Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood - Part Three Episodes 27-39   Starring (voice): Rie Kugimiya and Romi Park Manga Entertainment RRP: £24.99 MANG5143 Certificate: 15 Available 21 February 2011

Alchemy: the mystic science of transmutation. Gifted alchemists can break down and reconstruct matter using the ‘Law of Equivalent Exchange’, creating miraculous things. But one taboo can never be broken - human transmutation. The Elric brothers, Edward and Alphonse, broke the taboo in an attempt to resurrect their late mother and as a result lost everything. Al’s disembodied soul was transferred to a suit of living armour while Ed lost two of his limbs, an arm and a leg. To recover what they’d lost they embarked on a journey to find the fabled Philosopher's Stone. The closer they get to the hidden truth of the Philosopher's Stone, the deeper they fall under shadowy schemes and the perils of unnatural creatures...

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (originally called Hagane no Renkinjutsushi: Fullmetal Alchemist in Japan) is a 64-episode (and three OVA) anime series directed by Yasuhiro Irie (who served as animation director on the 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist series) and written by Hiroshi Ōnogi (Heat Guy J, Mobile Suit Gundam).

This is the third Fullmetal Alchemist series to be produced by animation studio Bones, but unlike the 2003-04 series this 2009-10 series follows Hiromu Arakawa's manga series a lot more closely.

The Elric brothers have fallen once more under the care of the one who taught the art of Alchemy - The formidable Izumi. She strands Edward and Alphonse on Yock Island where they meet a strange boy with no memory of how he arrived. Inexplicably, he can transmutate his own body, merging with his surroundings. Soon they discover that everybody is after the boy. To make things worse, The brothers are separated when kidnappers take Al to their hideout, leaving Ed frantic to find his brother. Ed battles Greed who has morphed his body into an impervious shield but the boys manage to escape. However, Lust, Gluttony and Wrath are just behind them! Will Ed and Al reach their destination before they're overtaken? And if they do, are the ready for what they'll find?

In this collection we discover more about the history of the Ishvalan War of Extermination, Ed and Al's father and the Fuehrer's son; meet General Armstrong's older sister, Major Armstrong; discover who the first homunculus is; and follow Ed, Al and Winry as they track down Scar in order to get Ed and Al's bodies back without using a Philosopher's Stone.

Extras include audio commentaries on episodes 28 and 36 as well as textless opening and closing titles. Audio options are a little disappointing while the American dub is available in 5.1 surround, the far superior original Japanese soundtrack is only available in stereo.

Yet another strong collection which represents excellent value for money.

9

Darren Rea