I was not aware of the community of Anime and Manga fans, and that's what characterized my teenage life a little bit with Naruto, One Piece and many others. But one anime and manga that I particularly loved is Full Metal Alchemist (Hagane no renkinjutsushi original title), a manga written and drawn by Hiromu Arakawa. I read the manga for the first time at the age of 15/16, on a suggestion from my friend and owner of the comic, and I was immediately attracted by the beauty of the drawings, so well made and cared for.
The story follows young alchemists Edward and Alphonse Elric, two brothers traveling to the nation of Amestris in search of the legendary philosopher's stone with the aim of regaining their original bodies lost in a human transmutation that went wrong. During their journey they will discover a plan orchestrated by seven beings called homunculus that could destroy the country if not stopped in time.
The plot is actually much more delicate and human than you might think, the transmutation, a particular complex magic called alchemy, allows you to bind the soul of a deceased to a body in exchange for a part of your body. In an attempt to bring the brothers' mother to life, the transmutation carried out is wrong and this costs the loss of Edward's left leg and the entire body of his brother, but managing, by sacrificing his right arm, to bind his brother's soul. AL to an armor. Edward's limbs are replaced with mechanical prostheses called automail.
Hence the brothers' journey in search of the philosopher's stone, an alchemical object capable of nullifying the principle of equivalent exchange, and thus regaining their original bodies. A very compelling story, full of twists, full of dangers as the philosopher's stone is the object of desire even of the evil homunculus, a group of human-looking creatures with strong fighting abilities and the ability to regenerate their wounds thanks the use of the philosopher's stones.
I really recommend to those who have never read comics and are fond of manga, to discover one of the most beautiful works I have read. There is also an anime, really well done, but maybe having seen it after reading the manga, it didn't give me the same emotions. If you like the fantasy genre but really very excited, as only manga can do, Full Metal Alchemist is the perfect manga and I am sure that I will find wide support from the community
