Fullmetal Alchemist

Recently, I've found it nearly impossible to find a good shonen series to watch or read. It's gotten to the point where if something even remotely resembles shonen, I avoid it with an almost untamed fury. Yet, why do I keep coming back? Why do I still search for shonen manga to read? The answer lies in series like Fullmetal Alchemist.

When it comes to critiquing, I can be quite merciless. Some people who have read my reviews of their favorite series might think I consider myself a know-it-all, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Often, I hear "but they make a lot of money" as a defense against my critiques, but I've never seen financial success as a valid excuse for a drop in quality. Hiromu Arakawa seems to understand this well. She didn't write just to make money; she wrote because she had a great idea, a compelling fantasy world, and engaging characters. As an aspiring novelist, this is something I deeply respect and one of the reasons I'm proud to call myself a fan of FMA.

Story:
The story of Fullmetal Alchemist hits close to home for me because I lost my mother when I was around four years old. Like Edward and Alphonse, I once hoped for magic that could bring her back. Their ambition led them to face gruesome consequences, and recognizing their mistakes, they embarked on a journey. This journey immersed them in a world filled with colorful characters and a meticulously designed setting. While alchemy has been used in other series, Arakawa's take will be remembered for its uniqueness and depth.

Art:
In an AIM group chat, I once heard someone say that Fullmetal Alchemist's art is simple, but I can't agree. Although I can't draw to save my life, there's something remarkable about Arakawa's illustrations. As an aspiring writer, anything added to the story should have a certain charm that makes it memorable. The art in Fullmetal Alchemist achieves this. Even if it appears simple, it doesn't hinder your ability to fall in love with the series.

Characters:
Just as the art should have charm, so should the characters. Here's a riddle: "How do you get a reader to miss a villain without giving them a sappy backstory?" "How do you make a minor character unforgettable?" I don't have all the answers, but Arakawa figured it out. Not a single character in FMA struck me as one-dimensional. Even when I thought, "This guy is an evil bastard," I never found any character appalling enough to criticize Arakawa for creating. What drives a story are its plot and characters, which Fullmetal Alchemist exemplifies.

Enjoyment:
If it wasn't already clear, I truly enjoyed this series. I remember the moments spent catching up with it and the "Fullmetal Alchemist withdrawal" I experienced afterward. Before starting, I had only seen the first anime, so I didn't know what to expect. Upon reading, I immediately noticed the differences and appreciated how the first anime served as a loving adaptation.

Overall:
At this point, there isn't much more to say. If you're looking for an engaging fantasy series with charming art and a compelling story, then Fullmetal Alchemist is for you. The fights are great, but they shouldn't be your primary focus. There's much more to this manga. Even though Hiromu Arakawa will likely never see this, I congratulate her for creating such a fantastic shonen series in a time when they are few and far between.

Fullmetal Alchemist is a series that certainly deserves praise for its plot and character development, but it is held back by its lack of risk-taking and experimentation.

The story follows two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, as they search for the Philosopher's Stone, a mythical item that could restore their lost bodies after a failed attempt to resurrect their deceased mother. Along the way, they uncover a sinister government conspiracy that threatens not just their country, but the entire world.

The narrative is meticulously planned, with a structured progression that ensures constant plot development and engagement. There are almost no plot holes, and while occasional conveniences arise, the series makes excellent use of established elements. From power-ups to plot twists and fight scenes, everything remains consistent and well-explained, which is commendable.

However, this consistency also leads to what I consider the major flaws of Fullmetal Alchemist. The series rarely takes risks or ventures beyond typical shonen tropes, compounded by a noticeable lack of unique personality.

The main characters and their allies are interesting, with clear motivations, but few undergo significant character growth beyond early ideological shifts or forced dramatic moments. Many are underutilized until the very end. While character development isn't always necessary for a good story, given the intense events and themes explored, the characters feel somewhat bland and underdeveloped, a missed opportunity.

The villains are a mixed bag. While there are many, only a few are well-developed or have motivations beyond being generically evil. This is especially true for the main villain, who I find poorly written and uninteresting.

Action scenes are also rather unengaging. Although there are no silly power-ups or deus ex machinas, the fights often lack strategic depth or mind games. They usually consist of repetitive dodging and attacking sequences, which can become monotonous.

