(L) Fullmetal Alchemist Manga Discussion

[Haladflire65]

Originally Posted by Endless Twilight

Yeah Roy always seemed to be the ideal final opponent for Wrath, but it seems that we can't take those things for granted with Arakawa. We never got Scar vs Kimblee round 3 either.

And speaking of Roy vs Wrath, I really liked the symbolism alluding to that in Roy's ordeal against Envy. The man who desired to become a better Fuhrer than King Bradley, aka Wrath, almost killed an enemy solely to satisfy his own wrath, but in the end he was able to overcome it, proving himself better than Wrath itself and himself.

As for Scar being shot down by some hateful Amestrisian soldier, that would certainly be rather tragic, since it would show that the cycle of hatred and revenge is indeed endless. And it would be a pity for Scar, who's managed to become a much better man after his encounters with Winry and Miles.

I'm actually hoping for an ending that has a tragic air. It'll set apart FMA from other Shounens and also, I don't believe that every character should get everything they want. Which is why I want Roy to stay blind if he survives.

[Vicious108]

Originally Posted by Haladflire65

I'm actually hoping for an ending that has a tragic air. It'll set apart FMA from other Shounens and also, I don't believe that every character should get everything they want. Which is why I want Roy to stay blind if he survives.

Yeah, I agree on both accounts. And if Roy does stay blind and survives, I'm definitely looking forward to seeing how he copes with his blindness and goes on living. For once I want to see a blind man in a shounen coping with the disease realistically instead of just gaining superpowers from his other senses being heightened. >_>

[Haladflire65]

Originally Posted by Endless Twilight

Yeah, I agree on both accounts. And if Roy does stay blind and survives, I'm definitely looking forward to seeing how he copes with his blindness and goes on living. For once I want to see a blind man in a shounen coping with the disease realistically instead of just gaining superpowers from his other senses being heightened. >_>

Yeah. It'll be some more good character development on Roy's part. I'd love to see him continue to strive even with his new disability, because well, it's like him, right?

I love how FMA's avoiding every Shounen cliche so far...

[Who]

FMA's pretty much seinen on a leash.

[K_Babyy]

Originally Posted by The Small One

I think he wants them to open the five different Gates of truth at the five locations of the transmutation circle, so this will probably open another even bigger Gate.

That's what I've been thinking, too.

Ahh, I can't take it anymore! I wanna know now! It's been bugging me, especially lately since I was expecting to find out his plans this month, now we have to wait even longer. Hopefully it will all be revealed in January, it'd make a nice birthday present for me, anyway lol. =]

[mechalord]

the ending to the last issue is insane. Al's body talking back to him as he leaves...

If Alphonse ever returned to his original body, it would only bring despair and ruin.

He underestimated the power of his real body. He's going to get his body back during the final battle. Al + his scrawny body = ultimate level alchemist. Telekinesis, matter transmutation at distance, teleportation, levitation. Dr. Manhattan and Akira on steroids.


Roy's vision will come back. It's either the blindness is temporary or it gets fixed. <cough> Hohenheim <cough> If he gets fixed by Hohenheim he'll be sporting an eyepatch. Hohenheim would take the remaining parts of both eyes and make him a new one. Then again, that would be TOO OBVIOUS with making him look like he did in the first anime series. Hohenheim may just fixed both if the blindness isn't temporary.

[mechalord]

Hohenheim is "believed" to be the father of eastern Alkhestry (rentanjutsu). If father were the source of Alchemy, Hohenheim would be the source of power for Alkhestry.

Anyhow, neither of that can be true because Xerxes alchemy created fathers original homunculus form and led to the creation of the original alchemist stones. Alchemy, Alkhestry, or the real "magic" is derived from something else.

I'm getting a weird feeling this could all go The Matrix or Xenogears on us. What if nothing they are doing is real? What if everyone in Amestris is just a recycled soul of the people killed on Xerxes? Father regretted what he did and in order to not be alone, he just plays this game?


Oh yeah... how did Hohenheim... being this living philosophers stone... father two normal human children? If Hohenheim can create life like this, could father do the same?


