Fullmetal Alchemist is arguably the best manga on the shelves right now. It’s steady rise in popularity is well deserving thanks to likeable characters and an engaging story that successfully melds triumph and tragedy along with humor and despair. Written by Hiromu Arakawa, the manga strives to be more than just the typical shonen tale.
The story revolves around the brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, as they travel the world seeking a way to restore what they have lost. The backstory of the two is a grisly one; having lost their mother to an unexplained illness, the two boys resort to the only way they know to bring her back: Alchemy. Unfortunately, the use of Alchemy carries a price and Ed and Al’s failed attempt is a costly one. The results are less than kind as Ed’s arm and leg are ripped away from him literally while Al’s entire body is taken from him, leaving his soul attached to an empty suit of armor. Resolved to set things right, they set out in search of the Philosopher’s stone, the ultimate tool in alchemy, with both willingly signing their lives over to the military in exchange for information and the means to obtaining the stone.
Volume one is essentially the setup, telling the origins of the brothers and detailing their travels throughout the country. Along the way, they encounter one adventure after another, giving them a chance to put their alchemy to good use. True, it can get a bit formulaic, however the second volume is where the plot starts to develop, giving the reader hints as to what to expect.
Volume two is host to some of the darkest material to come out of the series. One particular scene involving an alchemic experiment with a little girl and a dog at the hands of her twisted father yields catastrophic results that are truly heart wrenching. That, along with the introduction of the serial killer known as Scar, leaves volume two soaked in misery. It’s this heartache that makes the character’s triumphs all the more rewarding as each is given a chance to grow from the adversity. The second volume is the stand out of the three and will have you turning with tense fervor in anticipation of what happens next.
The third volume is a more lighthearted affair, as Ed and Al return home to recuperate from their recent battles. This doesn’t last however, as the plot rears it’s demented head, revealing the truth behind the Philosopher’s stone. As great a sacrifice as Ed and Al made in the beginning, an even more incredible one is required for the creation of the stone. Questions are raised as a conspiracy within the military also begins to take center stage.
The series is littered with intriguing side characters that have each developed a well deserved fanbase, the most popular of which is Colonel Roy Mustang, the “Flame Alchemist”. As determined as he is powerful, Mustang is constantly working at improving the military, while attempting to make amends for his past. Not far behind is Riza Hawkeye, his sharp shooting subordinate who manages to keep him in check, as well as Alex Louis Armstrong, the ridiculously muscled “Strong Arm Alchemist”.
These are the characters that along with Ed and Al add a sense of warmth to an otherwise somber story. They make the journey worthwhile and it’s the outcome that, for better or for worse, will keep the reader hooked. That, coupled with it’s deep and moving narrative give Fullmetal Alchemist all the right ingredients to produce a series that will not soon be forgotten.
Fullmetal Alchemist
Volume one – B+
Volume two – A+
Volume three - A
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