What do you think?
鋼の錬金術師 [Hagane no Renkinjutsushi] #21
Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 21
R to L (Japanese Style). 21+ volumes.
Somewhere between science, magic and art lies Fullmetal AlchemistTwo brothers on a quest to find the Philospher’s Stone - Meet Edward and Alphonse Elric. Two brothers endowed with the power of alchemy. In the war between science and magic—the future of the world belongs to 2 brothers. Edward and Alchemy be thy name!
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 brother and himself...the legendary Philosopher's Stone.
A diabolical trap is set for President Bradley... If he is assassinated, a power vacuum will open that Mustang and his allies will be more than happy to fill. Then, while Ed is reunited with someone from his past, Al is separated from his body--his proxy armor body! Now who is filling his heavy metal shoes...? Plus, take a break from all the alchemical intrigue and homunculus backstabbing at the annual Resembool Spring Sheep Festival!
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 22, 2008
About the author
Hiromu Arakawa
351 books2,950 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).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 239 reviews
June 24, 2024
The entirety of this volume could be summed up in one line, "When did the runt get this BUFF?!"
That's actually what I asked my Cub when I saw Edward in that scene. For a character whose entire story is chased by a perpetual slapstick comedy about his height, he has grown quite a bit in the literal sense of the word, too, not just figuratively (which he also has, he's far more mature now than at the beginning, even if he keeps his trademark temperament and quirks).
Edward has grown, yes, but apparently not enough to forgive his father. I said in the previous volume that Alphonse was the adequate son to have a heart-to-heart talk, and I am even more convinced of it now. The scene where father and son have That Talk was a bit painful for the wrong reasons, the one time I came close to disliking Edward.
The boy is still 15, I guess, and hotheaded, hormonal, and idiotic like a regular teenager. He does act his age, and in these days when a common complaint is that teenage characters behave like adults, that's a point in favour. It was better for Alphonse to have the reaction he had, because he's a different temperament and doesn't have the hangups his brother does.
This is also the volume where the combined pool of East, North, and City military conspirators have to carry out the coup to dislodge Bradley (and the Sins) from the post of Führer President. They had me nervous about the outcome throughout the volume, and to make things worse, it didn't start as planned because Wrath forced their hand. Lucky that General Granny is a tough nut and could improvise a Plan B to kill Bradley, but it also didn't start as planned. Nothing is going as planned! I should've read this on a weekend so I could jump right away into next volume, now I have to wait and pray the suspense doesn't kill me before Task Force Elric neutralise Wrath, Pride, and Gluttony at once. Is this the first time they have to battle more than two Sins at once? I think so, and the stakes are higher.
Also, why is it that all the Sins can return except Lust? What do you have against ol' Lusty, Arakawa-san? It's not fair! You could still have used her for, I don't know, try and soothe the rebellious troops with a seductive Marilyn Monroe performance, or something... I guess being the "minor" Deadly Sin meant you're the first to go, too.
Anyway, I didn't notice it at first, but now that I think of it, Mustang's move to kidnap Mrs Bradley is hilariously genius. Father is delulu in thinking she doesn't have any value, because Mrs Bradley is the only bit of independent thinking Wrath was ever allowed in life, and he treasures that. This point has gonna pay off for Mustang, methinks.
All the conspirators are moving in smart sneaky ways but for Major General Iron Barbie. What is she waiting for? I have a suspicion that the fight with her brother might have been a pact with him, he just gave up too easily, so he either knows she's up to something or was told the gist of the plan. Either way, it's difficult to predict her next move, and whatever she does I hope she doesn't end up as Führerin President. On one hand, she's a bit of a "late" character compared to Mustang, who's been scheming to get the post since the beginning of the series; and on the other hand, I find her opinion of her brother as a coward uncomfortably problematic considering her brother has combat PTSD. So, whatever she does, and thank you very much for your help, I don't want her as the new leader.
We can't discuss new leaders before the key Sins are neutralised, though! How on Earth are the Elrics and their team defuse the combined firepower of Pride and Wrath at once? I have no idea, but I'm praying Ho rides in on the fray as soon as possible, and that the rebel military + Ishbalans keep the state busy.
Ugh, I need to read the remaining volumes two or three at a time, or I won't survive the suspense!
That's actually what I asked my Cub when I saw Edward in that scene. For a character whose entire story is chased by a perpetual slapstick comedy about his height, he has grown quite a bit in the literal sense of the word, too, not just figuratively (which he also has, he's far more mature now than at the beginning, even if he keeps his trademark temperament and quirks).
