▪	RELEASED BY:		VIZ MEDIA
		▪	AUTHOR / ART:		HIROMU ARAKAWA
		▪	FORMAT:		JAPANESE / BW
		▪	PAGES:		192
		▪	RATING:		T
		▪	RELEASE DATE:		08/21/2007
		▪	REVIEW DATE:		08/01/2007
		▪	REVIEWED BY:		HOLLY ELLINGWOOD

Facing off against Gluttony and Envy, the Elric brothers and Lin are surprised by the appearance of the Father of the Homunculi and he looks just like the Elric’s dad! In their clutches, Lin is faced with a choice: take the Philosopher’s Stone for Greed and become a Homunculi or they all die. His ambitions to protect and rule his country force his hand. With Greed reborn, Lan Lan is forced to make a fateful decision. Meanwhile Bradley puts the screws to Ed and Al, Scar makes a startling discovery about the Ishbal massacre, and Edward may be about to discover a secret about Lt. Breda!

It’s a tense and electrifying volume of Fullmetal Alchemist as the manga sets up a lot of turn arounds with its pivotal characters. Greed, Lin, Scar, they all are strong characters who have made everlasting impacts throughout the series, but now as each comes to a crucial point, their roles may become reversed. One might go so far as to say inversed. Everyone is being faced with hard choices: Lan Lan, Lin, Roy, Scar, Ed and Al. Bradley’s use of threats proves to be very convincing for the Elric brothers despite knowing he’s a Homunculus. They have little choice. In this latest volume, backs are against the wall and times are going to be very hard indeed for everyone in the time to come.

The manga impresses with its ability to keep up a taut line of suspense throughout the story, still inject snippets of humor, and develop in depth several characters. It shows some very expressive art with the reincarnation of Greed. The ability to show Lin as familiar and monstrous at the same time is well done. The tattoo revealed on the back of another character at the end of this volume shows remarkable and eye-catching detail.

IN SUMMARY:
Fullmetal Alchemist is an involved, pulse-pounding and electrifying manga series. The latest volume holds stunning revelations, pivotal moments and fateful decisions.