Fullmetal Alchemist #4 ★★★★☆

 

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Title: Fullmetal Alchemist #4
Series: Fullmetal Alchemist
Author: Hiromu Arakawa
Rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Genre: Manga
Pages: 193
Words: 9K

From FMA.fandom.com

"Trapped and injured in a secret alchemical laboratory, Edward Elric is at the mercy of his enemies, Lust and Envy. But they don't want him dead...they have other plans for him. As the laboratory goes up in flames, the brothers find themselves back at square one, with only an inkling of the massive scale of the Philosopher's Stone conspiracy. But then, Lieutenant Colonel Maes Hughes uncovers a shocking secret..."

Chapter 13: Fullmetal Body

Chapter 14: An Only Child's Feelings

Chapter 15: Fullmetal Heart

Chapter 16: Separate Paths

Bonus Chapter: Dog of the Military?

Man, this volume had it all. Shocking secrets. Great laughs. Tragic deaths. Romance. Family. You name it and it was probably in here. And I liked it.

With the Homunculi saving Edward but hinting that they are only doing it so they can sacrifice him later, it is made evident beyond a doubt that they are evil. While they seem to want to stir up strife and war everywhere, what their actual plan is is still a mystery. And now that we know that Envy can look like anyone and shapechange at will, well, everybody is a suspect. That really amps the tension up.

While Hughes’ death was sad, it didn’t overshadow the whole volume. The manga-ka kept things pretty light and in the bonus chapter really made me laugh my head off. I think the following picture encapsulates the humor. In a previous panel, the puppy is peeing against a wall because it’s not housebroken and this is how it’s owner responds. Hahahahahahahaa.

At the same time, I never felt that the lighthearted humor made light of the trauma that various characters experience. Alphonse goes through an existential crisis as suddenly he begins to doubt whether he was ever actually a real person. Until Winry beats him over his metallic head with a big ass wrench and tells him not to be stupid. I laughed but I also understood the doubt and pathos he was feeling. He’s a suit of armor after all.

Overall, I enjoyed this a lot more than the previous volume, for which I am very thankful.

★★★★☆

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