Fullmetal Alchemist (2005)

[鋼の錬金術師]

Volume 11

Author/Artist: Hiromu Arakawa
Publisher: Gangan Comics

Synopsis:
Edward confronts his estranged father in Resembool.

Story/Characters:
The character of Van Hohenheim is rather interesting. On the one hand, he appears to be this absent-minded academic, but then he can shift into something far more sinister and brutal. Seeing him take down Edward was really something, and that leads us into a deeper exploration into Ed and Al's little experiment and what human transmutation actually is. Meanwhile, Colonel Mustang and Lieutenant Havoc are continuing their recovery while the former is planning his next move. (Of course, the homunculi aren't sitting still either.) That leads us into the Elrics and Ling plotting to draw out the homunculi, catching the attention of Scar in the process. We're set up for another big pileup and this time King Bradley throws himself into the mix as well.

Art:
Showing the two sides of Hohenheim are rather effective and there's a lot of punch in the scene where Ed digs up the results of his experiment. Though brief, the fight between Scar and the alchemist Giolio Comanche is pretty good. The cliffhanger panel is great, too.

Other:
We only get one 4-koma this time around and a little sketch of Hohenheim instead of the usual single-panel gag.

Conclusion:
If you've been looking forward to the confrontation between Ed and his dad, you should appreciate this volume. We've also got the setup for the next stretch of the story. Give it a read.

Rating:
Read It