Looking through my reading stack, I’ve noticed a number of second installments of titles I’ve already reviewed. So, over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be revisiting some of them to see how they’ve held up.
First up is Hiromu Arakawa’s Fullmetal Alchemist (Viz), which I reviewed in an installment of Flipped over at Comic World News. The first volume offered evidence that a comic could be very, very popular and very, very good at the same time. I’m happy to note that the second volume reinforces that theory.
(The following remarks contain SPOILERS for Fullmetal Alchemist Vol. 2.)
Arakawa builds on the strengths of the first installment, further fleshing out the world inhabited by gifted alchemist Edward Elric and his brother, Alphonse. In the culture of FMA, there’s a lot of ambivalence towards the use of alchemy. To some, it’s a godsend. To others, it’s an abomination. There are plenty of shadings between those two extremes, which makes for a surprisingly rich fictional world.
This time out, Edward and Alphonse have a disastrous run-in with someone from the abomination side of the fence, a deadly fanatic by the name of Scar. Scar is using the powers he abhors to eliminate high-profile alchemists like Edward, and Arakawa is canny enough to let readers wonder if he doesn’t have a point. Scar’s throw-down with the Elrics follows their encounter with a state alchemist who’s gone to horrifying extremes to hold onto his funding and status. (The sequence may not have intentionally gone for a “publish or perish” joke, but I’ll choose to read one into it anyways.)
After a narrow escape, the brothers begin a journey home to repair the damage Scar was able to inflict. The journey has its own perils and is closely monitored by a powerful group with a mysterious agenda. It’s a nice mix of emotionally complex A-stories, exciting set pieces, and slowly developing subplots.
There’s strong character work on display, too. Arakawa deepens the dynamic between Edward and Alphonse, playing up their guilt and determination amid the brotherly bickering. There’s a nice sprinkling of comedy, too, mostly in the form of military man Alex Louis Armstrong, who volunteers to accompany the Elrics on their trip. Physically imposing, Armstrong isn’t exactly a deep thinker, but he’s endearingly sentimental and an awful lot of fun.
Arakawa’s art is crisp and accomplished, and her character designs are particularly nice. Her storytelling is assured, and she juggles a number of different narrative elements with ease. FMA continues to please.
***
It’s Monday, and another edition of Flipped awaits. This one takes a look at the actual Shoujo Manga Issue, not some warped alternate-universe version I invented.