Fullmetal Alchemist

Two young individuals endure immense suffering, each carrying their own unique burden. After some time to recover—which is natural, as humans need time to heal after experiencing hardship—they begin their journey. They don't stop, even after years have passed, each following their own path.

One of the fantastic aspects of this manga is how alive it feels. The characters are vivid and realistic. This isn't just a simple drama; the issues explored are much deeper and more intricately developed. Arakawa-sensei is truly a master.

You will fall in love with 90% of the characters.

The plot is intense and gripping. I read it as it was being released, eagerly waiting for the final chapters, feeling the tension and anticipation for the ultimate resolution.

As an aspiring artist (and I learned a lot from her art), not only do I recommend this manga, but I believe it should be mandatory reading for every fan or enthusiast of Japanese culture or anime. It has everything: drama, suspense, action, and romance.

10/10

Fullmetal Alchemist was the first anime/manga I ever encountered, and even after exploring numerous other stories, it remains my favorite. Perhaps I'm a bit biased since it was the series that truly introduced me to the world of anime, but I genuinely believe it is an extraordinary work.

The artwork is stunning. It's among the best I've seen, keeping your eyes glued to the pages, which is essential for manga. After all, who wants to look at something that isn't visually appealing?

The story is another standout feature. It doesn’t just consist of one battle scene after another; when there are battles, they have depth and purpose, not just intensity for its own sake. The narrative follows two brothers trying to improve their lives after facing significant hardships. You get to join them on their journey and watch them grow. Whether you enjoy comedy, action, or romance, this series has something for everyone. It encompasses all the elements of a memorable story.

The characters are yet another reason to keep reading. There’s a character in this series for everyone to love.

It's a decent show and nothing more. The positive aspects have already been mentioned, so I'll focus on what I disliked:

The comic relief characters, like Major Armstrong, really annoyed me. Alphonse can't feel anything because he has no body, yet he can see even though he has no eyes. They make it clear that transmuting gold is possible and the army wouldn't necessarily notice, but it's forbidden, so everyone behaves—sure, that's how people would act.

Edward can transmute without drawing a circle, but he doesn't use alchemy to its full potential in combat and instead focuses on his fists. The homunculi could detain the "precious sacrifices" at any time they want; the pathetic humans never stood a chance if not for the arrogant behavior of the homunculi.

"Revenge is bad," Roy says, but why can't you kill Envy? Stupid children's rubbish. "We won't use the souls of Xerxes to get our bodies back, even though they are already dead and can't be brought back, but for some reason, it's just bad or evil to do so."

No writer and manga artist could create such an amazing manga with the level of passion that Hiromu Arakawa has demonstrated in her series Fullmetal Alchemist. Seriously, it's evident that the author went to great lengths in research, practice, and hard work to please her fans. The Fullmetal Alchemist series stands in a category of its own as the quintessence of modern manga, one that very few can even hope to compare to.

Firstly, the story. The author skillfully integrates relatable and deeply human moral elements into a complex narrative of mystery and adventure shared between two main characters and numerous supporting ones. Not only is the storytelling superb, but it also comes with artwork that can only be described as flawless.

As for the characters, reading the series allows you to truly appreciate the amount of background work done on each individual. Each character has excellent substance, making every one of them relevant to the main story without overshadowing the central figures as the plot progresses.

Truly, the Fullmetal Alchemist series is unparalleled. It is inviting, motivating, deep, and intricate in its storytelling, delivering its magnificence with unmatched excellence.

I believe everyone who wrote a review has already given ample praise, but I'd like to add my own voice to the chorus.

I had known about the series for years, but I didn't start reading it until a couple of months ago. I genuinely regret not diving into this fascinating story sooner. The characters are meticulously crafted, the plot is consistent and original, and the world-building is unlike anything I've ever encountered.

This series is so engrossing that you can lose yourself in it for hours on end. Throughout the entire read, I was never pulled out of the story (except during moments of comedic relief, which I absolutely adore. The humor in this manga is truly refreshing and always leaves me grinning from ear to ear). Every character introduced feels necessary and natural, never forced or superfluous. The plot evokes a wide range of emotions. Most importantly, as the series concludes, it's immensely satisfying. I don't think any other series has impressed me, satisfied me, or kept me hooked as much as this one has. I will undoubtedly return to the wonderful world of Fullmetal Alchemist again and again.

What can one say about a masterpiece? All good things must come to an end, and that's precisely what happened with FMA's legendary run. When I finished the last chapter today, I genuinely shed a tear of joy for all the character development and the numerous plot points I had been rooting for since following this manga (for the past three years). The two anime adaptations significantly enhance the enjoyment and deepen the storyline, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats with anticipation and speculation.

