Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 4 (Fullmetal Alchemist, #4) by Hiromu Arakawa

Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 4 (Fullmetal Alchemist, #4) Reviews

• 
  Mal

  
  it's a terrible day for rain.
  
  

  
• 
  Kogiopsis

  This is at once both my favorite volume and one I can't stand. A testimony to the writing and characterization, I suppose, but that doesn't mean I don't quietly resent it.
  
  That Hughes's death can hurt so much to read/watch after such a short period of time is truly amazing, but much as I respect the skill that went into it, I still wish it hadn't happened. In fact, eventually I'm going to plot out and perhaps write a Doctor Who/FMA crossover to change that and see what happens.
  
  
  Spoilers for the nature of the evil plot: Re-reading is really nice, because now I know what Hughes figured out and how he did it. That man is a bona fide genius, to be able to put so many things together and see the transmutation circle on such a huge scale, especially after he'd only seen a rough diagram of it and just for a short period of time. And he probably at least guessed that Bradley was in on it, too, since his first reflex was to call the President and then he reconsidered.
  
  
  The bonus story at the end does make the volume a bit more bearable, since of course it's the Black Hayate one - always good for a smile and very necessary, what with everything else.
• 
  Elena Rodríguez

  -I'm fine. Oh no... it's raining.
  -It isn't raini-....
  -No. It's raining.
  -...Yes it is. Let's go back. It's...getting cold.
  
  No mentiré al decir que casi se me salen las lágrimas en este tomo. Seguro que si fuese el anime estaría llorando como una magdalena. No quiero ponerle aún las 5 estrellas a pesar de que me está pareciendo sublime. Aún no he llegado al climax pero cada vez está muchísimo mejor.
• 
  Jedi JC Daquis

  So I was very much ready to give this volume 3 or 4 stars, because seriously, Al is being such a huge metal jack*ss for believing what the enemy says, but the emotional buildup that leads to that end was so much for me.
  
  Damn you Arakawa for being a great writer!
• 
  ⋆ yel ⋆

  3.5 of 5 stars
• 
  Subham

  This was a great volume and like focuses on the brothers after their fight and they are recovering and we get to know a little about the enemies, Winry comes in to fix them and the drama that surrounds it, suspicions arise and then we have the death of a Hughes which comes as a major surprise and its gonna have ripple effects for Roy's character for sure. Meanwhile the villain
  plots occur and something with Ishbalans is happening and the brothers go to Dublith next to meet their teacher.
  
  This volume was good and like focuses so much on interpersonal drama and relationship and getting some obvious questions out of the way and the emotional beats hit hard and I also love the slow unravelling natures of the villains motive and the art while funny in some areas gets really good when called for. Its one of the best mangas out there for sure and this volume proves why.
• 
  Oliver Smith

  Al's body is, like, a shell. and his soul is in there like some kind of, like, ghost. like a ghost in a body that's like a shell. feel like there might be something there.
• 
  Rod Brown

  Increasingly, this seems like an action manga written by someone who'd rather be writing anything other than an action manga. This issue leans hard on humor and character development, which is all good with me since I'd rather be reading anything other than an action manga.
• 
  daisy

  Maes 😭
• 
  Grace, Queen of Crows and Tomes

  I am literally an emotional wreck right now. This volume has all the feels, so prepare with some tissues!!! A great, heart wrenching volume with this one 😭😭😭
• 
  Caroline

  WELL this volume made me sad oh wow! There is a lot of stuff that happens in this one and I have to say I was really surprised and upset by some of it :(( the art is absolutely awesome- seriously, the way the panelling is used in certain important moments is clever and helps those scenes to REALLY pack a punch. I'm so invested in this series and the characters now!!
• 
  Artemy

  Ah, and here's the volume where the typical Japanese manga weirdness starts to show. There's a creepy guy who's obsessed with mini-skirts and who wants to hire only women in his military to make it his personal harem (and that's almost a direct quote). There's another creepy guy who can't shut up about his daughter and his family, and who basically kidnaps one of the female characters and makes her live at his home. And finally, there's the side-story about another character who adopts a puppy and then shoots the gun in the puppy's direction to potty-train him! And that's supposed to be funny! WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK WAS THAT. And these are not the villains, mind you! These are the supporting cast of the book who you are supposed to like and care about!
  
