Fullmetal Alchemist

My review is focused on Fullmetal Alchemist, which I consider one of the finest mangas due to its well-developed plot, beautiful art, and unique characters.

Story (10): Fullmetal Alchemist boasts one of the most compelling storylines among all the mangas I've read. The author meticulously crafted the narrative, ensuring a coherent and engaging progression. While some parts may initially seem unrelated, they ultimately tie into the overarching storyline. Even minor details often play significant roles in the overall plot.

Art (8): Hiromu Arakawa strikes an excellent balance with her artwork, providing enough detail without overwhelming the reader. Her drawings are clear and expressive, making it easy to understand the emotions and situations depicted. Considering the vast number of characters in Fullmetal Alchemist, she does a commendable job in designing each one uniquely.

Character (10): Despite the large cast, every character stands out with their distinct personalities. Their development is intricately woven into the story through backstories and experiences, giving readers a realistic sense of their struggles and growth. This makes the characters relatable and adds depth to the narrative.

Enjoyment (9): Fullmetal Alchemist is thoroughly enjoyable, and I look forward to seeing how it continues to evolve. I recommend it not only to fans of fantasy manga but also to anyone who appreciates a good story. It has broad appeal and can be enjoyed by many.

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Story: 10

Art: 8

Character: 10

Enjoyment: 9

Overall score: 9/10

FMA features numerous mini-stories that gradually connect and create a really cool experience. Alchemists are incredibly powerful, and there are so many different types of alchemy that I found this series fascinating for the science behind it.

It started off really well, capturing my interest right away. The characters are great, each with a slightly sad backstory.

The story was truly great, though I would have liked more of an epilogue.

I find it strange that there are two anime series, and one of the movies even features Adolf Hitler.

Fullmetal Alchemist is one of the most remarkable and captivating series I've had the pleasure to read. The combination of brilliant characters, an outstanding plot, intriguing settings, and thoughtful concepts drew me in from the very start.

Story: (10) I rate this series a 10 for its story. Fullmetal's plot is among the most well-developed and engaging I have encountered in manga. Every event has a reaction that plays a larger role in the story than you might expect.

Art: (8) I give this series an 8 for its art. Hiromu Arakawa undoubtedly has tremendous skill in expressing emotions and human anatomy. However, her work occasionally slips, with some issues more noticeable than others. The fact that she works on multiple series simultaneously affects the consistency of her art. Despite these occasional lapses, Arakawa's dedication to the characters, plots, and settings makes up for any shortcomings.

Character: (9) With every character introduced, Arakawa never fails to surprise me. Fullmetal's characters are some of the most well-developed I have ever come across. Their unique personalities effectively influence other characters and the plot, and their backstories are explored with such detail and emotion that the characters alone could keep me dedicated to this series.

Enjoyment: (10) I have followed this series since its August 2001 debut, and it has never lost my interest or hit a dull note. The excitement, suspense, sadness, anger, and happiness I have felt alongside the characters amazes me.

Overall: (10) Overall, I give this series a 10. This series is definitely worth my time and money, and I highly recommend it to everyone!

Fullmetal Alchemist isn't spectacular. By this, I mean that nothing about the art or the plot immediately strikes the audience as impressive or unique. The artwork is neither flashy nor highly detailed; it merely gets the job done. The action sequences are easy to follow from panel to panel and just dynamic enough to be interesting. The characters are distinguishable despite their simple designs, and some of them look pretty cool. Overall, the art is solid and never hinders the audience's enjoyment. Sometimes, that’s enough. The only times I ever took issue with the style were when the characters were morphed into chibis in a weak attempt at comedy.

Speaking of comedy, it’s not particularly effective. Early on, there are many repetitive running gags that do little more than pull me out of the story. Such blatant attempts to appeal to the audience can backfire if poorly executed, making it feel like a slap in the face through the fourth wall. However, it seems the mangaka realized this direction wasn’t working and shifted towards a more serious tone as the series progressed.

