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LOS HERMANOS ELRIC SIGUEN INVESTIGANDO CÓMO CONSEGUIR LA PIEDRA FILOSOFAL.

Ed y Al siguen sus pesquisas para averiguar cómo conseguir el quinto elemento, la piedra filosofal, lo único que creen que les permitirá recuperar sus cuerpos, perdidos por abusar de la alquimia. Pero es un secreto demasiado importante como para que les dejen investigar tranquilos.

248 pages, Paperback

First published July 22, 2011

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About the author

Hiromu Arakawa

310 books2,687 followers
Hiromu Arakawa (author: 荒川弘) is a Japanese manga artist, best known for Fullmetal Alchemist (鋼の錬金術師 Hagane no renkinjutsushi).
Her real name is Hiromi Arakawa (荒川弘美).

Arakawa was born and raised on a dairy farm in Hokkaidō.
She thought of being a manga artist since she was little. After graduating high school, she took oil painting classes while working on her family's farm. During that time, she also created dōjinshi manga with her friends and drew yonkoma for a magazine. After eight years she moved to Tōkyō and started out as assistant writer for Hiroyuki Etō.
Her debut as manga artist is in 1999 with STRAY DOG. In 2001 she started working on her famous and award winning series Fullmetal Alchemist, that soon gets a successful anime adaptation.
Other works include Silver Spoon (銀の匙 Silver Spoon, Gin no saji Silver Spoon).

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5 stars
1,438 (65%)
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643 (29%)
3 stars
119 (5%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews
Profile Image for Whitney Jamimah.
667 reviews61 followers
March 5, 2023
Being 3 of these deluxe volumes in now I really feel like the story as a whole is grounded. We aren’t spending a bunch of time setting things up anymore so we can just focus on the story. The plot continues to thicken and I am really starting to love these characters too!
Profile Image for Rachel.
146 reviews12 followers
August 23, 2020
I’m still trying to wrap my head around the metaphysics in this story. Is the human soul immortal? It would seem so at first, because Edward brought Alphonse’s soul back (from wherever). Yet, when Envy and Lust destroy the serial killer brothers, they say the brothers were “killed.” Were their souls destroyed? ... or just the bond between their souls and the armor? Also, how is it that a human soul can be bonded to a body of armor at all? That’s metaphysically impossible. It would seem that something like that would be viewed as an abomination, but no characters are disturbed by Alphonse’s presence.

I do like the fixation that Edward and Al have about getting their bodies back. It’s very anti-Platonic. This emphasize on the importance of their human bodies shows that a human is only “complete” as a body-soul composite. It’s unnatural for a soul to be ripped from the body, which is why we abhor death.

I like the fact that Edward is a Christ figure. Obviously he’s not a perfect Christ figure, but his actions are meant to resemble Christ. Evidence of this can be found throughout the artwork. On various panels throughout the story there are obvious Christian symbols. One example is on the stone seal in Lab 5 which has a Latin inscription: “Filius Redemptor et Mediator.” Edward sacrifices himself to “resurrect” Alphonse, therefore acting as a savior.

I think the author portrays the differences between men and women really well - especially through the conversation between Winry and Colonel Hughes. Not enough contemporary stories emphasize the differences because our current stream of thought is a gross extreme towards a pseudo-egalitarianism.

I also appreciate the emphasis on the importance of children. Rather than leaving children out of the story or disregarding them, the author really emphasizes their place in the world. Nina’s fate is completely shocking. Edward’s sense of awe over an unborn life when he meets the pregnant woman is beautiful. Elicia is doted on by Colonel Hughes. Not to mention, Edward and Al are basically children (especially Al). Overall, young lives play a huge role in this story. In today’s society children are often overlooked, so the Fullmetal Alchemist world’s view on the importance of children is refreshing.

I’m excited to see how all this develops in the next volumes.
Profile Image for James DeSantis.
Author 17 books1,169 followers
January 15, 2022
The Death of a major character that always makes me cry. Some big moments with the brothers fighting and making choices. Winty gets to shine big time this volume with a ending that's both scary (delivering a baby!) And exciting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Alicia Sandoval Poveda.
120 reviews9 followers
October 28, 2023
Amé este tomo. Como en su portada le da importancia al personaje de Roy, y además la presencia más constante de Winry aporta mucho a la dinámica de los hermanos. Es una trama compleja con una narración muy entretenida.
Profile Image for Logan.
1,459 reviews49 followers
April 2, 2022
This volume introduced a few more excellent characters, such as Paninya, whose demeanor and characterization I find amazing and compelling for some reason. It's quite an achievement to create such interesting and distinct characters and breathe life into them.
August 6, 2023
як же я обожнюю цих персонажів і стиль
мені подобається абсолютно все
хочеться ще і ще

уже в очікуванні 4 тому

і, швидше за все, піду дивитись аніме
Profile Image for Marianna Rainolter.
1,616 reviews18 followers
September 26, 2021
Recensione dei volumi 2 e 3 scritta per il sito Nerd Pool e che trovate qui sotto e al seguente link: https://www.nerdpool.it/2021/08/31/fu...


