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Fullmetal Alchemist: Omnibus #7
Fullmetal Alchemist 3-in-1 Vol. 7
In an alchemical ritual gone wrong, Edward Elric lost his arm and his leg, and his brother Alphonse became nothing but a soul in a suit of armor. Equipped with mechanical “auto-mail” limbs, Edward becomes a state alchemist, seeking the one thing that can restore his and his brother’s bodies…the legendary Philosopher’s Stone.
Contains volumes 19, 20 and 21! The story enters its final stretch as the Elric brothers learn of the homunculi’s ultimate plan to turn all of Amestris into an alchemical bloodbath on the “Day of Reckoning.” While tempted to use the open portal that day to get their bodies back, for now the brothers build opposition to the homunculi-corrupted military with others who have learned of the grisly plan. While Al learns the secret of the homunculi’s origins from his father, Ed joins forces with a familiar homunculus who seems to be having pangs of conscience.
Reads R to L (Japanese Style) for teen audiences.
Contains volumes 19, 20 and 21! The story enters its final stretch as the Elric brothers learn of the homunculi’s ultimate plan to turn all of Amestris into an alchemical bloodbath on the “Day of Reckoning.” While tempted to use the open portal that day to get their bodies back, for now the brothers build opposition to the homunculi-corrupted military with others who have learned of the grisly plan. While Al learns the secret of the homunculi’s origins from his father, Ed joins forces with a familiar homunculus who seems to be having pangs of conscience.
Reads R to L (Japanese Style) for teen audiences.
568 pages, Paperback
First published March 11, 2014
12 people are currently reading
648 people want to read
About the author
Hiromu Arakawa
336 books2,848 followersHiromu Arakawa (author: 荒川弘) is a Japanese manga artist, best known for Fullmetal Alchemist (鋼の錬金術師 Hagane no renkinjutsushi).
Her real name is Hiromi Arakawa (荒川弘美).
Arakawa was born and raised on a dairy farm in Hokkaidō.
She thought of being a manga artist since she was little. After graduating high school, she took oil painting classes while working on her family's farm. During that time, she also created dōjinshi manga with her friends and drew yonkoma for a magazine. After eight years she moved to Tōkyō and started out as assistant writer for Hiroyuki Etō.
Her debut as manga artist is in 1999 with STRAY DOG. In 2001 she started working on her famous and award winning series Fullmetal Alchemist, that soon gets a successful anime adaptation.
Other works include Silver Spoon (銀の匙 Silver Spoon, Gin no saji Silver Spoon).
Her real name is Hiromi Arakawa (荒川弘美).
Arakawa was born and raised on a dairy farm in Hokkaidō.
She thought of being a manga artist since she was little. After graduating high school, she took oil painting classes while working on her family's farm. During that time, she also created dōjinshi manga with her friends and drew yonkoma for a magazine. After eight years she moved to Tōkyō and started out as assistant writer for Hiroyuki Etō.
Her debut as manga artist is in 1999 with STRAY DOG. In 2001 she started working on her famous and award winning series Fullmetal Alchemist, that soon gets a successful anime adaptation.
Other works include Silver Spoon (銀の匙 Silver Spoon, Gin no saji Silver Spoon).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
July 26, 2024
So things really have really been laid open, or have they? In some unique storytelling as people shift alliances, practice espionage and follow false paths without any overt narration of what their intent is, the series gets an extra thrill as I try to work out people's real intentions! My fave character in the series Major General Olivier Armstrong plays all sort of game with the Central military; even within the 'rebel alliance' you have people doing their own thing! The Homunculi are superb antagonists, but the true heroes in this for me are Mustang and his crew. I am afraid some of the art lost me again in these volumes bringing it back down to a 7 out of 12 Three Star read.
2024
2024
February 10, 2018
Rating: 3.5 stars
Not my favourite of the series, but the story is really setting up for what I assume will be an EPIC conclusion!
Not my favourite of the series, but the story is really setting up for what I assume will be an EPIC conclusion!
