because Arakawa helped the Bones staff in the making of the series, she was kept from focusing on the manga's cover illustrations and had little time to make them.[8]

Themes[edit]

The series explores social problems, including discrimination, scientific advancement, political greed, brotherhood, family, and war.[9] Scar's backstory and his hatred of the state military references the Ainu people, who had their land taken by other people.[4] This includes the consequences of guerrilla warfare and the amount of violent soldiers a military can have.[10] Some of the people who took the Ainus' land were originally Ainu; this irony is referenced in Scar's use of alchemy to kill alchemists even though it was forbidden in his own religion.[4] The Elrics being orphans and adopted by Pinako Rockbell reflects Arakawa's beliefs about the ways society should treat orphans. The characters' dedication to their occupations reference the need to work for food.[11] The series also explores the concept of equivalent exchange; to obtain something new, one must pay with something of equal value. This is applied by alchemists when creating new materials and is also a philosophical belief the Elric brothers follow.[6][12]

Media[edit]

Manga[edit]

Written and drawn by Hiromu Arakawa, Fullmetal Alchemist was serialized in Square Enix's monthly manga magazine Monthly Shōnen Gangan. Its first installment was published in the magazine's August 2001 issue on July 12, 2001; publication continued until the series concluded in June 2010 with the 108th installment.[13] A side-story to the series was published in the October 2010 issue of Monthly Shōnen Gangan on September 11, 2010.[14] In the July 2011 issue of the same magazine, the prototype version of the manga was published.[15] Square Enix compiled the chapters into twenty-seven tankōbon volumes. The first volume was released on January 22, 2002, and the last on November 22, 2010.[16][17] A few chapters have been re-released in Japan in two 'Extra number' magazines and Fullmetal Alchemist, The First Attack, which features the first nine chapters of the manga and other side stories.[18] On July 22, 2011, Square Enix started republishing the series in kanzenban format.[19]

Viz Media localized the tankōbon volumes in English in North America between May 3, 2005, and December 20, 2011.[20][21] On June 7, 2011, Viz started publishing the series in omnibus format, featuring three volumes in one.[22]Yen Press has the rights for the digital release of the volumes in North America since 2014[3] and on December 12, 2016 has released the series on the ComiXology website.[23][24] Other English localizations were done by Madman Entertainment for Australasia and Chuang Yi in Singapore.[25][26] The series has been also localized in Polish, French, Portuguese, Italian, and Korean.[27][28][29][30][31]

Anime series[edit]

Fullmetal Alchemist was adapted into two anime series for television: an adaption with a partially original story titled Fullmetal Alchemist in 2003–2004, and an adaption more faithful to the manga 2009–2010 retelling titled Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.[32][33]

Theatrical films[edit]

Animation[edit]

Two feature-length anime films were produced; Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa, a sequel/conclusion to the 2003 series, and Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos, set during the time period of Brotherhood.[34][35]

Live-action[edit]

A live-action film based on the manga was released on November 19, 2017. Fumihiko Sori directed the film.[36] The film stars Ryosuke Yamada as Edward Elric, Tsubasa Honda as Winry Rockbell and Dean Fujioka as Roy Mustang.

Light novels[edit]

Square Enix has published a series of six Fullmetal Alchemist Japanese light novels, written by Makoto Inoue.[37] The novels were licensed for an English-language release by Viz Media in North America, with translations by Alexander O. Smith and illustrations—including covers and frontispieces—by Arakawa.[38][39] The novels are spin-offs of the manga series and follow the Elric brothers on their continued quest for the philosopher's stone. The first novel, Fullmetal Alchemist: The Land of Sand, was animated as the episodes eleven and twelve of the first anime series.[40] The fourth novel contains an extra story about the military called 'Roy's Holiday'.[41] Novelizations of the PlayStation 2 games Fullmetal Alchemist and the Broken Angel, Curse of the Crimson Elixir, and The Girl Who Succeeds God have also been written, the first by Makoto Inoue and the rest by Jun Eishima.[37]

Audio dramas[edit]

There have been two series of Fullmetal Alchemist audio dramas. The first volume of the first series, Fullmetal Alchemist Vol. 1: The Land of Sand (砂礫の大地Sareki no Daichi), was released before the anime and tells a similar story to the first novel. The Tringham brothers reprised their anime roles.[42]Fullmetal Alchemist Vol. 2: False Light, Truth's Shadow (偽りの光 真実の影Itsuwari no Hikari, Shinjitsu no Kage) and Fullmetal Alchemist Vol. 3: Criminals' Scar (咎人たちの傷跡Togabitotachi no Kizuato) are stories based on different manga chapters; their State Military characters are different from those in the anime.[37] The second series of audio dramas, available only with purchases of Shōnen Gangan, consists two stories in this series, each with two parts. The first, Fullmetal Alchemist: Ogutāre of the Fog (霧のオグターレKiri no Ogutāre), was included in Shōnen Gangan's April and May 2004 issues; the second story, Fullmetal Alchemist: Crown of Heaven (天上の宝冠Tenjō no Hōkan), was issued in the November and December 2004 issues.[37]

