Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 1 (Fullmetal Alchemist, #1) by Hiromu Arakawa

Aug 22, 2011

Anila rated it

Shelves: fangirl-alert, i-haz-opinion-on-this, pretty-pictures

Love love love love love.

It's actually been quite some time since I first read this volume, and now that my public library has finally started buying the series (just in time for me to leave town - thanks, guys) I checked out the first seven on a whim.

I'd actually forgotten a lot about this volume. Somehow I got the idea that the Cornello/Liore plot was stretched over the entire volume, and that Youswell was in V. 2, and obviously that was wrong - and the train t...moreLove love love love love.

It's actually been quite some time since I first read this volume, and now that my public library has finally started buying the series (just in time for me to leave town - thanks, guys) I checked out the first seven on a whim.

I'd actually forgotten a lot about this volume. Somehow I got the idea that the Cornello/Liore plot was stretched over the entire volume, and that Youswell was in V. 2, and obviously that was wrong - and the train thing I'd forgotten entirely. It was interesting to go back, too, and compare the art and plotting of this volume to that of the very end. Obviously, there is significant improvement, but the seeds of - dare I say it? Yes, I do - greatness to come are definitely here. In much the same way as a webcomic artist develops over time, the art and plotting improve as the series goes on, but this first entry is the furthest thing from shabby.

So anyhow, this volume. Yes. Youswell is my favorite plotline in it, possibly my favorite episodic entry in the series as a whole, because it really shows Ed's integrity as a character. I mean, all three plotlines do that, though the train one is not as good as the others just because its main purpose is to segue into an introduction of Mustang and Co. Youswell is still the best. It establishes so many things for the rest of the series - the idea of corruption in the military, Ed's renegade attitude, his almost instinctual commitment to doing the right thing no matter what, and more. It's really kind of amazing to look back on these first few chapters and wonder what Arakawa was thinking - I'd love to know how it is to work in manga publishing. Surely when she was writing/drawing these, she couldn't have imagined the massive success that would follow. What was she planning? The whole thing? And what a tragedy it would have been if the series had been canceled before it could run its full arc. (I assume this can happen in manga; it's only logical.)

I remember reading this for the first time and being interested but at the same time put off by the episodic style, which I expected to be the norm for the entire series. If anyone else out there has that niggling worry, be not afraid: fairly quickly, a full arc asserts itself and it'll sweep you up entirely.

Original rambling fangirly review under the spoiler tags - no actual spoilers.
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Aug 29, 2007

Lizziegolightly rated it

Shelves: manga

Fullmetal Alchemist in its anime form is one of my favorite television shows. I watch it religiously, even now that I have seen every episode. I never read manga before and basically, I picked up this edition because of my devotion to the program.

This first installment of the manga is damn near close to (if not completely) identical to the first few episodes of the show. I won't give away the plot twists, just for those of you who haven't seen it yet. The essential storyline,...more

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Aug 16, 2011

Zarakoda rated it

Shelves: science-fiction, favorites, graphic-novel

I decided to reread the first two volumes of Fullmetal Alchemist because:
1. I hadn't read them in a while
2. I plan to continue reading the series about now
3. The library didn't have book three in.

So. As a second read-through, I would say the series is much better. In fact, I just bumped it up from three to four stars. Or maybe it's because I read the book in slightly a different light.

The first two books contain a lot of philosophical analysis concerning...moreI decided to reread the first two volumes of Fullmetal Alchemist because:
1. I hadn't read them in a while
2. I plan to continue reading the series about now
3. The library didn't have book three in.

So. As a second read-through, I would say the series is much better. In fact, I just bumped it up from three to four stars. Or maybe it's because I read the book in slightly a different light.

The first two books contain a lot of philosophical analysis concerning religion. I do not inherently consider this a bad thing; contrarily, the first two chapters in which a very cult-like society is realistically formed intrigued me during my re-read. I mean, it has all the standards one might psychologically expect: a strong, egotistic leader whom everyone follows without question, the claims of being a direct representative from God, a closed community, a desire for power amongst the authorities, etc. So that was sort of fun to analyze. But then - to continue onto book two (I might as well when on this train of thought) - we meet Scar, who even uses some possible vague scriptural references such as "there is a time to create and to destroy." Now, I do not have a problem with those sorts of psycho-religious bad guys, but I think one thing that got me disjointed at the beginning of FMA is the seemingly constant negative religious spin. Maybe that's me, maybe that's just the first two books... I don't know. It's not that Hiromu Arakawa does not have valid points concerning religions' dangerous facets, it's just very flinchingly one-sided at the moment.

To clarify that ramble: maybe that's why I rated the first book three stars at first.

Now let's get onto the good stuff. Rereading it, I found a bit more enjoyment in the dialogue and personality of the characters (first reread, it took me until book two to get the hang of it all). And there are some interesting moral questions brought up in this series that I find intriguing... a lot of teleological versus deontological issues, some I would have solved differently, but still fun to read. And the alchemy setting is well-done, particularly about the cost of trying to transmute humans. Very nice.

I think it's hard to review manga based on just the first volume, so I think my opinions will become more relevant the further along I go in the series. Which, so I hope, will be further than book two this go-round!

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Original review:

As a first book in a series, it doesn't really particularly stand out - except that you can see a lot of potential where it is going. The second book of the series is where I started to really get into the storyline (because this one, like many first books, is such an introduction you can't really claim too much of a significant storyline). (less)

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Nov 21, 2011

Zoe Russo rated it

Recommends it for: Anyone who loves manga/anime or a good story.

