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Fullmetal Alchemist Chapter 107 (SPOILERS)

My thoughts on Fullmetal Alchemist chapter 107:

So, wow, I’m just about as late with this review as I was with the last one. Well, I have all the time I want for the next, because it’s the final chapter, which makes this the penultimate chapter of Hiromu Arakawa’s Fullmetal Alchemist!

What have I said about cliffhangers in Fullmetal Alchemist? They. Never. Pay. Off. This is the second or third time Father has unleashed a great blast of energy that envelopes everything and again, our heroes recover, though Al is much worse for wear and Hohenheim isn’t looking good. Not surprisingly, Roy and Riza team up so he can use his flames to fight Father, but happily it does nothing. I like that now he’s using clapping alchemy, since he can, having seen the Truth. (Oooh, having seen it… sorry, Roy.) read more

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Fullmetal Alchemist Chapter 106 (SPOILERS)

My thoughts on Fullmetal Alchemist chapter 106:

 

Sorry it’s taken me so long! In fact, chapter 107 should be out soon! Yeesh.

This chapter got a little trippy, which is nothing new after a few chapters ago when Father "swallowed God" or something of the sort. We get a bit of weirdness with Father creating people out of himself, no doubt from the souls encased in him, or maybe with the "God" he took into himself, as a distraction to the sacrifices fighting him. Also there was the bit where Ed "enters" Pride, which I guess is left to the imagination as to how. It seems a little too esoteric, even for FMA, and it sort of bothered me, to be honest. read more

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20th Century Boys Movie 2: The Last Hope

20th Century Boys Movie 2: The Last Hope

(Starring: Airi Taira, Haruka Kinami, Etsushi Toyokawa, Teruyuki Kagawa, Naohito Fujiki, Takako Tokiwa, Fumiyo Kohinata, Hitomi Kuroki, Yusuke Santamaria, Mirai Moriyama)

Synopsis (Spoiler Free):

In 2015, the Friend cult has largely taken control of Japan, and controls nearly every facet of society. Kanna Endo (Taira), neice of Kenji Endo (Toshiaki Karasawa) has to endure a society that blames her uncle and his friends for the attack on New Year’s Bloody Eve. At the same time, Kenji’s best friend Otcho (Toyokawa) and a manga artist (Moriyama) break out of prison to stop Kanna from being drawn into the Friends’ clutches. After a series of events involving the Friends-controlled police force, Kanna and another classmate, Kyoko Koizumi (Kinami) search for clues on Friend’s identity at his brainwashing theme park, and encounter Yoshitsune (Kagawa) and a terrifying secret involving Kenji’s group’s childhood. Kanna enlists the help of the Thai and Chinese gangs, as well as others, to try to stop Friend from plunging the world into further darkness. read more

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Fullmetal Alchemist Chapter 105 (SPOILERS)

My thoughts on Fullmetal Alchemist Chapter 105:
 


It seems like part of my long-running theory was correct, and part of it was wrong. I did get right that what Hohenheim did all those chapters ago when he spilled part of his Philosopher’s Stone out into the ground was part of his plan to defeat Father, and that he would activate his plan when it seemed Father was unbeatable. However, it was not part of the reverse array after all. The question becomes, did Hohenheim always intend to make the reverse array and he just stumbled into the others working on it or did he not know about it yet until Alphonse brought him the news about it in Lior? Either way, enough of my theory was correct to make me satisfied, even though it does seem a little cheesy that he can still use the souls as active participants. read more

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Fullmetal Alchemist Chapter 104 (SPOILERS)

My thoughts on Fullmetal Alchemist Chapter 104:
 

Mei was really hanging in there against Father. But it’s hard to beat a guy who can turn his friggin’ hand into a gun. Wow, that was weird. It’s a good thing Alphonse jumped in and helped her. I’ve never been big on the Xingese characters, but I’m hoping Mei survives all this.

Shorty Edward vs shorty Pride was another highlight of the chapter. Finally, Edward actually gets to do something again in this series. It’s been too long. I mean, it only lasts a few pages, but hey, he got to headbutt the little creep that was easily wasting everyone else in combat. I mean, of course, Pride is weakened because of the Roy sacrifice, but still, it’s good to see him taking some damage, and Ed being the one giving it. If Roy ends up the one taking Pride out, I’m going to be angry. read more

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FMA Primer #2

FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: BROTHERHOOD: CHAPTER 2

The new "chapter" of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood starts next week, with the advent of the Xingese characters, so here’s a little primer/reminder. I covered most of this in my first primer, mind you, but I wanted to approach the characters again, a little differently in some cases.

Xing is a country in the East, where Rentanjutsu (Funimation subs it as "alkahestry", after "alkahest", an alchemy term), an alchemy used for medical application, is practiced, passed down from a Sage from the West. Xing lies beyond the Great Desert, to the east of what was once Ishbal (which itself is east of Amestris proper, where most of the story takes place). Xing is ruled by an Emperor, who controls the many clans of the country. read more

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Fullmetal Alchemist Manga vs First TV Series – ROUND EIGHT

Fullmetal Alchemist Manga vs First TV Series – ROUND EIGHT

So, this is it. The final round of manga/first anime series comparisons. After volume 8 of the manga (actually during volume 8), the differences between the two versions of FMA expand into a large gulf. In volume 8, the Xingese characters are introduced. In episodes of the series, there’s a return to Lior, where Scar tries for revenge against those who destroyed his people.

It’s been fun comparing.

EVENTS:

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