  The worst part is, there wasn't really a lot of story in this volume otherwise. It keeps stalling for two volumes already, and if something doesn't start to happen soon, I'm afraid I might lose interest in this series completely.
• 
  Cee

  Oh my god. This one won me over. There is this one heartbreaking scene in this manga - I'm sure other readers will know what I'm talking about - that is just so good. Absolutely fantastic panelling. I'm glad we get to see some more brother dynamics in this volume.
• 
  Ashley Marie

  Maes <3
  
  and on a brighter note, Black Hayate!
• 
  Conejo Literario

  El tomo con la famosa escena de la lluvia que no es lluvia. Tú sabes de que estoy hablando.
• 
  Jahi

  Este volumen me ha puesto triste porque me recordó dos cosas por las cuales siempre lloro:
  
  1. La duda que le implantaron a Alphonse sobre si es una persona real, o no.
  
  2. El miedo de Edward al querer preguntarle a su hermano si le guarda rencor por lo que sucedió con ellos.
  
  3. Una vez más dando muestras de que ellos son increíbles y preciosos hermanos. Además de Winry siendo parte de esa familia bonita.
  
  4. El asesinato de Hughes. Su hijita y Mustang llorando por él.
• 
  Zara

  RIP Hughes. You’ll be missed.
• 
  Marzy Nighthunter

  Lieutenant Colonel Hughes... T-T
• 
  Mary

  This volume was so good (Maes Hughes!! And I thought I was prepared after what happened with Nina and Alexander), and the wait for volume 5 from my library was so long that I gave up and watched the anime (
  Brotherhood, not the first version)....and now I have no way to coherently speak about this series, I love it so much. The family relationship! Ed and his absolute devotion to getting Al his body back! Al and his conviction that he won't let others suffer in his quest to get back to normal! Colonel Mustang and his ambition and his loyalty to his men! Hawkeye and her awesome sniper skills and her loyalty and strength and ability to keep Colonel Mustang from doing too many stupid things! Winry, who is a fantastic automail mechanic and the best kind of friend and not afraid to use force to knock some sense into her reckless childhood friends! The romance, which feels natural because it's centered on such a strong friendship, and which builds naturally over a long series of significant events (that I can't give away without spoilers, although seriously, they're awesome), and which is naturally an understated subplot, because the characters are so focused on the terrible doings happening in the main plot! Not to mention Scar and the truth about the Ishbal Rebellion and Von Hohenheim (!!!) and Greed and Lin and Pride (who is so freaking scary) and the truth of the philosopher's stone...
  
  Umm, basically, if you took every character and every event and every world-building detail and added a few sparkly hearts and exclamation points before and after them, that's how I feel about this story. Give me a few weeks and I might be capable of a more rational analysis.
  
  If anyone in the neighborhood is interested, I have since found the Westerville library has the whole manga series; I've spent about the last week devouring it. (Maybe for me March is just a month meant for light--yet very awesome--book series? I seem to remember devouring the Alex Rider series in a similar fashion during spring break one year. Although Fullmetal Alchemist > Alex Rider by a billion points or so; they're not even on the same level of enjoyment, here.)
  
  One side note: I have so, so, so many good things to say about this series, but it is worth noting one thing that truly baffled and then somewhat offended me when I read through: (minor plot point spoiler) later in the series, Winry becomes an apprentice to Garfiel, an automail mechanic who is gay. Japanese culture tends to portray gay men as cross-dressing, hyper-feminine individuals, and the mangaka keeps with this stereotype. It was confusing when I first encountered Garfiel, because to me and my American cultural assumptions, his appearance and actions weren't coded gay; they were coded as a man who cross-dresses (no sexual orientation implied) or someone who, perhaps, is transgender. Research was helpful in clearing up what the mangaka was actually trying to convey to the reader. For what it's worth, no one in-text shames Garfiel or treats him negatively or thinks he's less of an automail mechanic. (Well, Ed runs away when Garfiel flirts with him, but Ed also freaks out and does pretty much the same anytime anyone implies he has a thing for Winry.) The mangaka tends to use Garfiel for humorous purposes, which is an unfortunate stereotypical way to treat the only identified gay character in the series, but he's a very minor character in the story who only appears in only a handful of scenes, and ultimately, my dislike for his portayal didn't ruin my enjoyment of the series as a whole. Obviously. YMMV, of course.
• 
  Radwa

  Hughes! :'(
  
  It seems that whenever the brothers get close to solving something, something happens that sends them to square one. Of course, this should happen, or how else can the manga continue. I absolutely loved the extra omakes at the end of this volume. Also, this manga is making me sympathize with some of the bad guys. good job on the characterization and story building.
  
