![]() ![]() What’s initially framed as a solid, yet by-the-numbers shonen adventure boldly plunges off the deep end, dragging your heart into the abyss and never letting go. Granted, Arakawa’s great characters and creativity with alchemy does make for thrilling action (the train heist counterattack being a standout) and good drama, but while their respective scenarios aren’t necessarily tired, the first four chapters aren’t anything we haven’t seen before.Īnd then, just like that, Arakawa deals her hand with the infamous chimera story. Her rookie status is evident in the first several chapters: anyone familiar with shonen should recognize the oppressed towns, scheming government officials and criminal gangs that often open such stories, not merely showcasing how our new heroes duke it out but intertwining their goal with small-scale conflicts (in this case, a false prophet utilizing what’s apparently the Philosopher’s Stone). Having learned full well the cost of messing with the laws of alchemy, the pair become full-fledged alchemists and set out on a journey to retrieve the legendary Philosopher’s Stone, which may hold the power to grant their original bodies back.Īs I understand it, Fullmetal Alchemist was not merely what immortalized Hiromu Arakawa into stardom, but her first serialized work. ![]() ![]() (However, I am aware of certain edits involving swear words/religious symbols these edits, retained or reverted, will surely be noted in future reviews)įor any anime/manga fan who’s been living under a rock for the past fourteen or so years, Fullmetal Alchemist tells the tale of two brothers: Edward and Alphonse Elric, whose alchemic attempt to bring their mother back to life came at a price – while Edward merely lost his right arm and left leg, Alphonse’s soul now rests in a suit of armor. Apparently, the Fullmetal Edition also features an updated translation and new lettering unfortunately, having little to no familiarity with Viz’s original release, I cannot provide a direct comparison. As just mentioned, it’s our version of Japan’s Kanzenban (“Perfection Edition”), with this first entry containing two volumes’ worth of chapters, albeit not in their entirety - for reference, this contains up to six chapters, meaning there’s two chapters left from the original second volume (however, this does mean this edition ends on a nail-biting cliffhanger). Now with the release of the hardcover Fullmetal Edition, however, I decided it was ample time to catalogue a latecomer’s perspective into a hallowed series.īefore we detail my impressions, though, we should detail what, exactly, the Fullmetal Edition is. Not that I didn’t know Hiromu Arakawa was a talented mangaka in her own right, having become acquainted with her farming series Silver Spoon before its American debut, but I just never found the urge to discover what propelled her into stardom. I did catch some episodes on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim block in ages past and vaguely recall reading bits of the original first volume, but otherwise, my missing the boat was potentially the biggest shame of my anime/manga fandom. So, I have a confession to make: I’ve never read or watched Fullmetal Alchemist in its entirety. Finally, let’s see what all the craziness is about! ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |