I hate you, darthcorrie

[drakyndra]

I am currently suffering from a great deal of emotional stress and trauma, and it is ALL YOUR FAULT, darthcorrie. I hate you.

Because, you just had to hook me up with a site for reading the Fullmetal Alchemist manga online. And you just had to talk me into reading it once I finished watching the anime.

So, naturally I've spent the last week reading through the whole thing. Including the brand new chapter that just went online today.

And thus, darthcorrie, because of you I am now entirely caught up on the manga. And, because of you, that means I know have to wait an entire goddamn month to see how this diabolically evil cliffhanger of great alcsalhg;SHV-ness is due to be resolved. _{Warning: BIG FUCKING MANGA SPOILERS in that link}

An entire MONTH! With THAT as the last thing that has shown up in the manga.

I hate you, darthcorrie, I really, really do.

*goes back to traumatized flailing in the corner*

Comments

[--kali--.livejournal.com]

*goes off to read*

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

BE PREPARED FOR INCOHERENT FLAILING!

[van.livejournal.com]

Ahahaah that's what friends are for.


I haven't read the manga at all--how does it compare, and how are you liking it?

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

They are creations of pure Satanic evil.

It starts out similar, and then splits off hugely. It's a lot more... involved, I think. More political, and less all tied into family.

That said, it's hard to judge properly, given it isn't entirely complete. The Anime had themes I prefer, but the manga has less plot-holes, and better world-building. And, well, isn't finished, so I feel weird about judging.

[van.livejournal.com]

Mmm, that's one of the general consensuses I've seen. Of course there are manga-only and anime-only fans too, but a lot of people are like, "You just can't compare them, they're almost entirely different stories, with similar characters." I guess that makes sense, since the anime concluded long before the manga did, and made up a lot of points. Amazing how they do that, huh? Can you imagine if they came out with Harry Potter movie 6 & 7 before the books were published? hhaha.

Well, I guess it boils down to, if you wrote fanfic, which universe you'd write in. I imagine the anime one would be easier, if just because it's "complete" so to speak.

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

My comparison was that it was like reading a HP fanfic written between books 4 and 5. Not only is the later part of the story gone in entirely different directions, but the vast majority of the backstory - and even very basic assumptions of the present are wildly different.

However, unlike fanfic, both are canon. So it's a bit... Schrodinger's Cat.

Yeah, I think I'd write anime canon. Partially down to the completeness, and part because the family stuff is far more heavily tied into the major arcs and villain plot (and despite my ability to see shippy subtext almost anywhere, I vastly prefer stories about family/friend relationships than romance, so it hits my preferences better than unknown grand conspiracies)

[van.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that makes sense. I figure so long as you label it "anime-canon" or whatever, you'll be fine. I mean, comic books do that all the time, and especially now with, say the Xmen movies verses comics, etc.

And I can see how the TV series would hit your preferences more than the manga, despite having never read the manga. XD but it's great you can enjoy both, too. XD (for again, the example--all the Xmen comic book fans who can't enjoy the movies, or vice versa.)

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

Yeah, most of the fic I have seen has indicated which canon it uses. Or at least, the descriptions make it fairly obvious.

I have never read the X-Men comics (or the third movie, but that's beside the point), but yes, I can understand how irritating it must be. Though I suspect the fact I have always had a bit of a fondness for long plotty AU fic really helps here.

Sorry this is so long! I seem to have a lot of thoughts on the matter.

[fannishnonsense]

Huh. I wouldn't say that it's less tied into family at all. More like it has a much broader definition of family. Like, in the anime Winry and her grandmother are the boys friends, but that's it. But in the manga they're absolutely portrayed as the boys' emotional support (and vice-versa to some extent- like Ed promising not to make Winry cry after she finds out about her parents). And quite a few people have commented on how ironic it was that Ed asked Izumi why she'd never had kids at what was essentially a family dinner. I've even seen the argument that the boy's "sin" was that they rejected their new family (especially in ignoring Izumi's teaching and in keeping secrets from Winry and Pinako) in order to try to get back what they used to have.

In a lot of ways I think the manga is as much about building family as it is about losing it. I mean, look how many major characters have lost part or all of their family, only to find a sense of belonging with a new group of people. Even Scar to a certain extent has his own group (though I think only Mei Chan really wants to be with him).

