Fullmetal Alchemist, Volume 4

Increasingly, this seems like an action manga written by someone who'd rather be writing anything other than an action manga. This issue leans hard on humor and character development, which is all good with me since I'd rather be reading anything other than an action manga.

I had mixed feeling about this volume. I'm not following the story as much as I would like. I'm still confused by some of the characters who look alike and am not always sure who is whose enemy. Not good as far as progressing through the series. I hope the next book is easier for me.

I enjoyed the chapter about Elisa's three-year-old birthday party because I read that chapter on my own grandson's three-year-old birthday. In addition, his dad is also a "toy maker" like Winfry. My son, a welder, replaces cheap plastic parts of my grandson's toys with hand-made metal parts. I love how real life echoes this part of the story for me.

I do like the Elric brothers and will continue to follow their adventures and their quest for the show more philosopher's stone. show less

Let's talk about how, in this volume, one chapter has excellent humor that cracks you up and the next chapter brings you down in the cruelest way. Let's talk about how well-developed are the plot and the characters. LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW PERFECT THIS MANGA IS IN EVERY WAY.

P.S.: Hughes :'(
I will never recover from it.

It was a normal volume up till the end. Hughes death spiced things up. I initially thought Lust and her contingent were workers of the Brass but this volume has disproved it to a great extent. Can't wait for the remaining sins to be shown. I liked Al's arc but the ending was sweet and simple. I was expecting it to shimmer and grow into a bigger trench.

After the horrific events in volume 3 the Elric brothers spend most of volume 4 recovering from their wounds whether physical, mental or emotional. Laboratory 5 is destroyed and in its aftermath Ed is hospitalized with serious wounds and Al is left reeling from the words of doubt planted by Barry the Chopper. Winry also makes another appearance to fix Ed’s auto-mail arm with the missing bolt. Both brothers have time to reflect on their actions both past and present and in some cases are given a bit of a wake call about them.

More things come to a head as the players put together what pieces of the puzzle they have so far, only to be stymied by orders from higher up to cease the investigation and to not tell anyone about what they had show more found.

Meanwhile Ed, Al and Winry have some more lessons to learn about friendship, faith, brotherhood and trust. Winry is constantly frustrated at how little the brothers tell her. At the same time the lines of communication have shut down between the brothers and this results in misunderstandings and in some things coming out that will surprise you and help you understand the boys even more.

In the end the investigation sparked by the boys' misadventures and the military's own bloody history leads one character into knowledge that ultimately costs him more than he bargained for. The scenes following were definite tear jerkers and were very well drawn and laid out to that effect.

I enjoyed reading about the brothers' and Winry's growth throughout this volume. Also getting to see the interplay between the three and Winry's violent tempers played against the military personnel teasing Ed about her being his girlfriend were a lot of fun to read about. And, of course, the ending did have me in tears, it does every time I read it. One of my favorite chapters in the Fullmetal Alchemist saga. show less

The aftermath of the brothers' discoveries in Laboratory Five brings both insight into the cast of characters and retaliation from the villains.

I only half remember the anime, which apparently diverges at some point anyways. So it's a combination of half remembered things and being surprised over and over again. Imagine, being saved by Lust/Envy/Gluttony et al -- knowing that there's far more to them, but not exactly what. It's crazy.

A few random lovely scenes?



What happened? Strongarm happened.



Fist bump!

It is lovely to see the brothers talk things out. They have such a bond... and have been through so much. I like seeing that. They fight like brothers would, but their relationship is not only that... as it should be.



BLOOM



Dog training...

Also, the author has quite the sense of humor. And a thing for cows it seems?



You know, I don't think I'd mind.