Fullmetal Alchemist, Volume 8

Arakawa keeps introducing a slew of new characters every volume, but fortunately she keeps killing off the old ones so I don't feel overwhelmed. At least one of those deaths is pretty rough though as the bad guys become increasingly ruthless. Balanced against all the slapstick in other sections, this series is seeming more like a Coen Brothers movie each volume.

Definitely a very dark beginning for Volume 8. After the huge plot twist at the end of Volume 7 the rest of the fall out occurs in the start of Volume 8. It’s very dark and very sinister and while some pieces of the puzzle have fallen into place many more questions remain unanswered. I also thought the soldiers at the beginning wondering who wasn’t human (the chimeras and Greed or the alchemists and King Bradley) was very illuminating of where things are in the series right now.

The plot lightens up a bit after that as several new characters (and a whole new country!) gets introduced in the form of Xing. A country that uses a different form of alchemy that is more focused on the healing arts, and as a result thinks of alchemy in a show more very different way from the war-centric Amestris. Some very humorous scenes commence, especially the ones with the little girl Mei and her reaction on learning about Edward, the Fullmetal Alchemist.

Volume 8 was definitely a turning point in the series as new characters, new countries and a whole new viewpoint is brought into the manga. The moments of darkness offset with scenes of humor and witty banter that are true throughout the series really come to play in this volume. Another winning chapter in the Fullmetal Alchemist saga. show less

The big big reveal. The nuances of the president was amazing. Finally almost all the sins have been revealed sans pride and I am very sure he is going to be amazing. Sad that greed had to go but loved that arc too. I am enjoying the humor more and more and it came at a much needed time. The new entranta was something I had no clue about and it sure has piqued my interest. I have come round to appreciating Scar.

I enjoyed the story, but there was a lot of fighting that I didn't follow as well in this volume. I don't dislike the fight panels, I just have a harder time deciphering some of them compared to when there's text.

We finally get a good look inside one conspiracy, just as some new players arrive on the scene from a distant land.

We're learning so many more things about the world! And it's getting bigger and crazier and more wonderful all the time.

30: The Truth Inside the Armor