June 18, 2020
At this point in the series, there’s no way for me to talk about the events of the later installments without some major spoilers… so instead I decided to just finish the series and write one review for the last four volumes :) the story begins with two brothers, who after a failed attempt at an alchemy experiment lose parts of themselves… one of them loses his arm and leg, the other his whole body… now they are on a journey to regain what they’ve lost… along the way they meet a lot of interesting characters and discover plots that are much bigger and more dangerous that they could’ve ever anticipated… the further you get into the series, the more complex and serious it gets… don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty of adventures and humor, but in the later installments there are many more complicated and serious themes… specifically the last two are very fast paced and action packed… they actually take place mostly over the span of less than one day… I really liked how the whole series ended, it was a very satisfying finale :) I will definitely reread the series at some point in the future, when I will be able to concentrate more on each individual installment, but overall the whole series is a worthy 5 stars read :) I highly recommend it :)
XOXO
A
XOXO
A
February 20, 2023
More of the same, with highs and lows and ebbs and flows.
Good momentum throughout (even if some things just keep getting weirder and weirder).
No way I'm stopping now (OK, OK, in the spirit of full disclosure, I've already purchased the remaining installments, and their already calling to me from my to-read shelf), and, for better or worse, there's a light at the end of the tunnel (in terms of remaining books), even if I'm still hard pressed to figure out where it's all headed.
Good momentum throughout (even if some things just keep getting weirder and weirder).
No way I'm stopping now (OK, OK, in the spirit of full disclosure, I've already purchased the remaining installments, and their already calling to me from my to-read shelf), and, for better or worse, there's a light at the end of the tunnel (in terms of remaining books), even if I'm still hard pressed to figure out where it's all headed.
December 25, 2019
Es jau sāku domāt, ka šajā FMA versijā nav nekādu fucked up dīvainu lietu, bet tad šī daļa... Kāds naivums manā vecumā.
November 14, 2022
Looks like the time to act undercover is finished. Direct fights between Homunculi and Elrics and others.
Glutony back just to be killed, still hope for lust return. Is Bradley really dead? Story is really moving forward the big battle fast now
SPOILERS
May 6, 2018
This wasn’t my favorite book. There were a couple of battles that we didn’t get to see and also I don’t like having the group separated. I like Al and Ed being together nad have great chemistry. But the ending is really great. God Pride is such an awesome character. Plus Van Hohenheim backstory.
Young Van Hohenheim is pretty hot.
Ah shit, Hawkeye got Roy a message about Selim being Pride.
So that’s why Father and Van look similar. Also that’s fucked up.
“Father: I’ve given you a body that will never decay. In exchange for the souls of all the people of this country.”
Well. That’s really fucked up.
“I’m Van Hohenheim the human philosopher’s stone.”—Page 82
Hey, can we use you as a portal?
Oh, hey, Rosé. Been 18 volumes.
Zanpano you ass. How dare you call Envy and Wrath.
YOU FOUGHT THE BATTLE OFF SCREEN?? RUDE!!!!
Oh, apparently it was their plan all along. I’m sorry I called you an ass.
ENVY IS ON YOKI’S NECK! AHHHHH! GET IT OFF GET IT OFF GET IT OFFFFFFFF!
ARMSTRONG FAMILY REUNION!
What the…fuck…. They’ve used Alchemy to create an army.
LIN WILL DEFEAT GREED WITH THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP!!!
And Lin’s back to normal?
The Armstrong family is the best.
There’s a lot of fighting battles off screen in this volume.
Nooooo Pride and Gluttony have Al!
Van just starts sobbing when Ed tells him Trisha’s last words.
I’m glad that um…Gorilla and Lion are telling Ed to talk to his dad.
Nooooo Al is possessed.
LANFAN!
“Her real name is Chris Mustang. She’s Colonel Mustang’s adoptive mother.”—Page 518
Oh shit.
Pride just ate Gluttony…it feels like it should be the other way around but holy shit.
Young Van Hohenheim is pretty hot.
Ah shit, Hawkeye got Roy a message about Selim being Pride.
So that’s why Father and Van look similar. Also that’s fucked up.
“Father: I’ve given you a body that will never decay. In exchange for the souls of all the people of this country.”
Well. That’s really fucked up.
“I’m Van Hohenheim the human philosopher’s stone.”—Page 82
Hey, can we use you as a portal?
Oh, hey, Rosé. Been 18 volumes.
Zanpano you ass. How dare you call Envy and Wrath.
YOU FOUGHT THE BATTLE OFF SCREEN?? RUDE!!!!
Oh, apparently it was their plan all along. I’m sorry I called you an ass.
ENVY IS ON YOKI’S NECK! AHHHHH! GET IT OFF GET IT OFF GET IT OFFFFFFFF!
ARMSTRONG FAMILY REUNION!