Recommended to Zoe by: HI SARAH!!! *waves through computer*

Shelves: fantasy, made-me-cry

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I. LOVE. THIS. The story is exciting and I love the author's take on the whole concept of alchemy. There is a lot of humor, and Arakawa has the highly coveted ability to make the jump from serious to silly without seeming forced or insensitive. I love all the characters- except for Scar, he's kind of an asshole ;). They all have a way of making you love them.
I'd heard of this before, but I'd never read it, simply because I'd always thought, "Oh, it's just another of those long unreali...moreI. LOVE. THIS. The story is exciting and I love the author's take on the whole concept of alchemy. There is a lot of humor, and Arakawa has the highly coveted ability to make the jump from serious to silly without seeming forced or insensitive. I love all the characters- except for Scar, he's kind of an asshole ;). They all have a way of making you love them.
I'd heard of this before, but I'd never read it, simply because I'd always thought, "Oh, it's just another of those long unrealistic adventure stories like One Piece or Naruto- I don't have time for that." But when I actually started it, I was amazed by how much I loved it. Unlike those common adventure series, it's realistic and non-repetitive.
By realistic I mean that despite the magic and sorcery involved, the story does follow a set of rules, and it is clear that the characters have limits. In most adventure series, the main 'good' characters always live. No matter what. Even character dies, it will be either a VERY minor character, and/or they will die in a flashback that occurred a minimum of a year ago. It gets to the point that it's ridiculous. I mean, exactly how many times has Luffy been almost burned to death in One Piece? And what about Naruto, who can't go five minutes without someone stabbing him? They always win their battles, they always live through everything, and they never experience any real risks in their adventures. Why should I care about invincible characters?
Not to mention that they repeat the exact same storyline with each arc: "Team travels to new place. Team meets new character, who is the 'good guy'. Team becomes friends with good guy. Team meets bad guy. Team starts fighting bad guy and his henchmen in drawn out, unrealistic fight scenes. They discover bad guy's master plan (that's right, AFTER they started fighting him-_-). They keep fighting bad guy. They all win their fights. They become even BETTER friends with good guy. Repeat." It's dumb. It's boring. It's terrible writing.
But that's why I love Fullmetal Alchemist- because it doesn't do that. There is on long, continuing plotline that remains engaging throughout various plot twists. But that's not the only reason I like it (after all there are other mangas that have an actual plot too.) The main reason I love Fullmetal Alchemist is the genuine emotional connection I have to it. I care about these people. I think they're hilarious and well-developed, and I want them to succeed. And one of the reasons you get so attached to them is that you know they aren't invincible. Arakawa makes that clear. These people can get hurt. Several characters have already died as far as I've read- not just bad guys. I mean, Colonel Hughes death in book four absolutely killed me. Do you know how long it's been since I've cried over the death of a fictional character? A really, really long time. But his death got that reaction out of me. That right there should tell you how good it is.
Read this manga. It's one of the best I've read in a while, and I can promise you that you won't regret it.
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Oct 19, 2010

Melody rated it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Fullmetal Alchemist

Imagine yourself as an eleven-year-old boy back in the 1900’s: no phones, computers, or anything similar. You’re probably thinking of yourself as an average eleven-year-old back then, right? Well, now picture yourself as someone who’s anything but normal. You have no dad, your mom is dead, you almost killed your brother, you’ve lost an arm and leg, and now you’re on a journey to find the one thing that might be able to help you. Oh, and did I mention you’re the...moreFullmetal Alchemist

Imagine yourself as an eleven-year-old boy back in the 1900’s: no phones, computers, or anything similar. You’re probably thinking of yourself as an average eleven-year-old back then, right? Well, now picture yourself as someone who’s anything but normal. You have no dad, your mom is dead, you almost killed your brother, you’ve lost an arm and leg, and now you’re on a journey to find the one thing that might be able to help you. Oh, and did I mention you’re the youngest state alchemist ever? What about the fact that your brother’s soul is attached to a suit of armor? That’s the life of Edward Elric, a young boy who, along with his brother Alphonse, is searching for a certain item that might be able to get your limbs and brother’s body back; the Philosopher’s Stone. This stone has the ability to do almost anything with the help of alchemy. As they search, they run into many obstacles and encounter different enjoyable characters. In the first few books of Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa, there are several of parts that made me really enjoy this book, such as the characters and certain quotes, the events, and the humour.

The first thing I enjoyed were the wide range of characters. All the characters are different, and they all are believable too. Edward is always being made fun of for being short, and he gets really angry when that happens. The way he gets angry is hilarious, though! I laugh every time! But he’s not just full of humour; he also has his serious moments, just like any other human. One of my favorite quotes from him is “Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange.” I think that this quote represents part of how Ed acts and thinks. I also believe that the world works like this, and it’s not just in alchemy. This quote is frequently used by Ed, and every time he says it, it’s a different variation. The other character that I find hilarious (although, I find them all funny!) is Colonel Roy Mustang. He’s almost a complete opposite of Edward. He’s almost always serious, but he’s also a little full of himself, and he randomly goes from all serious to funny. He’s called the “Flame Alchemist” by people, because he uses flames when he does alchemy. My favorite quote by him is “Dogs? I like dogs. The best thing about them is, they’re loyal! They obey their master’s commands without question! They don’t complain when they’re treated severely and they don’t need to be paid a salary! Yes! Dogs are truly man’s best servants! Dogs are great! I love them! *Insert evil-ish laughing here* ,” and it’s on pages 180-181 in volume four. I think that quote gives you an idea of what he’s like. I want to write about all of the characters I like, but that would probably take about ten pages, since there are so many characters and I like them all! All the characters in this series are fun and enjoyable, even the evil ones!

