Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 3 [Paperback]

Hiromu Arakawa (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 6, 2005

Accompanied by their bodyguard, Alex Louis Armstrong, our heroes seek out their closest childhood friend, Winry Rockbell, to fix their battered "auto-mail" bodyparts. Soon their quest for the Philosopher's Stone takes them to the great central library, where the Stone's formula may be hidden...if the mysterious figure named Lust doesn't get there first! But the secret of the Philosopher's Stone may be even more frightening than the beings who guard it...

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Born in Hokkaido (northern Japan), Hiromu Arakawa first attracted national attention in 1999 with her award-winning manga Stray Dog. Her series Fullmetal Alchemist debuted in 2001 in Square Enix's monthly manga anthology Shonen Gangan.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: VIZ Media LLC (September 6, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591169259
• ISBN-13: 978-1591169253
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #64,696 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #10 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Comics & Graphic Novels > Manga > Science Fiction
  • #71 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Literature > Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror > Manga
  • #88 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Comics & Graphic Novels > Manga > By Publisher > Viz

More About the Author

Born in Hokkaido (northern Japan), Hiromu Arakawa first attracted national attention in 1999 with her award-winning manga STRAY DOG. Her series FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST debuted in 2001 in Square Enix's monthly manga anthology Shonen Gangan.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great continuation to a great series, September 29, 2005

By 

Jennifer Adams "Poofs513" (Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 3 (Paperback)

Volume 3 of Fullmetal Alchemist is absolutely wonderful. This addition finally brings in some characters from the Elric brothers' past, as well as enlightens the reader as to some of the horrors of their past.

The state alchemist serial killer from volume 2 is still on the loose, so the brothers are accompanied at all times by body guards. Those of you who have read 1 and 2, or are at all familiar with the show will understand how much the brothers definately do not appreciate that.

They continue to get into trouble as is always the case for the two of them, and there are some fun battle scenes in the last chapter. The last chapter of this volume, The Definition of Human, is the opening to a terribly sad arc which we will get to read in volume 4. I won't spoil it here, but I will say this chapter has some great battle scenes and some more plot twists are revealed for us to enjoy.

There are some wonderful extras at the end of the manga, like there usually are, and this volume also gives us a preview of the Fullmetal Alchemist book coming out soon entitled, "Fullmetal Alchemist Volume 1: The Land of Sand". It looks good! (This is a novel, not a manga, so I imagine there will not be any fun pictures accompanying the text). So check that out as well, and as always enjoy the incredibly entertaining artwork!

4.0 out of 5 stars Good kid's book, January 10, 2012

By 

Mark - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 3 (Paperback)

Bought this for one of my daughter's Xmas presents. She read it in 2 days so she must have liked it. It was shipped in a timely fashion and arrived undamaged.

5.0 out of 5 stars The truth within the truth leads to the boys facing enemies all too recognizable., May 25, 2010

By 

Elizabeth A. Hart (St Louis, MO) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 3 (Paperback)

Volume 3 has the Elric brothers finally arrive in their hometown to visit their mechanic Winry Rockbell. Their bodyguard Alexander Louis Armstrong learns along with us more details about the brothers' past and how they came to lose their limbs, gain their new metal bodies and decide to join the military and never turn back. It's nice to finally get some more back story on the main characters and also find out just how committed they are to their present course.

After their repairs Ed and Al return to central to look up Dr. Marcoh's old research notes just to find that the Central library has been burnt to the ground. After this loss they have a stroke of luck and end up meeting a bookworm named Sheskah who has a photographic memory and recalls perfectly everything she has ever read. She had read the research notes, but didn't recognize them for what they were as they were disguised and encrypted. Being a bookworm myself I enjoyed the scenes with Sheska and totally related with her when she lamented that sometimes it seemed the only good thing she knew how to do was read.

After deciphering the notes they discover the worst truth of all. Not only the main ingredient in a Philosopher's Stone but also the realization that the military was behind such horrible research to begin with. The truth within the truth led to more chilling discoveries that had the boys facing enemies all too recognizable and facing inner truths about their own accidental destruction of a human being and just what that means for Ed and more importantly for Al.

With this volume the focus is back on the boys and their quest, and also on the Philosopher's Stone and what sacrifices and horrors are required to attain it. Ed and Al also have a lot more problems in store as they are still dealing with the horror and repercussions of their own actions while reeling from the discovery of the military's own sinister acts.

Again, admist all the horrors, the series stays true to the characters who are just young teenage boys. They have a lot they have to come to grips with both personally from their pasts, and presently with the corruption and danger that surrounds them every day. I thought this was very well done and it is interesting to see just how much the boys have grown in some ways due to their unique circumstances, and not in others. Inside that suit of armor, attached to those intimidating automail limbs, are just two frightened boys, no matter how much they try to hide it. Though what they fear most might surprise you.