Author: Hiromu Arakawa

Title: Fullmetal Alchemist

Format: Hardcover tankobons

Pages: lots 😛 (approximately 5200)

Series: 108 chapters in 27/18 volumes

Whew, what a month! I finished two lengthy manga series this February – Arakawa’s Fullmetal Alchemist spanning 27 volumes and Kishimoto’s 72 volume-long Naruto. A month of goodbyes! It’s a bittersweet experience, to close the cover on the characters whose adventures I’ve been following for almost two years. As I did with my reviews for Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, and, to a lesser extent, Yotsuba&!, I will start with a quick general summary of my reading experience and then dive into short snappy reviews of each volume written right after I had read it – in other words, I will lift my reviews from GR ;).

Fullmetal Alchemist is a shonen title, but with some caveats. Yes, it is full of epic battles and desperate fighting against all odds, but it’s also focused more than a typical shonen on relationships and emotions – many of them pretty dark. It is a dark manga, inching at times into horror, but because its foundation is formed by a touching familial relationship – and the tropes of found family and friendship are particularly pronounced – it is also wholesome and delivers an unequvically positive message. The early volumes attest to the manga-ka experiments with overall tone and style, and are generally more whimsical and funny, with some kawaii cameos and absurd situations, but later on the tone darkens significantly, the losses become real and painful, and the stakes grow accordingly. Also, strong, realistic women are in abundance, and there’s no gratuitious nakedness! Wait, could that be because Arakawa is a woman??

What can I say? I enjoyed my time with the Elric brothers. As all manga journeys, it was at times uneven, but Arakawa managed magnificently to keep a tight leash on the plot and leave no loose ends or stray arcs. The story of Fullmetal Alchemist is precisely planned and meticulously executed, and very satisfying from a purely reading perspective. The art is loose and vibey. Don’t expect amazing panels of sheer artistic skill, black-and-white masterpieces of detail and emotion. The art is simple and it knows its place: it’s subservient to the plot. That said, there are certain panels that are amazing in their simplicity: Arakawa sure knows how to play with shadows and darkness, and how to use perspective to her advantage. She’s also very skilled at rendering her sometimes very abstract ideas in a way that is easy to comprehend. Believe me, after reading Naruto I know it’s not as easy as it sounds 😉

Here we go, then – on a journey through the wonderful Fullmetal Edition volumes of Fullmetal Alchemist!

8/10 stars

A promising start to a series; funny and heartfelt, with nicely introduced backstory and a dystopian world where alchemy is used by the state to wage war and control population, and yet at the same time is one of the very few options of advancement for those with talent and drive.

The highlight of this manga is definitely the relationship between the two teenage brothers: Edward and Alphonse. Sweet and tender and funny in places, it showcases the two of them as a great team, unified in their quest to right the desperate errors from their past.

Looking forward to the next installment! 

7/10 stars

Still quite strong, though the direction in which it’s going is not entirely to my liking. The mystical deadly sins seem really far fetched at this point.

As a side note, I’m still not fully accustomed to the art. Very transient and sketchy, highly reliant on contrasts and shadows. The odd funny face still makes me laugh, though 😉

5/10 stars

Welp, this is the weakest volume so far. The story is interesting enough, but the conflicts and resolutions feel way too manufactured, abrupt, and without emotional payoff. All the buildup of this volume leads to a wet firework fizzle, when Ed’s life is spared because “reasons.” Yeah, yeah, the human sacrifice and whatnot, but because it’s not yet explained, at this point it just doesn’t make an impact it should, it just seems contrived.

There is a lot of stage setting for the future installments, and while these elements stay in the background, they make me curious enough to continue.

As a side note, I still can’t get used to the whole Führer-President thingy. Not sure if it’s there to evoke the grim echoes of national socialism, or just indicate the convergence of political and military power, but it sounds wrong. 

10/10 stars

This is definitely the best volume so far. The backstory of Elric brothers, only hinted at before, here is finally told in all its gory and lovingly polished detail. It gives the brothers the much-needed depth, and lets us see beyond the angry/insecure and yet competent and determined facade that Ed shows to the world.

