Remember last year when I said I almost finished Fullmetal Alchemist if only my library picked up the missing volume 9. Well, four months later, I finally got to read volume 9. That plus my friend gifted me the 20th anniversary edition so I have all the Fullmetal content I could want.

So let’s get to it, volume 9 was interesting but not as interesting as it would have been if I had read it in order so this felt more like a filler volume with Ling, Envy and Edward trying to find their way out of Gluttony’s literally bottomless stomach.

Although it had it’s interesting points like Mustang learning Furur Bradley’s homoculus’ origins (plus flashback to how Bradley became Wrath) and the transferrals of his comrades. The sweet story of how May got her pet panda, Shao May who is so stinking adorable, paralleling the bond of the Elric brothers, together they can get through anything and seeing Scar’s rarely seen soft side. Also coolest of cool, Ling becoming greed, and conquering the philospher’s stone to become the half-Ling/half-homoculi creation that is the token evil teammate.

Now, I can get to my thoghts on the ending which was simply epic! That’s the first word that comes to mind when I think about it. From almost every character getting a moment of glory to shine like the return of Havoc, Maria Ross, Izumi, Lan Fan, the Armstrong siblings (plus Olivier and Izumi team-up which is quite frankly terrifying), the sacrifice of Greed-Ling among other comrades, and each homoculi meet their fitting ends.

But best of all, the Elrics get their bodies back without sacrificing their morals, proving that these teenage/kids manage to have the strength of ten thousand men. Their choice to follow truth and peace brings a new era that will hopefully heal the previous bloodshed and redemption.

Plus I have to give thanks to Roy’s awesome takeover of the radiowaves, and my shippy heart to Roy and Rizi kinda getting together. They’re truly a ride or die battle couple. There’s not much to complain about the finale although I felt Winry was kinda sidelined. I get it wouldn’t make sense as she doesn’t have the combat skills or alchemy of everyone else but she felt a bit forgotten.

Nonetheless, I loved how Arakawa wrapped up everyone’s storylines and how it held fufilled her themes of humanity being the light of the future and their ability to overcome tragedy and despair.

As for the 20th edition, it had lots of goodies like promotional manga chapters for each of the novels and video games plus those that were included in profile guides. Some were serious like those setting the stage for the Prince of Dawn, and Broken Angel. Those in particular reminded me of movie trailers.

Others were sillier like the bookmarks for each day of the week, parodies of Power Rangers, and Roy’s initial failed attempts at fire alchemy (the one come out of his nostrils and butt looked partcularly painful, oof).

It had some other fun tidbits like timelines, letters from the anime and liveaction casts, and bts info of the creation of each Fullmetal tie-ins, including the novels.

There was even an additional prose novel from Havoc’s POV detailing his part in helping overthrow Furur by creating supplies nad bringing Maria Ross from Xing. It may just be my shipper self, but did I see potential between Havoc and Ross you bet I did. It also whetted my desire to have some Havoc/Ross spin-off with Ross’s adventures in Xing. Which also, why hasn’t there been any spin offs of Scar and the Ishavalians or even just May and Ling’s return to Xing? There’s so much potential with this delightfully large cast that springs so many ideas to explore and I love it all.

Fullmetal Alchemist is a high-flying ambitious scope of fantasy, action–adventure, philosphy and alchemy, something for everyone I believe with strong, flawed characters, tragic moments and heartbursting highs and humor too. Highly recommend to everyone to give it a chance.