Il secondo volume di questa nuova edizione kanzenban di Fullmetal Alchemist si apre da dove si era concluso il primo. Edward è stato attaccato da un misterioso uomo che scopriamo in seguito chiamarsi Scar e che ha l’obbiettivo di uccidere gli Alchimisti di Stato. Ed è grazie a loro che il ragazzo riesce a salvarsi, anche se si rompe gravemente il suo braccio auto-mail. Ecco che quindi lui insieme al fratello Al faranno ritorno al loro paese natale, dalla loro meccanica Winry, a rivivere i ricordi della loro infanzia, trovando la determinazione per proseguire la ricerca della pietra filosofale.

È lei il fulcro della storia: una pietra che tutti vogliono creare per i loro scopi personali. Infatti non sono solo i due Elric a volerla, ma anche i nemici che agiscono nell’ombra per fermare coloro che forniscono informazioni ai due fratelli e gli altri che si mettono contro il loro piano. Spietati e fortissimi, se Ed e Al li dovessero affrontare direttamente quale sarebbe il risultato?

Ma qui abbiamo uno sguardo approfondito ai membri dell’esercito, gli Alchimisti di Stato nel loro ruolo istituzionale e non. Il colonnello Mustang, l’Alchimista di Fuoco e le sue ambizioni di fare carriera, lo svogliato tenente colonnello Hughes più impegnato a fare altro piuttosto che lavorare, e il gigantesco e sensibile maggiore Armstrong che farà da scorta ai due Elric nel loro viaggio a casa.

Uno sguardo molto interessante alla struttura militare che serve anche per addentrarci nel terzo volume di Fullmetal Alchemist dove pare che all’interno operino delle spie. Le scoperte fatte da Ed e Al si incastrano con misteri dell’esercito e degli anni della guerra dell’Est dove gli alchimisti sono stati in prima linea. Sono poche le persone di cui i fratelli possono fidarsi e in gioco c’è anche la loro vita… Ma abbiamo anche un po’ di tensione tra i fratelli stessi a seguito dello scontro nel laboratorio abbandonato dove si svolgevano esperimenti su esseri umani. Momenti che risolveranno a modo loro, grazie però anche al supporto di Winry che sta al loro fianco per curare le loro ferite fisiche e non.

In questo volume vediamo una maggiore esplorazione elementi accennati nei precedenti volumi: la guerra e i ruolo degli alchimisti in essa, sfruttati come armi e quindi odiati e amati di conseguenza; il popolo di Ishval al quale appartiene Scar e il suo piano di vendetta; il mistero della pietra filosofale che in molti vogliono ottenere, soprattutto i nemici sempre più presenti nelle diverse vicende. Ed ecco che i fratelli Elric vogliono migliorarsi e raggiungere il loro insegnante per crescere e prepararsi ai prossimi scontri. Ma non sarà un viaggio facile e spensierato, anche se con questi fratelli abbiamo spesso momenti divertenti e buffi che smorzano i toni della serie anche se per poco.

Infatti sono presenti parecchi momenti molto oscuri e seri, e anche riflessioni di natura etica attorno alla pietra e all’alchimia e il suo utilizzo. Sono argomenti interessanti e che possiamo passare alla nostra realtà sostituendo alchimia con scienza e medicina. Inoltre il cast si ampia con nuovi personaggi e le loro storie personali, personaggi ai quali ci affezioniamo presto anche se compariranno poco. Ma certe scene hanno una grande potenza emotiva legata al disegno di Arakawa. Pulito, con delle belle linee e che delinea bene i personaggi nel loro design ma anche in gesti ed espressioni silenziose ma a volte evocative. Anche gli auto-mail sono ben caratterizzati e interessanti nei loro diversi aspetti, anche nel fatto che siano molto più comuni di quanto uno possa immaginare.

Tutti questi elementi aggiungono fascino alla storia, e rimane la voglia di voler esplorare il mondo di Fullmetal Alchemist nei suoi diversi aspetti grazie alle aggiunte fatte in questi volumi. Ci sono molte domande che ci assillano una volta terminati ma su una cosa siamo certi: vogliamo continuare a seguire Ed e Al nel loro viaggio.
Profile Image for Fidel Oropeza.
7 reviews
August 9, 2022
"It's a terrible day for rain"

I will never not praise the writing in this series for perfectly capturing the absurdity of a 15 year old pulling rank on soldier twice his age.

That being said, I love that the adults in this series never hesitate to remind the protagonists that they're two teenage boys that are way in over their heads and proceed to put them in their place.

This chapter expands on some of the more memorable supporting character such as Lieutenant Colonel Hughes and Winry. The former of which being the best dad/husband in all of fiction and the latter being one of the best, well written female characters in manga.

We get a duo of introductions to characters that will later significantly impact the plot in Fuhrer King Bradley and The Crimson Alchemist, Solf J. Kimbly. The former of whom immediately sets the ludicrously high stakes for the boys and their allies within the military as they continue to inch closer to their goal.

It seems like every volume so far in this series is able to produce lots of laughs, intrigue, and tears and this one does not disappoint.

