From Julian's shelf
Fullmetal Alchemist
Complete-series reflection
Why it is on my shelf
Written after completing the manga, with the anime adaptations in mind.
What’s brilliant about Fullmetal Alchemist, especially as it ages into a modern classic, is how perfectly it captures something about European antiquity and Western hermetic occult tradition. That whole alchemical foundation is displayed through a remarkable cast, a deeply thoughtful philosophical plot, and two incredibly lovable leads. I don’t know anyone who has experienced this series and not fallen in love with some version of it. I’ve read through the whole manga, and I think that’s the cleanest way to experience the story, even though the anime adaptations are fantastic too. The manga lets you sink into the world, sit with it, and absorb everything it has to offer.
Premise
After a forbidden alchemical ritual destroys their bodies, Edward and Alphonse Elric search for the Philosopher's Stone in a story about sacrifice, war, science, and the cost of trying to bring back what was lost.
Genres Action · Adventure · Comedy · Drama