Hagane No Renkinjutsushi - Baka-Updates Manga

Username/Email: Password: Login ?Manga Poll Manga is the Japanese equivalent of comicswith a unique style and following. Join the revolution! Read some manga today!RSS FeedManga InfoSign UpSign Up ALLABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZHagane no Renkinjutsushi   Login to add items to your list, keep track of your progress, and rate series!Description

From Viz: Alchemy: the mystical power to alter the natural world, something between magic, art and science. When two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, dabbled in this power to grant their dearest wish, one of them lost an arm and a leg and the other became nothing but a soul locked into a body of living steel. Now Edward is an agent of the government, a slave of the military-alchemical complex, using his unique powers to obey orders even to kill. Except his powers aren't unique. The world has been ravaged by the abuse of alchemy. And in pursuit of the ultimate alchemical treasure, the Philosopher's Stone, their enemies are even more ruthless than they are.

Note: Won the 49th Shogakukan Manga Award in the Shounen category in 2004 alongside Yakitate!! Japan, the 15th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Award New Artist Prize in 2011, the Eagle Award's Favourite Manga in 2010 and 2011, the Seiun Award for best science fiction comic in 2011. Nominated for the Grand Prize at the 10th Sense of Gender Award in 2010.

TypeMangaRelated SeriesHagane no Renkinjutsushi (Novel) (Side Story)Hagane no Renkinjutsushi - Book in Figure (Side Story)The Art of Fullmetal Alchemist (Spin-Off)Soremo Mata Kare no Senjou (Side Story)Hagane no Renkinjutsushi 4-koma (Side Story)Associated NamesAlquimista de AçoFull Metal AlchemistFullmetal AlchemistGiả Kim Thuật SưHagarenMetal SimyacıÇelik SimyacıСталевий АлхімікСтальной алхимикपूर्ण धातु कीमियागरแขนกล คนแปรธาตุ鋼の錬金術師鋼之鍊金術師钢之炼金术师강철의 연금술사Groups ScanlatingAOMBasement ScanBinktopiaBlack e NoirMore...Latest Release(s)c.74 by LINE Webtoon 2 days agoc.73 by LINE Webtoon 5 days agoc.72 by LINE Webtoon 1 week agoSearch for all releases of this seriesStatus in Country of Origin

27 Volumes (Complete) 18 Kanzenban Volumes (Complete) 14 Keisouban Volumes (Complete)

42 Chapters (Webtoon, Ongoing)

Completely Scanlated?NoAnime Start/End ChapterStarts at Vol 1, Chap 1 (2003/Brotherhood)Ends at Vol 7, Chap 29 (2003 EP 34) Diverges / Vol 27, Chap 108 (Brotherhood) Vol 1-7 & 15 abridged, Skips Chap 3-4User ReviewsFull Metal Alchemist by shounen_loverFullmetal Alchemist by Cypher-KhanForum33 topics, 394 postsClick here to view the forumUser RatingAverage: 8.8 / 10.0 (4315 votes)Bayesian Average: 8.78 / 10.010  53%9+     23%8+    11%7+   4%6+   1%5+  0%4+ 0%3+ 0%2+ 0%1+   7%Last UpdatedDecember 20th, 2025 9:28pm PST - 1 week agoImage [Report Inappropriate Content]GenreAction  Adventure  Comedy  Drama  Fantasy  Sci-fi  Shounen  Supernatural  TragedySearch for series of same genre(s)CategoriesLog in to vote!  Show all (some hidden)

• Adapted to Anime
• Alchemy
• Award-Winning Work
• European Ambience
• Experiment/s
• Military
• Monster/s
• Seven Deadly Sins
• Tragic Past
• War/s

Category RecommendationsLiu Yao: The Revitalization of Fuyao Sect (Novel)Tiānbǎo Fú Yāo Lù (Novel)MonstressDinghai Fusheng Records (Novel)Usagi YojimboRecommendationsHoshi no SamidareVampire JuujikaiShin Angyo OnshiBerserkMonsterAuthor(s)ARAKAWA HiromuArtist(s)ARAKAWA HiromuYear2001Original PublisherSquare Enix (2001, 2009, 2011)Serialized In (magazine)Shounen Gangan (Square Enix)Gangan Online (Square Enix)Licensed (in English)YesEnglish PublisherLINE Webtoon (Webtoon Version; Digital)Manga Up! Global (Digital)Viz (27 Vols - Complete | 18 Fullmetal Edition - Complete)Yen Press (27 Vols - Complete; Digital)Activity Stats (vs. other series)Weekly Pos #433 (+19)Monthly Pos #442 (-4)3 Month Pos #507 (+106)6 Month Pos #484 (-20)Year Pos #484 (-114)List StatsOn 3593 reading listsOn 1662 wish listsOn 8186 completed listsOn 226 unfinished listsOn 902 custom listsNote: You must be logged in to update information on this page.Forum Posts Click to view the forumWhich is better manga or (new) anime?4 years agois this safe for kids to read?8 years agoHelp with chronology9 years agoLive-Action Fullmetal Alchemist Director Reveals Details About Film10 years agoEthics of human transmutation11 years ago SearchGoAdvanced Search