If I were placed in the same situation, I don't think I'd be able to react either. Damn shame.
Profile Image for Ola G.
455 reviews40 followers
July 21, 2021
5/10 stars

Welp, this is the weakest volume so far. The story is interesting enough, but the conflicts and resolutions feel way too manufactured, abrupt, and without emotional payoff. All the buildup of this volume leads to a wet firework fizzle, when Ed's life is spared because "reasons." Yeah, yeah, the human sacrifice and whatnot, but because it's not yet explained, at this point it just doesn't make an impact it should, it just seems contrived.

There is a lot of stage setting for the future installments, and while these elements stay in the background, they make me curious enough to continue.

As a side note, I still can't get used to the whole Führer-President thingy. Not sure if it's there to evoke the grim echoes of national socialism, or just indicate the convergence of political and military power, but it sounds wrong.
Profile Image for Sigrid Valkyrie.
Author 2 books21 followers
May 9, 2021
Llorando... Llorando mucho. No puedo parar de llorar. Este tomo es una parte de la historia de lo más cruel... No he tenido un respiro entre las lágrimas. Me encanta la fuerza que va ganando la trama y como Ed y Al van madurando, como se muestra su relación con Winry y la complejidad del resto de personajes.
Las conspiraciones van estando cada vez más presentes
670 reviews16 followers
December 27, 2016
A very good addition to this manga series that i enjoyed reading. The adventures of Edward and Al in this manga is excellent fun to read. A must read.
Profile Image for Online Eccentric Librarian.
3,101 reviews5 followers
August 30, 2018
More reviews at the Online Eccentric Librarian http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

With this third volume, the Elric brothers begin to uncover something very rotten within the military - something that ties in directly with Ed's search for the Philosopher stone. We get a lot more world building and several mysteries deepended. But also a very sudden and unforeseen tragedy as it gets very serious.

Story: Ed learns the devastating truth: the philosopher stone is created from human sacrifice. Appalled and now completely thrown off as to where to continue his search to restore his and Al's bodies, Ed stumbles upon a terrifying clue that could indicate corruption at the highest offices of the military. Determined to investigate himself, what he stumbles upon is horrifying - and deadly. A trip to a remote village to see his former master will bring Winry, Al, and Ed in contact with a prosthetics master - and an upgrade as well.

Although I cannot attest to the hardcover qualities, I can say that the new translation here is first rate. There are no scenes where you have no idea what someone is saying/doing and the characters now have a lot of personality. It makes for a very smooth and enjoyable read to have the heart of the words and not the letter.

There is, of course, plenty of action and we get to see more of the deadly sins. While we don't yet know their involvement in it all, it's been great to see the scope of the mystery widen greatly with this third volume. A true classic. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
Profile Image for Shin Donghae.
2,212 reviews8 followers
October 30, 2021
Salah satu jilid yg menggugah emosi terkait hubungan Elric bersaudara. Al yg ragu dan Ed yg tak mau membuat adiknya sedih.

Senang sekali bisa menyelam kembali ke dunia Elric bersaudara setelah sekian lama! Saya takut kurang menghargai pekerjaan Arakawa sensei dari sepuluh tahun yang lalu, tetapi sama sekali tidak: Saya masih sangat menyukainya. Dan versi yang diterbitkan ulang ini luar biasa!!!
Profile Image for Alex.
320 reviews28 followers
August 7, 2020
This volume has it all.
Incredibly intense moments that season the plot, heart shattering moments that shows how deep and dark this series is and fun, hilarious moments that made me smile.

This series really has become an unexpected favourite this year. I don't even know what else to say except to expect nothing less than gushing love from me when it comes to Fullmetal Alchemist.
Profile Image for Carlos J. Eguren.
Author 19 books147 followers
August 24, 2020
242/365

Poco a poco, la serie se va consolidando y empieza a hacer gala de la estrategia de: "voy a hacer que adores a este personaje para luego hacerle algo terrible", una estrategia que gente como George R. R. Martin y tantos otros han demostrado que es muy eficaz e Hiromu Arakawa no iba a ser menos.

Aparte de descubrir más secretos sobre la Piedra Filosofal, tenemos dudas, buenos duelos y momentos lo suficientemente interesantes como para engancharnos a la serie.

Todo un descubrimiento para mí, después de tanto tiempo sin muchos mangas que me animasen a leerlos.
Profile Image for Natilin Alpaca Saurio.
744 reviews1 follower
December 30, 2023
Leer Fullmetal es el equivalente a contar historias graciosas en un funeral, te podes estar cagando mal de risa y a los 3 minutos aguantandote las lágrimas muy fuerte.


Se entiende? Creo que me expliqué pal culo :p
Profile Image for Roxanne.
285 reviews37 followers
April 23, 2020
Oh my god... This was again, sooo good, but I definitely cried at a certain part in this!
Profile Image for Sarah✨.
542 reviews21 followers
August 23, 2020
SO GOOD, ALSO HEARTBREAKING! I LOVE THIS SERIES

5/5 stars! ✨✨✨✨✨
Profile Image for Eth.
217 reviews17 followers
April 19, 2021
Como puedo llorar tanto con una escena que vi en las 2 adaptaciones? Arakawa sabe como hacerme sufrir
Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews

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