I also really enjoyed the character of the teacher – she’s absolutely great, unexpected, and confounds expectations in the best possible way. Also, I love how a very short exchange between her and Ed shows so cuttingly clear both her mysterious past and the sameness of their shared, unwanted desire, guilt and experience.

A small vignette concerning Riza Hawkeye is also highly illuminating and showcases Arakawa’s skill at complex storytelling – apparently unrelated conversations suddenly show her actions in a new light.

10/10 stars

Another great volume with some new characters thrown in the mix.

My, my, the homunculi get more diverse by the minute. I must say that’s a welcome change for as their initial mystery started to fade their goals and behaviors became too stereotypical for my liking. But here we have a rogue homunculus with his own agenda, which means they actually can possess some agency and will of their own. Greed is a sweetie, he and his gang of misfits, and I didn’t expect that.

The story really gets better too, kicking in the higher gear and revealing more about the stakes that the various factions have in the long game. And a good thing that I had next few volumes lined up already – this stuff is addictive!

7/10 stars

A solid volume, with the plot strands thickening and interweaving more closely by the panel. A lot of exposition here, so it’s less snappy than the last two. Some shortcuts are taken, especially with the two mysterious strangers from Xing coming at exactly the same moment to Amestris, albeit to different places, and appearing to look for exactly the same thing. Also, some twists are quite predictable, too, making the whole setup and reveal a bit cumbersome and without real tension. Well, it’s shonen after all, so I really should be used to it by now 😉

Still, it’s good to see a bit more of the world beyond the main cities of Amestris, and take a peek at the past that had impacted so many of the characters in meaningful, irreversible ways.

Plus, Barry the Chopper is always a welcome comic relief!

And of course, Greed gets his own additional star. He deserves it for sheer stubbornness and cheek.

8/10 stars

While there’s a lot of exposition in this volume, as certain previous plot points are explained, there’s also a lot of explosive (and I mean explosive) action. Those latter moments are among the best this manga has to offer, and have the additional bonus of working incredibly well also as character development scenes. The more thoughtful scenes with the main villain are also interesting, as they show him from different perspectives, giving him a more grounded presence beyond the usual finger-twirling, menacing shadowy look.

As I mentioned before, there are no surprises here, as certain plot twists were preceded in the earlier volumes by an overabundance of foreshadowing – still, the exposition is done nicely, in a rather subdued, understated manner that fits very well into the larger picture.

8/10 stars

Can’t believe I didn’t write the review for this one! Welp, here it is, much later, so I might be fuzzy on details ;).

What I do remember, though, is that Arakawa’s attention to the motivations of the characters is really impressive. Here we get backstories and character development not only for Edward and Al, but also for Winry and Scar, and Mustang, and even Ling. There are some heartbreaking scenes here, and a lot of action, and it all finally converges toward a detailed yet broad canvas where the history of Amestris, its alchemy and its people is tightly interwoven with the history of its neighbors. I like Arakawa’s style the most when she’s subtle.

6/10 stars

This is an ok volume. I loved the design for the real Envy – it was spot on, creepy and horrifying and visually compelling, and most importantly, true to its origins.

The constant twists are getting boring, though; quantity seems to be already winning with quality. There is such a point in all mangas, after all they are all serials, all with ups and downs, but I didn’t expect to encounter a dip so soon into FA.

I love how throughout the series the design for Edward reflects his growth. The changes are incremental and thoughtful, so you never lose the sight of the boy he was at the beginning, but you can see he’s maturing fast.

Apart from that, though, nothing to write home about. I hope the series picks up soon!

7/10 stars

This volume was mostly dedicated to the Ishvalan war, and it was mostly quite well done – especially the negative spreads, highlighting the horrors of war. On the other hand, however, I felt as if this was mostly unnecessary – we already knew what had happened there, and FMA style doesn’t entirely lends itself to the images of war, IMO. The motivations of different characters are made clear…er, but at the same time it means that the manga loses some of its ambivalence – which I valued. So, in a way, I’m of two minds about this particular volume ;).

I like some of the reveals, though, and I’m waiting to see it all come together soon.

5/10 stars

Mmm, this one was just barely okay. Quite boring, and without any emotional payoff, this one is meandering and clumsily bumbling along and setting up the scene for the future more than anything else. Maybe the break I had from Fullmetal Alchemist was a tad too long and I lost some of the interest, or maybe it’s just a filler volume.