Video games[edit]

Video games based on Fullmetal Alchemist have been released. The storylines of the games often diverge from those of the anime and manga, and feature original characters. Square Enix has released three role-playing games (RPG)—Fullmetal Alchemist and the Broken Angel, Curse of the Crimson Elixir, and Kami o Tsugu Shōjo. Bandai has released two RPG titles, Fullmetal Alchemist: Stray Rondo (鋼の錬金術師 迷走の輪舞曲Hagane no Renkinjutsushi Meisō no Rondo) and Fullmetal Alchemist: Sonata of Memory (鋼の錬金術師 想い出の奏鳴曲Hagane no Renkinjutsushi Omoide no Sonata), for the Game Boy Advance and one, Dual Sympathy, for the Nintendo DS. In Japan, Bandai released an RPG Fullmetal Alchemist: To the Promised Day (鋼の錬金術師 Fullmetal Alchemist 約束の日へHagane no Renkinjutsushi Fullmetal Alchemist Yakusoku no Hi e) for the PlayStation Portable on May 20, 2010.[43] Bandai also released a fighting game, Dream Carnival, for the PlayStation 2. Destineer released a game based on the trading card game in North America for the Nintendo DS.[44][45] Of the seven games made in Japan, Broken Angel, Curse of the Crimson Elixir, and Dual Sympathy have seen international releases. For the Wii, Akatsuki no Ōji(暁の王子, lit. Fullmetal Alchemist: Prince of the Dawn) was released in Japan on August 13, 2009.[46] A direct sequel of the game, Tasogare no Shōjo(黄昏の少女, lit. Fullmetal Alchemist: Daughter of the Dusk), was released on December 10, 2009, for the same console.[47]

Funimation licensed the franchise to create a new series of Fullmetal Alchemist-related video games to be published by Destineer Publishing Corporation in the United States.[48] Destineer released its first Fullmetal Alchemist game for the Nintendo DS, a translation of Bandai's Dual Sympathy, on December 15, 2006, and said that they plan to release further titles.[49] On February 19, 2007, Destineer announced the second game in its Fullmetal Alchemist series, the Fullmetal Alchemist Trading Card Game, which was released on October 15, 2007.[50] A third game for the PlayStation Portable titled Fullmetal Alchemist: Senka wo Takuseshi Mono (背中を託せし者) was released in Japan on October 15, 2009.[51] A European release of the game, published by with Namco Bandai, was announced on March 4, 2010.[52] The massively multiplayer online role-playing gameMapleStory also received special in-game items based on the anime series.[53]

Arakawa oversaw the story and designed the characters for the RPG games, while Bones—the studio responsible for the anime series—produced several animation sequences. The developers looked at other titles—specifically Square Enix's action role-playing game Kingdom Hearts and other games based on manga series, such as Dragon Ball, Naruto or One Piece games—for inspiration. The biggest challenge was to make a 'full-fledged' game rather than a simple character-based one.[54] Tomoya Asano, the assistant producer for the games, said that development took more than a year, unlike most character-based games.[55]

Art and guidebooks[edit]

The Fullmetal Alchemist has received several artbooks. Three artbooks called The Art of Fullmetal Alchemist (イラスト集 FULLMETAL ALCHEMISTIrasuto Shū Fullmetal Alchemist) were released by Square Enix; two of those were released in the US by Viz Media.[56][57] The first artbook contains illustrations made between May 2001 to April 2003, spanning the first six manga volumes, while the second has illustrations from September 2003 to October 2005, spanning the next six volumes.[18] The last one includes illustrations from the remaining volumes.[58]

The manga also has three guidebooks; each of them contains timelines, guides to the Elric brothers' journey, and gaiden chapters that were never released in manga volumes.[18] Only the first guidebook was released by Viz Media, titled Fullmetal Alchemist Profiles.[59] A guidebook titled 'Fullmetal Alchemist Chronicle' (鋼の錬金術師 CHRONICLE), which contains post-manga story information, was released in Japan on July 29, 2011.[60]

Merchandise[edit]

Action figures, busts, and statues from the Fullmetal Alchemist anime and manga have been produced by toy companies, including Medicom and Southern Island. Medicom has created high end deluxe vinyl figures of the characters from the anime. These figures are exclusively distributed in the United States and UK by Southern Island.[61] Southern Island released its own action figures of the main characters in 2007, and a 12' statuette was scheduled for release the same year. Southern Island has since gone bankrupt, putting the statuette's release in doubt.[62] A trading card game was first published in 2005 in the United States by Joyride Entertainment.[63] Since then, six expansions have been released. The card game was withdrawn on July 11, 2007.[64] Destineer released a Nintendo DS adaptation of the game on October 15, 2007.[50]

Reception[edit]

Overall, the franchise has received widespread critical acclaim and commercial success.