  
• 
  Laura Grace

  I don't even know how to start this review.
  
  There was a horrible and tragic event that takes place and I AM SO HEARTBROKEN!!! Like WHYYYYYYY?!! 😭😭😭😭😭😭
  
  Thinking on it, this whole volume was pretty emotional! Edward and Al have a different kind of fight and was SO glad for Winry voicing her feelings to help in a certain situation. Also glad for that really sweet and happy chapter with Winry and Hughes. <3
  
  I honestly am at a loss of words because this volume really hit me with that chapter and totally in denial.
  
  Nervously onto the next volume I suppose, but I need some tissues before that…
  
  (Also I am going to be that person and knock one start because I wish that one scene never ever ever happened even though his volume was very good as always.)
• 
  Aleksandra

  I really like it so far, and I could've rate it 5/5, but I'm anxious and I'd prefer to leave the 5 star rating for the toms that will blow me out of my socks.
• 
  Amanda Peres

  Nota: 4,5
• 
  Dulce Elianeth

  Se volvió a abrir la herida por la muerte de Hughes
• 
  Rudy

  Me pareció un muy buen tomo, pudo meter incógnitas, tristeza y momentos agradables sin sentir que era muy pesado o muy rápido con respecto al ritmo de la historia.
  Nos dieron una muy pequeña perspectiva de un antagonista, que a mi parecer es excelente ya que podemos ver un lado más humano del mismo; por no hablar de la "discusión" entre los hermanos mostrando así que a pesar de todas sus luchas y el como se apoyan mutuamente hay sentimientos que los carcomen en su relación.
• 
  Amanda Setasha Hall

  THIS VOLUME WILL BREAK YOUR HEART. Especially if you've seen the show. I thought this point was actually further into the story, but I was mistaken.
• 
  Tehanu

  And this is where my heart began to break.
• 
  Ayesha ☾

  It's raining.
• 
  Ray Flores

  Envy y Lust dejan vivir a Edward, al menos de momento, aunque lo hieren gravemente. Así mismo, Alphonse se queda pensando en lo que uno de los contrincantes le dijo y eso lleva a que se pelee con su hermano mayor.
  
  Ahora, en general no me molesta que ocurran estas escenas donde hace falta la comunicación pues de alguna forma creo que la relación de hermanos es muy real, es decir, no siempre todo es miel sobre hojuelas. Lo cierto es que ninguno de los dos lo tiene fácil. Ambos son adolescentes (con todo y que sus habilidades sobrepasan a muchos otros) pero al final de cuentas son su único apoyo moral.
  
  En la segunda mitad del volumen ocurre una tragedia pues uno de los personajes entrañables resulta víctima de aquellos que están cazando alquimistas.
  
  Ahora bien, creo que desde inició el manga, ha sido la primera vez que se ve algo un poco más serio (ejemplo: el funeral y cómo afecta a Roy Mustang y los demás a su cargo). La comedia aligera mucho la carga a escenas fuertes pero a veces también hace que pierda su impacto.
  
  Si soy honesta, mi favorito es Alphonse, aunque Edward también es genial. FMA me ha entretenido lo suficiente para continuar con la serie.
  
  Este volumen contiene los capítulos 13 – 16.
  
  REVIEWS ANTERIORES:
  
  Volumen 1 |
  Volumen 2 |
  Volumen 3
• 
  Paracosm

  I don't like miscommunication as a plot device. It's stupid and creates unnecessary drama, which is exactly what happens here. After a series of events, Alphonse decides to listen to a random serial killer that was trying to kill him instead of his family and friends, and starts to believe that his memories are fabricated. This issue occupied a good part of the manga and was resolved after Alphonse turned on his brain again. All of this felt very pointless. Also I still don't like Winry.
  
  On the other hand a very important death happen on this volume and I know its gonna be incredibly influential in the future.