What if the father we know is not father? What if Father is Amestris? What if he's lied to everyone, he's been looking for the same thing Hohenheim has... DEATH. He wants to recreate Xerxes, the way it was. What if he misses the good old days when he was just a homunculus and Hohenheim was just a boy? What if he misses their "brotherly" relationship? What if it mirrors that of Al and Ed? A disembodied soul without a body and a boy?

[quigonkenny]

I am suddenly reminded why it is that that I am very happy that Hideaki Anno is not involved in any way with Fullmetal Alchemist...

Also, hello, "edit" button? Use it.

[GaimeGuy]

Originally Posted by mechalord

Hohenheim is "believed" to be the father of eastern Alkhestry (rentanjutsu). If father were the source of Alchemy, Hohenheim would be the source of power for Alkhestry.

Anyhow, neither of that can be true because Xerxes alchemy created fathers original homunculus form and led to the creation of the original alchemist stones. Alchemy, Alkhestry, or the real "magic" is derived from something else.

I'm getting a weird feeling this could all go The Matrix or Xenogears on us. What if nothing they are doing is real? What if everyone in Amestris is just a recycled soul of the people killed on Xerxes? Father regretted what he did and in order to not be alone, he just plays this game?


Oh yeah... how did Hohenheim... being this living philosophers stone... father two normal human children? If Hohenheim can create life like this, could father do the same?


What if the father we know is not father? What if Father is Amestris? What if he's lied to everyone, he's been looking for the same thing Hohenheim has... DEATH. He wants to recreate Xerxes, the way it was. What if he misses the good old days when he was just a homunculus and Hohenheim was just a boy? What if he misses their "brotherly" relationship? What if it mirrors that of Al and Ed? A disembodied soul without a body and a boy?

uh... what?

[Sannom]

Originally Posted by Endless Twilight

Another question/doubt I've always had in mind when it comes to FMA was what is the true nature of Amestris' alchemy?

Scar's brother said "There's something strange about this country's alchemy.

Ling also said "There's something strange about this country."

Envy told Ed and Al when they couldn't use alchemy "Really, when it comes to these lower life forms... As soon as they obtain great power, they become delighted and over-eager. They continue using it without even knowing what it is!"

And then Marcoh explained in chapter 67 how alchemy worked, that it was based on the fluctuations of the Earth's crust, but then May said "Rather than the fluctuations of the Earth's crust, this power that flows under our feet... It feels like a great number of people are squirming around."

I mean all of that sounds pretty mysterious and ominous, no?

Could it simply be that Father himself is the source of Amestris' alchemy? >_> That certainly would explain why he can turn it on and off at his whim, lol.

I personaly believe that Renkinjutsu and Rentanjutsu both use soul energy to function, but that Rentanjutsu uses a natural flow created by the return of one's energy to the earth when (s)he dies, while Renkinjutsu uses an artificial flow created by Father's philosopher stone.

Originally Posted by Endless Twilight

Indeed. Well if Mustang does become Fuhrer and the country becomes a democracy, then naturally the Ishvalans will finally be acknowledged and accepted again.

As for Scar, no matter what, he'd still have to be tried for all the murders he commited on his quest for revenge. Which is why I'm thinking he won't make it to the ending. >_>

I believe that Scar will survive somehow, choosing exile over death, perhaps going to Xing to help May.

Originally Posted by Haladflire65

Yeah, I'm kinda worried about his fight against Wrath... I'm not sure whether Scar would be the one to bring the guy down. I still hope Roy gets to kill Wrath, although now it's even more unlikely than ever. Bradley did so much nasty stuff to Roy that it just wouldn't be right if someone else got to finish him off.