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Do you plan to change anything about yourself or your circumstances in the next year?I'm planning that things will be betterI'm planning that things will be worseNo plansNo plans, but I bet things will change anywaysVote ResultSee Old PollsUser Comments [ Order by usefulness ]Very Good  by _Littleman_1 month agoRating: 9.0  / 10.0

Amazing story and drawings. Totally recommended, especially to everyone who does like a little drama / darkness with some funny moments. I personally appreciated it more as an adult.

Was this comment useful?  Yes   No     A great series  by Renzonokuken6 months agoRating: 9.0  / 10.0

The only female author who authors shounen mangas I approve. Great about everything from storyline, back story, no-non-sense gay relationship between men. Already finished everything from anime to manga.

Was this comment useful?  Yes   No     The old series is the best!!  by IronAngel3942 years agoRating: 10.0  / 10.0

Fullmetal alchemist 2003 is a beautiful and dark series with lots of tradegy and profound themes,not to mention beautiful art and music. I am one of the people that don't love brotherhood in fact I kind of hate it, that version of Fma I give a 5/10. The manga is pretty good but I do prefer how plot points and characters were handled better in the first anime. Edward comes across as a brat sometimes, not to mention the short jokes get old QUICK.

Was this comment useful?  Yes   No     Surprisingly a genuine read from the start to the end  by Cheerthedead3 years agoRating: 10.0  / 10.0

Unlike other manga, this one doesn't suffer from filter. Chapters that feel like a filter is actually crucial bridge to understand the characters and bringing out the depth of the story.

This manga is neither seinen or shounen. It's different from other manga that you enjoy the catharsis of actions. This is a mature manga. A manga that demands you to think like an mature person to find the beauty within. It's rare to see a manga so perfect from the first chapter to the end without suffering from hiccup where certain chapter is irrelevant to the manga as a whole or where the manga deviate from its central concept.

Was this comment useful?  Yes   No     Great journey that aged well  by CCheshire5 years agoRating: N/A

It's been almost two decades since I first completed FMA series back when I started in JR High and it was an amazing exp to grow up with the Elric brothers from their mistakes and how they managed to resolve to get their bodies back. I feel that most of the main story beats still hold up and avoids some of the traps of long shonen like a meandering quest objective, no real ending, or too many similar cast members that go nowhere.

Also, how the manga-ka handled all the female characters who all had agency in her life and actions was great compared to some modern stories. Also, no creepy scenes b/t them and the male characters which is awesome. I liked how even minor characters were noted and had different designs vs just NPCs. Although FMA's cast is pretty large I managed to keep everyone's face and histories apart which is impressive and I can see how their lives changed for the better or worse due to the events.

I feel like it aged pretty well other than some of the physical gags/jokes which feel out of place now and the omake added some comedy to otherwise dark scenes. The series does have a rough start as we're not exactly sure how a child can enlist in the army and become a soldier but everyone does treat Ed and Al like kids which is much better than say small adults. It's interesting to see how the main characters grow from inexperienced kids to relatively confident teens and happier adults.

I say the main theme is that Hope/Friendship is still relevant esp in nowadays but the manga-ka never hits the readers so heavy-handed that it becomes trite than significant. Overall, I still say read FMA if you want a memorable and iconic experience to shonen genre.

... Last updated 5 years agoWas this comment useful?  Yes   No     Fullmetal Alchemist is an action-packed adventure with an amazing set of characters and an unforgettable story  by chandylier5 years agoRating: 10.0  / 10.0

Short review: Fullmetal Alchemist is little step up your average shounen action-adventure series, creating a unique world with memorable characters, lore, and legend. Following two young heroes, the story grows and our characters get entangled with creations and monsters beyond their imaginations. Not forgetting to pack the comedy (and a little bit of romance), the series mixes everything into a beautiful tale that will always be great to go back to.

Full review:

Warning: review contains spoilers

I’ll have to say that out of all the manga I’ve read, Fullmetal Alchemist is so far the only one where I feel like every event is really connected to the others. From the beginning where everything is set up, instead of a linear direction where you feel like you’re following one hero up and down a path, FMA gives me that feeling of sitting on large bird that flies up slowly and reveals the entire landscape. I can hardly find faults with the plot - it’s not too fast paced, and it knows when it needs to end. There is never a moment you will be bored, and it’s exciting to uncover the bigger picture along with the protagonists.