What the…fuck…. They’ve used Alchemy to create an army.
LIN WILL DEFEAT GREED WITH THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP!!!
And Lin’s back to normal?
The Armstrong family is the best.
There’s a lot of fighting battles off screen in this volume.
Nooooo Pride and Gluttony have Al!
Van just starts sobbing when Ed tells him Trisha’s last words.
I’m glad that um…Gorilla and Lion are telling Ed to talk to his dad.
Nooooo Al is possessed.
LANFAN!
“Her real name is Chris Mustang. She’s Colonel Mustang’s adoptive mother.”—Page 518
Oh shit.
Pride just ate Gluttony…it feels like it should be the other way around but holy shit.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2019
So many things happened I can’t recall everything. Brothers Elric reunify, then...un-reunify? Gluttony comes back into play. The Armstrongs battle it out. Honenheim plays a bigger role (sort of?) in his kids life...sheesh this isn’t even the tip of the iceberg. As other reviews have noted, so many pieces that were set into play many pages ago all begin to fall into place. I can see the end in site. Kind of. Onward to the next 3-in-1!
April 25, 2025
I've never felt so satisfied in preparation for the final showdown, I'm absolutely obsessed.
August 19, 2018
I didn't read it IN Japan but counted it as read while in Japan so XD
July 20, 2018
We get some serious history on the fall of the city of Cselkcess and some very awesome implications for what that means for the history of alchemy as a whole. I love how all these pieces are falling into place and it shows that Arakawa has been planning a lot of the story from the beginning and it is totally awesome to see it all come into play bit by bit as this story unfolds. I also really like the use of Jewish mythology, and Kabbalah, as symbols and metaphors to help explain the roots of various parts of alchemy. It ends up working out really well and giving real depth and meaning to the "science" behind the world built here.
There were two parts where the cleverness of the characters also really comes into play. The first bit of cleverness is where Hawkeye passes on a message to Mustang in a code that is particularly ingenious. I was totally willing to go for it because it was obvious the two have been working together for a long time and it is possible they worked out something in advance. The other bit of cleverness comes when the child princess May Chang makes some intuitive leaps about Scar's brother's notes that I almost thought was a bit unbelievable. Then again she is royalty, is obviously very clever and mature for her age to have traveled to another country alone across a desert, and also seems to be able to match wits with Alphonse and you know the Elric brothers are too clever for their own good already.
I really enjoyed this volume in the series, I liked watching the good guys get smart and start to work together within the confines of essentially being pinned to a board by the homunculi. They are going to need all their wits about them to take down someone as obviously powerful as "father" is revealed to be in this volume. The history of the homunculi and how they came to be show that they are many things, but weak and stupid they are not
There were two parts where the cleverness of the characters also really comes into play. The first bit of cleverness is where Hawkeye passes on a message to Mustang in a code that is particularly ingenious. I was totally willing to go for it because it was obvious the two have been working together for a long time and it is possible they worked out something in advance. The other bit of cleverness comes when the child princess May Chang makes some intuitive leaps about Scar's brother's notes that I almost thought was a bit unbelievable. Then again she is royalty, is obviously very clever and mature for her age to have traveled to another country alone across a desert, and also seems to be able to match wits with Alphonse and you know the Elric brothers are too clever for their own good already.
I really enjoyed this volume in the series, I liked watching the good guys get smart and start to work together within the confines of essentially being pinned to a board by the homunculi. They are going to need all their wits about them to take down someone as obviously powerful as "father" is revealed to be in this volume. The history of the homunculi and how they came to be show that they are many things, but weak and stupid they are not
January 30, 2020
Series Info/Source: This is the 7th Volume in the Fullmetal Alchemist omnibus series. I bought a copy of this.
Story (5/5): The story is building up to its final arc, as two sides pit against one another in preparation for a final battle. The Elric brothers have to put aside the quest for their original bodies in order to stop the “Day of Reckoning” where Amestris will be turned into a giant alchemical death circle. Some huge secrets are revealed about the Elric brothers’ father. I continue to really enjoy this storyline, it’s complex but very well done. I love that there is a synopsis at the beginning of each book.
Characters (5/5): I love all the characters in this series and loved getting to learn more about Ed and Al’s dad in this book.
Setting (5/5): I continue to really love this world driven by alchemy and power. Excellent world-building in this whole series.
Writing/Drawing Style (5/5): This series continues to be beautifully drawn with amazing detail and easy to follow frames. Everything is also well written and easy to read as well as very funny and humorous at times.
Summary (5/5): Overall this continues to be an amazing manga series that I have enjoyed every bit of. I guess not much more to say than that, this book continues in the vein of the previous ones, it’s extremely well written and beautifully illustrated. My son and I both love this series.
Story (5/5): The story is building up to its final arc, as two sides pit against one another in preparation for a final battle. The Elric brothers have to put aside the quest for their original bodies in order to stop the “Day of Reckoning” where Amestris will be turned into a giant alchemical death circle. Some huge secrets are revealed about the Elric brothers’ father. I continue to really enjoy this storyline, it’s complex but very well done. I love that there is a synopsis at the beginning of each book.
Characters (5/5): I love all the characters in this series and loved getting to learn more about Ed and Al’s dad in this book.
Setting (5/5): I continue to really love this world driven by alchemy and power. Excellent world-building in this whole series.
Writing/Drawing Style (5/5): This series continues to be beautifully drawn with amazing detail and easy to follow frames. Everything is also well written and easy to read as well as very funny and humorous at times.
Summary (5/5): Overall this continues to be an amazing manga series that I have enjoyed every bit of. I guess not much more to say than that, this book continues in the vein of the previous ones, it’s extremely well written and beautifully illustrated. My son and I both love this series.
February 20, 2021
These volumes are supposed to be the beginning of the home stretch, and I can definitely feel that. And at this point, I don't think I need to write synopses. We're close to a conclusion to both whatever the fuck is going on with the homunculi and the Elric brothers' quest to get their original bodies back.
And I have to start by saying how much I love the team we've got. I love the amount of time Arakawa took in introducing each character, giving us their motivation and backstory. Because it's made them finally coming together much more satisfying. I even find May slightly less annoying now. At first, I couldn't stand her or Lin. Both of them and their obsession with finding the secret to immortality... so fucking annoying. Especially after finding out the fucked up shit that's gone down because of other people who wanted to be immortal.
But anyway, things are really heating up. And at this point, any attempts at civility have been all but abandoned. And we finally find out why this "father" looks like Ed and Al's father! Though it's a pretty short backstory.
My favourite aspect of these volumes was the clever ways everyone used to get messages out to each other. Their methods of communication were so cool. And I especially loved a conversation that happened between Mustang and Hawkeye because it was in the open, and she still told him what he needed to know. I think the opposition's tendency to underestimate our good guys is going to come back and bite 'em in the ass.
Finally, I'm both nervous and curious about what's going on with Al. And I really want to know what role Hohenheim will be playing in the final showdown. Six volumes left! So if any of you have recommendations for a manga I could start next, let me know.
And I have to start by saying how much I love the team we've got. I love the amount of time Arakawa took in introducing each character, giving us their motivation and backstory. Because it's made them finally coming together much more satisfying. I even find May slightly less annoying now. At first, I couldn't stand her or Lin. Both of them and their obsession with finding the secret to immortality... so fucking annoying. Especially after finding out the fucked up shit that's gone down because of other people who wanted to be immortal.
But anyway, things are really heating up. And at this point, any attempts at civility have been all but abandoned. And we finally find out why this "father" looks like Ed and Al's father! Though it's a pretty short backstory.
My favourite aspect of these volumes was the clever ways everyone used to get messages out to each other. Their methods of communication were so cool. And I especially loved a conversation that happened between Mustang and Hawkeye because it was in the open, and she still told him what he needed to know. I think the opposition's tendency to underestimate our good guys is going to come back and bite 'em in the ass.
Finally, I'm both nervous and curious about what's going on with Al. And I really want to know what role Hohenheim will be playing in the final showdown. Six volumes left! So if any of you have recommendations for a manga I could start next, let me know.
September 7, 2019
Me: Why, I am sure we have established the level of emotional and powerful quotes."
Arakawa: "No matter how difficult things become, no matter how foolish you look writhing under the weight of your burdens.. You have to keep living for the people you love."
Me: * tears up slightly *
Me: "Well, I am sure it has been established now."
Arakawa: "You can't erase the truth. Friendship isn't something you can just forget. It's a bond between spirits and that's something you can never wipe away."
Me: "I can handle this! I must!"
Arakawa: "I hope that the day I get my original body back, you'll get yours back too, big brother."
Me: * cries *
Me: "Don't you use my precious Alphonse against me!"