The events in this series are very exciting. The book starts off with them in “The Land of Sand,” as they call it, which is really a small town in the middle of nowhere. In this event, Edward is fifteen, but then it goes back and tells the story of Ed’s and Al’s lives from when they were eleven. This really made me interested because it was a little hard to figure it out for a little bit, so I had to really focus on the book. But what really got me excited was the reason why they were where they were, and why they were doing what they were doing. Ed and Al had just lost their mom, at age eleven. (Keep in mind that this book is in an alternate universe in the 1900’s.) Once she found out that Ed and Al really liked it, she would always encourage them to do it (obviously while she was still living). When they’re mom died, they really wanted to bring her back. But there are certain rules about alchemy, and one of the most important ones is that you must never attempt a human transmutation (transmute: to change, transform or convert one thing to another, or from one state or form to another; to change, transform or convert to another, or from one state or form to another). But, being eleven-year-olds, did they follow that rule? Nope. So, after studying so hard, they finally think it’s time to do it. While they are transmuting, something goes wrong, and Ed’s arm and leg are taken, along with Al’s body. As Al’s body is being taken, Ed struggles really hard, and is able to transmute Al’s soul into a suit of armor on the wall, using his blood to make the transmutation circle. This event had so much buildup to it, and the art when it was actually happening, were amazing. You could really see the emotion on their faces, and it even makes you feel like your there. All of the other events that happen in the story are as detailed and emotional as this one.

The third thing I really like about this series is how much humour is put into it. I already talked about how I think Ed and Mustang are funny, but the other characters I find really funny are Al, Riza Hawkeye, Fuery, and many more. I admit, I don’t like Al all the time; he can actually be pretty annoying at some parts, but he also has some really funny moments. One time, while he and Ed were talking, Ed hears a weird noise that kind of sounds like a meow. It turns out that Al had found a kitten and decided to keep in inside him (he’s a suit of armour with no body, so he can do that). Ed got mad (the funny type of mad), and I couldn’t stop myself from giggling at that part. There’s also a little comic strip in the back of one of the volumes where Ed hears a meow, and when Al opens the middle part of his ‘body.’ there’s like twenty kittens in there! ( :D ) Riza Hawkeye is also a state alchemist, like Mustang and Ed. She’s always serious, and almost never smiles. I actually can’t remember a time where she smiles… but her silence is what makes it funny.

As you can tell from this, there are a lot of parts that made me really enjoy this book, such as the characters and certain quotes, the events, and the humour. My personal connection to this book is that the characters act very similar to how my friends and I act with each other. Ed and Al are very close, and they are able to tell anything to each other, just like how my close friends and I are. Another is that the story is half serious and half humourous, like my life with my friends. The third connection with this book has to do with some of the actions they do and the quotes they say. As I quoted earlier, Ed really believes in Equivalent Exchange. I too believe that life is like that. After I read the first couple of volumes, I seriously felt different about life. Fullmetal Alchemist is obviously fantasy fiction (but with a little bit of realistic fiction thrown in), but I still felt like it changed me, even if only a small amount. The close bond between Ed and Al, and how much Ed has sacrificed for Al really made me think about my very close friends and me. It made me think about that when you’re very close to someone, you will do a lot for them because of how much you care about them.
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Nov 11, 2008

Tyas rated it

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Shelves: manga

Pengakuan sang pengarang: Sebelum dia jadi mangaka, dia bertani di Hokkaido.

Jangan remehkan petani! Karena ternyata dari tangan sang mantan petani-lah lahir salah satu serial manga terbaik yang pernah saya baca, baik dari segi cerita maupun art. Pertanyaan-pertanyaan filosofis disajikan dengan gaya popular yang renyah bagai kerupuk garing yang membuat nagih(namun bukan berarti kosong tak berisi).

Oh ya, alchemy di dunia ini bukanlah sihir. Dalam dunia 'Fullmetal Alchem...more

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Jan 28, 2008

Becky rated it

Recommends it for: 8th grade and up

Shelves: graphic-novels

After persistent pestering from some teens (boys and girls alike!) who have told me this is the best series they've ever read, and the one that hooked them on both anime and manga, I've finally read Vol. 1. And I'll admit, it's the first manga volume that I've truly finished, and I highly enjoyed it.

The story itself is so bizarre that it makes you keep reading out of sheer curiosity. Alphonse and Edward, the Elric brothers, are trained in alchemy, and they know its laws very well. Un...moreAfter persistent pestering from some teens (boys and girls alike!) who have told me this is the best series they've ever read, and the one that hooked them on both anime and manga, I've finally read Vol. 1. And I'll admit, it's the first manga volume that I've truly finished, and I highly enjoyed it.

The story itself is so bizarre that it makes you keep reading out of sheer curiosity. Alphonse and Edward, the Elric brothers, are trained in alchemy, and they know its laws very well. Unfortunately, they bent the rule of "equivalent exchange" (for something to be created, something of equal value must be lost) when they were young, attempting to resurrect their mother from the dead. As a result, Alphonse's body and Edward's leg were both lost. Edward sacrificed an arm to get back Alphonse's soul, which now lives in a hulking animated suit of armor. But it is Edward, with his "auto-mail" arm and leg, who is the "fullmetal alchemist" (and don't you forget it). They work for the state and seem to be sent to troubled areas -- a town in the grips of a religious fanatic, a hijacked train -- all the while with their own agenda to find what they believe will help them return to their old bodies and bring back their mother: the infamous philosopher's stone.

I found the story to be sharp-witted and thought-provoking (science vs. religion is a big theme) -- much deeper than I expected, though with plenty of tongue-in-cheek humor and great "BA-DOOM," "SHOOM," and "FLOOP" sound effects of matter being created from other matter! The only thing that confused me was the sudden scene changes: there was no "meanwhile" or "back at the ranch" or even a wordless page that shows a new setting between some of the scenes.

Reviews all say the anime is even better, but I thought the book form was quite good. I had no trouble reading from back-to-front and right-to-left (which has done me in before), and I think that speaks highly of Hiromu Arakawa's artwork. Not until I was on Wikipedia did I realize that she's a woman -- hooray for women in comics!

