(L) Fullmetal Alchemist Manga Discussion

[Bombo]

Originally Posted by ProlificSky

Correction:

thanks ..I though his man not a women

[coraleaterlinda]

I cried. I'm not ashamed to admit it. The ending was incredible. I've been an FMA fan for 5 years (but started reading the manga only 6 months ago), its so crazy to finally say good-bye.

Spoiler for the end:

The only problems I had with the end was that I wanted to see Ed and Winry's first kiss. I also wanted info on Al and Mei, and Roy and Riza's relationships (but I can guess that Al and Mei are dating). The Hoenheim ending seemed a little weird. I get that he came home to die, but then he says he doesn't want to die. I wonder how letting a little homunculus kid run around is going to work out, lol. I also wanted to see Mustang become Fuhrer, but I can guess that he will eventually.

Thank you so much, Arakawa, for dedicating so much of your life to such an incredible work. I greatly look forward to your future efforts.

[Mr. DJ]

great ending, loved it and I'm sad that it's over

[Hov]

Originally Posted by coraleaterlinda

I cried. I'm not ashamed to admit it. The ending was incredible. I've been an FMA fan for 5 years (but started reading the manga only 6 months ago), its so crazy to finally say good-bye.

did you seriously cry from reading a manga? =\

great ending though and i enjoyed the series.

[kitten320]

Just saw it, can't believe that manga is over
It really had a nice ending.

Spoiler for in case:

I loled at Winry/Edward moment, he sure knows how to propose
Though I'm sad on lack of details about Roy and Riza
Well there is possibility that anime team might add something

Oh, and I LOVED Olivier's expression when she was grinning and shining

Wonder if they will do some movie after anime is over...

A bit hard to believe that one of manga giants is over... wonder what will take it place and what will be authors next work. I sure will check it when it will be out. FMA is probably the only show where I have almost no complaints. I even approve main character

[Xion Valkyrie]

Absolutely loved the ending. A ton of manga seem to end abruptly, and totally skimp on the aftermath. FMA's ending is an example that other manga should take note of.

[yajra03]

perfect ending for a perfect manga..

thank you author for this beyond epic manga..

[xellos2099]

It is a real shame, Hohenheim basically give up his last 10 years of his life with his family for the sake of creating a real future for his family. If Hohenheim had not intervene on Promise day, everyone will die, including his family. It is a shame that it take till the very end for Ed to forgive him in a sense. He made a hard choice to leave his family in order to create a future.

It is also interesting the truth shown concern to ED when he said he is going to give up his alchemy by asking is he going to be alright. Before he disappear, he give off a nice smile in comparison to his previous evil big smile.

[Slayerx]

oh god... I couldn't really tell before,
but i think i just noticed what's going on in the photo of Darius, Heinkalel and Yoki...
I think they joined the circus XD

photo of ling is still my favorite though

[Photonbeam]

There were tears in my eyes as I read it from first to last page. Such a great manga and I really enjoyed it and even though Ms. Hiromu Arakawa wouldn't be able to read my message, I really want to thank her for making Fullmetal Alchemist and I hope she will have more successes to come in her mangaka career.

Fullmetal Alchemist is the best manga I have read in my entire life.

[Ryus]

Originally Posted by Slayerx

oh god... I couldn't really tell before,
but i think i just noticed what's going on in the photo of Darius, Heinkalel and Yoki...
I think they joined the circus XD

photo of ling is still my favorite though

That's exactly what I thought! ROFLMAO!

Originally Posted by Ryus

Spoiler for Just incase someone hasn't read the end yet:

slightly confused with Darius & Heinkeledit & Yoki Why does it look like they joined a circus? Since the poses that Darius & Heinkeledit are in + that frill around Yoki's neck + the scenery behind them really makes me think of a circus...

Guess that means you didn't read the entirety of my post though.

[oompa loompa]

Originally Posted by yajra03

perfect ending for a perfect manga..

thank you author for this beyond epic manga..

This.