Manga[edit]

Along with Yakitate!! Japan, the series won the forty-ninth Shogakukan Manga Award for shōnen in 2004.[65] It won the public voting for Eagle Award's 'Favourite Manga' in 2010 and 2011.[66][67] The manga also received the Seiun Award for best science fiction comic in 2011.[68]

In a survey from Oricon in 2009, Fullmetal Alchemist ranked ninth as the manga that fans wanted to be turned into a live-action film.[69] The series is also popular with amateur writers who produce dōjinshi (fan fiction) that borrows characters from the series. In the Japanese market Super Comic City, there have been over 1,100 dōjinshi based on Fullmetal Alchemist, some of which focused on romantic interactions between Edward Elric and Roy Mustang.[70]Anime News Network said the series had the same impact in Comiket 2004 as several female fans were seen there writing dōjinshi.[71]

Sales[edit]

The series has become one of Square Enix's best-performing properties, along with Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest.[72] With the release of volume 27, the manga sold over 50 million copies in Japan.[73] As of January 10, 2010, every volume of the manga has sold over a million copies each in Japan.[74] Square Enix reported that the series had sold 70.3 million copies worldwide as of April 25, 2018, 16.4 million of those outside Japan.[75] The series is also one of Viz Media's best sellers, appearing in 'BookScan's Top 20 Graphic Novels' and the 'USA Today Booklist'.[76][77][78] It was featured in the Diamond Comic Distributors' polls of graphic novels and The New York Times Best Seller Manga list.[79][80] The English release of the manga's first volume was the top-selling graphic novel during 2005.[81]

During 2008, volumes 19 and 20 sold over a million copies, ranking as the 10th and 11th best seller comics in Japan respectively.[82] In the first half of 2009, it ranked as the seventh best-seller in Japan, having sold over 3 million copies.[83] Volume 21 ranked fourth, with more than a million copies sold and volume 22 ranked sixth with a similar number of sold copies.[84] Producer Kouji Taguchi of Square Enix said that Volume 1's initial sales were 150,000 copies; this grew to 1.5 million copies after the first anime aired. Prior to the second anime's premiere, each volume sold about 1.9 million copies, and then it changed to 2.1 million copies.[85]

Critical response[edit]

Fullmetal Alchemist has generally been well received by critics. Though the first volumes were thought to be formulaic, critics said that the series grows in complexity as it progresses. Jason Thompson called Arakawa one of the best at creating action scenes and praised the series for having great female characters despite being a boys' manga. He also noted how the story gets dark by including real-world issues such as government corruption, war and genocide. Thompson finished by stating that Fullmetal Alchemist 'will be remembered as one of the classic shonen manga series of the 2000s.'[86] Melissa Harper of Anime News Network praised Arakawa for keeping all of her character designs unique and distinguishable, despite many of them wearing the same basic uniforms.[87]IGN's Hilary Goldstein wrote that the characterization of the protagonist Edward balances between being a 'typical clever kid' and a 'stubborn kid', allowing him to float between the comical moments and the underlying drama without seeming false.[88] Holly Ellingwood for Active Anime praised the development of the characters in the manga and their beliefs changing during the story, forcing them to mature.[89] Mania Entertainment's Jarred Pine said that the manga can be enjoyed by anybody who has watched the first anime, despite the similarities in the first chapters. Like other reviewers, Pine praised the dark mood of the series and the way it balances the humor and action scenes.[90] Pine also praised the development of characters who have few appearances in the first anime.[91] In a review of volume 14, Sakura Eries—also of Mania Entertainment—liked the revelations, despite the need to resolve several story arcs. She also praised the development of the homunculi, such as the return of Greed, as well as their fights.[92]

Anime[edit]

Fullmetal Alchemist[edit]

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The first Fullmetal Alchemist anime premiered in Japan with a 6.82 percent television viewership rating.[93] In 2005, Japanese television network TV Asahi conducted a 'Top 100' online web poll and nationwide survey; Fullmetal Alchemist placed first in the online poll and twentieth in the survey.[94][95] In 2006, TV Asahi conducted another online poll for the top one hundred anime, and Fullmetal Alchemist placed first again.[96]

The first Fullmetal Alchemist won in several categories in the American Anime Awards, including 'Long Series', 'Best Cast', 'Best DVD Package Design', 'Best Anime Theme Song' ('Rewrite,' by Asian Kung-Fu Generation), and 'Best Actor' (Vic Mignogna—who played Edward Elric in the English version). It was also nominated in the category of 'Best Anime Feature' for Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa.[97] The series also won most of the twenty-sixth Annual Animage Readers' Polls. The series was the winner in the 'Favorite Anime Series', 'Favorite Episode' (episode seven), 'Favorite Male Character' (Edward Elric), 'Favorite Female Character' (Riza Hawkeye), 'Favorite Theme Song' ('Melissa', by Porno Graffitti), and 'Favorite Voice Actor' (Romi Park—who played Edward in the Japanese version).[98] In the 'Tokyo Anime Fair', the series won in the categories 'Animation Of The Year' (Fullmetal Alchemist: The Conqueror of Shambala), 'Best original story' (Hiromu Arakawa) and 'Best music' (Michiru Ōshima).[99] In the About.com 2006 American Awards, Fullmetal Alchemist won in the categories 'Best New Anime Series' and 'Best Animation'.[100][101]