Her author's bio says, "I love B movies. I love the way they make me think 'What the he** is this?! That's crazy!' yet still draw me in so that I watch the whole thing. I really like that feeling, and I like to bring a little of that kind of over-the-top flavor into my own manga. That was the initial idea that gave birth to volume 1 of this alchemy manga. Thank you for picking it up. As you read it, please criticize it by saying to yourself 'What kind of alchemy is that?!'"(less)

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Oct 25, 2011

El Templo de las Mil Puertas added it · review of another edition

Shelves: 02-eltemplo, la-comicteca

"Cuando su madre murió, los hermanos Edward y Alphonse Elric, todavía niños, buscaron en la alquimia una forma de devolverla a la vida. Pero algo salió terriblemente mal en el proceso: el alma de Alphonse quedó atrapada en una gigantesca armadura, y Edward perdió un brazo y una pierna. Y, por descontado, su madre no regresó. Sin embargo, las hazañas de los jóvenes Elric llegaron a oídos del ejército, que no tardó en llamar a su puerta para reclutarlos. Ahora, Edward tiene quince años, un ...more

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Jan 12, 2009

C rated it

Shelves: manga

I would have been thoroughly lost in this manga if not for Beka's briefing/explanation before I started reading; it's how she got me to read it, of course, by explaining the fascinating premise. Namely, how alchemy works in this world (direct transmutation within a circle via mind/body power, which can be augmented or extended by study but talent is also required), and the basic plotline - two boys whose mother has died attempted to bring her back, but because of the rule of "equal exchang...more

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Jan 26, 2012

Christina (A Reader of Fictions) rated it

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Fullmetal Alchemist starts off pretty lighthearted and comedic, giving the reader time to familiarize themselves with the characters and the world it's set in before breaking out the serious drama. Part of what makes this series so completely marvelous and one of the best mangas ever is that vein of humor running through even the darkest parts.

Of course, comedy alone does not make a good story. The darkness too makes the tale compelling. Aspects of this story, especially one in parti...moreFullmetal Alchemist starts off pretty lighthearted and comedic, giving the reader time to familiarize themselves with the characters and the world it's set in before breaking out the serious drama. Part of what makes this series so completely marvelous and one of the best mangas ever is that vein of humor running through even the darkest parts.

Of course, comedy alone does not make a good story. The darkness too makes the tale compelling. Aspects of this story, especially one in particular which comes not too far into the story, will undoubtedly haunt me forever. Actually, this same instance continues to haunt Ed and Alphonse all the way through their lives, as well. When you read it, you'll know what I'm talking about.

Add to the above a completely amazing cast of characters. Seriously. Ed and Alphonse's love and care of one another are completely charming. Their grandmother is hilarious with her tiny little pointy bun. Winry, the stubborn female automail mechanic, will always be my favorite. Then again, I also adore Colonel Mustang with his odd combination of jadedness and hope, and Lieutenant Hawkeye, who is seriously badass but also surprisingly sweet underneath. All of the human characters are just so vibrant and human, complete with foibles and hangups. I love it.

Plus the alchemy in a freaking amazing steampunk setting! Who doesn't like steampunk? Okay, lots of people probably, but they are lame and don't count (just kidding...mostly). Honestly, though, the alchemy in here is astounding. No wonder so many people spent their lives trying to figure out its secrets. I would too if I thought I could have powers like the Alric brothers.

If you have any interest at all in manga, Fullmetal Alchemist is a good one. Although aimed at a male audience, it has universal appeal. Unlike some shounen manga, you will not have lots of baloon boobs thrust at you for fan service, likely because the series was written by a woman. This manga has one of the best stories out there and I just cannot recommend it highly enough.

Note: I have not yet watched the anime version, either one. I do know, though, that you should not just the manga off of the original anime series. After the first few episodes they seriously part ways (or so I've heard), because the anime was made before the series had been completed. A couple years before. What a bad plan.(less)

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Jan 03, 2012

Lucy rated it

Shelves: manga

I’d heard about this series and seen images of it (and cosplay from it) long before I ever got around to reading or watching it. I assumed it was just another action/adventure manga that would go on way too long, awash with filler and minimalistic character development. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I was almost instantly charmed by the well-developed characters and the complex story line. The hype was not for nothing.

This series really pulls at my heart strings, without being ov...more

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Oct 24, 2011

cindy rated it

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Shelves: books-in-1-and-0, favorites, manga-tapi-bukan-buah

One of the BEST shounen manga I ever read. No. I take that back. It is THE BEST shounen manga I ever read! It has action, it has drama. It has magic, but it based on scientific rules. It has politics, it has philosophy (uhm... marxism in manga, gosh!), and it has idealism. It has war maker, it has peace seeker. It has story as crucial as fate of the countrys, it has delicate story of children need their mother's care. It has dark background stories, it has hillarious way of story telling. And mo...moreOne of the BEST shounen manga I ever read. No. I take that back. It is THE BEST shounen manga I ever read! It has action, it has drama. It has magic, but it based on scientific rules. It has politics, it has philosophy (uhm... marxism in manga, gosh!), and it has idealism. It has war maker, it has peace seeker. It has story as crucial as fate of the countrys, it has delicate story of children need their mother's care. It has dark background stories, it has hillarious way of story telling. And most of all, it has an ending. A really-really-really good ending, not a perfect happy ending nor a shabby tragedy, it just.... solid dovetail end, and life goes on.

Equivalent trade.

****

Ed and Al Elric are brothers who had talent for being alchemists from very early age. When they were 11 and 10, their mother passed away while their father had been gone wondered for years. So with ability but without guidance, they did something taboo, try to "human transmutation" a.k.a bring their death mother back to life. This caused them dearly. Not entirely learnt their lesson, they promised each other to seek for the Philosopher's Stone which said to be carried a great power to alter the equivalent trade's law, and will have the power to restore their body back. At age 12, Ed sign into military, and got his name The Fullmetal Alchemist.

