From original work by Hiromu Arakawa, appearing monthly in Square Enix
("Shonen Gangan").
Edward Elric is the Fullmetal Alchemist. He is a prodigy, becoming the
youngest State Alchemist in the Army's history. Edward stunned his
superiors by using Alchemy without an array, a miraculous feat never
witnessed before. Ed despises being "a dog of the military," but it
grants him the opportunity to seek out the legendary Philosopher's
Stone, a crimson crystal rumored to increase the power of the Alchemist
who uses it.... Edward seeks the stone so that he may restore his
missing limbs, and more importantly reunite his younger brother
Alphonse's body with his soul, which was tragically trapped in a suit of
armor after a failed attempt through Alchemy to revive the dead Trisha
Elric, the boys' mother. Edward realizes he has a gift, a gift that
most State Alchemists could only dream of having. But he knows that
with that gift he becomes a high profile target.... As Edward
reluctantly fights off a crazed assassin who vows revenge on all State
Alchemists, Edward begins to unravel the clues that reveal that not all
in as it seems at the highest levels of the State Military. And, that
there is a terrible secret behind the precious Philosopher's Stone.
Alphonse Elric was but an innocent young child when a tragic chain of
events changed his life forever. First, his father mysteriously
vanished while Al was to young to remember. Then, after battling a
terrible illness, Al's mother succumbed to death. Finally, during a
horrific accident performing forbidden Alchemy, Al's body was sealed
inside a suit of armor.... Undaunted and unashamed by all that has
happened in his short life, Al carries on, eternally supporting his
older brother, Edward,in his search for the Philosopher's Stone, a
legendary gem with the power to restore Al's body and Edward's lost
limbs. Al knows that he and his brother's actions were wrong. He only
wishes for the chance to make things right.
Trisha Elric's life was beautiful, peaceful, and full of promise until
her husband went away, never to return. Saddled with two small boys and
the truth about her husband, Trisha battled through the good times and
the bad. Despite her brave exterior, darkness triumphed, eating away at
her health until she could no longer combat the inevitable.... On her
deathbed, Trish realized the amazing talents her sons possessed and the
great work they were destined to do. Little did she know that Edward
and Alphonse would soon attempt the most forbidden practice in all of
Alchemy.
Roy Mustang is the Flame Alchemist and a veteran of many brutal battles.
He personally knew Edward and Alphonse's father, which sparked his
curiosity once he discovered that Hohenhelm's sons were dabbling in
alchemical arts. Mustang is eager to climb the ladder of success and
hopes that discovering the immense talent within Edward helps him ascend
the ranks.... Still, Mustang's soldiers are the most loyal in all of the
State Army, claiming there is more to this man than his thirst for
power.
Winry Rockwell has known Edward and Alphonse as long as she can
remember. And as one might expect, Winry cares deeply for her childhood
friends. It was Winry who assisted in attaching Ed's Automail after the
botched human transmutation that took his limbs away. She is much more
comfortable in a garage or breaking down and rebuilding complicated
mechanical devices than anywhere else.
Pinako Rockbell is the elderly relative of Winry Rockbell, childhood
friend of Ed and Al. Pinako serves as Winry's caretaker after her
parents are killed in battle. Pinako also happens to be the brilliant
Automail mechanic who first fitted Ed with his mechanical limbs. She
tells it like it is and isn't afraid to butt heads with anyone over
anything. She is tough as nails, but maintains a soft spot for Ed and
Al despite disagreeing with Ed's desire to join the terrible State Army.
Lust is the apparent leader of the Homunculi. These beings are created
from sinister and mysterious means, but no one has yet pinned down the
complete truth behind their existence. Lust uses any means necessary to
accomplish her goals. She is able to corrupt the minds of the weak,
forcing them to follow her every desire. ... Fate would have it that she
and Ed desire the very same thing -- the power of the Philosopher's
Stone. With it, Lust hopes to become completely human. Only time will
tell if she fulfills her goal. But even so, will becoming completely
human truly satisfy all her desires?
Gluttony's appetite is voracious. Too bad for his victims is the fact
that only one thing satisfies it, if only for a moment. Gluttony
appears to gain nothing in the way of physical strength or power by
consuming other living being. No matter how much he eats, his appetite
is never fulfilled. He simply knows one thing: Hunger. Not for power
or prestige, but rather simply to satisfy his reason to be, which only
adds to his tragic existence.
Majhal is a well respected Alchemist. Ed and Al learn of him in letters
exchanged between Majhal and their father regarding human transmutation.
Nearly 20 years ago, Majhal lost his true love to a tragic accident. His
lover, Karin, was the very image of perfection, even more so than the
rare blue rose she learned to cultivate. now Majhal's love has changed
from grief to obsession. And the result of his obsession may lead him
to the most taboo of alchemical arts.
Clause. When Ed and Al first encounter the brash young Clause, she is
testing fireworks for a village festival. So what does she do to
"welcome" the two young strangers to town? She orders her lackeys to
attack them, of course! Clause is a tomboy who always wants things done
her way. She is spunky and enthusiastic, but her enthusiasm is often
seen as just plain bossiness.... However, Clause's life is a tragic one
at best. She lost her older sister in a terrible accident, an event
that scarred the young girl more than she even realizes. Clause runs
from reason; she refuses to make the connection between her angst and
her sister's death. She wants nothing more than swift and terrible
revenge on the person she believes murdered her sister.
15hqqr.
