James Nicoll Reviews

Hiromu Arakawa’s 2000 Demons of Shanghai (Shanghai Yōmakikai) was a short-lived urban-fantasy manga. 

Shanghai in 2050 is a thoroughly modern city with thoroughly modern amenities. Alas, it is also home to more traditional beings: gods, demons, and other supernatural entities. Such creatures are more than the city officials, even the police, can manage. 

For those, the city has no choice but to reluctantly call on the Demon Taoists Corporation.

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Hero Tales, volume 1 collects the first three issues of Huang Jin Zhou and Hiromu Arakawa’s Jūshin Enbu.

Taitou hates the Empire. Reforming the corrupt state seems impossible. At least it is for a hot-headed young man living out in the sticks. He settles for beating up imperial functionaries whenever they pass by his home town. 

Taitou has potential of which he is utterly unaware. His grandfather knows full well what power Taitou has within him and how to enable Taitou to draw on it. Step one: orchestrate Taitou’s humiliating loss to another martial artist. 

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TheHeroic Legend of Arslan, book 4 isthe fourth collection of Hiromu Arakawa’s adaptation of YoshikiTanaka’s light novel series of the same name¹.Itcontains issues 20 to 29.

Hundredsof thousands of Lusitanian soldiers are occupying Pars. PrinceArslan’s handful of companions will not be enough to free his landfrom foreign religious fanatics. Arslan needs an ally who commands anarmy.

Hodircommands Kashan Fortress’ troops and Hodir is eager to supportArslan. There are, however, two impediments.

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TheHeroic Legend of Arslanbook 3 collects issues 11 to 19 of Hiromu Arakawa’s mangaadaptation of Yoshiki Tanaka’s HeroicLegend of Arslanlight novel series.

Parshas fallen and its king has been imprisoned, but Prince Arslan isstill free. Traitor Kharlan is determined to prove his worth bycapturing Arslan. Kharlan has a small army at his command, whereasArslan counts but four people in his force — and that only if hecounts himself. 

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TheHeroic Legend of Arslan, Volume 2is the second collection of Hiromu Arakawa’s manga adaptation ofYoshiki Tanaka’s light novel series.

Involume one, overconfidence and arrogance led King Andragoras and hisvast Parsian army into ambush and defeat at the hands of theLusitanian invaders. The King’s fate is unknown. Prince Arslanescaped, but it is unclear how long he can remain free.

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HeroicLegend of Arslan, Volume 1collects the first four issues of Yoshiki Tanaka and Hiromu Arakawa’s2013 manga adaptation of Yoshi Tanaka’s light-novel series, TheHeroic Legend of Arslan.

Whenwe first meet young Arslan, he seems unlikely to figure in anylegend, much less a heroic legend. Though he is the crown prince ofPars, he is timid and unsure of himself. He’s certainly not aself-assured, bold figure like his father, Andragoras III. Asconfident off the battlefield as he is on it, Andragoras III is theembodiment of Parsian virtue. 

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Viz’ Fullmetal Alchemist (3‑in‑1 Edition), Volumes 25 – 27 includes Volumes 25, 26, and 27 of the original Japanese manga¹. Story and art are by Hiromu Arakawa; English translation by Akira Watanabe; English adaptation by Jake Forbes; touch-up art and lettering by Wayne Truman. The original manga appeared in 2010. 

The nice thing about series whose author has a destination in mind is the comparative absence of supporting characters who don’t actually support anything and subplots that don’t go anywhere. The less nice thing is that eventually the story reaches that destination. End of the line.

Which gets me to Fullmetal Alchemist (3‑in‑1 Edition), Volumes 25 – 27.

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Viz’ Fullmetal Alchemist (3‑in‑1 Edition), Volumes 22 – 24 includes Volumes 22, 23, and 24 of the original Japanese manga¹. Story and art are by Hiromu Arakawa; English translation by Akira Watanabe; English adaptation by Jake Forbes; touch-up art and lettering by Wayne Truman. The original manga appeared in 2009. 

Adults are offered many opportunities to defer gratification, such as spacing out the last few volumes of a limited series instead of hoovering them up all at once. Adults can also say ​“screw delayed gratification; finish the series!” and get away with it. Guess which kind of adult I am. 

Which brings us to the eighth, second-to-last, 3‑in‑1 omnibus of Fullmetal Alchemist. In this volume, plans come together. Sorta kinda. 

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Viz’ Fullmetal Alchemist (3‑in‑1 Edition), Volumes 19 – 21 includes Volumes 19, 20, and 21 of the original Japanese manga [1]. Story and art are by Hiromu Arakawa; English translation by Akira Watanabe; English adaptation by Jake Forbes; touch-up art and lettering by Wayne Truman. The original manga appeared in 2008. 

All seems lost! 

• Roy Mustang’s trusted subordinates have been scattered across Amestris;

• Major General Olivier Mira Armstrong (formerly of Briggs Fortress) appears to have gone over to Team Evil, leaving her beloved Fortress in the hands of officers very definitely loyal to the malevolent Father;

• the great transmutation circle needed for the sacrifice of an entire nation is almost finished; 

and worst of all, Alphonse Elric’s soul is beginning to reject the armour that houses it. 

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Viz’ Fullmetal Alchemist (3‑in‑1 Edition), Volumes 16 – 18 includes Volumes 16, 17, and 18 of the original Japanese manga¹. Story and art are by Hiromu Arakawa; English translation by Akira Watanabe; English adaptation by Jake Forbes; touch-up art and lettering by Wayne Truman. The original manga appeared in 2007. 

Still processing the revelations of the last few issues, Alphonse and Edward Elric head north to the Briggs’ Fortress, the kingdom of Amestris’ primary defence against neighbouring Drachma. In any sensible universe, Briggs’ commanding officer Major General Armstrong would be the most terrifying aspect of the trip. But as this is Fullmetal Alchemist, there’s far worse waiting for the brothers than one ruthless senior officer.

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