The Law of Equivalent Exchange: A Fullmetal Alchemist manga podcast Tim & Patrick

Chapter 62 of FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST brings us back to the present day, as Ed and Al mull over what they’ve learned about the Ishval war. It also reminds us where many of the characters currently are, and the action begins to move toward the next major confrontation. We look at the Elrics’ next step in their search for a way to return their original bodies, and the secret of Mustang’s chess set.

The Ishval War volume of FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST concludes with chapter 61. What it lacks in comic moments, it makes up for in reveals that cause us to see some characters and story points in new ways. Tim and Patrick explore these developments, and — some comedy at last! — the back matter of volume 15.

The story of the Ishbal (Ishval?) war continues, without a single joke - so we make a few of our own! Still, chapter 60 of FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST continues to be a sobering look at a war even more senseless than most - and Hiromu Arakawa has some harsh words for religion in this one, too.

The flashback to the Ishbalan war gets darker in FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST chapter 59, as we see what Ed and Al’s military comrades were obliged to do in it, even as they wondered “What is our goal here? Why are we destroying Ishbal?”

What really happened in Ishbal? Ed tells Hawkeye “My ignorance is astounding,” and we feel the same way. Chapter 58 (and the entire 15th volume) of FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST fills us in on the messy backdrop of the series. Lots of familiar faces in … uncomfortable situations. Our reaction begins here!

FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST ch 57 leads us (not unusually) to question the translation: Is there a difference between a soldier “deserting” vs. simply disobeying an order? Also, book abuse, Tim dad-jokes it up, and, by the way… Is Winry a surgeon?