Series: Fullmetal Alchemist: Fullmetal Edition #1
Published by VIZ Media LLC on May 8, 2018
Genres: Fantasy, Manga, Shonen
Pages: 280
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
Alchemy tore the Elric brothers’ bodies apart. Can their bond make them whole again?
A hardcover, deluxe collector’s edition of one of the most beloved manga and anime of all time! Fully remastered with an updated translation and completely fresh lettering, and presented with color pages on large-trimmed archival-quality paper, this gorgeous hardcover edition presents the timeless dark adventures of the Elric brothers as they were truly meant to be seen. Includes brand-new cover art, color inserts and behind-the-scenes character sketches from author Hiromu Arakawa!
In an alchemical ritual gone wrong, Edward Elric lost his arm and his leg, and his brother Alphonse became nothing but a soul in a suit of armor. Equipped with mechanical “auto-mail” limbs, Edward becomes a state alchemist, seeking the one thing that can restore his and his brother’s bodies… the legendary Philosopher’s Stone!
Fullmetal Alchemist checks off so many boxes for things I love in a good book: well-developed characters, a complex world, an interesting villain (group), and philosophical questions.
In addition to major allies and enemies, this first volume introduces the magical system of alchemy, which falls on the more scientific end of the spectrum with its idea of equivalent exchange. What makes this manga even more interesting is its exploration of how various characters respond to alchemy in different ways: a tool for military purposes, a means to gain one’s desires, a way to put broken things back together. For the Elric brothers, alchemy was supposed to knit their family back together again, but they failed. Now they’re on a journey to undo the consequences of dabbling into the taboo. At the end of this volume, Hiromu Arakawa mentions that the philosophy of alchemy interested her more than the practice of it, and it shows in the themes and questions she raises.
Fullmetal Alchemist takes a darker tone than most manga targeting a teen audience. The protagonist Edward Elric and his younger brother Alphonse are on a journey to fix a mistake they made in the past. Edward in particular shoulders a heavier burden because he feels responsible for looking out for his younger brother. However, meetings with other alchemists in this first volume cause Edward to question whether they’re taking the right path, maybe even whether alchemy can solve anything, and he falls into a state of depression. It’s an interesting question to explore, one that I believe will continue to haunt us throughout this series.
That said, Fullmetal Alchemist isn’t afraid to insert humor in serious situations while not taking away from critical moments. Most notable is Edward Elric’s reactions to comments on his height. Others include #reallife moments, such as what happens when a person attempts to jump out the window of a moving train or the enemy does something unexpected in a battle.
The appearance of new enemies at the end of this volume sets up the series to take a darker turn and promises larger events to come. Events that, from my prior experience reading this series, make rereading this series worthwhile to see how far in advance Hiromu Arakawa sets things up.
This volume ends on a powerful cliffhanger with a full-page illustration that has me turning to the next volume. I look forward to seeing what happens next! (And yes, I’m saying this for a series that I’ve read before, though for the first time in the Fullmetal Edition. It’s that good.)
Comments on the Fullmetal Edition
The Fullmetal Edition of Fullmetal Alchemist features a hardcover exterior, quality pages, some color spreads, and an updated translation. This volume is larger than the original publications and contains the first six chapters of the manga. While this is only an additional two chapters compared to the original release, this means that it’s slimmer and easier to hold and read than the typical 3-in-1 or VizBig omnibuses that Viz Media puts out. Personally, I prefer it this way even if it means putting out more money in the long run. As this is one of my favorite manga, I’ll be purchasing the rest of the series as it comes out.
Content: PG-13
Chat With Me
📚 Have you read Fullmetal Alchemist or watched the anime (or live action)?
📚 What are your thoughts on teen books that feature darker tones and philosophical questions?
Suzanne @ The Bookish Libra says
This sounds like it really has a lot going for it. Glad it was such a good read for you.
Crystal says
Thanks, Suzanne! I agree that FMA has a lot going for it!
Sophia Rose says
I perked right up when I realized old alchemy was a big part of this one. Neat premise about the guys having to fix things after they dabbled.
Great review, Crystal!
Crystal says
The premise to FMA is pretty neat 🙂 It’s one of my favorite stories out there.
Dani @ Perspective of a Writer says
I really love the Fullmetal Alchemist world. I love the Elric brothers too. This is one of the few cases where I don’t mind the colossal mistake that the MCs make to cause there own problems. I feel like they did what they really would have done. I’ve never read the manga but watched both anime and now I kind of want to. I wonder if my library will get these. Excellent review Crystal. You totally remind me what I love about the series. ❤️
Crystal says
Fullmetal Alchemist is one of my all-time favorite manga. I love rereading it and seeing how far back Hiromu Arakawa started setting up for the finale! I agree that this is one of the few stories where I don’t mind how the MCs create their own problem; Arakawa does such a great job creating empathy for them and helping us understand and feel for why they did what they did. It definitely helps that we see from the beginning how they’ve matured since them: that they regret their mistake and have been suffering the consequences ever since.
You’ll know the story from the anime, but the manga’s art is fantastic! Arakawa does a great job emphasizing key points. ❤️