In case it wasn't obvious, this was amazing. I am ready for the next volume. (hehe not really)
Arakawa: "No matter how difficult things become, no matter how foolish you look writhing under the weight of your burdens.. You have to keep living for the people you love."
Me: * tears up slightly *
Me: "Well, I am sure it has been established now."
Arakawa: "You can't erase the truth. Friendship isn't something you can just forget. It's a bond between spirits and that's something you can never wipe away."
Me: "I can handle this! I must!"
Arakawa: "I hope that the day I get my original body back, you'll get yours back too, big brother."
Me: * cries *
Me: "Don't you use my precious Alphonse against me!"
In case it wasn't obvious, this was amazing. I am ready for the next volume. (hehe not really)
December 1, 2020
Kind of a weird volume, but the plot enters its final stage. This has a lot of characters-coming-together as well as seeing the Elric brothers kind of split apart. Lots of individual characters and directions start to converge around either of the two brothers, with some familiar faces making some major appearances. This really does feel like the beginning of the end, and it looks to be a full speed forward direction from here.
July 20, 2018
*actual rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars*
Things are getting so intense now! Can’t wait to see what happens next.
Things are getting so intense now! Can’t wait to see what happens next.
June 6, 2020
Ive always felt manga especially the longer series lose steam the further they go. This proves me wrong
October 31, 2022
This volume goes crazy! The story progression, the reveals, and the fights are top tier. Everything is setting up for the judgment day!!!
June 27, 2024
"The problem is, you humans are always trying to apply a hierarchy to greed – what's noble to desire, what's taboo."
June 9, 2024
story is fire as always but not enough roy mustang in these volumes 😔😔😔😔
February 9, 2019
SO WE HAD:
-reunions with the ol' mustang crew
-found out about mustang's family
-have had SO MUCH homunculus family drama
-found out papa elric's tragic backstory
-HEARD THE FINAL WORDS OF ELRIC MOTHER
-edward is TALLER THAN WINRY NOW
-team ups nobody could have predicted but 100% deserve
there's probably more but i'm on a FMA high and have just realised i don't own the final 2 volumes so i can't.... finish it......... yet :c
-reunions with the ol' mustang crew
-found out about mustang's family
-have had SO MUCH homunculus family drama
-found out papa elric's tragic backstory
-HEARD THE FINAL WORDS OF ELRIC MOTHER
-edward is TALLER THAN WINRY NOW
-team ups nobody could have predicted but 100% deserve
there's probably more but i'm on a FMA high and have just realised i don't own the final 2 volumes so i can't.... finish it......... yet :c
September 27, 2020
This is a review of the entire series.
Fullmetal Alchemist takes place in the fictional country of Amestris which is heavily based on the Industrial Revolution. Amestris is a unitary state under the rule of a parliamentary republic, run by state alchemists that serve the king utilizing the mystifying arts of alchemy. Alchemy is the power to alter the physical world utilizing its natural elements, performing magic and miracles in the form of science. Alchemy follows the law of equivalent exchange, you must sacrifice something that is of equal value to what you create. You must sacrifice a life to create a life, you must extinguish one flame to ignite another, you have to sacrifice one home to build another, etc...
After being abandoned by their father as children and subjected to watching their mother die, Edward Elric and his brother Alphonse once attempted to utilize the power of alchemy to bring their mother back from the grave, ignoring the dangers of creating a life by offering something of equal value. Edward loses an arm and a leg while Alphonse loses his entire body; his soul placed in a hollow suit of armor that can't feel the touch of others. As neither of them sacrificed their lives in their entirety, the exchange failed and the boys created an abomination in place of their dead mother.
After burning their own home down and dealing with the abomination they created, Edward and his brother enlist themselves in the military to atone for their sins and learn more about the many secrets of alchemy; potentially learning how to recover their original bodies in the process. While serving in the military, the brothers begin to realize how the wonders of alchemy can be abused for nefarious purposes. Immortal life can be gained by sacrificing hundreds of innocents souls, wars can be staged and foreign nations can be annihilated under false charges, human experimentation aided by alchemy can lead to unnatural mutations, the world of alchemy is more dark and dangerous than either of them could've bargained for.
Fullmetal Alchemist grew on me the longer I read it. When I first started reading, it seemed like it was going to be generic shounen material, but it gets deeper and darker the further it goes on. The way it handles political and religious corruption, the dangers of advanced states abusing their technology and resources at the expense of foreign nations caught in the turmoil, and the sad futility of revenge are all very well done.