IGN named the first anime the ninety-fifth-best animated series. They said that although it is mostly upbeat with amazing action scenes, it also touches upon the human condition. They described it as 'more than a mere anime' and 'a powerful weekly drama'.[102] The IGN staff featured it in their '10 Cartoon Adaptations We'd Like to See' feature, with comments focused on the characterization in the series.[103] The character designs have been praised; critics said they are different from each other.[104] Samuel Arbogast of Theanime.org said the flashback sequences were annoying.[105] Lori Lancaster of Mania Entertainment called the plot wonderful, and said it is '[a] bit of a tragic coming of age story mixed in with the Odyssey'. She wrote, 'There is enough action, drama and comedy mixed in to keep most viewers interested. This is one of those anime series that is likely to become a classic.'[104]

The series has also received some negative reviews, with Maria Lin of animefringe.com saying that the show's themes 'are held hostage by… excessive sentimentality'. She criticized the ending, saying that 'no character has changed from how they were in the beginning. There have been no revelations. Even as the show tries to show that the Elric brothers are coming into their own as they pursue the stone, they're really not, because they keep on making the same mistakes over and over again without… fundamental change in their ideals. The adage of the soldier and his acceptance of losing his leg is lost on them.'[106]

Reviewers praised the soundtrack of the first anime for its variety of musical styles and artists, and the pleasant but not too distracting background music.[72] DVDvisionjapan said the first opening theme and the first ending theme are the best tracks of the series.[107]

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood[edit]

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The first fourteen episodes of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood received criticism from members of the Anime News Network staff, who said that repeating events from the first anime led to a lack of suspense.[108] Mania Entertainment's Chris Beveridge said that the entertainment in these episodes lay in the differences in the characters' actions from the first series, and original content which focused on the emotional theme of the series.[109] In another review, Beveridge praised the new fight scenes and said the extra drama which made these episodes 'solid'.[110] Chris Zimmerman from Comic Book Bin said the series 'turns around and establishes its own identity' because of the inclusion of new characters and revelations not shown in the first series, increasing its depth. He said the animation was superior to that of the first anime; his comments focused on the characters' expressions and the execution of the fight scenes.[111] Writing for The Los Angeles Times, Charles Solomon ranked Brotherhood the second best anime of 2010 on his 'Top 10'.[112]

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood Manga On…

Much praise was given to the climactic episodes for the way action scenes and morals were conveyed; many reviewers found them superior to the conclusion of the first Fullmetal Alchemist anime. Critics found the ending satisfying; Mark Thomas of The Fandom Post called it a 'virtually perfect ending to an outstanding series'.[113][114] In April 2010, the journal Animage listed it as the sixth best anime launched between April 2009 and March 2010.[115]

Light novels[edit]

The first Fullmetal Alchemist novel, The Land of the Sand, was well received by Jarred Pine of Mania Entertainment as a self-contained novelization that remained true to the characterizations of the manga series. He said that while the lack of backstory aims it more towards fans of the franchise than new readers, it was an impressive debut piece for the Viz Fiction line.[116]Ain't It Cool News also found the novel to be true to its roots, and said that while it added nothing new, it was compelling enough for followers of the series to enjoy a retelling. The reviewer said it was a 'work for young-ish readers that's pretty clear about some darker sides of politics, economics and human nature'.[117] Charles Solomon of the Los Angeles Times said that the novel has a different focus than the anime series; The Land of Sand 'created a stronger, sympathetic bond' between the younger brothers than is seen in its two-episode anime counterpart.[118]

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See also[edit]

References[edit]

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External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fullmetal Alchemist.
Wikiquote has quotations related to: Fullmetal Alchemist
  • Official Gangan Fullmetal Alchemist manga and novel website(in Japanese)
  • Official Viz Fullmetal Alchemist manga website at the Library of Congress Web Archives (archived 2010-10-07)
  • Fullmetal Alchemist (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
  • Official Gangan Online Fullmetal Alchemist homepage (in Japanese)
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fullmetal_Alchemist&oldid=918748322'
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Alternative Titles

Synonyms: Full Metal Alchemist, Hagane no Renkinjutsushi, FMA, HagaRen, Fullmetal Alchemist Gaiden

Information

Type:Manga
Chapters: 116
Published: Jul 12, 2001 to Sep 11, 2010
Genres:Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Shounen, Military
Serialization:Shounen Gangan

Statistics

1 indicates a weighted score. Please note that 'Not yet published' titles are excluded.
Ranked: #32
2 based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Members: 177,662
Ranked #3Popularity #11Members 177,662
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Synopsis