In the bigger scope, the land was at war with the Ishvar, a race that believed in one mighty God. At one time, King Bradley - the highest military commander - commanded an Ishvar Annihilation, which caused almost a wipeout of the entire race. A handful who could survive hide themselves in the slummy villages holding their grunge. But these burden not just carried by those survivors, but also by some Ametrys soldiers, doctors and scientists for their hand were tainted all over with ishvarin blood. These people, then, spent their life to made things better.

As the story goes, some secrets will revealed themselves, eventually. What is Philosopher's Stone really made from, who was Ed and Al's father, who were the seven deadly sins and what creature are they, and above all, what is the big plan behind all these riots and wars. Will they do it, is it worth it, to sacrifice so much -his leg, his arm, his entire body, her womb, her limb, his living body, his eyes, their friends, all people of Xerxes, in order to satisfy Equivalent Trade condition, and gain the true power?

Uhhmm... have I said, I love the ending. Ed's choice was a very much unpredictable, one last twist in the story, which was really equal to the result. He learnt his lesson, finally.

Status: completed (27 volumes)
Downloaded from: http://www.mangatraders.com/manga/series...
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Jul 07, 2011

Zoe rated it

Fullmetal Alchemist happens to be a one-of-a-kind in the manga genre. I mean, c'mon people: has ANYONE encountered such a brilliantly diverse series? Amongst a world of manga that is somewhat the same and unoriginal(enough with the vampire manga already, people!), Fullmetal Alchemist, or FMA as it is nicknamed by fans, stands out.
This series is so well-known that I really shouldn't have to summarize it, but I will just in case you are one of the five or six people on this planet who have ...more

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May 18, 2011

Krista Bunny rated it

I'll only write one review for the whole series because they all bleed into each other in my mind and I don't want to write specific reviews for each issue. I'm lazy, so sue me.
Fullmetal alchemist is the first manga I really read. I grew up loving Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball Z, but didn't get much other access to anime until high school and even then it was only Utena and things like that. When I met my fiancee he introduced me to the FMA anime and I fell in love. Then we started collecti...moreI'll only write one review for the whole series because they all bleed into each other in my mind and I don't want to write specific reviews for each issue. I'm lazy, so sue me.
Fullmetal alchemist is the first manga I really read. I grew up loving Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball Z, but didn't get much other access to anime until high school and even then it was only Utena and things like that. When I met my fiancee he introduced me to the FMA anime and I fell in love. Then we started collecting the manga and I fell even deeper.
ANYONE WHO SAYS THAT COMICS, GRAPHIC NOVELS OR MANGA HAVE NO SUBSTANCE NEEDS TO READ THIS SERIES! The anime hooked me with the philosophical thoughts of what the worth of a soul is. The manga pushd that even further to have us ask what a 'person' is. When I look at Mr. Gori or Mr. Lion, then at the officials in Central who created Bradley, I can tell you which I consider to be more of a human being, even if they are now part animal. And it is no coincidence that the alchemic tests performed by the government reflect the genetic and disgusting practices by many governements in our own world, such as the German Nazi party's human experiments using the people they captured. Chinese and Japanese governements have done the same. Arakawa's themes are not new, nor are they any less disturbing than things people have actually done to each other in real life.
Edward and Al are complex characters that you actually watch grown physically and emotionally as the series progresses. The definition of family is tested too, like the bonds of the brothers, the Armstrong family or the boys' teacher, Izumi and her sin.
This series shows us the pain of war, the kinds of things soldiers have to go through. Arakawa has us examine our faith in things, whether they be religion, science or survival of the fittest. When we put too much faith into something, we make it stronger and that in turn can make US stronger or destroy us.
This series has made me cry, made me laugh out loud (strangers stared at me, it wasn't pretty) and made me feel for the people within it, even those who's ideas differed so much from my own.
I'm glad that Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood is following the manga so I get to see Olivier Armstrong in action and hear the voices from the original series reunite. FMA is much more than just a comic book or a tv show for me. (less)

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May 17, 2011

Jennie rated it

Shelves: ya, fiction, humor, fantasy

I'd be generous to say that manga is a hit-or-miss for me... most of the time it's a (very thankful) miss. Not so for Arakawa's Fullmetal Alchemist. After being badgered by friends who reassured me that it was good, even to people reluctant to read manga like me, I finally picked up a copy. Intellectually, I'm really glad I did. Financially, I'm not, because now I think I need to go splurge on the rest of the series.

I got to volume 5 before I wrote this review, and I can honestly say t...moreI'd be generous to say that manga is a hit-or-miss for me... most of the time it's a (very thankful) miss. Not so for Arakawa's Fullmetal Alchemist. After being badgered by friends who reassured me that it was good, even to people reluctant to read manga like me, I finally picked up a copy. Intellectually, I'm really glad I did. Financially, I'm not, because now I think I need to go splurge on the rest of the series.

I got to volume 5 before I wrote this review, and I can honestly say that the hype is very well-deserved. The characters are all very well-developed, with their own quirks and distinctive personalities. The mood whiplash between quite gory (for a comic book geared towards children) scenes and themes to irreverent humor takes some getting used to, but it doesn't detract from the story at all.

And what a story it is! FMA is the pinnacle of steampunk/fantasy plotting -- lots of Victorian touches with none of the cliche. The "magic" system the characters use is alchemy, which is a heavily bastardized version of chemistry with just enough science behind it to make suspension of belief easier. The background plottings and machinations of the military society the characters operate within is a very nice touch too, adding another layer of steampunk flavor. The themes are universal enough to resonate with any audience, humanizing the characters and getting you invested in them.