The plot itself rarely deviates from a single unified arc, becoming more apparent towards the middle of the series. It’s clear that the overarching storyline was meticulously planned from start to finish. Major villains and allies remain consistent throughout the manga, contributing to a sense of unity and harmony that reinforces the main themes. There are no major power-ups or ridiculous plot twists. All developments are logical and well-paced.

Unfortunately, the action can sometimes be a weak point. Several characters use special alchemy techniques to interesting effect, but Ed’s fighting style is rather pedestrian by comparison. Still, the concept of equivalent exchange lends the fights a sense of reason and rationality that I appreciate. This makes the battles feel less contrived, something the genre often struggles with. Additionally, nothing is dragged out unnecessarily, and mid-fight dialogue or flashbacks are kept in check. Fullmetal Alchemist avoids many common pitfalls of battle shounen and brings a rare sense of logic to the genre.

The characters are mostly static, with no unexpected development. At times, they can feel like cardboard cut-outs. Yet, within the context, some of these characters come across quite well. Character development occurs through increased insight and information rather than linear progression. This approach is sensible given the relatively short time frame of the series. While there is some subtle character growth, it is slight and clear when seen. Characters don’t undergo drastic personality changes; instead, we learn more about them over time. This makes the manga somewhat reminiscent of a well-structured canvas painting. It’s one unified image, but as you look closer, you notice more details and see a story emerge. There are imperfections, but these flaws don’t ruin the whole.

The issue with this picture is that the foreground is probably weaker than the background, which is where our eyes are drawn. Ed’s character is mostly defined by basic traits, habits, and general goals, lacking nuance. This intentional simplicity aims to avoid alienating any part of the audience, but it can be irritating for those seeking depth. Al’s character feels somewhat empty, especially after his contrived existential crisis was quickly resolved and never revisited. These criticisms apply to many characters to varying degrees. Even as we delve deeper into their stories, they don’t feel entirely real. That said, they are entertaining and serve their purpose. Ed isn’t always the focus, and even minor characters are established early and given essential roles. Rather than individual characters being well-written, what stands out are their interactions and relationships with one another, and how they fit into the plot. Every character has purpose and motivation, even if they don’t feel completely organic. Removing any character could cause the plot to collapse, indicating that no character is superfluous or forgotten. This speaks more to the strength of the plot than the characterization, but it’s still a positive aspect.

Overall, Fullmetal Alchemist is solid. Most of its imperfections are minor and don’t affect the core of the series. Nothing about it is exceptionally original, but it adds up to a very well-structured and cohesive work that avoids many common mistakes. Despite its popularity, it never overstayed its welcome and remained relatively concise. However, it doesn’t achieve much that I haven’t seen done as well or better elsewhere. It’s simply less flawed than most similar works. This holistic uniqueness is commendable, but on closer inspection, it’s not as critically impressive.

The lack of originality or risk-taking factors against Fullmetal Alchemist, but its form and presentation warrant a solid 7. It’s quite good, but not quite great.

One of my favorite manga, alongside Berserk. I bought the first and second volumes on a whim when I was 7 at a book festival in Montreal. They looked cool, and I had just played a demo of an FMA game on the PS2 before going. Without realizing it, I had purchased the first two volumes of what would become one of the best, if not the best, manga out there. I hadn't even made it back home yet when I had already finished both books and was craving more. As a first-time manga reader, I was completely amazed.

I strongly urge all of you to give it a try if you haven't already. The manga has nothing to do with the original FMA anime, and in my opinion, that's for the better. If you enjoyed the anime, then it's even better because you get twice as much FMA! Seriously, read it. The story is fantastic, as everyone knows, and the characters are exceptionally well-crafted, designed, and incredibly interesting and lovable.

One of those series that doesn't particularly excel in any single area, but all the components are solid enough to provide a strong foundation. The art is decent, though not outstanding, and the same can be said for the characters, villains, and world-building, which has an industrial-era Germany vibe.

The strongest aspect of FMA is arguably the bond between the brothers and their tragic backstory. This fits well into the narrative, giving a clear reason for their actions rather than them just being stubborn kids with random ambitions, like wanting to be pirates. I found Winry's character and her awkward romance with Ed to be less appealing, and their comedic moments often felt lacking.