Alchemists are knowledgeable and naturally talented individuals who can manipulate and modify matter due to their art. Yet despite the wide range of possibilities, alchemy is not as all-powerful as most would believe. Human transmutation is strictly forbidden, and whoever attempts it risks severe consequences. Even so, siblings Edward and Alphonse Elric decide to ignore this great taboo and bring their mother back to life. Unfortunately, not only do they fail in resurrecting her, they also pay an extremely high price for their arrogance: Edward loses his left leg and Alphonse his entire body. Furthermore, Edward also gives up his right arm in order to seal his brother's soul into a suit of armor.
Years later, the young alchemists travel across the country looking for the Philosopher's Stone, in the hopes of recovering their old bodies with its power. However, their quest for the fated stone also leads them to unravel far darker secrets than they could ever imagine.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Background

Hagane no Renkinjutsushi won the 49th Shogakukan Manga Award for the shounen demographic in 2004. Hiromu Arakawa also won the 15th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in the New Artist Prize category for the series in 2011. As of 2015, over 64 million copies of the series have been sold worldwide, making it one of Square Enix's most successful publications, according to Nielsen Bookscan. A live-action film is in development by Warner Bros. Japan and is scheduled for release in Winter 2017.
The series was published in English as Fullmetal Alchemist by VIZ Media from May 3, 2005 to December 20, 2011, and in eBook format by Yen Press on April 15, 2014. A 3-in-1 omnibus edition was released by VIZ from June 7, 2011 to November 11, 2014 as well as a complete box set in November 1, 2011 (which included the novel Fullmetal Alchemist: The Ties That Bind). The manga was also published in Italian by Panini Comics under the Planet Manga imprint from July 13, 2006 to September 3, 2011, in Polish by J.P. Fantastica from January 2006 to to April 2012, in Brazilian Portuguese by Jbc from February 2007 to April 2011 and in Spanish by Ivrea Argentina starting December 12, 2016.

Related Manga

Side story:Fullmetal Alchemist
Alternative version:Full Metal Alchemist: Prototype
Adaptation:Fullmetal Alchemist, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Characters

Elric, Edward
Main
Elric, Alphonse
Main
Mustang, Roy
Supporting
Hughes, Maes
Supporting
Greed
Supporting
Hawkeye, Riza
Supporting
Yao, Ling
Supporting
Armstrong, Alex Louis
Supporting
Rockbell, Winry
Supporting
Envy
Supporting