I'm tentatively giving this 5 stars. The other manga series I eventually gave up on all suffered the same defect: their plots eventually just became an excuse to milk the franchise for more cash, with plot twists that made no sense and totally derailed the characters. In the first 5 volumes, Arakawa has hinted at a cohesive story line with a finite ending and a unified vision -- something that I NEED in a series of books, and the reason why I avoid manga. Since I see that the series is now concluded, I'm going to suppose that FMA doesn't fall prey to the usual failings of manga.

Extremely highly recommended. FMA gives me faith in manga and steampunk again. Seriously, if Arakawa can produce something as addictive, poignant, and unique as this in this medium and genre, there's no excuse for the piles of cliched crap I've slogged through in the past.(less)

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Aug 17, 2010

Rachel rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: bildungsroman, comic, fantasy, graphic, schizotech

The first volume of the series serves as an introduction to the character, world, difficulties, and companions of Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist. Orphaned at a young age, the eleven-year-old prodigy and his younger brother, Alphonse, attempt forbidden human transmutation in an effort to resurrect their mother. They learn the hard way why it’s forbidden, when Al’s body vanishes along with Ed’s left leg, shortly followed by his right arm—the price to keep his brother’s soul and bind it to a...moreThe first volume of the series serves as an introduction to the character, world, difficulties, and companions of Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist. Orphaned at a young age, the eleven-year-old prodigy and his younger brother, Alphonse, attempt forbidden human transmutation in an effort to resurrect their mother. They learn the hard way why it’s forbidden, when Al’s body vanishes along with Ed’s left leg, shortly followed by his right arm—the price to keep his brother’s soul and bind it to a suit of armor. The series opens four or so years later, after Ed’s debased himself by joining the military in exchange for access to resources in his efforts to restore his brother and himself.

The four chapters (of the series’ 108) in volume one expose different aspects of the brothers and begin the world-building that will continue throughout. The first, two-part story exposes their motive and desire for the Philosopher’s Stone—which can bypass the laws of Equivalent Exchange—as they confront a cult leader who claims he can bring back the dead. The second story reveals both their integrity and the general corruption of the military—as well as the hatred people harbor for it and its “dogs”—when they pass through a small, coal-mining town run by a corrupt official. The third story demonstrates Ed’s hair-trigger temper, Al’s intrisic concern for others, and the ingenuity and resilience of them both when the train they are on is hijacked and a vacationing general and his family are taken hostage. Also important in the train chapter is the introduction of Ed’s commanding officer: one Colonel Roy Mustang, Flame Alchemist, renowned hero of the Ishballan civil war (or genocidal butcher, depending on which side is talking), highly ambitious leader of his intensely loyal personal staff, and the first of many richly-detailed supporting characters.

FMA is a rollercoaster of a series, alternating horrors with the absurdly silly, setting up loveable characters and killing or otherwise maiming them, and otherwise mixing up tear-jerking existential dilemmas and slapstick comedy. The artwork is clean and readable, even in the action sequences, which is fairly rare for this style of manga, and all the more appreciated for that. This volume is an excellent beginning to an outstanding series, and I can’t recommend it strongly enough.(less)

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Jun 21, 2010

Andrea rated it

After relenting to the constant peer pressure from the manga community, I picked this one up at the local library. Like many other super-popular series, like Shugo Chara and Naruto ~~which was arguably an excellent read for until Naruto got his first ridiculous power-up~~, I assumed FMA was all hype. It's not. I was hooked from the first chapter and now there's nothing that is going to stop me from finishing this series. I may read this more intensely than I did Bokurano, of which I read a total ...more

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Feb 14, 2010

Quackyduck (Shizuo!) rated it

Shelves: manga

This is the start of an amazing series, with action, love, suspense, horror, respect, and if you catch on quickly, history. Although it is a manga/graphic novel, this can catch the interest of adults and children alike. The characters have deep personalities, with morals and reasons on why they choose either the side good or evil. The first book is a bit slippery on catching peoples interest, as it takes awhile to introduce the characters. As this is a graphic novel, it is harder to remember cha...more

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Dec 10, 2009

Jordan Dasen rated it

OH I LOVE THIS SERIES!!! SQUEEEE!

Ok, so I love the anime. The manga of it... isn't quite AS good as the anime adaption... The manga so much simpler. No big build up moments. If there is build up, it's something like, "I have something I need to tell you." And then he gets interupted before he finishes. No more mention of it until... GASP! It comes back and smacks you in the face without warning. Making it unpredictable, but simple.

The Christian review fo...moreOH I LOVE THIS SERIES!!! SQUEEEE!

Ok, so I love the anime. The manga of it... isn't quite AS good as the anime adaption... The manga so much simpler. No big build up moments. If there is build up, it's something like, "I have something I need to tell you." And then he gets interupted before he finishes. No more mention of it until... GASP! It comes back and smacks you in the face without warning. Making it unpredictable, but simple.

The Christian review for the anime can be found here: http://www.christiananime.net/reviews_an... I agree with most of what it says, on the morals AND story. It's so... SO good. What can be said about the anime can usually be said about the manga, but less good points.

As far as it's worth as manga...

The art style is really great. The characters don't have unrealistically thin faces like a lot of manga characters do, and everyone looks awesome. The action scenes have a genuine sense of movement to them, and the pictures are done well but aren't too distracting. There's a good balance between action and humour, dark stuff and light stuff. It takes itself seriously, and is really great because of it. The story is well thought out, and it flows well. However, it does have a tendancy to feel disconnected compared with the anime. Things just sort of come and go without making reference to each other very often. But it does flow fine. So... depends on your preferences.

Unlike the anime, there is some unecessary violence which I don't appreciate. Sometimes there will also be some added funny stuff in the back which is occasionally off humour.