The characters all bear the weight of what alchemy is capable of. Edward and Alphonse carry the burden of abusing alchemy for selfish purposes. Their master Izumi loses her womb after attempting to resurrect her dead child. Scar takes many lives after his entire country is desecrated and gets trapped in a pointless cycle of revenge. Roy and Riza endure the regret of committing brutal war crimes for the sake of protecting their own nation. Alchemy creates and destroys in equal measure and no one is free from the consequences of tipping the balance.
The fight scenes are flashy and exciting without being too over-the-top because of the dangerous limitations that alchemy involves. The law of equivalent exchange keeps the power scaling in check and adds plenty of tension to the action. The female characters are especially well done, all of them are strong and unique in their own way. The lead heroine Winry being a skilled mechanic, Riza being an honorable warrior of the military, Olivier Armstrong as cold and vicious as the snowy fortress she guards, and that's just a few of them.
The villains are an interesting parody of the seven deadly sins. Each of them represent the darkness and regrets of each of the main characters and they can only be conquered by coming to terms with their own flaws and sins. The characters having to overcome their personal demons to take on the greater demons trying to overthrow the world from the shadows made the struggles of every single person in the story feel personal. Every character, no matter how minor had their moments to shine. Everyone had a vital role to play and the camaraderie between friend and foe alike never felt cheesy of forced.
Unlike most shounen series I've read, the final arc was my favorite. A lot of long-running shounen series have a habit of being dragged out, losing touch with what made them great or breaking their own rules in messy, plot-hole-filled final arcs that leave a lot to be desired. Fullmetal Alchemist has no lose ends, all characters have complete arcs where they learn and grow from their dark pasts, the romance and comedy are handled well without relying on cheap fanservice, the action scenes are great but they don't overshadow the plot and the final chapters tie everything together beautifully. It's not my favorite manga by any means as I usually tend to favor seinen, but it's definitely one of the greatest stories to ever come out of the shounen demographic in my opinion. The ending is a tearjerker but it left me in good spirits.
***
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Fullmetal Alchemist takes place in the fictional country of Amestris which is heavily based on the Industrial Revolution. Amestris is a unitary state under the rule of a parliamentary republic, run by state alchemists that serve the king utilizing the mystifying arts of alchemy. Alchemy is the power to alter the physical world utilizing its natural elements, performing magic and miracles in the form of science. Alchemy follows the law of equivalent exchange, you must sacrifice something that is of equal value to what you create. You must sacrifice a life to create a life, you must extinguish one flame to ignite another, you have to sacrifice one home to build another, etc...
After being abandoned by their father as children and subjected to watching their mother die, Edward Elric and his brother Alphonse once attempted to utilize the power of alchemy to bring their mother back from the grave, ignoring the dangers of creating a life by offering something of equal value. Edward loses an arm and a leg while Alphonse loses his entire body; his soul placed in a hollow suit of armor that can't feel the touch of others. As neither of them sacrificed their lives in their entirety, the exchange failed and the boys created an abomination in place of their dead mother.
After burning their own home down and dealing with the abomination they created, Edward and his brother enlist themselves in the military to atone for their sins and learn more about the many secrets of alchemy; potentially learning how to recover their original bodies in the process. While serving in the military, the brothers begin to realize how the wonders of alchemy can be abused for nefarious purposes. Immortal life can be gained by sacrificing hundreds of innocents souls, wars can be staged and foreign nations can be annihilated under false charges, human experimentation aided by alchemy can lead to unnatural mutations, the world of alchemy is more dark and dangerous than either of them could've bargained for.
Fullmetal Alchemist grew on me the longer I read it. When I first started reading, it seemed like it was going to be generic shounen material, but it gets deeper and darker the further it goes on. The way it handles political and religious corruption, the dangers of advanced states abusing their technology and resources at the expense of foreign nations caught in the turmoil, and the sad futility of revenge are all very well done.
The characters all bear the weight of what alchemy is capable of. Edward and Alphonse carry the burden of abusing alchemy for selfish purposes. Their master Izumi loses her womb after attempting to resurrect her dead child. Scar takes many lives after his entire country is desecrated and gets trapped in a pointless cycle of revenge. Roy and Riza endure the regret of committing brutal war crimes for the sake of protecting their own nation. Alchemy creates and destroys in equal measure and no one is free from the consequences of tipping the balance.
