Ed, Al and Winry return to Central Command, but only bad news greets the Fullmetal Alchemist and his friends. Lieutenant Colonel Maes Hughes has been murdered - and Second Lieutenant Maria Ross is the prime suspect! While Maria awaits an uncertain fate in jail, the living suit of armor bearing the soul of serial killer "Berry the Chopper" breaks free of the military and goes on a rampage. Now, the mysterious Homunculi must come out of the shadows to deal with the mess before their monstrous conspiracy is exposed. But for Colonel Mustang, Maes Hughes's former best friend, it's not about the truth; it's about revenge...
Hiromu Arakawa (author: 荒川弘) is a Japanese manga artist, best known for Fullmetal Alchemist (鋼の錬金術師 Hagane no renkinjutsushi). Her real name is Hiromi Arakawa (荒川弘美).
Arakawa was born and raised on a dairy farm in Hokkaidō. She thought of being a manga artist since she was little. After graduating high school, she took oil painting classes while working on her family's farm. During that time, she also created dōjinshi manga with her friends and drew yonkoma for a magazine. After eight years she moved to Tōkyō and started out as assistant writer for Hiroyuki Etō. Her debut as manga artist is in 1999 with STRAY DOG. In 2001 she started working on her famous and award winning series Fullmetal Alchemist, that soon gets a successful anime adaptation. Other works include Silver Spoon (銀の匙 Silver Spoon, Gin no saji Silver Spoon).
Hiromu Arakawa tries to mash up characters into unexpected teams and tandems in this volume. They work in funny and surprising ways. Chopper is definitely the standout character in this volume.
There are just some parts of the dialogue that felt a bit clunky, and at some times I I have to read the pages at least twice to really know that I get what they are talking about.
Overall, it is again a very good volume. This sets yet another exciting climax for this arc.
Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 9 continues where the previous tankōbon left off and contains the next four chapters (34–37) of the on-going manga series.
Edward Elric, Alphonse Elric, and Winry Rockbell return to Central, where the Elric brothers intend to do more research on the Philosopher's Stone and its whereabouts. Meanwhile, Second Lieutenant Maria Ross is charged with the murder of Maes Hughes as the real assassin, Envy, was transformed into Maria prior to killing him.
When the brothers learn of this, they hurry to confirm that the information is true. They encounter Barry the Chopper, who has broken Maria Ross out of prison with Lin Yao's help, but they are discovered by Roy Mustang, who apparently kills Ross. As the Elrics are depressed with the recent events, Major Alex Louis Armstrong takes Edward to Resembool against his will.
To avoid any rumors about them, the homunculi Lust, Gluttony, and Envy go to search Barry, encountering Mustang's soldiers in the process.
This tankōbon is written and illustrated by Hiromu Arakawa. While continuing to look for the Philosopher's Stone, the Elric brothers are diverted when they hear that their good friend Maria Ross is charged for the murder of Lieutenant Colonel Maes Hughes and tries, but fails to clear her name. Depressed, they are taken back to their childhood home in Resembool against their wills.
All in all, Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 9 is a wonderful continuation to a series that seems really intriguing and I can't wait to read more.
El volumen 9 que contiene los mangas 34-37 de la obra de Arakawa, vemos en acción al coronel Mustang. Por una parte impulsado por la venganza y por otra impulsado por descubrir que está pasando dentro de la milicia. Mientras, los hermanos Elric se enteran del asesinato de uno de sus amigos, lo cual pondrá en duda su motivación en la búsqueda de la verdad. Sin embargo, desde alguien inesperado, oirán las palabras de aliento para que el esfuerzo de los caídos no sean vano. Buen tomo que ya empieza a vislumbrar las acciones de los héroes y el movimiento de los villanos en una mayor intensidad.