A review by dakotach7
Fullmetal Alchemist: Fullmetal Edition, Vol. 9 by Hiromu Arakawa

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

This was again another great volume... this + the last volume seem to mark a point in the story where I kind of wish I just had a weekend to read the entire series all at once. I love how a variety of character's are thrown into their own version of hell, i.e. Ling, Ed, and Envy (although I do not feel too badly for Envy in this situation, especially considering what he revealed about his role in Ishval...) and then Mustang figuratively entering hell via what happened at Central HQ.

Like having his whole team being taken away like that! And then Hawkeye essentially being a hostage to Bradley via being assigned as his personal assistant, wtf man. If I didn't already know what was going to happen, I would be soo immensely worried about Hawkeye and co.!! Additionally, them meeting Father, and then, well... Ling being turned into Greed. I love that scene every time, because it's always so surprising but really makes sense for Ling's character.  Oh, and of course, Ed seeing Al's body? And Ling thinking that Ed clapping his hands to transmute looks like praying?? And Ed's theorizing on the alchemical symbols from the Xerxes transumation circle?? And also 1 other million plot points and details that are insane?

 

Also as an extra bit, I really love Envy's true form in the manga. It's sort of weird and unsettling in the anime, but the manga is just pure body horror and I love it. Envy is such a genuinely disgusting creature.