The series does deserve praise for its maturity and themes, offering insightful commentary on war, the cycle of hatred, forgiveness, and love. However, the tonal dichotomy between the light-hearted and comedic elements sometimes feels out of place, though some humor genuinely works well.

The art is solid, if not exceptional. Paneling, framing, and impacts are dynamic and well-executed, with facial expressions particularly standing out, effectively conveying emotion.

In summary, Fullmetal Alchemist had immense potential that wasn't fully realized. While it excels in many areas deserving of genuine praise, it lacks the flair and truly engaging storytelling found in other standout shonen series. It has a strong foundation but falls short of being exceptional.

Fullmetal Alchemist is set in a fictional world that closely resembles real-world Europe. It follows two brothers who are prodigies in alchemy for their age. Their father is absent, and they only have their mother, who passes away due to an illness. In an attempt to use their alchemical knowledge to bring her back to life, they fail miserably. As a result, one brother loses his entire body, while the other loses an arm and a leg. However, he manages to bond his brother's soul to a suit of armor using his alchemical skills. The primary goal of the series is for them to correct their mistake and restore their bodies. Along the way, they make many friends and enemies, growing up and maturing as they pursue their objective. The story is filled with laughter, tears, and excitement, making it an excellent shonen manga. There is plenty of action to keep you engaged. I highly recommend this as a starter manga.

This manga is truly fantastic. I adore the characters, the artwork, and the storyline. The emotional depth of the characters makes me feel as if I'm right there, witnessing everything firsthand! Additionally, the suspense keeps me hooked, making me eager to read more and uncover what happens next. It's an excellent manga, and I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for new chapters! =3

A remarkable story about revenge, redemption, forgiveness, love, and brotherhood.

Story:
Fullmetal Alchemist is widely regarded as one of the greatest animanga works ever created. Many call it "flawless" and "perfect," and after finishing this masterpiece, I can confidently say these claims are not exaggerated. FMA boasts a compelling storyline, fantastic art, an excellent ensemble cast, memorable villains, and a masterfully executed conclusion. Unlike many other works that attempt to delve into deep themes merely for commercial success, FMA teaches valuable life lessons and reshapes our perspectives with its eloquent philosophy. It's truly exceptional and doesn't shy away from showcasing its brilliance.

Characters:
Edward Elric, Alphonse Elric, and Winry Rockbell form the core trio, and they are nothing short of fantastic. Edward is intelligent, cool-headed, determined, multi-layered, profound, humorous, and one of the best protagonists ever (#1 Ed; #2 Zack Fair; #3 Sousuke Sagara). Alphonse is kind, helpful, resourceful, and has a distinct personality. Winry is supportive, adorable, likable, and an outstanding female lead. Roy Mustang is a fierce leader, and his partner Riza Hawkeye is equally impressive. Memorable supporting characters like Maes, Trisha, Hohenheim, and Alex Louis Armstrong, along with his sister Olivier, make a formidable team. Each character has a unique personality and a deeply moving backstory, contributing to their gripping development. In short, they are all great in their own ways.

The antagonists/villains deserve their own spotlight. Lust stands out as one of the best villainesses with her majestic design and seductive persona, always stealing every scene she's in. Her companions Envy and Gluttony have solid characterizations. Greed, Wrath, Sloth, Pride, and Father form a fearsome group that commands respect. They're not evil just for the sake of it, unlike some villains from other series (e.g., Laughing Coffin from SAO). Their motivations are clearly laid out as the story progresses. My advice: don't get too attached to them since their fate is sealed, and they are destined to perish, as this is not a morally grey work. It clearly distinguishes good from evil, which is why Hiromu Arakawa is my favorite author/mangaka of all time (aside from the prophets who wrote the Bible).

Art:
The artwork is phenomenal. Every illustration conveys emotion effectively. The fight scenes are engaging, and the romantic moments are heartwarming (note: romance is a minor subplot, so don't expect much of it). Each cover is a work of art, with unique and eye-catching character designs. Everyone looks distinct from one another, and there's a wide variety of races, colors, and ethnicities represented respectfully and organically. It's amazing, to say the least. I'm glad Hiromu Arakawa is such a prominent name in the anime industry due to her writing and art because she truly is the best.