I appreciate that the show had a well-planned beginning, middle, and end, rather than constantly introducing new villains and conflicts. Overall, it's a good manga, but I slightly prefer the Brotherhood adaptation. It's one of the few series where I think the anime version works better than the original manga.

Fullmetal Alchemist was a complex series that I wanted to dive into, especially since I had only seen parts of Brotherhood and was considering watching the 2003 anime series. The best solution was to read the manga, and it turned out to be an AMAZING experience.

--Story--

The story is set in a fully steampunk fantasy version of World War-era Germany, following two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric. They are searching for the Philosopher's Stone after a tragic alchemy accident that cost Alphonse his entire body, leaving him as a soul in a suit of armor, and Edward losing an arm and a leg. Along their journey, they encounter allies and enemies while uncovering the world's secrets.

The narrative is well-crafted, balancing seriousness with humor. It tackles themes like war, genocide, hatred, and the conflict between science and religion.

(Story: 10/10)

--Characters--

The characters are the heart of the series, with extensive development for both main and side characters. My favorite character is Scar. Initially driven by revenge against the military and alchemists for the genocide of his people, the Ishvalans, he eventually realizes that hatred only breeds more hatred and transforms into a better person.

(Characters: 9/10)

--Art--

The art is crisp, with engaging action scenes that complement the detailed backgrounds and vast settings. Character designs blend elements of shonen and seinen styles.

(Art: 9/10)

--Conclusion--

Overall, Fullmetal Alchemist is my second favorite manga. It boasts a well-written story, compelling characters, high stakes, thrilling action scenes, and humorous moments.

Some plot spoilers ahead :)

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 with my mind still buzzing from Attack on Titan, but it was also nice to return to something familiar. The story is expansive yet easy to follow, which is absolutely brilliant. I had forgotten how funny it is! It's not laugh-out-loud funny, but there are plenty of moments that make you smile. While many people don't appreciate the humor, I quite enjoy it. And it's amazing how characters from different arcs end up interacting and working together—it all makes perfect sense! It's SO good and SO fun.

One 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, Envy's death scene felt better executed in the anime. However, the manga added a detail where Envy confesses that Edward understood his true nature, which wasn't 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 else is fantastic too, except Shou Tucker—hate him.)

I'm no art expert, but I did notice some things. The faces were quite expressive, which impressed me. However, sometimes it was hard to tell exactly what was happening in panels, especially during fight scenes involving lots of alchemy. It makes sense—you can't draw every single movement—but 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 revisiting it as a "welcome back" for myself. This experience has definitely sparked a desire in me to read more manga. Still, I think I prefer watching anime—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. ❤️

Fullmetal Alchemist is one of the most profound mangas a person could ever read. Its purpose isn't merely to narrate a cliché, mundane story. Instead, it reshapes your way of thinking and alters your perspective on life.

At first glance, the plot may not seem particularly engaging, but as you delve deeper, you discover its profound layers. As someone who doesn't get easily surprised and often predicts how things will unfold after reading just half of the manga, I must admit that the author truly astonished me many times.

The author is someone I hold in high regard. Extremely original and a true professional. When I was nearing the end of the series, I realized something: events from over 40 chapters ago suddenly made sense. It felt like the author had known the ending even when she was only halfway through the story. Her command of language is remarkable (I have an MS Word document with 8 pages full of quotes :D).

The artwork is another aspect I greatly appreciated. The subtle evolution of some characters over time is truly admirable. Art is a crucial part of the manga (obviously), and even if the story is great but the art is poor, it would significantly diminish the overall experience.

The enjoyment factor is noteworthy. What really stands out is the blend of humor within a serious and deep manga like this. Even in intensely serious situations, there's always room for jokes :D.

If you're unsure whether to read Fullmetal Alchemist, I highly recommend giving it a try. You won't regret it, and you might learn a lot of valuable lessons along the way.