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Reviewed by "Fullmetal Alchemist" has already made a huge success on the [Adult_Swim] program. Because of that, fans of the series, or for those who couldn't stay up to watch the anime or pay $30 for the DVDs, can now enjoy the adventures of the odd Elric brothers from the format that started the franchise: manga. If you'd hope for more of the same drama/comedy hybrid with a unique premise that made "Fullmetal Alchemist" such a hit, you'd be both wrong and right. I say that, because some of the changes here can alter the satisfaction of an anime fan. You would be right, because conceptually, FMA: The Manga remains the same (come on, it's a book...that was made into a show). Ed is still Ed, Al is still the bodiless metal knight wearing an apron, both are still young alchemists in an alchemy-fad world and on the search to find the philosopher's stone, which will enhance their transmutated abilities to recover their original bodies back after their failed and ill-consequential attempt of reviving a dead human: their mom. The manga also looks as amazing as the anime. This first volume covers up episodes 1, 2, 5 and 8 of the anime series (not in order), with the Elric Brothers stopping a false prophet, train hijackers, and saving a mine town. You'd probably know all this if you've seen the anime. Viz Media does an above-average on the translation, and as always, the company does not believe in japanese sound effects, so they translated those as well. You would also be wrong, because despite being the same FMA by its essence, the situations and character developements have been altered in the manga, possibly drastic enough to make it look like a whole new FMA. First off, the manga took place in the present, and anything that happened during the past after the tried human transmutation from the anime happened in the current; the whole past scenario doesn't even happen until a MUCH later volume. Second, it's the characters in the manga: Ed is more aggravated over his image, Al is more gullible, and while she isn't in the first volume, metalphiliac Winry became the dominatrix of constant abuse that many shonen babes have before her. Oh, and the flame alchemist Roy Mustang worries less about what he can do for having female soldiers wear skirts and worries more of what he can do for himself. Some of the characters have changed for the better, leaving the angst and brutality of the characters from the anime in exchange for giving them more, dare I say it, "realistic" feelings that make them act more human, even if act ridiculous. Most characters, however, changed themselves to make them spiteful to the reader, and not in a good way. The villians are the real culprit on this subject, like Cornello, who in the anime is very demeaning and prideful over his ambiguous schemes, but here, he's too loose and when he blows some steam, I couldn't take him seriously. Also (again, not in the first volume), Barry the Chopper is the equivalent of the Killer Klown from Outer Space in the manga, while in the anime, he's the equivalent of Hannibal Lechter, expect more heartless and evil (I say that as a bad thing). At worst, the villians are pathetic. Also in comparision to the anime, characters like the other elric brothers, and the sexy thief Jeanne, don't exist here. And for the other homunculi (Sloth, Wrath, and Pride), they exist, but they'll look different then what you see in the anime, so for those lusting on anime Sloth should be prepared for the shock. The story also goes through some changes from the anime, and personally, it's a mixed bag. The mood here seems less on drama and more on comedy. There are also moments where scenes in the manga are just not as acceptable as the anime: death scenes, tragic scenarios and such just doesn't hit me hard like it did in the anime. The manga doesn't take itself too seriously, so for certain moments, it's humorous, light-hearted, and easy to get into, but at the same time, it lacks the impact and confliction that made the anime so heartbreakingly enjoyable. How would I know some of these facts and comparisons if I only read the first volume? I manage to check out some FMA scanlated chapters before buying this volume. F1Rst REACTION: somewhat positive In an estimate scale, I would give this first volume 3.5 stars. Heck, the first five volumes I'd give them 3.5 stars. As I said, this manga is not as serious as the anime, so this and later volumes might be too easy and rushed to be completely satisfied. Don't be discouraged of what I just said. This manga DOES get better after volume 7, because THAT is where the manga is truly a worthwhile read. Trust me, I have to go through the first two boring volumes of "Berserk" before I got to the meat of that title afterwards. "Fullmetal Alchemist" will reach its prime, manga readers...just not right now. Comment on this review of Full Metal Alchemist v1 [II] on the Manga Life Forums. |
19 November 2008
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