Enjoyment/Overall:
Despite some blasphemies and anti-Christian messages, Fullmetal Alchemist stands out as the most well-written manga of all time. It surpasses the Big Three, Berserk, and Neon Genesis Evangelion. Everything flows naturally—the characters are well-developed, and the illustrations are phenomenal. In summary:
Fullmetal Alchemist is a groundbreaking, life-changing masterpiece.

I'm afraid I'm a huge FMA fan, giving it a perfect 10 for everything because I'm just that enthusiastic, haha.

Story: If I were to tell you the entire storyline, this review would never end. So, let me make it short and sweet for those who haven't read it before. Essentially, it's about alchemy, where one needs to draw a transmutation circle to perform alchemy. The two main characters are Edward Elric (Ed) and Alphonse Elric (Al), known as the Elric brothers. They're quite popular and famous. I think they're geniuses because they're exceptionally good at alchemy from a young age, which is no small feat for children. In brief, the story revolves around alchemy, these two brothers, and, as with many action shounen manga/anime, there are villains. The primary antagonists are the Seven Sins: Lust, Gluttony, Envy, Wrath, Sloth, Greed, and Pride. These are Homunculi created by a man called "Father," who has some nefarious plans that could potentially lead to the destruction of the country Amestris. To find out what his plan is, you'll have to read it yourself. I highly recommend giving this comedy, shounen, action, adventure manga a chance—you won't regret it, hehe. It really makes you laugh :D

Art: The artwork is pretty good and detailed. The author's creativity is brilliant, especially with the weird expressions Ed and Al make in the manga (seriously hilarious).

Character: You'll truly come to love the characters in this manga. Their personalities and characteristics are so endearing. My favorites are Edward and Roy Mustang, and I bet you'll love them too.

Enjoyment: I thoroughly enjoyed reading this manga and can't wait for the next chapter to be released because it's still ongoing, so I have to wait :3

Overall, I have to say it's an awesome manga full of laughter and maybe even tears if you're sensitive. But you'll come to really love this manga. Hope my review was helpful! Enjoy reading the manga! Have a nice day :D

A little bit of spoilers--

Gosh, this was such an enjoyable read! I can't believe it took me so long to finish it. I absolutely love the show, and reading the manga felt like getting the biggest "welcome back" hug ever. :)

In a way, it was an odd time to read this since my mind is still buzzing with Attack on Titan, but it was also so nice to return to something familiar. The story is expansive yet easy to follow, with all its different threads fitting together brilliantly. I had forgotten how funny it is! It's not necessarily laugh-out-loud funny, but there are plenty of moments that elicit a smile. While many people don't appreciate the humor, I quite enjoy it. And wow, I love how characters from different arcs end up interacting and working together! It all makes sense and is SO good and SO fun.

One specific thing I noticed was how well the Ishbalan conflict was handled in the manga. In the show, it was condensed into one episode, but here it spanned several chapters and was very engaging to read. On the flip side, while no disrespect to the manga, I felt Envy's death was better executed in the anime. However, I did appreciate the manga's detail where Envy confesses that Edward understood his true nature, which didn't happen in the anime. This added another layer of almost-but-not-quite sympathy for Envy and showed how perceptive he was about humanity. What a great character. Everyone is! :) (Except you, Shou Tucker; I hate you.)

I'm definitely not an art expert, but I did notice some things. Firstly, the faces were quite expressive, which impressed me. However, sometimes it was difficult to tell exactly what was happening in panels, especially during fight scenes and those involving lots of alchemy. It makes sense; you can't draw every movement of each character. Luckily, I have the show to clear it up for me. Reading this has made me appreciate how well-animated the show is, especially in the final 20ish chapters (i.e., the big final battle).

In conclusion, this was a really fun read! But I'm not sure how much of that enjoyment came from already knowing the story and characters and reading this as a "welcome back" for myself. This experience has definitely ignited a desire in me to read more manga. Still, I think I am more of an anime watcher—the combination of the story and huge breadth of characters from the manga plus the music/sound and animation of the show elevates it to a whole new level. <3