"Full Metal Alchemist" vol. 1 FIRST IMPRESSION

'SUP, NERDS!

So I hate to admit: I haven’t watched Full Metal Alchemist. Yeah, I’m the worst anime fan on the planet. I’ve maybe seen the first few episodes in addition to catching a few random episodes on Adult Swim. It is difficult to get me to sit down to watch any television show for that matter, but I never doubted FMA’s greatness.

To correct this error, I asked my friend Dan to borrow the manga. Amidst graduating college, full-time working and packing to make a cross-country move, I wanted to share my first impression of Full Metal Alchemist vol. 1, published by VIZ Media.

THE SAME BUT DIFFERENT

Let’s just say that what I remember from the anime is totally different than what happens in the manga. Edward Elric is a state alchemist and his younger brother, Alphonse, travels with him and practices alchemy as well. This is the base similarity between the anime and manga.

There are plenty of
places you can buy FMA!

It’s safe to say that the manga is much more relaxed than the anime. You’re introduced to the protagonists and get a short glimpse of the antagonists all while learning the powers and limitations of alchemy. Edward explains the concept of an equal exchange while procuring items to trick or defeat his enemies.

This explanation lightly touches upon Ed and Al’s history and why their bodies are made of metal. As children, they weren’t aware of this concept and lost Edward’s limbs and Al’s body in attempt to resurrect their passed mother. The anime explicitly shows these sequences through flashbacks to build suspense and drama while the brothers use this as an example of why alchemy can be dangerous in the manga.

STORY AND CHARACTERS

Not much happens. I think that the manga provides a great introduction to the universe and the brothers’ motives. Ed and Al simply want to return their entire bodies back to flesh and seek the Philosopher’s Stone for such power.

They first encounter a cult leader who claims his powers come from a god. The reality is that he’s using a phony stone, which ultimately comes back to hurt him, to practice alchemy. The brothers also deceive a corrupt government and give power back to the citizens. Roy Mustang is introduced at the end of the volume, a most notable character to the series.

At this point in the story, I felt like Ed and Al are more comedic than serious. Ed is witty and can concoct and execute complex plans on the whim. It’s made clear that Ed is an atheist and that he doesn’t appreciate comments about his short stature. His fuse is short whereas Al is level-headed. Despite Al’s armored exterior and hollowed interior, I can tell he is a real sweetheart. I like him most thus far.

Edward revealing his metal arm.

ARTWORK

The art is solid. I think the chimera art is realistic-looking and the backgrounds are detailed given that this is a shounen manga. Since I’m probably spoiled by seeing an exorbitant amount of fanart, I thought the characters just looked mediocre. Ed and Al are the most impressive-looking characters, but I want to see more detailed images of Ed’s armored limbs. Al’s armor is very consistent and never looks odd.

A common issue with manga are bland or repeated faces. There are many generic background and tertiary characters in this volume. I anticipate that regular characters will begin to appear in the next volume.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Overall, I thought the first volume of FMA is set up like any classic shounen manga: there’s an emphasis on character introductions and a showcase of their abilities. Pathetic villains prove the strength of the protagonists while the true enemy is hinted at.

I am aware that Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a faithful rendition of the manga and the pacing of that series is a common complaint. The types of stories in the manga are easy to read, but I couldn’t see myself watching the first volume easily as an anime— but I definitely want to continue reading.

LATER, DWEEBS!

Loverly Liz