Edward has grown, yes, but apparently not enough to forgive his father. I said in the previous volume that Alphonse was the adequate son to have a heart-to-heart talk, and I am even more convinced of it now. The scene where father and son have That Talk was a bit painful for the wrong reasons, the one time I came close to disliking Edward.
The boy is still 15, I guess, and hotheaded, hormonal, and idiotic like a regular teenager. He does act his age, and in these days when a common complaint is that teenage characters behave like adults, that's a point in favour. It was better for Alphonse to have the reaction he had, because he's a different temperament and doesn't have the hangups his brother does.
This is also the volume where the combined pool of East, North, and City military conspirators have to carry out the coup to dislodge Bradley (and the Sins) from the post of Führer President. They had me nervous about the outcome throughout the volume, and to make things worse, it didn't start as planned because Wrath forced their hand. Lucky that General Granny is a tough nut and could improvise a Plan B to kill Bradley, but it also didn't start as planned. Nothing is going as planned! I should've read this on a weekend so I could jump right away into next volume, now I have to wait and pray the suspense doesn't kill me before Task Force Elric neutralise Wrath, Pride, and Gluttony at once. Is this the first time they have to battle more than two Sins at once? I think so, and the stakes are higher.
Also, why is it that all the Sins can return except Lust? What do you have against ol' Lusty, Arakawa-san? It's not fair! You could still have used her for, I don't know, try and soothe the rebellious troops with a seductive Marilyn Monroe performance, or something... I guess being the "minor" Deadly Sin meant you're the first to go, too.
Anyway, I didn't notice it at first, but now that I think of it, Mustang's move to kidnap Mrs Bradley is hilariously genius. Father is delulu in thinking she doesn't have any value, because Mrs Bradley is the only bit of independent thinking Wrath was ever allowed in life, and he treasures that. This point has gonna pay off for Mustang, methinks.
All the conspirators are moving in smart sneaky ways but for Major General Iron Barbie. What is she waiting for? I have a suspicion that the fight with her brother might have been a pact with him, he just gave up too easily, so he either knows she's up to something or was told the gist of the plan. Either way, it's difficult to predict her next move, and whatever she does I hope she doesn't end up as Führerin President. On one hand, she's a bit of a "late" character compared to Mustang, who's been scheming to get the post since the beginning of the series; and on the other hand, I find her opinion of her brother as a coward uncomfortably problematic considering her brother has combat PTSD. So, whatever she does, and thank you very much for your help, I don't want her as the new leader.
We can't discuss new leaders before the key Sins are neutralised, though! How on Earth are the Elrics and their team defuse the combined firepower of Pride and Wrath at once? I have no idea, but I'm praying Ho rides in on the fray as soon as possible, and that the rebel military + Ishbalans keep the state busy.
Ugh, I need to read the remaining volumes two or three at a time, or I won't survive the suspense!
June 7, 2020
4 of 5 stars
May 30, 2025
I'm sorry, but Envy is one of the best characters.
May 22, 2019
The Promised Day is at hand! All pieces are in place and the final play now begins.
It only now occurs to me just how slow-paced this story has been up until now. You have a few fights here and there, but also a great deal of mystery, character development, exposition, season with horror to taste. Sometimes we've gone a volume or two without anything truly significant happening, and skipping days or even weeks entirely casually and with no need of commenting about it. It's all been on a very slow boil.
Here it changes. The final quarter of the story all takes place in just a day or two. The battle is joined on several different stages at the same time. Champions on both sides are locked in mortal struggle. Plans and counter-plans set in motion like domino pieces. A build-up twenty volumes and many centuries in the making finally pays off, and it will not relent for a long time.
This one mostly focuses itself in Pride's efforts to capture some of their stray human sacrifices, in so doing solidifying Father's plan while crippling the heroic efforts to thwart it. It's a chaotic yet well-paced battle scene with its twists and turns and new allies showing up, and we're not yet even done with it as the volume ends! I think it might actually have stretched out a little bit too long, in places, but these things can take a while when your foe is immortal and you have a lot of side characters to give spotlight to.
Other than that there's a couple big explosions going on here and there, the return of some of Mustang's men from the war of Ishval (I liked these guys maybe more than I should have), and sideboob. It's a shame about Winry sitting out the final battle, but she's more maintenance and support anyway.
It only now occurs to me just how slow-paced this story has been up until now. You have a few fights here and there, but also a great deal of mystery, character development, exposition, season with horror to taste. Sometimes we've gone a volume or two without anything truly significant happening, and skipping days or even weeks entirely casually and with no need of commenting about it. It's all been on a very slow boil.
Here it changes. The final quarter of the story all takes place in just a day or two. The battle is joined on several different stages at the same time. Champions on both sides are locked in mortal struggle. Plans and counter-plans set in motion like domino pieces. A build-up twenty volumes and many centuries in the making finally pays off, and it will not relent for a long time.
This one mostly focuses itself in Pride's efforts to capture some of their stray human sacrifices, in so doing solidifying Father's plan while crippling the heroic efforts to thwart it. It's a chaotic yet well-paced battle scene with its twists and turns and new allies showing up, and we're not yet even done with it as the volume ends! I think it might actually have stretched out a little bit too long, in places, but these things can take a while when your foe is immortal and you have a lot of side characters to give spotlight to.
Other than that there's a couple big explosions going on here and there, the return of some of Mustang's men from the war of Ishval (I liked these guys maybe more than I should have), and sideboob. It's a shame about Winry sitting out the final battle, but she's more maintenance and support anyway.
March 10, 2022
4.5
“I want to bring back the dead.
I want money.
I want women.
I want to protect this world.
These thoughts all come from the same place, our ID. In other words, they’re our truest desires".
Me equivoqué en el tomo anterior. En este tomo donde comienza el clímax final, básicamente porque la autora mismo lo ha dicho que con este tomo comenzaba la cuenta atrás.
"Humans are truly beyond salvation".
Sinceramente es pasar cada página y esta todo tan tenso que me está dando hasta ansiedad (bueno, me lo estoy buscando yo sola, también lo digo. Además, las otras lecturas que tengo tampoco ayudan).
"We have a one-way ticket to the battefield. If we fail, we can never come back which is why there is only one order I can give to you all. DON’T DIE."
Lo único que sé es que me niego a bajarle menos de 4 estrellas y media. Se merecen estas estrellas y punto. Además, ese final me ha dejado loca.
"Its so nice to be back in the light."
“I want to bring back the dead.
I want money.
I want women.
I want to protect this world.
These thoughts all come from the same place, our ID. In other words, they’re our truest desires".
Me equivoqué en el tomo anterior. En este tomo donde comienza el clímax final, básicamente porque la autora mismo lo ha dicho que con este tomo comenzaba la cuenta atrás.
"Humans are truly beyond salvation".
Sinceramente es pasar cada página y esta todo tan tenso que me está dando hasta ansiedad (bueno, me lo estoy buscando yo sola, también lo digo. Además, las otras lecturas que tengo tampoco ayudan).
"We have a one-way ticket to the battefield. If we fail, we can never come back which is why there is only one order I can give to you all. DON’T DIE."
Lo único que sé es que me niego a bajarle menos de 4 estrellas y media. Se merecen estas estrellas y punto. Además, ese final me ha dejado loca.
"Its so nice to be back in the light."
March 11, 2021
I don't think I have mentioned how much I enjoy Arakawa's silly humorous interjections throughout the series. No matter how heavy or action-filled events are, someone will always take a moment to say something or do something that is just so dumb in the moment that you need to laugh. I always look forward to the little gag strips thrown into the Extras section at the end of the book too.
November 18, 2018
How can a few stop the overwhelming odds of evil? Here in FMA Vol. 21, Hiromu Arakawa brilliantly and methodically answers that question with a resounding message that beating the odds can be done with the right planning and teamwork.
What I love about this volume is how masterfully the chess pieces are out in place, with both sides so full of themselves as the ones who will emerge victorious. I totally appreciate the absence of brooding and grittiness among the characters while still telling a serious and compelling story. Arakawa really doesn't hold back in this final stretch. Everything is relentless and fun.
What I love about this volume is how masterfully the chess pieces are out in place, with both sides so full of themselves as the ones who will emerge victorious. I totally appreciate the absence of brooding and grittiness among the characters while still telling a serious and compelling story. Arakawa really doesn't hold back in this final stretch. Everything is relentless and fun.
August 3, 2017
OH MY GOD this volume was like one massive, tense fight scene. I literally could not put it down because I was so anxious about it. The bad guys in this series are creepy but I really love them- they have powers that are balanced but also kind of scary. In this volume there were a few moments where I got a little lost in the fight scenes because a lot was happening and the panelling was a little all over the place but I don't really care too much about that because I was still able to follow most of what was going on. Also yay the brothers are reunited and Hohenheim is with them too!