The best thing about FMA is not just its story but its vividly alive characters. While the narrative is undoubtedly fantastical, the relationships between the characters are as real as you and me. Of course, it’s not serious all the time; the humor and character growth over time are what make this a classic. For instance, Ed started off with a height complex, always complaining about being "chibi." The most embarrassing moment was when he was rejected by Winry in a childhood game of who would marry her, simply because he was shorter than her. Well, he grew out of that, and I loved how things turned out.

It's easy to make heroes good, but what about the villains? The depth of character among all the homunculi, the constant second-guessing, sub-plots, and a wide array of well-conceptualized characters are just a few elements that keep readers addicted to the story. When it seemed like everything might fail, the fabulous ending showcased by sheer determination of the protagonists was simply EPIC!

I will miss this story and would love to read more from Arakawa-sensei. Overall score: 10.

Nothing but superlatives across the board. I would give this series a 100 if the site allowed it.

It's probably one of the most interesting and deep manga I have read so far. The interplay of good and evil, and the decisions people have to make as they navigate these extremes, is fascinating.

Most of the characters are incredibly likable, especially Ed Elric and Roy Mustang! Even when they're not likable, they're still interesting. The sins—Gluttony, Greed, Envy, Lust—are so intriguing. The art is fantastic, with all characters looking distinct and all fight scenes well-executed.

I'm also impressed by how tight the writing is. Not a single page is wasted, and the story was clearly developed with a lot of thought and planning. As I read through the manga, I often revisited previous chapters and saw old scenes in a new light, thinking, "Ah! So THAT's what that was!" Some moments genuinely blew my mind. The ending was perfect—it was EPIC. Everything came together beautifully. The story is so good and complex that I've re-read it multiple times, discovering something new each time.

This is a perfect story with many complex themes. Despite its dark elements, like genocide, there are plenty of funny moments, mostly coming from Mustang and his crew or Mustang's banter with Ed, or Ed's height complex.

Among completed manga, this one is my favorite so far. It's rare to find such perfection in manga, but this series achieves it. I give it my highest recommendation. (Also, the anime FMA: Brotherhood closely follows the manga and is basically AMAZING. Watch it!)

By far, the best way to experience this series is through the manga; neither of the anime adaptations come close. Some people claim that the manga and Brotherhood are practically the same, but I have to strongly disagree. The pacing in the manga is absolutely perfect, never rushing or dragging, spending just enough time on each point to give it impact before smoothly transitioning to the next. It gradually builds up each character, and by the end, the cast feels impressively large while still ensuring every character is well-developed and has just the right amount of screen time without being overused. Every character is written excellently, and the various mysteries of the series are revealed in ways that make sense and manage to be surprising twists that don't feel out of place. The first time I finished this series, my immediate thought was that I wanted to experience it all over again. Read the manga, and once you're done, if you really enjoyed it, then watch both the 2003 version and Brotherhood.

I purchased a box set of Fullmetal Alchemist after hearing numerous positive reviews about the series. However, after finishing the entire series in just two weeks, I felt quite disappointed, likely due to my high expectations. The story starts off very slowly and only begins to get somewhat more interesting halfway through. There are many unnecessary side plots. For instance, the subplot involving the librarian girl took up almost an entire volume but never amounted to anything significant or appeared again in later volumes; it felt like filler content.

I found the characters, especially the villains, to be underdeveloped. I couldn't bring myself to care about any of them. I wouldn't classify this series as an action manga since the action scenes are its weakest aspect. There is no proper explanation of the power system. The author established a rule that to create something using alchemy, one must sacrifice something in return. But this rule barely comes into play except for setting up the initial character (the brother without a body). Overall, reading the series felt like a drag. In my opinion, it is overrated.

Took me over ten years to finally read it, but it was worth the wait. While I don't think it's the best manga of all time, it does explore topics that few other series dare to touch. What would you do if you discovered your government was committing genocide? How does engaging in inhumane acts affect a person's soul over time? What are you truly willing to sacrifice to achieve your goals in a world where the impossible can become possible?

Beyond these themes, however, I wasn't as impressed as I had expected to be. The artwork is consistently excellent, but the battles are rather unimaginative for a series where characters can manipulate elements with a clap of their hands. Most of the combat alchemy we see involves turning the ground into fists, which feels a bit silly. Ed's automail is a great concept, though it's odd that hand-to-hand combat overshadows his alchemy. The different styles from other alchemists add some variety, but for being geniuses, the Elric brothers come up with surprisingly mundane attacks.

I know that critiquing the fight scenes might seem petty for a series focused more on human experiences than just "good fights," but as a highly regarded shonen series, I did expect to see more unique and innovative action sequences. Still, it's a great series with an intriguing world, enjoyable characters, and a mix of humor juxtaposed with some truly gruesome moments. The heavy themes leave a lasting impression. If you haven't read it yet, like I hadn't for so long, go for it! The new hardcover editions are fantastic.