The dialogue is great, the face expressions are AWESOME, and the characters are SUPER AWESOME because of it. I love Ed, as he is currently my all time favorite character. I'm kind of fan-girling over him... Yeah, weird... Anyway, he's a great -cough- short -cough- guy. He and Al are both EXTREMELY well developed, especially if you have the anime to go off of...

In otherwords, read the review up there, and seriously consider watching the anime. If you're obsessed, read the manga. Aside from that though, stick with the anime ;)(less)

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Oct 12, 2009

Sarai rated it

Shelves: graphic-novels-comics

From Publishers Weekly
Set in a steam-powered locale that isn't necessarily in our world, the series follows two teenage brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric—one bearing two cybernetic replacement limbs while the other's soul animates a cumbersome suit of armor. The two are government agents wielding prodigious abilities in alchemy who carry out the hazardous assignments issued by their handlers. Their exploits range from thwarting the machinations of a fraudulent and ambitious priest who ab...more

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Jan 22, 2012

Rachel rated it

Shelves: manga, fantasy-and-sci-fi, young-adult

This manga version of Fullmetal Alchemist is pretty much exactly like the beginning of the anime series. I had watched the original version of the anime but was told by manga fans that reading the manga version or seeing "Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood" was better because it gave the actual story. Volume 1 explains how the Elric brothers, Edward the eldest who is the State Alchemist and his younger brother Alphonse whose soul is trapped in a suit of armor. This occurred when the brot...more

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Sep 14, 2011

Eleonore Rigby rated it

Shelves: manga

Als die beiden Brüder Alphonse und Edward Elric versuchen, durch Alchemie ihre Mutter wieder zu erwecken, verlieren sie dabei ihren Körper bzw. Teile davon; so landet Alphonse beispielsweise in eine Art "Metallbehälter" durch den er sehr monströs und beinahe unbezwingbar wirkt, während Edward beispielsweise einen Arm verliert. Auf ihrer Suche nach dem geeigneten Mittel, ihre Körper zurückzubekommen, treffen sie auf allerhand verrückter Leute - zum Beispiel einen Priester, der auf die K...more

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Apr 21, 2011

Jacob rated it

This was an experiment, as the Powell's Science Fiction Book Club decided to try another "literary" form. My experiment started off poorly, as I tried to find the start of the story -- I couldn't tell the difference between the ads in the first and last few pages and the actual story. And where was the title page? Eventually I turned enough pages in that I was sure I was reading the actual story, but nothing made sense. There was next to no cause and effect from one frame to next, ...moreThis was an experiment, as the Powell's Science Fiction Book Club decided to try another "literary" form. My experiment started off poorly, as I tried to find the start of the story -- I couldn't tell the difference between the ads in the first and last few pages and the actual story. And where was the title page? Eventually I turned enough pages in that I was sure I was reading the actual story, but nothing made sense. There was next to no cause and effect from one frame to next, and the "writing" was fragmented. It was terrible, much worse than I even feared it would be!

Then a friend pointed out that the book is actually backwards - it reads from the back to the front. I hadn't figured that out because there wasn't a significant difference between the front and back covers. I did manage to find the title page, though, 3-4 pages of ads in from the back. It still took a lot of getting used to, as the panels on each page are even read right to left.

I have to say, even once I was able to read it coherently, there's not much there. The art is, well, not my style, and the storyline is minimal. Lots of attention is paid to "cool" events in the story like whipping out a weapon, or to action panels which don't reveal anything but a word indicating something big is happening - SKLASH! Considerably less focus is put on the story, or the characters, or their development. Some of the dialogue is accented to make it sound like it's something a real person would say, but there's not enough to be convincing so it's kind of a lost cause. And the most entertaining parts of the art are also the worst-drawn (Calvin & Hobbes cartoons are more expressive). I would claim it's unintentionally hilarious, but I get the feeling the artists meant those parts to be funny at least partially because of their lack of skill.

Once I had finished it, I finally noticed that the "front" inside cover says that you need to read it backwards, but the notice looks enough like the ads at the end that I couldn't distinguish it when it would have been helpful to see.

Clearly this kind of thing is not for me. I'm not surprised, but at least I gave it a shot.(less)

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Jan 12, 2009

Rachael rated it

My all-time favorite manga series.

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Sep 29, 2010

Tessa Withorn rated it

Shelves: manga

I've always secretly wanted to find an anime series to obsess over. Well kids in the halls inwardly mocked the so called 'anime freaks,' I was incredibly jealous of them. I love what japanese culture I know of and am eager to discover more. Fullmetal Alchemist, was definatly the best choice. It's full of a little represented magic form of alchemistry, the fascinating 'metal bending', so to speak. With a lively heroes, Edward and Alphonse Elric, you immediately admire this daring dynamic duo as t...more