Hey, remember that Wrath did order, lead and organize the whole genocide of Scar's people. Their confrontation seem more fitting than the one of Wrath and Mustang to me. Especially after we've seen how one-sided that fight would have been

We also used to think that Scar will finish Kimblee off. Well, I believe that Scar utterly crushed him when he escaped with Winry, literally looking down on Kimblee who turned berserk as a result. The inversion, both physically and mentally, of their position is such a great victory for Scar! After this, the one obsessed with the other was not Scar but Kimblee. And the Crimson Alchemist didn't even get the satisfaction of trying to even that score, I love it! Kimblee's humiliation and defeat was total, fitting for the trash he is

[Bonta Kun]

Well just caught up on last 4 chapters and God, Old Man Fu is one bad ass Old Geezer. I hope the anime does his fight justice cause if it doesn't heads are gonna roll, hell they better do the whole Bradley fight justice!

Ch 100 was something else for me, couldn't quite believed what happened at the end, sorta had the feeling something bad just not that bad. Made me go all "EEEEKKK!!!" like.
Then ch 101 had me on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen to Mrs Mustang through out(gotta add that not many series have ever had me on edge before like so, was harrowing stuff) but thank god for cute lolis

[Haladflire65]

Originally Posted by Sannom

We also used to think that Scar will finish Kimblee off. Well, I believe that Scar utterly crushed him when he escaped with Winry, literally looking down on Kimblee who turned berserk as a result. The inversion, both physically and mentally, of their position is such a great victory for Scar! After this, the one obsessed with the other was not Scar but Kimblee. And the Crimson Alchemist didn't even get the satisfaction of trying to even that score, I love it! Kimblee's humiliation and defeat was total, fitting for the trash he is

But Roy didn't even get that kind of victory from Wrath. I really hope Roy gets to prove to Wrath his strength and that he's worthy to take the place of Furher... even though he's blind and as holes in his hands.

[Who]

Originally Posted by Bonta Kun

Well just caught up on last 4 chapters and God, Old Man Fu is one bad ass Old Geezer. I hope the anime does his fight justice cause if it doesn't heads are gonna roll, hell they better do the whole Bradley fight justice!

Ch 100 was something else for me, couldn't quite believed what happened at the end, sorta had the feeling something bad just not that bad. Made me go all "EEEEKKK!!!" like.
Then ch 101 had me on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen to Mrs Mustang through out(gotta add that not many series have ever had me on edge before like so, was harrowing stuff) but thank god for cute lolis

Willing to bet that the anime will do justice and beyond that. This is BONES we're talking about.

...I'm just a BONES fanboy right now after watching Sword of the Stranger.

[Sannom]

Originally Posted by Haladflire65

But Roy didn't even get that kind of victory from Wrath. I really hope Roy gets to prove to Wrath his strength and that he's worthy to take the place of Furher... even though he's blind and as holes in his hands.

There is not a heavy history between Bradley and Mustang as there was between Scar and Kimblee. Wrath doesn't have a beef or a rivalry with a particular character, he is so above the rest of the cast in term of power and capacity to keep his cool that no character get the honor to be the one Wrath "chose" as an opponent.

Plus, Roy has proven his strength, multiple times. It's just that he is not match for Bradley. Which is nothing to be ashamed of, since nobody can claim to be able to fight on even grounds with him.

Now, Bradley will probably be offed by the name who shares the most traits with him : no name, both are hard-trained warriors, both are ruthless and straight-forward, both don't really have a motivation to go further.

[quigonkenny]

Originally Posted by Sannom

There is not a heavy history between Bradley and Mustang as there was between Scar and Kimblee. Wrath doesn't have a beef or a rivalry with a particular character, he is so above the rest of the cast in term of power and capacity to keep his cool that no character get the honor to be the one Wrath "chose" as an opponent.

Plus, Roy has proven his strength, multiple times. It's just that he is not match for Bradley. Which is nothing to be ashamed of, since nobody can claim to be able to fight on even grounds with him.

Now, Bradley will probably be offed by the name who shares the most traits with him : no name, both are hard-trained warriors, both are ruthless and straight-forward, both don't really have a motivation to go further.

And assuming Wrath goes down in the near future, which is likely, it won't have been any one person who took him down. A number of people were involved in (nearly) dropping a train on him, Fu got a few good licks in, Buccaneer skewered him (with the help of Fu, admittedly), Greed took his Eye, and presumably Scar will get the deathblow. "Death by a thousand cuts" indeed.