And another great manga comes to a close.. Thank you Ms.Arakawa for an incredible story, that I've been involved with for longer than I care to remember.

[GaimeGuy]

Concerning the ending...

Spoiler:

You know, Grumman may be fuhrer, but just like at the beginning of the series, it's mustang that does all the work :P. Before his transfer to Central, Mustang was basically running the East while Grumman played chess all day. I mean now mustang's dictating trade policies, deannexing Ishval from amestris, and establishing trade routes with foreign nations. It's pretty obvious who's actually leading the country now. Grumman's just a figurehead. An able figurehead, yes, but a lazy one that is perfectly content and willing to let mustang do the actual leading while he enjoys all the perks of the position of Fuhrer.

Once Grumman kicks the bucket or decides to retire, Roy will definitely be the next in line to become Fuhrer. After all, he'll have established himself as a hero on the battlefield (in Ishval and in quelling the plans of the corrupt officials in Central), and a great diplomat as well, due to his efforts in restoring Ishval and establishing trade and relations between Ishval, Amestris, and Xing. For now, Amestris will remain a military state, but with roy's efforts (as the actual leader rather than the national figurehead), the gradual shift away from this form of government begins immediately after the battle with Father, and the transition will be fully made once Grumman's "lame duck" rule ends.


Other random musings:

1. Guess ling got his immortality after all! (or at least, a few extra lifetimes, thanks to Goldtooth's philosopher's stone). Not that he'll choose to stick around that long after 70 years or so when he loses Lan Fan, I bet.

2. The philosopher's stone kimblee used in Ishval healed the Hero/Murderer of Ishval (Mustang) :O

3. I guess Arakawa didn't have the heart to leave poor Mrs. Bradley all alone in the end. It even looks like she might hook up with Grumman

3. Looks like the big winners at the end of all this are Mustang and Al. While Izumi (as far as we know) still is sterile and has the ability to transmute without a circle, and Ed lost his leg and the ability to use alchcemy, period, Al and Mustang get the ability to transmute without a circle and don't lose anything. But Mustang comes out on top overall thanks to the whole being the non-figurehead leader. yay Mustang \o/

[Poetic Justice]

Spoiler for Ending:

Ok that was just a bit toooo sappy in the latter half of the ending. I mean i know arakawa had a lot of loose ends to tie up but this ending should not have been dragged out this long. It would have been perfect if she ended it right when hohenheim died and simply showed that strip where winry and ed are holding the creepy babies.

But i suppose she had to please all those yearning fangirls who wanted something more substantial from the pairing.

The first half of the chapter was amazing though, Ed sacrificing the gate inside him was a stroke of genius.

Overall i thought the ending played things just a bit too safe. A very typical happily ever after kinda ending.

I'd go so far as to say the original anime ending was slightly better. The ending was merely good, Not excellent really.

[Ryus]

Originally Posted by GaimeGuy

Concerning the ending...

Spoiler:

You know, Grumman may be fuhrer, but just like at the beginning of the series, it's mustang that does all the work :P. Before his transfer to Central, Mustang was basically running the East while Grumman played chess all day. I mean now mustang's dictating trade policies, deannexing Ishval from amestris, and establishing trade routes with foreign nations. It's pretty obvious who's actually leading the country now. Grumman's just a figurehead. An able figurehead, yes, but a lazy one that is perfectly content and willing to let mustang do the actual leading while he enjoys all the perks of the position of Fuhrer.

Once Grumman kicks the bucket or decides to retire, Roy will definitely be the next in line to become Fuhrer. After all, he'll have established himself as a hero on the battlefield (in Ishval and in quelling the plans of the corrupt officials in Central), and a great diplomat as well, due to his efforts in restoring Ishval and establishing trade and relations between Ishval, Amestris, and Xing. For now, Amestris will remain a military state, but with roy's efforts (as the actual leader rather than the national figurehead), the gradual shift away from this form of government begins immediately after the battle with Father, and the transition will be fully made once Grumman's "lame duck" rule ends.


