FMA Manga question.

[EmberAlchemist0]

I was looking a few days ago for the Fullmetal Alchemist Manga so I could buy them. Well this one place told me they had "Fullmetal Alchemist Graphic Novels". I'm not really familiar with manga or graphic novels yet. So I was just curious about if the graphic novels is indeed what I should be buying?? I appreciate any help on this. ^_^

[Xod2win]

Yeah, what you're looking for will be refered to as Graphic novels in some places. There are also FMA novels which are out if you're interested in that, just don't confuse the two.

[EmberAlchemist0]

Thanks alot for that information. I just got confused at why it wasn't called Manga. I've never read any so I wasn't really sure.

[ghed]

I think there are also FMA ani-mangas being printed (please correct me if Im wrong). Ani-manga being still shots from the anime arranged into comic form, so you might want to watch out for those too. Easy way to tell is ani-manga is in color and manga is b&w.

[HitokiriShadow]

"Graphic novel" is just a term for a novel sized comic book (i.e. 100+ pages, not those little 20-30 page pamphlets).

[EmberAlchemist0]

Yeah I figured this out. Thanks alot all. ^_^ I got three of the Graphic Novels. 1, 2, and 3. They are indeed black and white also over 100 pages. So yeah I got it. They are so awesome and I love them. Actually read the first and second one already. At first I was confused with reading from back to front and so on, but after a little time (like 5 minutes) I got that all down too. I read both them two times since the first time I didn't get the story line too well. :)

[Bezerker]

Yea, its more or less the same as the anime until around volume 5, then it starts to seperate.

Definately go buy volumes 4-8 next chance you get.

[EmberAlchemist0]

Well right now I'm expecting the next three books in the mail by the first part of next week so yeah. I noticed some differences in the first books I've read. That's why I had to kinda read a few parts over and so on. I am definately a fan of them now tho. So awesome! *two thumbs up* ^_^

[appletini]

is the manga better than the anime?

[Bezerker]

Very much so. More in depth, less plot errors (which the anime had a ton of), more dramatic, etc.

12 or 13 volumes so far in Japan. 8 in America so far (9 comes out in September i believe). Its still going (they release only one chapter per month, but each chapter is around 30-50 pages so it evens out with some bi-weekly releases). No idea how long its going to be, they just keep adding more and more story to it, i wouldnt expect it to be done for another 5 years at least (if they keep it at the 1 chapter per month schedule.)

The wait does get unbearable at times (as they always seem to leave with some kind of cliffhanger). But the end result is going to be incredible.

[EmberAlchemist0]

I've only seen 8 books out so far. I got the first three and ordered the next three. By the time I get 7 and 8 the 9th one will be out I'm sure. I can't say that I like the books better than the anime, but it's definately a close 2nd to it. ^_^

[HitokiriShadow]

is the manga better than the anime?

I've seen up to volume 11 (episode 44) of the anime and read up to volume 8 of the manga, and my opinion at this point is that the anime is better.

I have no idea what "plot errors" Berzerker is talking about.

[Shanks]

Well volume 8 seemed like it had tons of differences from the anime cause I dont remember much of those scenes at all (not a bad thing, I'm just saying). But hmm, I'm not sure which I like better...I'll have to wait till they finish releasing the manga to tell I guess.

[Bezerker]

Heres a list of all the Bones errors, some are greater, some are kind of nitpicky, none the less a lot of them could've been prevented if Bones wasnt lazy at the time.

http://www.ahboba.com/otros/bonesmistakes.pdf

[HitokiriShadow]

^Thanks.

EDIT: PDF sucks. Can you just give me a few examples of these "mistakes"?

Well volume 8 seemed like it had tons of differences from the anime cause I dont remember much of those scenes at all (not a bad thing, I'm just saying). But hmm, I'm not sure which I like better...I'll have to wait till they finish releasing the manga to tell I guess.

Volume 8 is where it goes a completely different direction than the anime, but there are plenty of differences, several major ones, before that. The manga and anime contain some similar events (Tucker, Scar in Central, Lab 5, Greed) but there are significant differences between them.

[Bezerker]

Its a really long file (31 pages). Heres some random ones:

Later in the series (after they get the Philosopher's stone) Ed says that Al cant go in the water because his seal will come off, but he's already been submerged in water 1-2 times earlier in the series (with Ed there) and nothing happened. Envy being able to use Alchemy as Cornello. General Haruko's ear that was partially shot off magically is healed. Al being able to turned a peeled apple into a non-peeled one. Lust being able to create explosions with her fingers.

Theres quite a lot, but yea there were quite a few contradictions, and whatnot. Dont get me wrong, it was an okay series. Its expected that when you hand something off to a 3rd party there are going to be some mistakes. The manga is the genuine article, so obviously its going to be a lot better. Just wait til you read Volumes 9-13, it gets a lot better.

[EmberAlchemist0]

Even with errors like it has the FMA anime is still very good I think.
I really really love the manga! :D Still waiting for my next 3 volumes, but it's worth the wait.