More reviewsReviews

108 of 116 chapters read
Archaeon(All reviews)
446 people found this review helpful
One of the problems with something being truly good is that every so often it becomes a victim of its own success, and in a sense that's what happened with the fans of Full Metal Alchemist.
Arakawa Hiromu's tale of two brothers and their adventures in alchemy is one of the most well known stories in anime and manga to date, and has spawned a horde of games, a movie (with a second one planned), numerous doujins and fanfics, piles of merchandise ranging from tatoos to chibi plushies, and two very different anime series. The story itself is very typically shounen at times, however there is a depth to proceedings that belies the initial look and feel of the manga. While things begin innocuously enough, it's not long before the reader finds themselves wrestling with moral, religious, and even philosophical motives and actions as the Elric brothers make their journey towards their destiny.
Enough waxing lyrical, on to the nitty gritty. Anyone familiar with Arakawa's other works, especially her one shot manga, will undoubtedly find some surprising similarities to certain events and situations that occur in Full Metal Alchemist. The reason for this is because Arakawa had the foresight to test out various ideas in another form and format before adapting them for use in her flagship title, and this refinement process shows throughout the story. Although this is a shounen tale in the truest sense, there's a degree of complexity and innovation which has been carefully applied in an effort to draw the reader in, and this is one of the hallmarks of Arakawa's storytelling style.
As with any work though, there are a few areas that could have been improved upon. In an effort to lighten the mood from time to time the mangaka has seen fit to apply a few doses of comedy here and there, and while stories like Raiden 18 make it clear that Arakawa has some skills in that department, the application of humour in Full Metal Alchemist is sometimes a bit haphazard. That said, it seems like the mangaka herself also had a similar realisation as the tone of the series becomes much more serious during the latter half, and the frequency of comedic moments drops quite sharply. Surprisingly, the humour is less of a distraction and more of an anodyne for the reader during the later stages of the story, which is a testament to the idea that 'less is more'.
The artwork is very typical of the mangaka, however once more there is that look of refinement about the characters and settings, and even some of the action sequences. One big plus is that the reader is given a more visual, and sometimes visceral, look into the author's world than one might find in other shounen manga. That said, Rumiko Takahashi's InuYasha is a serious contender in this department, but like that manga, Full Metal Alchemist also suffers from the same problem - the highly stylized characters.
The main issue with the design is that some people may find it doesn't suit their tastes, which will in turn impact upon their appreciation of the story. That said, as an advocate of more individualism in manga and anime, it's nice to read something that remains true to the author's style as there are far too many titles that look identical to each other (e.g. harem romantic comedies and about half of the shoujo manga out there).
As for the characters themselves, suffice to say that the development of the lead roles is very good indeed, and the supporting roles are given a healthy amount of space to shine as well. One of the more interesting aspects is the pace at which the characters are developed throughout the story, and a big plus is the degree of attention given to the 'bad guys', especially later in the series. It's a sad fact that shounen tales are filled with shallow antagonists who serve no other purpose than to give the lead character a wall they must 'beat down' in order to move the story forward, and while Full Metal Alchemist contains the basic elements of this type of progression, it manages to mask them far better than most action manga out there.
Is there a major downside then? Well, unfortunately there is, but it's one that's very much dependent on personal taste. The reason why the Full Metal Alchemist franchise is a victim of its own success is because of the original anime adaptation of the unfinished manga.
Now one of the problems that fans have is that the two versions of the tale are wildly different in terms of atmosphere, story and character mentality (basically they're like chalk and cheese). The main issue at hand is that while the manga version of Full Metal Alchemist is an excellent series, the original anime adaptation is becoming maligned and misunderstood because it deviates too much from Arakawa's story. Personally I consider both to be equally good, just not in the same way.
Here's what I mean.
Arakawa's manga is a very good story that incorporates a number of typical shounen aspects like never giving up, trusting in one's friends and allies, etc, and while the tale is excellent in both content and execution, in all honesty, it lacks a degree of 'darkness' that was inherent in the first anime. One of the things that struck me about this dissonance was the fact that the whole theme of obsession seems to peter out by the end of the manga, whereas the first anime actually ended with that theme still running strong.
Now, some of you maybe a little confused by that perspective, especially as both tales feature the same characters to a degree, however one look at their respective endings will begin to make things a little clearer, and pay particular attention to Alphonse Elric as he is the reason why I consider the two tales to be so very different (and if you're still unsure, then feel free to ask me about it).
It's pretty obvious that I enjoyed Full Metal Alchemist immensely, however my only real gripe with the manga, especially after reading Arakawa's other works, is that there are too many occasions where it feels like the author has purposely moved away from a theme or situation that was used in the original anime, and this can make parts of the story feel a bit rushed. That said, this is actually a minor problem as the whole tale fits together extremely well, and in terms of content Full Metal Alchemist is easily on par with Takahashi Rumiko's masterpiece.
What Arakawa Hiromu has given us is a work that is truly good, despite some minor niggles here and there, and while there are some typically shounen aspects to the tale, Full Metal Alchemist, like Inuaysha, is a far cry from what one would consider a typical shounen manga.
Isn't it ironic then, that the two of greatest shounen tales weren't written by men?
116 of 116 chapters read
Polyphemus(All reviews)
171 people found this review helpful
Fullmetal Alchemist is not spectacular. What I mean is that nothing about the art or the plot immediately strikes the audience as impressive or unique. The art is not flashy or detailed. It gets the job done, but only just. The action is easy to follow from panel to panel, and it is just dynamic enough to be interesting. The characters are all pretty much distinguishable from each other, despite their simple designs, and some of them look kinda cool. More than anything, the art is solid. It never gets in the way of the audience's enjoyment. And sometimes that's enough. The only times I ever took issue with the style were when the characters were morphed into chibis in a weak attempt at comedy.
