Glasskatana's Alchemy in Action (FMA 61)

glasskatana · Aug 13, 2006

Glasskatanas Alchemy in Action Review

Hiya. This is my first reviewever. And Ive decided to make it of my favorite on-going manga (if not favorite manga ever) FullMetal Alchemist. Im going to start with chapter 61. For included pics Ill be using scans provided by the group www.zomgfta.com

For those of you that dont know, Im working very hard right now to try to get FMA to become a separate section here at mangahelpers. To do that I need Manga Editors and translators. Ive already got a trust-worthy Edited Manga team, but I have yet to find a definite yes from a translator. So if you would like FMA to become a separate section here, voice your support. My quest never ends.

So here we areallow me to set the mood. We join our heroes during the War in Ishbal.

1.) Colored Pic Hooray!!

Right off the bat we get a colored pic of Kimbley in his insane glory. Lately, hes become a more interesting character, and one that, if he wasnt completely insaneand evil, would be one of my favorite characters. Hes still the source of many a good quote and scene though, and I felt it was appropriate that he get the colored pic. There will be more comments on Kimbley later.

2.) Even without his right arm of destruction Scar kicks ass.

Look at him taking out all those soldiers. :box

I loved how different his fighting style appears to be when he isnt aware that his right arm is a powerful killing machine. He uses a lot more elbow and leg action for one. Of course, he wont be fighting like that for long. Cause Someones here to ruin all the fun of Scar and his non-lethal attacks.

3.) Mr. Crazy.

You know, if Kimbleys parents had made him take up an instrument, none of this would have happened.

The fact that Kimbley Kills for nothing more than the sound is creepy, even for an audio learner such as myself.

But seriously, Kimbleys eyes in this shot are what got me. Something about them is justunreadable. I cant tell if hes actually suffering, if hes going more insane, if hes overjoyed. Nothing, all I can tell is that something inside of him is working overdrive.

If you look to the right of the panel though, it would appear that Kimbley blew everything up in a straight line for miles. Think how many thousands of people he must have killed with that. How many unexpected deaths, how many people would never see the light of day again. Makes you wonder how they ever managed to catch him later on. It also makes me wonder :headscratch

4.) How did Scars brother managed to survive? He was in point-blank range of Kimbleys attack and all he got was a minor head wound? And, how come Scar got such a major wound when his brother was protecting him like that? But I digress, the true point of me posting this pic is this.

When I saw the close-up of Scars brother and his arms, it made me wonder. How different would Scars life had been if Kimbley had blown up his left arm instead of his right? How would scar have functioned with an arm of creation. I suppose the fact that he got his weapon of vengeance is what he would call Ishbalas divine will. Still, Scar should really think about why his brother willingly gave up his life. He obviously did not want Scar to continue on the road that hes on now. Scar is not using destruction for its true purpose. In alchemy, one must destroy to create. So naturally, to create something, destroying is a necessary evil. I have always thought that Scars brother intended For Scar to use his arm to protect his fellow isbalans and to use its destruction build a new era of peace. Using it for vengeance goes against the laws of alchemy and the will of Ishbala. Doesnt stop Scar from being a total badass though.

5.) Uh-Oh. Oh man, I would give the same reaction if I found my brothers arm on my body. Somethings always bothered me about this though.

Is Scars brother the same height as him? Cause his arm fits perfectly. Either thats an amazing coincidence, or Scars brothers alchemy is just so good that he gave the arm the ability to conform and adapt Scars body. I would say that Scars brother was a great loss to the world of alchemy.

In the next page Scar goes on his killing rampage and ends up destroying Winrys parents. When I first read this I was confused. I couldnt figure out a good reason for why he did that. He obviously regrets it now. At first I thought it was for revenge and that he was just killing any amestrians that appeared in front of his eyes, but then I thought of another reason. What if Scar thought that it had been the Rockbells who had put his brothers arm of sinful alchemy onto his body. I dont know what he was thinking but it was a pretty stupid move. Scars gonna have to pay for killing the absolutely innocent Rockbells sometime in the future. I guarantee it.

6.) Kimbley again. You know how I was saying that Kimbley is the source of a lot of good quotes. This is one of them.

Theres not much to say here except that I agree with him. His crazy logic is very compelling. And I like his tired-looking eyes in the top panel. They wont be there for long though.

7.) Nice last lines.

What a way to go out. I would not want those to be my last words, though I guess if his goal was to scar Roy for life he was a bit late. Roys reaction after he burns him to bits is priceless. I also found it ironic that Roy, who obviously had some serious problems with the war and with killing, was the one responsible for killing the last of the Isbalans. And just look at his face, its so sad. Not at all the Roy weve come to know and love.

8.) Ah, there he is.

Thats the Roy were used to. His goals already set, his eyes strong, his friend at his side and his state alchemy title in the text bubble next to him. He seems very majestic in this pic. I just thought it was appropriate for someone who would eventually become hokage I mean furher.

Still, Roy developed quite the philosophy on life. You serve to protect those below you and in turn they protect those below them. I wonder how long he thinks he would be able to keep that philosophy up in a war-time when he was the fuhrer.
9.) Back with the crazy again.

HA, little does Kimbley know that we the reader know of his dastardly plot to swallow the philosophers stone. Oh, and about that, this scene confused me to know end. I thought if the stone was absorbed into your body the souls would compete and if you survived you became a homunculus and if you didnt you didnt. But Kimbley has remained Kimbley, and he doesnt seem to have regenerative powers. And he certainly isnt dead. Just what the HELL is going on here. Oh, and Kimbleys crazy eyes are back again. Also I cant gauge Envys reaction on the next page. Is she happy that the philosophers stone has been swallowed by the Crimson Alchemist? I assume she is. Can someone try to explain this to me?

10.) Happier days.

We get a look into the skill-sets of the team who would serve Roy untilnow. Rather strange that now we get their background considering theyve all been strategically re-assigned by Wrath. Still I enjoyed this little flashback to a time when everyone was together, Havoc could walk and smoke, andwell you get what I mean. I will sorely miss team Roy, and I hope something will make them come back together soon.

Well thats all for now. I hoped you enjoyed my look at this chapter. You can find the entire thing at www.zomgfta.com and if all goes well, mangahelpers will be supplying you with the future chapters in its own FMA section.

white silver · Aug 13, 2006