[EmberAlchemist0]

I finally received my books 4 & 5. I was to get the 6th one also but they must have mailed it seperatly since I didn't receive it today. I read the 4th one as soon as I got it. ^_^ It just gets better and better.

[Shawaazu]

I heard that the novels were different from both the anime and the manga (correct me if I'm wrong), so you should probably give those a try too.

[EmberAlchemist0]

I was thinking of buying the novels also. I want to get all the anime and manga. So I might as well look into getting the novels too. :)

[HitokiriShadow]

I heard that the novels were different from both the anime and the manga (correct me if I'm wrong), so you should probably give those a try too.

The first (or is it second?) novel seems to be about the fake Elric brothers, which was in the anime early on, but hasn't been in the manga as of volume 8 and probably never will.

[EmberAlchemist0]

You mean Russel and Fletcher Trigam(I can't spell the last name.) I remember reading a preview for the first novel I think in one of my FMA manga and I believe according to that they are in the first novel.

How many novels are there? Just wondering.

[Shawaazu]

I'm not sure, but three of them are out right now.

[EmberAlchemist0]

The only one I know the name of is the first one "The Land of Sand" which they give a preview of in the 3rd Manga book for FMA.

[Shanks]

Yeah I dont think I remember them being in the manga so far, but they were pretty cool in the anime IMO. I dunno, maybe they werent that important to the story or anything, I just thing the title they gave them was cool (in the dub at least): "The Other Brothers Elric"

[EmberAlchemist0]

I got my Volume 6 of FMA this morning. I haven't read it yet but I plan to. *duh* Anyways I was flipping thru it a little and it looks really good. So since I don't work today I can read it at home. :D I think I'll wait til I get all the manga before I start buying the novels. hehe!!

[EmberAlchemist0]

I finally got the 6th Volume read! Yay! I can read the books really fast. I do have to go back and read some pages over just so I can make sense of a few things. I really like the manga. I can't say that enough. I just wish I had started reading them sooner. :lol:

[EmberAlchemist0]

Ok I'm up to Volume 8 in the manga for FMA. It's starting to get really good but at the same time really confusing. I had no idea that the Fuhrer President was Wrath in the manga? That kinda puzzled me. At first I didn't think I had read it right. Is there a reason they made it different when they changed it to the anime? Since in the anime he is Pride.

[crow-kun]

Well most likely it is because at the time the people working on the anime didn't even know Bradley was a homunclous. You see what most likely happend is since the anime staff didn't know Bradley was Wrath from the manga material they had already made the kid Wrath. If you notice in the manga Izumi didn't make Ed and Al go back to the island but she made them in the anime they probably didn't have enough source material to go on so they put in those filler/plot material in there. The only reason I see them making Bradley a homunculous at all in the anime was because they thought the idea of a having the ruler of the country working for the enemy was a good concept.

P.S. and if you are reading the american release there is slight visual edit the slab Greed is pinned down to was originally a cross.

[EmberAlchemist0]

Yeah that does make sense. Well if that is the case then I think the staff that worked on the anime should have looked into the Manga more. Don't get me wrong I like the anime alot just after reading some of the manga I get a little confused. It's all cool tho. After I got the last few books and read them I did see the direction going differently than the anime. Especially with Barry the Chopper, Father, The homunculi, Ling, Paninya, and all the other characters. Something that I wanted to ask about and just remembered.
When Martel got killed then Al had rememered what had happened to him and Ed.
I made it a Spoiler. Is that exactly what had happened? I read it over a few times and I'm still not sure.

[crow-kun]

When Martel got killed then Al had rememered what had happened to him and Ed.
I made it a Spoiler. Is that exactly what had happened? I read it over a few times and I'm still not sure.It wasn't so much because Martel got killed inside of him it was because Martel's blood touched Al's seal causing their blood to mix and sending Al into shock.

[soulreaper]

Yeah that does make sense. Well if that is the case then I think the staff that worked on the anime should have looked into the Manga more.

Wow, looks like you brainwashed another, crow :j

j/k?

Yeah, the manga's pretty good. I wouldn't put it above or below the anime; I find them on par in terms of enjoyment. Although, there were definitely some very odd things that happened in the anime that couldn't be explained in any other way than BONES simply made a mistake. Still fun to watch, though.

[crow-kun]

Wow, looks like you brainwashed another, crow

j/k?That was never my intention. :-"

[EmberAlchemist0]

Thanks for your info crow-kun. It helps alot. ^_^

And no he didn't brainwash me, soulreaper. :lol:

[crow-kun]

HIROMU ARAKAWA IS GOD!!! You should read some of her other works. There are three other that I know of if you would like a link to them pm me.

[Bezerker]

Jeez, just checked out the list on the Fullmetal-alchemist.com board. She really does have a lot of stuff, seems theres a new series starting in October as well.

Ive got my hands on Stray Dog, Demons of Shanghai chap 1-3 & Raiden 18 chap 1 & 2. Gonna have to keep my eyes out for more.

[crow-kun]

Demons of Shanghai
Sun Wukong and Ed wear the same boxers :lol:

[Shanks]

Theres a Sun Wukong in Demons of Shanghai? I need it then. I can't even find it on ANN though, so where can I get it?