The Super Elric Brothers Returns!

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Vol 2 – Yasuhiro Irie

Following on from a great first volume, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood returns with the latest smatterings of science based action and adventure about the tortured but brilliant Elric Brothers. Episodes 14 to 26 are displayed here so it shows the great change within the show, bringing together the main storylines and twists which took this mediocre show into the heights of one of the best anime TV shows I’ve watched since Death Note, and that’s a massive compliment. Edward and Alphonse see themselves in a plot by a group of un-killable people named after the six rings of hell: Greed, Wrath, Lust, Gluttony and Envy have been shown so far to be a part of the group with two still remaining, when will they show up?

Here are some of the storylines that happen throughout these episodes on volume 2: Ed wants to find the philosophers stone to help himself and his brother get their full bodies back which leads to many places where scientists, who happen to be kidnapped, dead or missing. Along the way, many people try to kill them to stop them doing this, which brings the group with strange names, lead by a mystery character who does reveal himself in this volume, you’ll be shocked. Gluttony and Lust are both on the wrath (get it!) and will stop at nothing to kill them. They also have to deal with Scar, an alchemist who goes on a rampage to show that alchemists are nothing but cowards. I could go on and on about the storylines but there is a lot to talk about, seriously, a lot.

The animation is great, if anything it gets better because the animator are clearly given free-reign to represent the scripts the best of their abilities and the action sequences seem to have been given more time and structure to them. Even the way the characters emote reaches out to the audience in an extraordinary way to make you connect with them and really feel their pain or their joy throughout many of the sad situations. A lot of people die in this volume, so you’ll be going up and down a rollercoaster of emotion many, many times. Actually, if you’re above the age of 22 you probably won’t feel too attached, as it is just a cartoon after all, but if you love this kind of shit, you’ll properly dig it, like really hard. I recommend starting at the beginning as most of the storyline will fly over your head, but if you just want to watch casually then pick this volume up, as it’s the best so far.

8/10

Simon Childs