And that brings me to my next point: The comedy. It's not comedic. Early on, there are many repetitive running gags and the only thing they accomplish is kicking me out of the story. Such a blatant attempt to appeal to the audience can backfire if delivered poorly, and so it felt like a slap in the face delivered through the 4th wall. I don't want to deal with that. But I think that the mangaka realized this direction wasn't working early on, and the manga generally gets more serious as time passes.
Although the presentation of the plot changes over time, the plot itself rarely deviates from a single unified arc, and this becomes more apparent towards the middle of the series. It's clear that the overarching plot was plotted out from inception to conclusion from the beginning. The major villains and major allies are essentially the same throughout the manga, and this helps with the sense of unity and harmony that I get from it. (A unity that reinforces the main themes of the manga, which might otherwise seem to be poorly applied pseudo-philosophy.) There are no major power-ups or ridiculous ass-pulls. All of the plot developments are logical and well-paced.
The action, unfortunately, can be a bit of a weak point. There are several characters who use special alchemy techniques to interesting effect, but Ed's (the main character) fighting style is rather pedestrian in comparison. Still, the idea of equivalent exchange helps the fights maintain an appealing sense of reason and rationality that I appreciate quite a bit. It makes them feel less contrived, something that this genre tends to suffer from severely. Also, nothing was ever dragged out unnecessarily and mid-fight dialogue/flashbacks were never taken too far. Fullmetal Alchemist avoids the major pitfalls of battle shounen and brings in a sense of logic that is very rare to see.
The characters are mostly static, and there is no unexpected development. Sometimes they can feel like cardboard cut-outs. But other times I find myself thinking 'wow, a couple of these cardboard cut-outs actually look pretty good in context.' Rather than linear development, the characters are developed via increased insight into them and information about them. They are developed from the perspective of the audience. This is a very sensible approach given the relatively short time frame that the series covers; there is some linear development, but it is subtle. Not subtle as in hard to spot, because it is pretty clear when you see it, but it is slight. The characters don't suffer from any about-faces or drastic personality transplants. The most apparent changes that the characters undergo are simply a result of us learning more about them. This makes the manga somewhat reminiscent of a well-structured canvas painting. It is all one unified and unmoving image, but as you look at it, you notice more about it and it seems to tell a story. There are also some irritating imperfections, it looks better from a distance than it does up-close, but these flaws fail to ruin the whole.
The issue with the above picture is that the foreground is probably weaker than the background, and isn't that where our eyes are drawn? Ed's character is mostly defined by basic traits, habits, and general goals; all nuance is absent. This is certainly intentional, to avoid alienating any of the audience from him, but this lack of ambition is irritating for me. Al's character is kind of empty. (Pun retrospectively intended.) His most significant developmental event was his contrived existential crisis that was quickly resolved and never really dwelled on again. These criticisms apply to many of the characters, in varying degrees. Even as we get more in depth into them, they don't ever feel real. That said, they are often entertaining and they get the job done. Ed is not always the focus and even minor characters are established early on and given essential roles. Rather than any individual characters being well-written, what is well-written is their interactions and relationships with one another, and where they are placed and what they do. Every character has purpose and motivation and defining character traits, even if they don't quite feel organic. If you pulled one character out of the plot, everything could collapse. No character is superfluous and no character is forgotten. This says more about the plot than the actual characterization, but it's a positive nevertheless.
More than anything, Fullmetal Alchemist is solid. Most of its imperfections are minor and don't reach the series' core. Nothing about the series is all that exceptional or original in itself, but it adds up into a very well-structured and cohesive work that manages to avoid making a lot of mistakes that are not often avoided. (And, despite its popularity, it never overstayed its welcome and was relatively concise for what it was.) Still, it doesn't really accomplish all that much that I haven't seen done as well or better. It is simply less flawed than most similar works. This makes it feel unique holistically, but not on a more critical examination. It is unique in that you'd be hard-pressed to find a more perfect battle shounen, but this quality is negatively defined: Fullmetal Alchemist is most praise worthy for the things it does not do; what it does do is not nearly as impressive or difficult.
The lack of originality or risk-taking factors against Fullmetal Alchemist, but the form and presentation of it warrants a solid 7. It's quite good, but not quite great.
116 of 116 chapters read
WithMyCigs(All reviews)
22 people found this review helpful
“Do you have the courage to face the truth?”
Too often, artists promote their own inexperienced and narrow-minded agendas in their stories, shamelessly condemning the actions and decisions of those living in circumstances they couldn’t possibly imagine accurately. Hiromu Arakawa, thankfully, is not one of those artists. Where her ignorance would have left holes in her story, she did research and conducted interviews. When opportunities came during the story in which she could pronounce judgment on one type of people or belief, she refrained from making naïve and arrogant assumptions. As her characters experience the sorrows and joys that come with facing the truth, that crouching monster who laughs in derision as it reflects one’s own soul and reveals the stark realities of life, she herself refuses to embellish the facts.
That is not to say that Fullmetal Alchemist is any kind of allegory. This series goes so far as to include characters named after each of the seven deadly sins, and most of these characters, in many ways, come to embody how peculiarly pathetic these sins actually are. But the series remains a fleshed-out story until the end, with no character or event reduced to simply playing out one “message” or another. Fullmetal Alchemist is really entertainment at its finest, though the subtle blade of the truth nevertheless cuts right through the barrier between fantasy and reality.
The series begins with a few somewhat episodic adventures of brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric, two alchemists in search of the legendary Philosopher’s Stone, which is said to amplify the user’s transmutation. (Alchemy itself, a “science” of deconstructing matter and reconstructing it into something else, is a really imaginative and unusual type of “magic,” and there are several different styles in which it is used.) Edward and Alphonse have committed the ultimate taboo in trying to resurrect the dead using alchemy. This mistake literally cost Edward an arm and a leg, and it cost Alphonse his entire body. Edward's lost limbs have been replaced with “automail,” and Alphonse is now a soul bonded to a suit of armor. The two are on a journey to find a way to recover what they lost.