August 27, 2026
winry ends everyone and then goes shopping
June 19, 2021
This was another great volume and like continues the adventures. Ed meets up with his dad and they later find that Pride has taken control of Al's mechanical body and so its upto them to rescue him and also defeat Pride and Gluttony, meanwhile Roy prepares his team for a final assault now that the others are occupied meanwhile the big bad homunculus readies his move in central city. There are a lot of wheels turning and it was good to see brother vs brother and the drama that ensues and it shows the threat of Pride. Also loving the politics at the center of it and the characterizations. The final arc is coming!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2017
Is really General Armstrong on the same side with homunculus? Why?
September 27, 2021
From this moment forward, the story gets shaken up vigorously as the battle against Father becomes much more real. The volume mostly focuses on Pride's latest acquisition and his interference regarding Ed's group. As you'd think things seem hopeful, Pride does the unexpected to get stronger.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
February 16, 2017
I have like a lot of questions about Madame Christmas.
Read
December 20, 2023PRIDE TIME LETS GOOOOO
July 25, 2022
THIS WAS SO GOOD!!!
I think this is the first volume where I read it under an hour! SOOOOO intense!! And action-packed!!
I think this quote from what someone says to Scar truly reflects how all these different people with different backgrounds have come together to take down the villains:
"In order to change the world, you must first change yourself."
Truly everything about this volume was phenomenal though I was even more excited to see Greed/Lin in this volume because they are AWESOME!
Though OH MY GOODNESS AL!!! :o :o :o :o Like just no no no!!!
And then OH MY GOODNESS LANFAN!! She is EPIC!
Also Van! *sobs* I know I keep bringing him up, but my heart ached for him even more and just SO bummed I ever thought he was a villain!
Last also, Edward has really grown up! Like he just LOOKS grown up! Also I ship him and Winry so much! They are such a hoot together!!
So many spoilers I want to say in this review, but just know it is SOOOOo good and really think that we have finally come to the point where things are truly about to go down!
I think this is the first volume where I read it under an hour! SOOOOO intense!! And action-packed!!
I think this quote from what someone says to Scar truly reflects how all these different people with different backgrounds have come together to take down the villains:
"In order to change the world, you must first change yourself."
Truly everything about this volume was phenomenal though I was even more excited to see Greed/Lin in this volume because they are AWESOME!
Though OH MY GOODNESS AL!!! :o :o :o :o Like just no no no!!!
And then OH MY GOODNESS LANFAN!! She is EPIC!
Also Van! *sobs* I know I keep bringing him up, but my heart ached for him even more and just SO bummed I ever thought he was a villain!
Last also, Edward has really grown up! Like he just LOOKS grown up! Also I ship him and Winry so much! They are such a hoot together!!
So many spoilers I want to say in this review, but just know it is SOOOOo good and really think that we have finally come to the point where things are truly about to go down!
October 25, 2020
We have a one-way ticket to the battlefield. If we fail, we can never come back. Which is why there’s only one order I can give to you all. Don’t die.
como que me quedan 16 capítulos? 👁👄👁
como que me quedan 16 capítulos? 👁👄👁
Read
July 12, 2024Alfons Elrik u samurajskom oklopu je bio pravi *chef’s kiss* za sam kraj ovog broja “Alhemičara”.
August 29, 2024
- it seems like all of a sudeen, ed is looking more like an adult now and he even got taller!
- pride is really terrifying
- pride is really terrifying
April 5, 2022
Es muy curioso como aquí sí aplica la de “el enemigo de mi enemigo, es mi amigo”, porque todos los que alguna vez sufrieron bajo las garras de aquel “padre” que ha creado incontables homúnculos, ahora unieron fuerzas con los hermanos Elric.
Inclusive su padre, Van Hohenheim, resulta ser alguien que solo daba una mala impresión, cuando en realidad buscaba sosiego de su propia existencia.
En fin, en parte de este volumen vemos a Pride controlando el cuerpo de Alphonse para después enfrentarse contra Greed. Aunque, como siempre, todos forman un equipo y liberan a Alphonse de ese control. De nueva cuenta Pride absorbe a Gluttony y es así como puede hacerles frente por sí mismo gracias a su poderoso olfato.
Este volumen incluye los capítulos 84 – 87.
REVIEWS ANTERIORES:
Volumen 1 | Volumen 2 | Volumen 3 | Volumen 4 | Volumen 5 | Volumen 6 | Volumen 7 | Volumen 8 | Volumen 9 | Volumen 10 | Volumen 11 | Volumen 12 | Volumen 13 | Volumen 14 | Volumen 15 | Volumen 16 | Volumen 17 | Volumen 18 | Volumen 19 | Volumen 20
Inclusive su padre, Van Hohenheim, resulta ser alguien que solo daba una mala impresión, cuando en realidad buscaba sosiego de su propia existencia.
