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4.4 AVERAGE
4.4 AVERAGE
Volume 2 picks up right where volume 1 left off, with Roy Mustang “owing one” to Ed for saving the general on the train. In return Mustang introduces Ed to Shou Tucker, the “Sewing-Life Alchemist”. Ed is branching out in all directions searching for a way to restore his body and that of his brother. Unfortunately who he ends up meeting is a scientist who is willing to use any means to achieve his ends. Ed and Al have some hard lessons to learn about their own continued powerlessness and about the difference between sacrificing others for your ends, and sacrificing yourself. I thought this was a very powerful and eerie part of the series, and of course very sad.
After that a new character is introduced, Scar is a man that is set on a lifetime of vengeance. Scar believes that the alchemy of this country is a perverse sin. That it is wrong to create, transforming something into a grotesque pantomime of what it should be is a sin against his god. Ironically enough he uses alchemy himself to serve justice. Scar is not without his reasons though as you discover when you read about the military's dark past with his mother country Ishvarla.
To end the volume the brothers meet up with Dr. Marcoh. He is their first good lead on the Philosopher's Stone as he used to be a state alchemist that did that exact research. What he discovered terrified him and he fled to hide in the countryside as a simple doctor. Ed and Al's story and determination to right the wrongs they committed touched the Doctor. But, regardless of how horrifying the truth is that his research notes contain, can the Elric brothers not only face that truth but also look beyond to "the truth within the truth"?
Unlike the first volume this one takes time to explore the world around these characters and particularly the role the military takes in it. The military's warlike past and experimental present are explored and it soon becomes clear that in his quest for knowledge Ed may have allied himself with an organization with sins blacker than anyone could have guessed.
Through it all the author continues to make clear that Ed and Al are just kids themselves, so even though this manga is deservedly rated T for Teen, Ed and Al are portrayed as dealing with the problems and horror that arises in a very realistic way for someone their age. That is, not well at all. I appreciated the realism.
After that a new character is introduced, Scar is a man that is set on a lifetime of vengeance. Scar believes that the alchemy of this country is a perverse sin. That it is wrong to create, transforming something into a grotesque pantomime of what it should be is a sin against his god. Ironically enough he uses alchemy himself to serve justice. Scar is not without his reasons though as you discover when you read about the military's dark past with his mother country Ishvarla.
To end the volume the brothers meet up with Dr. Marcoh. He is their first good lead on the Philosopher's Stone as he used to be a state alchemist that did that exact research. What he discovered terrified him and he fled to hide in the countryside as a simple doctor. Ed and Al's story and determination to right the wrongs they committed touched the Doctor. But, regardless of how horrifying the truth is that his research notes contain, can the Elric brothers not only face that truth but also look beyond to "the truth within the truth"?
Unlike the first volume this one takes time to explore the world around these characters and particularly the role the military takes in it. The military's warlike past and experimental present are explored and it soon becomes clear that in his quest for knowledge Ed may have allied himself with an organization with sins blacker than anyone could have guessed.
Through it all the author continues to make clear that Ed and Al are just kids themselves, so even though this manga is deservedly rated T for Teen, Ed and Al are portrayed as dealing with the problems and horror that arises in a very realistic way for someone their age. That is, not well at all. I appreciated the realism.
FR
J'avais vu les deux animés qui ont été créés et j'avais adoré. Récemment, j'avais envie de me replonger dans cet univers, car je n'ai jamais lu les mangas.
Et c'est ce que j'ai finalement fait. Je dois avouer que l'animé Brotherhood est le plus vif dans ma mémoire (pas tant que ça quand même haha); et je peux dire que c'est très fidèle au manga !
Il y a pas mal de choses que je me souvenais, donc ce n'était pas de la découverte, mais d'autres détails, des personnages que si, totalement.
Il me tarde de me lancer dans la suite car j'ai vraiment passé un bon moment !
ENG
I had seen the two anime that were created and I loved it. Recently, I wanted to dive back into this universe, because I've never read the manga.
And that's what I finally did. I must admit that the Brotherhood anime is the most vivid in my memory (not that much anyway haha); and I can say that it is very faithful to the manga !
There are quite a few things that I remembered, so it was not a discovery, but other details, characters that yes, totally.
I can't wait to get into the next because I really had a good time !
J'avais vu les deux animés qui ont été créés et j'avais adoré. Récemment, j'avais envie de me replonger dans cet univers, car je n'ai jamais lu les mangas.
Et c'est ce que j'ai finalement fait. Je dois avouer que l'animé Brotherhood est le plus vif dans ma mémoire (pas tant que ça quand même haha); et je peux dire que c'est très fidèle au manga !
Il y a pas mal de choses que je me souvenais, donc ce n'était pas de la découverte, mais d'autres détails, des personnages que si, totalement.
Il me tarde de me lancer dans la suite car j'ai vraiment passé un bon moment !
ENG
I had seen the two anime that were created and I loved it. Recently, I wanted to dive back into this universe, because I've never read the manga.
And that's what I finally did. I must admit that the Brotherhood anime is the most vivid in my memory (not that much anyway haha); and I can say that it is very faithful to the manga !
There are quite a few things that I remembered, so it was not a discovery, but other details, characters that yes, totally.
I can't wait to get into the next because I really had a good time !
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Leí este tomo en castellano y pude entender todo salvo unas palabras! Por fin encontré algo en mi nivel. Me gustó este tomo pero la historia en general no me animó tanto y no sé si voy a seguir leyéndolas. Se dice que se mejora mucho pero no sé. Por el momento, quiero seguir leyendo Nana y empezar a leer Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction. Me parece que leer dos mangas a la vez es suficiente.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Since I watched the anime several years ago now, I didn't remember the Nina thing happened so early in the story. Oh, my God. I will never get over this and how creepy it was.
Ed... ward...
Ed... ward...
adventurous
funny
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I didn't like this one quite as much as Vol. 1, but the Ed & Al vs. Scar fight was definitely a highlight. And, of course, the Nina incident was as heartwrenching and disturbing as ever -- it upsets me every time.