Fullmetal Alchemist Manga vs First TV Series - ROUND SEVEN
The Greed arc is where the manga and first animated series really begin to part company. I'll review the last chapter of volume seven in the next round, because of its close connection with another chapter in adaption in the first anime series.
EVENTS:
Chapter 26: To Meet The Master
Event(s): While Edward goes to get his assessment done in the Southern Headquarters, Alphonse is lured into a trap by a group of chimeras; after meeting with his master, Scar kills people threatening him
Episode 32: Dante of the Deep Forest/Episode 33, Al, Captured/Episode 26: Words of Farewell
Event(s): At Izumi's teacher Dante's house, a group of chimeras take Alphonse captive while Greed beats up Edward; after meeting with his master, Scar kills people threatening him
Judgement: It's getting a lot more difficult to judge which medium this material is better in. Alphonse giving the chimera a run for their money was great, though, so it edges out the anime material.
MANGA > ANIME
Chapter 27: The Beasts of Dublith/Chapter 28: A Fool's Courage
Event(s): The homunuculus Greed offers to share his secrets in exchange for information on transmuting souls from Ed and Al, but neither Izumi nor Ed are willing to cooperate. The military follows Ed to The Devil's Den.
Episode 33: Al, Captured
Event(s): The homunuculus Greed offers to share his secrets in exchange for information on transmuting souls from Ed and Al, but neither Izumi nor Ed are willing to cooperate. The military follows Ed to The Devil's Den.
Judgement: Oh, this one is so hard! On the one hand, seeing Izumi beat the crap out of Greed's subordinates was fun in the manga, watching Edward and her both take Greed on as a team was just... just magical. I've got to say, I think this is an Equivalent Exchange of awesome.
MANGA = ANIME
Now let's compare some important characters in the Greed arc.
CHARACTERS:
Greed
Judgement: Essentially the same in both mediums, but comes off to me as slightly more mischevious and in-the-know in the first anime. Not to mention we just plain see more of him. I guess that only means, though, that he was given more opportunity to be himself. The big difference, in my opinion, is the death of the character. While they went out defiant in both versions, the anime version came off as more honorable and likeable, because he allowed himself to be killed to steel Edward's resolved. That put him over the top.
Also, he doesn't come back as that lame Greed!Ling. Ling just doesn't deserve to be as cool as Greed. And frankly, he isn't.
MANGA ANIME
Unfortunately, the next volume is the last comparison I can do! There's a bit of stuff that coincides here and there later on between the two versions, but mostly the manga goes off and does something different, as does the first series. I'll make sure to come up with some final wrap up edition after the next round.