The fight scenes are flashy and exciting without being too over-the-top because of the dangerous limitations that alchemy involves. The law of equivalent exchange keeps the power scaling in check and adds plenty of tension to the action. The female characters are especially well done, all of them are strong and unique in their own way. The lead heroine Winry being a skilled mechanic, Riza being an honorable warrior of the military, Olivier Armstrong as cold and vicious as the snowy fortress she guards, and that's just a few of them.
The villains are an interesting parody of the seven deadly sins. Each of them represent the darkness and regrets of each of the main characters and they can only be conquered by coming to terms with their own flaws and sins. The characters having to overcome their personal demons to take on the greater demons trying to overthrow the world from the shadows made the struggles of every single person in the story feel personal. Every character, no matter how minor had their moments to shine. Everyone had a vital role to play and the camaraderie between friend and foe alike never felt cheesy of forced.
Unlike most shounen series I've read, the final arc was my favorite. A lot of long-running shounen series have a habit of being dragged out, losing touch with what made them great or breaking their own rules in messy, plot-hole-filled final arcs that leave a lot to be desired. Fullmetal Alchemist has no lose ends, all characters have complete arcs where they learn and grow from their dark pasts, the romance and comedy are handled well without relying on cheap fanservice, the action scenes are great but they don't overshadow the plot and the final chapters tie everything together beautifully. It's not my favorite manga by any means as I usually tend to favor seinen, but it's definitely one of the greatest stories to ever come out of the shounen demographic in my opinion. The ending is a tearjerker but it left me in good spirits.
***
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December 9, 2024
Was a perfect read to tie any loose ends that where still there from the previous chapters while setting everything up brilliantly for the final few volumes, I can’t wait
January 20, 2017
Continuing in the adventures of Edward and Alphonse Elric to getting their bodies back. Things certainly begins to heat up as the Homunculi's plans are revealed and more dark secrets are unveiled as things in the Military are turning out not what they seem. Having seen Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood before reading the Manga. I can defiantly agree that Brotherhood is far more closer to the manga than the 2003 anime. Still, I can't help but enjoy both versions of the anime. I was happy to see one of my favorite female characters Olivier Armstrong come into the manga in the last edition volume. Though I have already seen Brotherhood, I already know how it'll end. Reading the manga from the beginning to end is a different experience.
Though I'll still never understand why Bradley's changed from Fuhrer to President in the American edition. It's like changing Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. It makes no sense. The anime's dub had no problem keeping Fuher in Bradley's name.
Though I'll still never understand why Bradley's changed from Fuhrer to President in the American edition. It's like changing Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. It makes no sense. The anime's dub had no problem keeping Fuher in Bradley's name.
August 29, 2018
*The story of Fullmetal Alchemist, following the Elric brothers, is the perfect story. It has everything: The balance between dramatic moments and moments of comic relief is amazing, the characters are well rounded and has great growth and, finally, it deals with difficult subjects in a nuanced and respectful manner.
Also, the art style is amazing – especially in those comic relief moments! It’s just priceless! That in memoriam part at the end of each volume is just hilarious! *
Things are getting so intense and we are starting to reach the series endgame as the characters are moving into position to be ready for The Promised Day. I love the character development both Al and Ed goes through when they are separated and in this volume, Ed grew in more than one sense – our tiny hero is finally getting taller xD
And Pride is just so freaking creepy!
Also, the art style is amazing – especially in those comic relief moments! It’s just priceless! That in memoriam part at the end of each volume is just hilarious! *
Things are getting so intense and we are starting to reach the series endgame as the characters are moving into position to be ready for The Promised Day. I love the character development both Al and Ed goes through when they are separated and in this volume, Ed grew in more than one sense – our tiny hero is finally getting taller xD
And Pride is just so freaking creepy!
January 25, 2022
A pair of brothers who were so desperate to feel their mother's warmth again that they dared do the unthinkable. One of them lost a leg to stand on and all but lost his only remaining family. The other was deprived of ever feeling the warmth of human contract.
