These books are wonderful.

26: To Meet the Master

The world gets a few steps weirder. Not only suits of armor with nobody inside them[^inside][^yet], but now we have human/animal hybrids as well!



So... How does Al see? He doesn't have eyes. Or a brain. The whole idea of souls bound to armor is ... weird. For that matter, how much does he weigh?

27: The Beasts of Dublith

On one hand:



GREED! We're still missing Sloth (although we've had references), Wrath (soon!), and Pride.

The best part of the chapter though? Teacher.



Man she's awesome.



Also comic book sounds:



28: A Fool's Courage

Strongarm Alchemist Armstrong is so ridiculous. And awesome. And now there are two of them...



29: The Eye of the King



FPK BRADLEY IS WRATH! HOLY CRAP

If that was a plot point in the anime, I totally don't remember it (it's been years). It all makes so much sense now.

On a more comic books soundsy note:



COMIC BOOK SOUNDS

Bonus Chapter: The Second Lieutenant Goes to Battle!



Strongarm Alchemist Armstrong is so ridiculous... but I'm certainly not going to be the one to tell him that.

[^inside]: Dr Seuss' Pale Green Pants for inspiration?!

[^yet]: Not yet anyways! The whole sequence with someone trapped inside Al was hilarious and weird.
( )

Greed is one of the most unique villains I have met. He is not dark and calm and composed. I believe he is not in accordance with the other 3 . I also feel Envy is the most neglected of the current set. Excited to know about the Uroborus and the king being one of them also. Overall a good episode after a couple of calm episodes. ( )

Weird tone shift as a quasi-comical kidnapping turns bloody. Despite all the action, Arakawa makes time for lots of fun and funny character moments. The series is really hitting its stride now. ( )

Despite the horror and goriness of the scenes in previous volumes, especially the ones that depicted what really happened to Ed and Al the night they lost so much, this volume is the most gruesome yet. The scenes in the Devil’s Nest are very bloody and for once I am glad that the manga is in black and white. This definitely is a series for teens, not children!

I enjoyed getting to see Teacher fight and also getting to see Ed use his head in a fight and not just brute strength. He may have become the youngest state alchemist because he saw “the Truth” but the kid had some brains before all of that and that intelligence comes through even under pressure to help him and his friends on and off the battle field.

The plot thickens as more pieces of the puzzle fall together and twists reveal surprises in unexpected places requiring us to re-evaluate the series and re-think who is “good” and who is “bad”. It is not so black and white as it first seemed. ( )

A volume full of conflict with opposition who demonstrate that some of the limitations on alchemy can be surpassed... finishing with a revelation of just how twisty the conspiracies are. ( )