Character Discussion - Homunculi

[White Manju Bun]

The purpose of this thread is to provide a place to discuss all things Homunculus related. This goes for all Homunculi.


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[Vicious108]

Well here is what I consider to be one of the best villain organizations in anime and manga. Right up there with the Genei Ryodan of Hunter x Hunter as my favorites.

The idea of a group of baddies named after the seven sins is pretty interesting, and I must say Arakawa has executed it perfectly. Even if two of those sins don't really act like their respective sin all that much (Lust and Wrath).

The first anime kind of tried too hard to make them sympathetic IMO, and I much prefer their true villainous selves that you love to hate in the manga.

Here is a pretty awesome promotional poster for Brotherhood of them, in case anyone missed it. Just beware cause it's a little spoiler-ish. Well not really, it just shows the whole face of someone the anime's been hiding.

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/h...te/Poster4.jpg

[Haladflire65]

I've always found Envy most interesting...

But I think the scariest one's

Spoiler for Manga:

Manga Pride.

[GaimeGuy]

Wrath and Pride are by far and away the strongest Homunculi.

Actually, Pride isn't exactly strong, he just has a bunch of very handy abilities.

Wrath, on the other hand, is raw talent and skill, and every moment he has had has been awesome. I'm not actually sure anyone can match him one on one

[Vicious108]

Wrath is definitely the most skilled homunculus in terms of fighting (in fact probably the only one with real skills outside their special ability), but I'm not sure whether he's more powerful than Pride. I think Pride's ability puts him a little above Wrath. And Mr. Yoki himself said Pride was the strongest homunculus, that's got to count for something.

Though none of that really matters to me since I choose my favorites based on personality and actions and not power levels.

[Ziziphus]

Originally Posted by Endless Twilight

Well here is what I consider to be one of the best villain organizations in anime and manga. Right up there with the Genei Ryodan of Hunter x Hunter as my favorites.

The idea of a group of baddies named after the seven sins is pretty interesting, and I must say Arakawa has executed it perfectly. Even if two of those sins don't really act like their respective sin all that much (Lust and Wrath).

The first anime kind of tried too hard to make them sympathetic IMO, and I much prefer their true villainous selves that you love to hate in the manga.

Here is a pretty awesome promotional poster for Brotherhood of them, in case anyone missed it. Just beware cause it's a little spoiler-ish. Well not really, it just shows the whole face of someone the anime's been hiding.

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/h...te/Poster4.jpg

Agreed with all of your points! FMA Homunculi = Best villains I've ever seen! They're badass and funny, evil and loveable at the same time!

And, awesome poster! although it made me curious: why is Wrath the only one not shown in the poster?

[yezhanquan]

I'll just leave this comment on these fellows: "Kill them. Kill them again and again. Reduce them to dust, because if you don't, they will do the same to you."

[Vicious108]

Originally Posted by Ziziphus

Agreed with all of your points! FMA Homunculi = Best villains I've ever seen! They're badass and funny, evil and loveable at the same time!

And, awesome poster! although it made me curious: why is Wrath the only one not shown in the poster?

They probably didn't wanna spoil the twist. Which is why...

Spoiler for Manga:

Pride shows up in that form, and not as Selim. Anyone who hasn't read the manga will in no way suspect that's Pride, I think. In fact, even people who have read it have failed to spot him since he is pretty hidden.

[Kirarakim]

Originally Posted by Endless Twilight

The idea of a group of baddies named after the seven sins is pretty interesting, and I must say Arakawa has executed it perfectly. Even if two of those sins don't really act like their respective sin all that much (Lust and Wrath).

I don't know I think Wrath fits his namesake very well

Spoiler for manga:

The scene in Vol 13 when he explained why he was shaking at Hughes' funeral. And I have a feeling we will be seeing more of his Wrath soon enough

[Vicious108]

Spoiler for Manga:

That was a really good moment, but it was really the only occasion. Eveywhere else he's always looked pretty unwrathful. Even last chapter, he'd just come home to see his whole headquarters taken over by the enemy and he was still pretty damn calm. We'll see if Greed manages to awaken the rage that is seemingly trapped inside of him.