Re: Sorry this is so long! I seem to have a lot of thoughts on the matter.

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

You do have a point there, and I won't disagree with you at all.

Though I was thinking about the family thing in terms of, well, the baddies. I know we haven't as yet discovered why "Father" is doing everything he has, but I think it's unlikely to end up quite as personally tied to the Elrics as Dante (and Envy) were, via Hohenheim.

Maybe thinking of the manga being overall broader thematically is a better way of putting it. It allows all the points you mention - the different types of family and building new ones - but because of that breadth, all the plot threads (Thematic - the family thing, the assorted personal ones and the plot arc - the big conspiracy) don't all tie together as closely. Which isn't an inherent flaw, it just means it doesn't hit my fiction!kinks as closely.

Re: Sorry this is so long! I seem to have a lot of thoughts on the matter.

[fannishnonsense]

Yeah, I suppose there's a good chance they won't be quite as personally tied to the baddies as in the anime. Though now that we know where "Father" comes from we at least know there's some connection. But it will probably play out very differently anyway.

I can definitely see the case that it's broader thematically. Though I suppose that was inevitable, in a way. The anime was always going to be a bit more self-contained just by the way it was designed. Not that either is a "better" way of doing things, just that they're different.

Re: Sorry this is so long! I seem to have a lot of thoughts on the matter.

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

True, there is a connection (though the Xerxes stuff gave the distinct impression that Hohenheim was - and for that matter still is - being manipulated horribly by "Father". Just another pawn in the game, which is why I am wondering what the big plan really is. (Say, you know how long the manga is supposed to end up? I'm curious as to how far off the end will be)

Exactly it. Neither better, just different. The anime happened to hit my character faves harder, but I think the manga makes for a better overall world. And thus have found fics that introduce manga characters into anime canon rather interesting.

Re: Sorry this is so long! I seem to have a lot of thoughts on the matter.

[fannishnonsense]

No one seems to know how long it's going to be. At first Arakawa was saying that it would be about 80 chapters. Then it became 88. Now I keep hearing rumors about it ending at 100 (can't find a source for that though). So we've got a little while left anyway.

Anime-verse fic with manga characters can be quite wonderful. As is the stuff that takes bits from both. As long as the fic gets Ed and Al back where they belong I'm good with it, really.

Re: Sorry this is so long! I seem to have a lot of thoughts on the matter.

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

The last one was 76, and I doubt 4 chapters will sum this up. So looks like another year or so at least. Hmmm...

It's a fun concept, really. Hell, manga concepts in the anime verse mostly work, too. Though I'm a firm believer that it doesn't matter where Ed and Al end up, so long as they are reunited, anime-fics that have them back in Amestris are very nice indeed

Re: Sorry this is so long! I seem to have a lot of thoughts on the matter.

[fannishnonsense]

Yeah, I'm thinking we've got a while before she wraps it all up. There's just way too much we still don't know yet.

I'm definitely glad they were reunited. I just hate when people end up stranded in a parallel universe, even if they get to bring their family. And now I'm suddenly wondering if Rusty is an fma fan. Though Ed and Al are certainly in a much worse position than Rose was!

Re: Sorry this is so long! I seem to have a lot of thoughts on the matter.

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

True, that.

Nah, stranded in alternate universes is far from a unique concept. Beside, Rusty's version is totally ripped off of His Dark Materials. And yes, Ed and Al are worse off, what with the impending Holocaust and WW2 coming up...

Re: Sorry this is so long! I seem to have a lot of thoughts on the matter.

[fannishnonsense]

And yet the fma movie ends with them deciding to go on and do what they can for their new world and Doomsday ends with Rose crying on a beach. Hm...

Re: Sorry this is so long! I seem to have a lot of thoughts on the matter.

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

Gee, I wonder who wins at that battle?

[fannishnonsense]

Hee! Well, I still love you anyway. Besides, what are friends for if not to share the trauma?

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

I CURSE YOU AND ALL YOUR DESCENDANTS DOWN UNTO THE UMPTEENTH GENERATION!

[fannishnonsense]

Oh noes, not the umpteenth generation!

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

OH YES THE UMPTEENTH GENERATION!

[fannishnonsense]

*cries*

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

*gloats*