From the beginning where we have Ed and Al and the introduction of our basic concepts - The Philosopher’s Stone, transmutation, equivalent exchange - everything is weaved together in a way where things are not revealed too quickly for us to stomach, or too slowly that we would get bored. I think that what the manga has over both the 2003 and 2009 series is that here Arakawa tells the story how she likes - and that greatly gives us the pace we need. We get to feel every loss and every discovery with equal parts terror and wonder, making each reveal more and more interesting.

One more of the best things about the series is the scope. We may begin our journey with a fourteen and twelve year old boy, but by the end we are witnessing the story of an entire nation. And all of this is revealed so artfully, letting us know bit by bit about the homonculi, the nationwide transmutation circle, and Father. This is told to us not only through Ed and Al, but eventually with the help of the Mustang Unit, the Briggs team, and even people from another country, Xing.

Speaking of the characters, Arakawa did a great job of writing fleshed out ensemble characters. For such a large group, as a reader, I still ended up appreciating more than enough of my share of the cast. Maybe because Arakawa is a female author writing a shounen series but I felt the significance of most of the main characters in such a way that other mainstream shounen titles are unable to pull off. There is depth and growth in the love interests, the parent figures, and the villains. The lack of flat side characters makes Fullmetal Alchemist so refreshing. This is probably a personal preference as well but Arakawa writes some of shounen’s best female characters. She has stated that she grew up in a tough family and surrounded by strong women, and the influence shines in the characters such as Winry, Riza, Lan Fan, Izumi, Olivier, and Mei Chang.

An issue I have with some manga is when the art style gets so similar I can’t tell characters apart. That is not an issue with FMA. Most of the characters are memorable and distinct, and the art showing us Amestris is beautiful as well. One thing that stands out in FMA is the humor - it has the usual shounen formula of injecting comedy to lighten the tone, and FMA has some of my favorite chibi versions of the characters. The balance between jokes and serious topics is not too wishy-washy, you feel the seriousness and humor in the right times.

Overall, I’d recommend FMA in a heartbeat to anyone. It touches on heavy topics while keeping the perfect tone, has adorable comedy and art, lovable and relatable characters, and an exciting story that will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire way. Not to mention the ending doesn’t feel as dissatisfying as a lot of the endings of other big name anime. FMA is smart, but it never lacks in heart. It’s not that lengthy, but you will be investing quite some time on it. No worries, though, as the principle of equivalent exchange states, you’ll be getting something in return. I promise you, what you’re going to be seeing is worth it.

Plot 10/10 Art 9/10 Characters 10/10 Overall 10/10

Was this comment useful?  Yes   No     Well-planned  by Cryvern5 years agoRating: 9.0  / 10.0

Love how all the different elements and character storylines from the beginning tied together midway and all the way to the end in a crescendo of awesomeness.

Was this comment useful?  Yes   No     Overrated but Not Bad  by falconmaster30006 years agoRating: 6.0  / 10.0

The characters are lovely and the world itself is fascinating. It can be mind-numbing at times and often times is the generic "I loved this stuff when I was 15" power-of-friendship gags or conflict. It's a fun read, but nothing particularly special. If it wasn't for what one reviewer described as "anime junk", I honestly believe it could be a 10/10 manga that appeals to all ages. Neither bad, nor great, just good-ish.

While writing this review, I realize I'm kind of salty because I feel this manga could have been so much more, or at least so much shorter while accomplishing the same things. So take the rating score with a grain of salt

... Last updated 6 years agoWas this comment useful?  Yes   No     Maybe this time...  by frangelic6 years agoRating: N/A

I've never been able to muddle through the bad, childish humor in this series that is never welcome in pretty much any scene it pops up in, and I'm amazed at how many "10/10" reviews there are that don't mention it at all. But, that being said, I'm ready to give it another try. Wish me luck.

... Last updated 6 years agoWas this comment useful?  Yes   No     The Best Shounen till the end  by Acradnxy6 years agoRating: N/A

I watched the anime first and honestly, I was soooo disappointed with the ending. Good animation and music though. Then I heard that the manga wasn't finished yet, so I started to read it and man, I love it!!! Really Really REALLLLLLLLYYYYY LOOOOOOOVE it!

As I know many shounen tend to go downhill after awesome and powerful beginning, but not for FMA. I love it till the end. It has good humor and character developments. The art is not my taste, but an OK one. For those who are saying too many humor, maybe you can see the art is not a seinen, there's a big humorous style of art in FMA. I enjoy the humor, that's why I can see Ed grew up into a fine young man.

I like the original ending better than the first anime, it has more powerful moment especially during in the end when everybody cheering for Ed.

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