Anyway, on to the next volume!

8.5/10 stars

A very good volume indeed.

Winry’s back, and I don’t think I mentioned this before but I really like the fact that the best mechanic out there is a girl. She knows what she’s doing, that one, and she’s no wallflower or a damsel in distress. The way Arakawa showcases all those relationships, the love and friendship and loyalty within the grand found family gathered around Elric brothers, is truly heartfelt and precious. Of course, what makes it so cool is that what unites them are not Elric brothers per se but the values they are standing for.

The action is flowing fast here, with highly enjoyable twists and turns. Finally it’s becoming obvious that the end is in sight. Avanti!

10/10 stars

Now we’re talking! Lots of secrets spilled out in this one, the past uncovered, decisions made. Finally!

All the pieces are in place, or almost in place, and the big confrontation is looming ever closer. I particularly like the way in which Arakawa shows how the Elric brothers through their inherent goodness acquire loyalty and trust and love of those around them. The ranks of their friends and supporters grow, and their ultimate goal changes with them – the bodies are important, sure, but the wellbeing of others gradually takes the place of utmost importance for both of them.

A very satisfying volume. 

10/10 stars

Oooh, that was fun! I swallowed this and the next volume whole, and now I’ve got one final one to read…

At this point, anything I say about the actual plot constitutes spoiler, so let me just put this out there: Ling/Greed/Grin is such a great, complex character. I love the fact that Arakawa goes beyond simple divisions between humans and homunculi, or humans and chimerae. Each can be good, each can be bad – it’s a matter of personal choice. Everybody gets a chance at redemption, too – and it’s a driving force for many of these characters, righting past wrongs, becoming better versions of themselves.

That said, there’s no one creepier than Pride ;).

10/10 stars

There’s so much going on in this volume. Al’s continuous naive goodness of heart, so often leading him into trouble, is tempered by perseverance, responsibility, and composure – but most of all, his willingness to help others at all costs.

Mustang and Armstrongs make a great team and with the rest of the old guard they simply excel at wreaking Havoc (pun intended) in Central City 😉 I really love how suddenly economic Arakawa became, her master plan of leading all the characters to their right time and place put in motion seemingly effortlessly.

Can’t wait to see what happens next!

9/10 stars

So good! I was glued to the pages till the very end of this volume. I love how Arakawa interweaves all those disparate threads together here, forming a big, incredibly complex picture of a dozen independently moving elements. And the grand reckoning is almost here! I so wish to have the next volume already!

As usual in FA, Greed is good ;). Very good, in fact, and I appreciate how Arakawa kept the old Greed’s expressions in his new face. I also loved Envy’s goodbye, didn’t think that cold-blooded sucker had it in him.

All in all, a great setup for the great (hopefully!) finale. Gimme the next volume now!

6/10 stars

This one was a bit of a letdown, unfortunately. While it seems that a lot is happening on many fronts, the action doesn’t move forward until the last pages. And while there are several great scenes, the whole is underwhelming, plagued by sudden changes in logic. The fickle authorial fiat is not something I cherish, and here it is implemented in crucial places, just to get the action going.

Also, Arakawa is not the best at fight scenes and here most of the volume is devoted to them. Particularly the battle with father seems weirdly static and without any tangible stakes. The battle between Scar and Wrath is cool, though!

All in all, a bit of a filler volume with weirdly flat emotional tone throughout. Still, I’m looking forward to the conclusion!

9/10 stars

A very good conclusion to the series, with well-earned endings and emotional beats. It was bitter-sweet and poignant, meticulously designed and highly enjoyable. Arakawa must’ve spent a good amount of time on planning the ins and outs of the plot, and it shows. The story is tight, logical, and with nary a hole. It is truly a satisfying read, entertaining and stimulating, delivering the age-old message about the value of friendship and found family in a way that makes it fresh and touching.

Can’t believe I’m done. What am I going to read now??

Here we are, and my question from that last review still stands. I’m reading Jujutsu Kaisen and am enjoying the heck of it, but it’s an unfinished manga, so I’m left biting my nails for the next volume. I probably shouldn’t divulge that, but I’ve read 16 volumes of Jujutsu Kaisen in one day…

Any manga recommendations??