The story unfolds at a relaxed but gripping pace. After a couple of volumes, the series leaves behind its episodic feel and begins to accelerate into one grand story in which everything, including the early episodic sequences, begins to tie together. All of the characters are thoroughly developed and explored over a long period of time. At first glance, Edward seems a smart-aleck who loses his cool easily (especially when remarks are made about his height), and Alphonse seems to be the dull, plodding sidekick who must hold back the hero from getting into a fight with everyone they meet. This first impression of the latter is partly due to the inability to see Alphonse’s facial expression, and over time, as the two brothers are forced to act independently, we begin to see the quieter and more cool-headed Alphonse’s individuality. Edward, too, though somewhat hotheaded, is revealed to be more complex than he seems and undergoes subtle but well-done development throughout the series. One of the most defining moments for the two brothers is at the end of the second chapter, in which a young woman loses everything she clung to for so long. As she collapses, weeping, and demands to know what she should do, they both walk calmly by her with the admonition to get up and move forward. Edward and Alphonse, despite what it might seem at first, do not go around taking it upon themselves to solve everyone else’s problems.
The secondary characters are also slowly and completely developed, showing up and disappearing at natural times, enhancing the story without serving as mere devices to move it forward.
Wound throughout the story is an inexhaustible sense of incredibly wacky humor. Just when things could become melodramatic, the characters morph into chibi characters and jarringly draw the reader’s attention to the humor in the event at hand. These moments rudely break the spell of the story and bring you crashing back down to earth. This element is partly what makes this series so real. You aren’t allowed to morbidly dwell on the seriousness of the events; instead, you are prompted to laugh at yourself. As some might contend that the world isn’t all sunshine, Fullmetal Alchemist will remind you that the world isn’t all shadows, either.
The world in which the story takes place is fascinating but not one you would necessarily want to visit. There are layers of culture and history that include wars and racial discrimination. However, it does not possess the unnatural hellishness that colors dystopian-style fantasy. Fullmetal Alchemist explores numerous interesting and thought-provoking ideas that all escalate into one final confrontation with the truth that can resonate with us more deeply than all the calculated tearjerkers in the world.
The panels flow as naturally as the story, and the artwork itself, especially in the facial expressions, is great, but not pretentious. It is complex when it needs to be, but hardly noticeable the rest of the time, which is an accomplishment in itself. The character designs are diverse and unique.
In short, Fullmetal Alchemist is both honest and optimistic, entertaining and thought provoking. I highly recommend it to anyone.
108 of 116 chapters read
Damonashu(All reviews)
34 people found this review helpful
Recently I have found it impossible to find a good shonen series to watch or read. It's come to the point that if it even looks remotely shonen, I stray away from it with untamed fury. Why do I keep coming back though? Why do I still look for shonen manga to read? It's all because of series like Full Metal alchemist.
When it comes to critiquing, I'm somewhat merciless. I'm sure some of the people who have seen my reviews of their favorite series think I consider myself a know it all, but nothing could be further from the truth. Often I see 'but they make a lot of money,' as a response to my heavy critique, but not once have I considered it a valid excuse for a drop in quality or lack there of. This is something that I can guess Arakawa understood. She did not write just to get money, she wrote because she had a great idea. She wrote because she had a compelling fantasy world, and compelling story in which involving characters exist.As an aspiring novelist, this is something I can respect and one of the reasons that I'm proud to say I'm a fan of FMA.
Story:
Full Metal Alchemist story hits close to home, because I lost my mother when I was about four. It may sound like a lie but I had hopes of bringing her back from the dead, of course I couldn't because no such magic exist in the world and the hope that it did was just the hope of an ambitious kid. Edward and Alphonse had this ambition and as a result, they were met with a gruesome response. Understanding their wrongs the duo set out, and that as they say is that... somewhat. The journey that the duo took immersed them in colorful characters and a well designed world. This would not be the first time alchemy was used in a series, but I sure it will be a time well remembered.
Art:
While in an AIM group chat once, I heard a female speaker say that Full Metal Alchemist's art is simple, but I'll be honest I can't agree. For the record I can't draw to save my life, but I think there's something great about the drawings Arakawa provides. As I said earlier I'm an aspiring writer, so to me anything put into the story should have a certain charm to it that will make it memorable. That's what the art in full metal alchemist is. Even if its simple it does not stand in your way of falling in love with the series.
Characters:
As I said above, anything put into the story should have a certain charm to it that will make it memorable, and like it can be said about the art, the same can be said about the story. Riddle me this; 'How do you get a reader to miss a villain, without giving them a sappy backstory?' 'How do you make an otherwise minor character one that your readers will remember?' To tell you the answers, I don't really know, but Arakawa figured it out. Not one character in FMA struck me as one dimensional. While I thought 'god this guy is an evil bastard.' Not once did I find one appalling enough to insult Arakawa for creating. One of the things that I think drive a story is it's plot and it's characters, evident by the manga in question.
Enjoyment:
If it's not apparent already, I really did enjoy this series. I remember the moments I spent catching up with it and the 'full metal alchemist withdrawal' that I went into when I did. I had only seen the first anime before I started, so I didn't know what to expect. Upon reading through I realized the difference right away, and realized more that the difference between the two made the first anime a very affectionate adaption.
Overall:
At this point, there is not much more to say. If you want a engaging fantasy series with affectionate art, and compelling story then this is one for you. The fights are great too but really, they shouldn't be your concern when going into Full Metal Alchemist, a manga that has much more. and even though Arakawa Hiromu will probably never see this, I congratulate her for making a great shonen series in a time that's majorly lacks them.

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Poll: Fullmetal Alchemist Chapter 7 Discussion
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by yungyoshi

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