Full Metal Alchemist vol. 1

Dang... it's been a while.

So, just because he's nice, my significant other bought me the first volume of Fullmetal Alchemist. The manga. I'm learning (after seeing the first episode of FMA on TV) that when given a choice between manga and anime, I should try to go for the manga. Luckily, I was able to immerse myself in this incredible world with hardly any interruptions this weekend.

For those who don't know, FMA is about two guys, both alchemists. One is named Edward, the other Alphonse and both tried resurrecting their mother using the art/science of alchemy. The theory, they said, was perfect. Unfortunately, they didn't understand as much as they thought: Edward lost a leg, while Alphonse lost everything. Edward sacrificed his arm and only managed to get his brother's soul in return, which he sealed inside a suit of armor. And their mother... well, let's leave that to the imagination for now.

You can't get something for nothing. It's the law of alchemy in the world of FMA, the principle underlying the whole structure. But there's a legend that an object exists -- the Philosopher's Stone -- that bends the law, allowing a person to get far more than they put in. And in the hands of an alchemist that means the ability to become godlike. Ed and Al want the stone, but not for ultimate power. They only want their original bodies back... and they aren't even sure the Stone is powerful enough to grant them their wish.

But when you have a source of godlike power, it's pretty much a guarantee that someone else, with motives far less pure than the protagonists, is going to want it as well. And that's where the fun really comes in.

Overall, I found the first volume of the manga fantastic. The characters were shown clearly and with a sense of fun that's missing from a lot of other books I've read. In spite of the humor, there's a philosophical backbone to this story that has me completely hooked. It shows itself best in the first half of the volume where Ed and Al rid a desert town of a crooked prophet/priest. The action, though strong, balanced well with the philosophy instead of overwhelming it like in the anime. The dialogue was far more subtle and intelligent in the manga, with information given in just the right doses instead of getting shoved in my face (anime).

At $10 a book I'm not sure I can afford this new addiction. However, considering the beauty of what I've read so far, I wouldn't be surprised if I considered it a vital addition to any library in a few more months. We'll see.