Other random musings:

1. Guess ling got his immortality after all! (or at least, a few extra lifetimes, thanks to Goldtooth's philosopher's stone). Not that he'll choose to stick around that long after 70 years or so when he loses Lan Fan, I bet.

2. The philosopher's stone kimblee used in Ishval healed the Hero/Murderer of Ishval (Mustang) :O

3. I guess Arakawa didn't have the heart to leave poor Mrs. Bradley all alone in the end. It even looks like she might hook up with Grumman

3. Looks like the big winners at the end of all this are Mustang and Al. While Izumi (as far as we know) still is sterile and has the ability to transmute without a circle, and Ed lost his leg and the ability to use alchcemy, period, Al and Mustang get the ability to transmute without a circle and don't lose anything. But Mustang comes out on top overall thanks to the whole being the non-figurehead leader. yay Mustang \o/

Spoiler for spoiler:

You could even argue Grumman became Fuhrer due to Mustang not wanting to look like he was trying to take control, so he was securing a victory at a later date when the heat from having fought against Central Troops has cooled down. Then using his new policies to show people he has a record of saving the country.

So Grumman became the new boss due to his lack of "involvement in the attack on central" and Mustang, his former right hand man, will gain the job later once... as you say Grumman retires or kicks the bucket. That assumes of course Olivier Mira Armstrong doesn't somehow gain the upper hand in the political game later or some other new player time and changing times could cause Mustangs chances of becoming Fuhrer to drop. Lets say for example Mustang slips up publicly when finding out about Scar being alive and his new job. Though I'd say it is Mustang's game to lose.

[Photonbeam]

Spoiler for Question:

In page 110-111 you can see May Chang in Ed and Al's family picture, does that mean she became Al's wife or she is just there visiting the family? I hope not because she's still a kid if you ask me.

[Ryus]

Originally Posted by Photonbeam

Spoiler for Question:

In page 110-111 you can see May Chang in Ed and Al's family picture, does that mean she became Al's wife or she is just there visiting the family? I hope not because she's still a kid if you ask me.

Spoiler for possible answer...:

I think the implication was that Al, after going to Xing for many years, comes back with her years later as a girlfriend. So she's older but still a good 5-7 years younger than Al... not too bad for an age difference if you ask me since both are now clearly adults in the pic. Hell, Ed almost looks like Van Hohenheim in the pic and just as tall . So where talking a good ten years or so later.

[Photonbeam]

Originally Posted by Ryus

Spoiler for possible answer...:

I think the implication was that Al, after going to Xing for many years, comes back with her years later as a girlfriend. So she's older but still a good 5-7 years younger than Al... not too bad for an age difference if you ask me since both are now clearly adults in the pic. Hell, Ed almost looks like Van Hohenheim in the pic and just as tall . So where talking a good ten years or so later.

Spoiler for Thought:

I hope she's just there visiting the Elric family.

[Kirarakim]

It's actually extremely clear

Spoiler:

That Al and Mei are together. I don't think Arakawa would have randomly put Mei in a family picture if she was just "visting"

Also about ages and I am putting this outside a cut because it is not a spoiler. Mei's age was never given in the series. I am not sure why people assume she was a small child just because of her looks. Mei acts much older than a child. There is no way a young child would have been able to do all that Mei accomplished in the series. Most likely she is just very small for her age just like her panda Xiao Mei is extremely small for a panda.

[Ryus]

Originally Posted by Kirarakim

It's actually extremely clear

Spoiler:

That Al and Mei are together. I don't think Arakawa would have randomly put Mei in a family picture if she was just "visting"

Also about ages and I am putting this outside a cut because it is not a spoiler. Mei's age was never given in the series. I am not sure why people assume she was a small child just because of her looks. Mei acts much older than a child. There is no way a young child would have been able to do all that Mei accomplished in the series. Most likely she is just very small for her age just like her panda Xiao Mei is extremely small for a panda.

You got me there... but...

Spoiler for ch 108:

She did look taller in the pic. Imply she got at least a bit older...

Spoiler for Speculation:

maybe Al been making her drink some milk...