Fullmetal Alchemist (2002)

[鋼の錬金術師]

Volume 2

Author/Artist: Hiromu Arakawa
Publisher: Gangan Comics

Synopsis:
In exchange for his help with the trainjacking, Edward has Colonel Mustang introduce him to a State Alchemist specializing in biological experiments.

Story/Characters:
We had Colonel Mustang introduced at the tail-end of the previous volume, but from here the military takes a more prominent role. Colonel Mustang and his crew are pretty interesting, but the real hero is Major Armstrong. Good things happen when he's on the panel. I find the story of Shou Tucker to be a significant improvement on the previous three stories and from there we start following recurring antagonist Scar, who ties into the larger backstory. He represents the first serious threat to the Elric Brothers and brings some really good action set pieces. Next up is Dr. Marcoh, who's another player in the larger scheme of things. One thing you start to notice is the interconnection of people and events and this is where the story really starts to hit its stride. I would almost compare the previous volume to a pilot episode and this being where the real story begins.

Art:
I had no complaints with Arakawa's craft in the previous volume, but particularly with alchemist-on-alchemist action, we get some more dynamic and creative visuals. The menace of Scar is really sold well.

Other:
We get a glamor shot of Major Armstrong and three 4-koma.

Conclusion:
This is vastly stronger than the first volume, setting up the narrative that makes this series so widely loved. We get a number of strong recurring characters introduced here and start to venture into the web of conspiracy and dark deeds that form the backdrop of the story. Definitely give this one a read if not add it to your collection.

Rating:
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