Off The Shelf: Full Metal Alchemist

The manga and animated series The Full Metal Alchemist has reached a level of international readership that only a few Japanese titles have achieved over the past 50 years.

The short list includes Otomo's Astro-Boy, Okamura's Fist Of The North Star and Ken Miura's Berserk. Each are undeniably in this world class of artist category. Today, Hiromu Arakawa, is the only female manga-ka artist to reach this level to date. She introduced the world to Full Metal Alchemist in 1999 in self-published books (Dōjinshi) and locally produced manga magazines (Tankōbon) published in Hokkaido.

Her graphic novel series ran from 1999 to 2011, faithfully reproduced by Funamation Studios as two animated series, featured the Elric Brothers in a European steam-punk country ruled by magicians. There are dozens of fully realized characters playing major roles in the series - from the evil Homonculi, the indomitable King Bradley, the fanatical rebel Scar and many, many more strange individuals and secret organizations that the Elric Brothers encounter on their unflinching search for a means to undo the magic that made them The Full Metal Alchemist.

References:

• Wikipedia, Hiromu Arakawa
• Wikipedia, Dōjinshi