In Fullmetal Alchemist, protagonist Edward Elric and his younger brother Alphonse Elric are skilled alchemists in a world where said science is so powerful, it's magical. This alchemy's potency is limited only by its own core tenet of Equivalent Exchange which states that something cannot be created from nothing; something of equal or greater value must always be sacrificed. When the Elric brothers attempt to ignore this tenet in favoring of bringing their mother back from the dead, Ed loses his leg and Al loses his life. Distraught, Ed pleads to the unknown to let him trade places with Al, expecting to die so that Al can live. Instead, finding that he can only save Al's soul, Ed quickly sacrifices his arm to bond Al's disembodied soul to a nearby shell of plate armor. Later, outfitted with advanced prosthetics known as automail and weighed down by remorse, Ed, along with Al, sets out to restore Al's soul to his original body via the infamous philosopher's stone and its mythical power to ignore the rules of Equivalent Exchange.
It brings joy in sorrow, victory in battle, light to darkness, life to the dead. That is the power of the blood-red jewel which men honor with the name "The Philosopher's Stone."
Ed wisely joins the military as the youngest State Alchemist to take advantage of the military vast resources to accelerate the brothers' research. Over the course of the years, the brothers' pursuit of the philosopher's stone bring them closer to danger as they uncover the insidious truths of the world around them. The farther they dig, the more corruption and horror they find. And the more the brothers learn, the harder it is to standby and let the atrocities continue to happen, even if it means losing the chance to restore their bodies to their original conditions.
I realized that if we don't take care of each other then no one else will. So I'll do anything in my power to get our bodies back, even if it means being the military's lap dog. And we'll just have to hope our powers are good enough to help us rise above our own limits. Because we're not Gods, we're humans, tiny insignificant humans.
Throughout the series, Hiromu Arakawa explores the heavy themes of existentialism, humanity, morality, political & religious corruption, and war. She masterfully balances humor and solemnity, giving the reader plenty of opportunities to laugh and cry along with her well-rounded characters who grow and learn from their past mistakes while still remaining imperfect, human. My favorite aspect of this series is that, while the big bad villain may be undeniably evil, no one else's moral compass is as perfectly aligned. This point is most thoroughly depicted through the heart-wrenching panels Arakawa dedicates to the Ishbalan War, where we see secondary characters such as Colonel Roy Mustang, Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye, and Major Armstrong grapple with the internal conflict of blindingly obeying orders to kill Ishbalan civilians or endangering their comrades lives by refusing to slaughter innocent bystanders.
Fullmetal Alchemist (3-in-1 Edition), Vol. 1: 4 Stars
Fullmetal Alchemist (3-in-1 Edition), Vol. 2: 5 Stars
Fullmetal Alchemist (3-in-1 Edition), Vol. 3: 4 Stars
Fullmetal Alchemist (3-in-1 Edition), Vol. 4: 4 Stars
Fullmetal Alchemist (3-in-1 Edition), Vol. 5: 5 Stars
Fullmetal Alchemist (3-in-1 Edition), Vol. 6: 5 Stars
Fullmetal Alchemist (3-in-1 Edition), Vol. 7: 5 Stars
Fullmetal Alchemist (3-in-1 Edition), Vol. 8: 5 Stars
Fullmetal Alchemist (3-in-1 Edition), Vol. 9: 5 Stars
January 8, 2018
This series just keeps getting better. It has everything: comedy, romance, sad moments, lots of action and a very compelling story. The drawings are amazing and the twists in the narrative really keep you going.
The way that the author can intertwine a dictatorial regime and all that’s included in it with “magic” and sci-fi elements is amazing.
Also, all the characters are so well developed that you feel for each and every one of them, despite a bigger or smaller role in the the narrative.
5/5, can’t wait to finish this manga
The way that the author can intertwine a dictatorial regime and all that’s included in it with “magic” and sci-fi elements is amazing.
Also, all the characters are so well developed that you feel for each and every one of them, despite a bigger or smaller role in the the narrative.
5/5, can’t wait to finish this manga
July 13, 2021
Aaaaaaaaaaa all of my favorite tropes coming togetherrrrrrrr.
I absolutely love how nothing is over done, even the jokes that are repeated or obvious or expected, they're still fun and entertaining. I am so so ready for the end but not ready at all for things to be over.
And, once again, I love how deep and textured the whole narrative is, from the current plotline to the flashbacks to the side plots. The image of the Elric brothers at the chessboard of so many other characters is a perfect representation.
I absolutely love how nothing is over done, even the jokes that are repeated or obvious or expected, they're still fun and entertaining. I am so so ready for the end but not ready at all for things to be over.
And, once again, I love how deep and textured the whole narrative is, from the current plotline to the flashbacks to the side plots. The image of the Elric brothers at the chessboard of so many other characters is a perfect representation.
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