En fin, en parte de este volumen vemos a Pride controlando el cuerpo de Alphonse para después enfrentarse contra Greed. Aunque, como siempre, todos forman un equipo y liberan a Alphonse de ese control. De nueva cuenta Pride absorbe a Gluttony y es así como puede hacerles frente por sí mismo gracias a su poderoso olfato.
Este volumen incluye los capítulos 84 – 87.
REVIEWS ANTERIORES:
Volumen 1 | Volumen 2 | Volumen 3 | Volumen 4 | Volumen 5 | Volumen 6 | Volumen 7 | Volumen 8 | Volumen 9 | Volumen 10 | Volumen 11 | Volumen 12 | Volumen 13 | Volumen 14 | Volumen 15 | Volumen 16 | Volumen 17 | Volumen 18 | Volumen 19 | Volumen 20
November 8, 2009
Fullmetal Alchemist has consistently been among my favorite series to follow, and in these last few volumes, my sentiments haven't changed. This latest volume has it all - action, humor, suspense. Arakawa mentions at the beginning of the book that with these chapters, her story is entering its final stretch. I can't wait to see what's going to happen, but I'm going to be really sad when it's all over. Without a doubt the best shounen I've read or will probably read in a long, long time.
August 26, 2016
I don't love Ed, but I love Ed's coat.
March 22, 2021
Well! We are in the end game now!
April 30, 2023
And that's why kids terrify me.
Read
August 29, 2023i’m STRESSED
October 8, 2020
Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 21 continues where the previous tankōbon left off and contains the next four chapters (84–87) of the on-going manga series.
In Central, several soldiers, including Colonel Roy Mustang and his subordinates, prepare to defeat Father by destroying the train where Bradley is situated. Edward Elric meets Van Hohenheim, his father, again and this time the latter tells him his story with Father.
Meanwhile, Pride kidnaps Alphonse Elric and takes control of his armor using his ability to control shadows to attack Edward's group along with Gluttony. However, they are stopped by Fu and Lan Fan. Edward's group is then able to overpower Pride, who eventually loses control of Alphonse. As a result, Pride eats Gluttony to absorb his Philosopher's Stone and become stronger.
This tankōbon is written and illustrated by Hiromu Arakawa. The relationship between Van Hohenheim and Father is further established, while the battle against Father is heightened as the military prepares an all-out attack on him. Meanwhile, the mechanism of Pride continues as he takes over Alphonse Elric's body to attack his brother.
All in all, Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 21 is a wonderful continuation to a series that seems really intriguing and I can't wait to read more.
In Central, several soldiers, including Colonel Roy Mustang and his subordinates, prepare to defeat Father by destroying the train where Bradley is situated. Edward Elric meets Van Hohenheim, his father, again and this time the latter tells him his story with Father.
Meanwhile, Pride kidnaps Alphonse Elric and takes control of his armor using his ability to control shadows to attack Edward's group along with Gluttony. However, they are stopped by Fu and Lan Fan. Edward's group is then able to overpower Pride, who eventually loses control of Alphonse. As a result, Pride eats Gluttony to absorb his Philosopher's Stone and become stronger.
This tankōbon is written and illustrated by Hiromu Arakawa. The relationship between Van Hohenheim and Father is further established, while the battle against Father is heightened as the military prepares an all-out attack on him. Meanwhile, the mechanism of Pride continues as he takes over Alphonse Elric's body to attack his brother.
All in all, Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 21 is a wonderful continuation to a series that seems really intriguing and I can't wait to read more.
November 17, 2022
Decía el otro día que la sensación era que la trama estaba a punto desbocarse. Abrir el tomo y ver que le autore dice exactamente lo mismo en la solapa ha sido gracioso xD.
Y... uau. Me ha gustado mucho. Qué tensión, qué cliffhangers, que manera de leer pegado al tomo, esperando a saber un poco más. Qué pelos de punta pone Selim.
Y... uau. Me ha gustado mucho. Qué tensión, qué cliffhangers, que manera de leer pegado al tomo, esperando a saber un poco más. Qué pelos de punta pone Selim.
August 6, 2017
Gran rientro di Lan Fan e la guerriglia di Mustang prende il via.
September 18, 2017
YOU CAN NOT LEAVE ME HANGING LIKE THAT.
March 3, 2021
Fun installment. We're getting to the point in the series (only 6 books left!) where everything is coming to a crisis. And all of the players—including ones I don't remember as well—are showing up again.
December 13, 2021
9/10
Ooohhh my boooooysss 🥺🥺🥺🥺
Ooohhh my boooooysss 🥺🥺🥺🥺
Displaying 1 - 30 of 239 reviews