Arakawa-sensei has written a recipe for how to go down in the annals of badassery...

[Kirarakim]

Originally Posted by quigonkenny

And assuming Wrath goes down in the near future, which is likely, it won't have been any one person who took him down. A number of people were involved in (nearly) dropping a train on him, Fu got a few good licks in, Buccaneer skewered him (with the help of Fu, admittedly), Greed took his Eye, and presumably Scar will get the deathblow. "Death by a thousand cuts" indeed.

Arakawa-sensei has written a recipe for how to go down in the annals of badassery...

One of the many things that makes Arakawa so awesome. A lot of times authors tell us how powerful villains are but when push comes to shove when they go against the hero they are always beaten in the end. With Bradley we know he will be beaten but look how many people it took to take him down.

[aohige]

Wow..... all the questions we've been wondering about in the last few chapters were voiced by Ed in chapter 103.
Refreshing considering so many manga simply brute force plotholes and brush them off.

Spoiler:

Ed wonders if the homunculus are able to "force" Mustang to open the gate, why didn't they simply use that method to gather the sacrifices they needed.
He also says how it's not fair for "the truth" to penalize someone who didn't initiate human transmutation on his/her own will.
Only those who did it by their own initiative, such as Al, Ed, and Izumi, should be penalized for the sin.
Both of these points were frequently brought up among fan discussions in the past few months.

Mei declares Father to be her target and tackles him alone, and Al & Ed doubleteam Pride.

Meanwhile Scar vs Wrath is going pretty even.
Wrath manages to slice up Scar a few times, but Scar also manages to destroy one of Wrath's blades.
Wrath uses the broken blade and stabs through Scar's arm, and it seems he cornered Scar....

But then Scar reveals his hidden trump card to turn the tables!
His other arm now has inscriptions on it too... inscription for reconstruction. Newly added after studying his brother's research book.
He used alchemy to create stone thorns much like how Ed and Al does when they fight, catching Wrath off guard and damaging him.

I wonder if this means Scar has finally gotten over the hatred of alchemy for being unnatural.

[Haladflire65]

Anyone know where we can get the raw? It is a bit early...

[aohige]

Originally Posted by The Small One

Spoiler:

Ah, finally. I was waiting for Scar to get a full set of tattoos since they retrieved the brother's research.

But there is something I was wondering since the flashbacks of Ishbal: Isn't this tattoo the most advanced form of alchemy in the world? As I understood it, he can transmute everything he wants into anything, just by his thoughts. Normal alchmists need different transmutation circles and even the technique of Ed and Al has the big drawback, that they need to clap their hands beforehand.

It does seem like it, yes.
Everything we've seen in the series suggests Scar's bro was the greatest (mortal) alchemist to live the earth.
He can create all-purpose transmutation formula, he was the first to realize what's wrong with the alchemy in Amestris, and even created a counter for it...
State Alchemists have nothing on that bad boy.

[Sannom]

Originally Posted by The Small One

Spoiler:

Ah, finally. I was waiting for Scar to get a full set of tattoos since they retrieved the brother's research.

But there is something I was wondering since the flashbacks of Ishbal: Isn't this tattoo the most advanced form of alchemy in the world? As I understood it, he can transmute everything he wants into anything, just by his thoughts. Normal alchmists need different transmutation circles and even the technique of Ed and Al has the big drawback, that they need to clap their hands beforehand.

Spoiler for Chapter 103:

Yeah, I was hoping for that too, but not really believing in it.

And yeah, Scar's brother's alchemy is truly the most advanced in the world right now. The guy was a genius who had the chance to learn about Rentanjutsu as well as Renkinjutsu. He also had the scientific mind of an alchemist but also the spirituality of a believer in Ishbala.The best combination ever, and the result is just mind-blowing. His alchemy combines the universality of Rentanjutsu (deconstruction as well as reconstruction on every kind of material, even organics) and the practicality of Renkinjutsu (tatoos instead of throwing knives).