Fullmetal Alchemist Manga vs First TV Series – ROUND FOUR

In the original manga, Edward is “rescued” by the homonuculi from Laboratory 5 after sustaining injuries in the fight with the Slicer Brothers and given into military custody. In first animated television series, however, the homunuculi attempt to get Edward to use the red water and live prisoners to transmute a Philosopher’s Stone. This is the beginning of some of the bigger differences between the anime and the source material.

EVENTS:

Chapter 13: Fullmetal Body

Event(s): Ed is confronted by the homonuculi, who kill the Slicer brothers, and knock him out, then destroy the laboratory. Ed is brought into military custody by Ross and Brosch.

Episode 21: The Red Glow/Episode 22: Created Human

Event(s): By the prodding of the homonucli, Ed almost uses human lives to create a Philosopher’s Stone, but the laboratory collapses due to Scar’s interference and Ed is taken into military custody by Ross, Brosch, Armstrong, and the Fuhrer

Judgement: The lab arc is more involved in the anime version and made for some interesting moments with the red water, prisoner sacrifices, and Scar.

MANGA < ANIME Chapter 14: An Only Child's Feelings/Chapter 15: Fullmetal Heart (first half) Event(s): While Ed recovers from the lab incident, Alphonse doubts his memories and existence, and ends up confronting Ed about it. Eventually, he comes to realize that Ed was concerned that he might hate him for his current state. Episode 23: Heart of Steel/Episode 24: Bonding Memories Event(s): While Ed recovers from the lab incident, Alphonse doubts his memories and existence, and ends up confronting Ed about it. Eventually, he comes to realize that Ed was concerned that he might hate him for his current state. Judgement: In this case, the manga doesn't drag out what the anime takes too long to accomplish- and Winry's wailing on Alphonse is more effective than a fight with some insignificant filler characters. MANGA > ANIME

Chapter 15: Fullmetal Heart (second half)/Chapter 16: Seperate Paths

Event(s): While investigating the Laboratory 5 incident, Hughes discovers information that incriminates the military, but is killed by Envy before he can provide Mustang with that info. After Hughes’ funeral, Roy begins to investigate Hughes’ death.

Episode 25: Words of Farewell/Episode 26: Her Reason

Judgement: The events surrounding Hughes’ death have deeper impact in the anime version because of his more numerous appearances in the series.

MANGA < ANIME So, yeah, there was a part there that I preferred in the manga, where Alphonse is doubting whether he's real or not. I felt like they spent a little too much time on that in the anime, and while I did appreciate the little story they did with the Ishbalan children's mother, it hardly mattered in the long run. Another thing of note is that what Hughes discovered in the manga and in the first series that led to his death is very different. Let's do some more military personell for the character comparisons this time. CHARACTERS: Maes Hughes Judgement: Hughes is the same in both versions, though he does get to use his knive skills more often in the anime version. MANGA = ANIME Alex Louis Armstrong Judgement: Alex Louis Armstrong is the same in both versions, though he uses his muscles a bit more in the manga. MANGA = ANIME Jean Havoc Judgement: Havoc in the manga is FUCK YEAH. Havoc in the anime is EH, ALL RIGHT. We're talking about a guy in the manga who gets his spine pierced by Lust and still manages to come back to assist Mustang. MANGA > ANIME

Maria Ross

Judgement: Maria Ross is the same in both versions. Don’t kid yourself into thinking otherwise.

MANGA = ANIME

Denny Bloch

Judgement: Denny Block is the same in both versions. Don’t kid yourself into thinking otherwise.

MANGA = ANIME

I wonder what the new FMA 2 exclusive character, Isaac, is all about. Will he be around for the whole series? He appears to be in the military, and a State Alchemist to boot. My theory is that the homunuculi gave him a Philosopher’s Stone to use to rebel against the military so that they can gauge the worthiness of the “human sacrifices” (which is what they refer powerful alchemists as in the manga). He seems to use ice alchemy in the commercials.

I’m out of manga to cover for now! I should get to the book store!