Character Analysis
(Avoiding Spoilers)
Grew up…pretty happily, with his mother and his brother Al. That is, until his mother died, and the two brothers tried an illegal alchemical process to bring her back. It failed, and the two suffered horrible costs. Al’s body was completely destroyed, and only by sacrificing his arm and leg could Ed keep Al’s soul in the world, albeit attached to a suit of armor.
Living… burdened by guilt. Ed wants nothing more than to get Al’s body back. In pursuit of that goal, Ed has become a state alchemist. Though technically he must serve the government and the military, Ed’s real goal is to use his resources to pursue the Philosopher’s Stone.
Profession… state alchemist. But really Ed’s on a mission to find the Philosopher’s Stone, a legendary substance said to allow alchemists to work free of the law of equivalent exchange. That is, usually one must give something to get something—but with the Stone, it’s all get and no give. It’s their only chance to restore their bodies.
Interests… alchemy. Even before the disaster, Ed read everything he could about alchemy. He’s a prodigy, the youngest person ever to become a state alchemist. He possesses the unique ability to create alchemical reactions without any preparation.
Relationship Status… single. There’s a spark between him and Winry, a girl from his hometown who repairs his automail. But neither one seems willing to say anything about it.
Challenge… getting Al’s body back. Ed would love to have his own arm and leg back, but his primary concern is his little brother. It breaks Ed’s heart that Al can no longer feel, eat, or even cry. That’s why Ed’s pursuing the Philosopher’s Stone with singleminded ferocity. Unfortunately, mysterious and powerful forces are gathering to stop them, and they might be more than even the prodigy Ed can handle.
Personality… precocious, stubborn, and hot-tempered. Ed’s super-smart, and he’s one of the best alchemists around. But he doesn’t compromise and he doesn’t get along with authority well; not the best attributes for a military employee. He frequently loses his temper, and can be rash. But all of his passion is directed towards helping the people he loves.
Get to Know him in...
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Eric and Al were happy kids. That is, until their mother died, and the two brothers tried to bring her back with alchemy. The process went horribly wrong, leaving Al as a disembodied soul trapped in a suit of armor, and causing Ed to lose his arm and leg. Ed has become a state alchemist, hoping to use his credentials to investigate some way to regain their bodies.
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Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood follows the brothers Alphonse and Edward Elric as they try to restore what they lost in a misguided attempt to bring back their deceased mother through alchemy - an incident that left half of Edward's body gone, replaced by mechanical prosthetics, and Alphonse's body gone completely, his soul inhabiting a suit of armor.
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R to L (Japanese Style). 21+ volumes. Somewhere between science, magic and art lies Fullmetal AlchemistTwo brothers on a quest to find the Philospher’s Stone - Meet Edward and Alphonse Elric. Two brothers endowed with the power of alchemy. In the war between science and magic—the future of the world belongs to 2 brothers. Edward and Alphonse: Alchemy be thy name! In an alchemical ritual gone wrong, Edward Elric lost his arm and his leg, and his brother Alphonse became nothing but a soul in a suit of armor. Equipped with mechanical "auto-mail" limbs, Edward becomes a state alchemist, seeking the one thing that can restore his brother and himself...the legendary Philosopher's Stone. A diabolical trap is set for President Bradley... If he is assassinated, a power vacuum will open that Mustang and his allies will be more than happy to fill. Then, while Ed is reunited with someone from his past, Al is separated from his body--his proxy armor body! Now who is filling his heavy metal shoes...? Plus, take a break from all the alchemical intrigue and homunculus backstabbing at the annual Resembool Spring Sheep Festival!