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Jan 18, 2011

Megha Power rated it

Fullmetal Alchemist, Edward Elric has lost pretty much everything. After a failed attempt at trying to bring back his mother from the dead using alchemy, Ed loses his left leg and his brother loses his life. The eight year old Edward Elric refuses to let his younger brother Alphonse Elric be taken from death. Al was all he had left. With his remaining leg and two arms, Edward brings back his brother’s soul and bonds it to a suit of armor stating that death could take anything, his arms, his leg,...moreFullmetal Alchemist, Edward Elric has lost pretty much everything. After a failed attempt at trying to bring back his mother from the dead using alchemy, Ed loses his left leg and his brother loses his life. The eight year old Edward Elric refuses to let his younger brother Alphonse Elric be taken from death. Al was all he had left. With his remaining leg and two arms, Edward brings back his brother’s soul and bonds it to a suit of armor stating that death could take anything, his arms, his leg, even his heart. He just didn’t want to lose his beloved brother. The transmutation was successful and Ed only lost his right arm, a small sacrifice for his brother’s soul. Ed had successfully brought back Al’s soul from “the gate” and bonded it to the armor but by now, Ed had lost too much blood and was immediately rushed by Alphonse to their childhood friend, the Rockbell’s, place.
There, Pinako Rockbell fixed up the sick Edward only to find that Edward wanted something. Something that he knew would be painful. Ed had asked for an automail leg to help him stand tall, and a right arm so he could be useful in any way possible. Ed went through a lot of suffering but soon he was set up with a right arm and left leg. The brothers now had a new ambition. Rather than trying to revive their mother, they had sworn that they would get their normal bodies back using the philosopher’s stone. This stone was said to be able to ignore the number one law of alchemy: Equivalent Exchange. If you only give one then you only get one. You can’t create something out of nothing.
To pursue this ambition Edward decides that he would become a dog of the military. After passing a very difficult trial, Edward is appointed the youngest state alchemist (very high ranking!) ever and is therefore given the name Fullmetal.
Though it’s just a comic book, this story is my most favorite ever. On a scale of one to ten this book would be at least 20. The genre of this book would be science fiction. Anyone can read this book. Though I feel that boys would be more partial to it and get hooked on it, I’ve never once met a person that didn’t like this story. This series is packed with humor (no joke!) tragedy, and love. This book is truly outstanding. I could read this book a million times a never get bored. With a great beginning and touching end, this series just captured my heart.
(less)

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Aug 13, 2010

Keiji Miashin rated it

Ah, Fullmetal Alchemist. First of all, a few disclaimers: I’ve been reading the manga since before the 2003 anime even existed, I am much further in the series than the first volume, and this review is for Volume 1 of the series only and will not reference later volumes in the series or either of the two anime.

That said, it’s very difficult to provide a general synopsis of this first volume without being spoiled some of the bigger surprises of the first chapter. The setting is that o...moreAh, Fullmetal Alchemist. First of all, a few disclaimers: I’ve been reading the manga since before the 2003 anime even existed, I am much further in the series than the first volume, and this review is for Volume 1 of the series only and will not reference later volumes in the series or either of the two anime.

That said, it’s very difficult to provide a general synopsis of this first volume without being spoiled some of the bigger surprises of the first chapter. The setting is that of a post Industrial Revolution world, and the main characters are Edward and Alphonse Elric, commonly known as the Elric brothers.

The main plot of the story is quick and snappy. Not rushed, but it certainly doesn’t waist its time meandering about too much. The reader is thrown right into the thick of things with a flashback scene (as denoted by a black border around all the images) of Edward after having lost his leg. A warning to the feint of heart, this scene is not censored and the angle is from the ground up to provide that extra gut wrench as the reader gets a very good look at the wound.

This does set the mood of the book, though not the definitive tone. Overall the story is very well balanced between hard moral themes, lighthearted and quirky humor, and darker more horror like elements.

The art of the book matches the general story as well. It is a clean, smooth, and well proportioned style, which gives itself to a rather cute shorthand for the humorous scenes but is plenty realistic enough for more serious points of the manga. As mentioned earlier the art is not censored, thus one should be prepared for the sight of bones, muscles, organs, and other things usually censored out of most mainstream showings. One thing I’d like to point out are the consistent backgrounds. Miss Hiromu Arakawa is not lazy in her art and all panels, with the exception of those meant for humor, have a setting and background in them.

The movement of the characters is also smoothly and cleanly drawn out. Battles are not a confusing mess of movement and overall the action is easy to follow from page to page.

The translation is a little awkward in the first page but smooths out as the volume continues. My only complaint is the translation of the sound effects. Changing the hiragana and kanji to the phonetic alphabet hurts some scenes as the original sound effects had actually been drawn in to be part of the artwork themselves. Thus the phonetic versions often make a panel look slightly unbalanced or empty.

I’ll break my promise of not referencing future material by saying that long time readers will appreciate the difference in Edward saying his agnostic, instead of atheist.

The first two chapters of this volume introduce the Elric Brothers, their motives, and the alchemy system which replaces science in this world. The remaining two chapters in the book are two short stories of the brother’s exploits, establishing their modus operandi. It’s the general feeling of disconnectedness of these two that makes volume 01 a weaker showing of the series, though it could be argued that the strong first two chapters more than make up for it.

Personally I rate this volume at four stars because of these last two chapters. But otherwise this is an excellent manga, well drawn and written enough to catch a reader’s interest and keep them engrossed for the length of the series.(less)

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Feb 24, 2011

Federiken Masters rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: Todo el mundo.

Recommended to Federiken by: Yo mismo, desde hace rato.

Hace mucho que no miro anime, y el de Fullmetal Alchemist tuvo el honor de haber sido uno de los últimos que logró engancharme de principio a fin. Ahora que de una puta vez finalmente puedo leer el manga entiendo por qué el anime estaba tan bueno: la obra en la que se basa es igual de espectacular. Claro que este tomo peca de demasiado "introductorio", como es la costumbre, pero como incluye tres historias completas, no deja gusto a poco, y conforma un excelente comienzo para una serie...more

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Mar 06, 2011

David rated it

genre: Graphic Novel

Before Full Metal Alchemist I hadn't read any graphic novel/anime books.I had no clue what it was about from the title, description on back, and the cover picture. Even at the beginning of the book it was lacking some important information that may have made it easier to understand. In a way it just jumped into the story without much briefing on who the characters were and what the story is. However as I kept reading I got more than enough detail for characte...more

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Aug 15, 2010

Rebecca added it · review of another edition

Fullmetal Alchemist is a really cool manga. I've heard so many good things about it that I decided to read it for myself. I must say that I quite enjoyed Fullmetal Alchemist.

The story line of Fullmetal Alchemist was really engrossing. I found myself wanting to know more about what was going on with the two characters and basically, I just thought the whole story was set up really well and I look forward to reading more of the series.

The illustrations were pretty awesome. Th...more

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Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 1 (Fullmetal Alchemist #1)

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