[ChronoReverse]

Wrath isn't the same thing as berserker rage

If Wrath is anything like the 7 deadly sins version, then it's possible his fate could be one of the ultimate expressions of wrath, which is suicide (interestingly enough).

[Vicious108]

It's also not the same thing as calmness, which is what I think Bradley displays more often than not.

[GaimeGuy]

It could also be a biblical interpretation of wrath, that is, divine retribution (for committing sin). We certainly see this with Wrath, as he delivers punishment upon those who sin against the country (or, in Greed's case, against Father...)

[Sannom]

Expanding on what GaimeGuy said, Wrath could simply refers to Father's wrath in a biblical way, where Bradley is the one who punishes those that go against Father's will : Greed, the rebels, etc. In since Bradley is near-unstoppable, it has that "inevitable feel" about it too.

[Vicious108]

So, Wrath as in Tenchu? Well looking at it that way it kinda fits I suppose. But I doubt that's what Arakawa was going for.

[ChronoReverse]

Originally Posted by Endless Twilight

It's also not the same thing as calmness, which is what I think Bradley displays more often than not.

Don't be silly. You can have have tranquil rage just as well. Furthermore, calmness is independent of wrath.

Besides, from what we've seen of the homunculi, not all of them actively fires up their respective sin at all times. It's the basis of their character though. For instance, Envy's base is ultimately his envy of humans, but you don't see him exploding that way all the time. It's more subtle than that even as it underlies his actions.

Likewise, there's no reason Wrath needs to be exploding in rage all the time. Wrath also encompasses meticulous planning in order to take vengeance or lay out destruction upon the target of one's wrath (think The Count of Monte Cristo; now that's serious wrath). In particular, biblical wrath is often of this sort.

So, Wrath as in Tenchu? Well looking at it that way it kinda fits I suppose. But I doubt that's what Arakawa was going for.

This remains to be seen but aren't you being presumptuous here in forcing the intent of the author instead of trying to interpret what we've been given so far?

[Vicious108]

Wrath is also commonly called "Anger", which I believe is what most people associate the sin with, and not divine punishment. Being the most common meaning of the sin, I would assume that that's what Arakawa was going for when she created the character.

But you're right it may not be so, and then again I don't know jack about the bible, so I guess I'm not really qualified to say whether the author intended to use its meaning of the sins or not.

[Ziziphus]

Speaking of Wrath, I've always been wondering at his power, the Ultimate eye.

The eye's power was explained clearly in the 1st anime, but I don't remember if it was in the manga. For all I know, Wrath only said something about it having helped him revive fierce battles. So, his unearthly sword skill and inhuman speed, are they a gain from the eye or are they his own strength as a homunculus? If the eye helps improve his skill, how can it do so while being constantly covered by an eyepatch? Unless the eye has the power to see through the eyepatch as well. *confused*

[Sannom]

I thought that was the manga discussion thread, and so my message is full of spoilers! Sorry to anyone who has read it and didn't know the things I talked about.

And yeah, if we only consider the anime, I would say that people should wait, they will learn more about Wrath in due time, and then I think we can start talking about it.

Spoiler:

I think that his power is more than simply the Ultimate Eye. His "real" power, I think, is the mix of the skills and wisdom (through physical aging) his human nature brought to him, and of the inhuman body he received by becoming a Homonculus. He was basically designed as a super-human : the philosopher's stone mutated his entire body to make him stronger, faster, more reactive, while his training as human gave him skills and knowledge that are sublimed by the capacities brought by the stone. Every ability of a normal human is brought to new peaks with Wrath.

And then on top of this you have the Ultimate Eye, that should be renamed the Ultimate Eyes because apparently both his eyes can "see" everything coming their way. Basically, it's Sharingan : it's as if he saw things before they happened and his modified body enables him to react as fast as he sees the threat.

[Ziziphus]

^That helps clear things up a bit for me! Thanks Sannom!