Fullmetal Alchemist

Manga

                                                               (Cover Artwork)
Book Description: Story & Art by Hiromu Arakawa
Containing volumes 1,2 and 3 of Fullmetal Alchemist!

  Breaking the laws of nature is a serious crime! 

  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 and his brother's bodies...the legendary Philosopher's Stone.

  Alchemy: the mystical power to alter the natural world, somewhere between magic art, and science. When two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, dabbled in these powers to grant their dearest wish, one of them lost an arm and leg...and the other became nothing but a soul locked into a body of living iron. Now they are agents of the government, slaves of the military -alchemical complex, using their unique powers to obey their orders...even to kill. But their powers aren't unique. The world crawls with evil alchemists. And in pursuit of the ultimate alchemical treasure, the Philsopher's Stone, their enemies are even more ruthless than they are...

Product Details 
Price: $12.57 "Barns and Noble"

• ISBN-13: 9781421540184
• Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
• Publication date: 6/7/2011
• Series: Full Metal Alchemist 3-in-1 Series, #1
• Pages: 576
• Sales rank: 63,709
• Product dimensions: 4.90 (w) x 7.48 (h) x 1.22 (d)

                                                                 (Cover Artwork)
Book Description: Story & Art by Hiromu Arakawa
Containing volumes 4,5 and 6 of Fullmetal Alchemist!

Trapped and injured in a secret alchemical laboratory, Edward Elric is at the mercy of his enemies, Lust and Envy. But they don't want him dead...they have other plans for him. As the laboratory goes up in flames, the brothers find themselves back at square one, with only an inkling of the massive scale of the Philosopher's Stone conspiracy. But then, Lieutenant Colonel Maes Hughes uncovers a shocking secret...

Product Details

Price: $13.72 "Barns and Noble"

• ISBN-13: 9781421540191
• Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
• Publication date: 8/2/2011
• Series: Full Metal Alchemist 3-in-1 Series, #2
• Pages: 576
• Sales rank: 70,208
• Product dimensions: 5.00 (w) x 7.50 (h) x 1.40 (d)

                                                              (Cover Artwork)
Book Description: Story & Art by Hiromu Arakawa
Containing volumes 7,8 and 9 of Fullmetal Alchemist!

  Where did Alphonse Elric go during the few short minutes he was wiped from existence, body and soul? From a secret lair in the city of Dublith, a group of outcasts kidnaps Alphonse to find the alchemical secrets of his creation! It's up to Ed (and a certain housewife) to go into the Devil's Nest and rescue his brother. But the criminals of the Devil's Nest aren't exactly human either. Now, Al must fight a homunculus—an artificial human being—and the streets of Dublith will run red with blood...

Product Details

Price: $12.97 "Barns and Noble"

• ISBN-13: 9781421540207
• Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
• Publication date: 10/4/2011
• Series: Full Metal Alchemist 3-in-1 Series, , #3
• Edition number: 3
• Pages: 576
• Sales rank: 75,418
• Product dimensions: 5.04 (w) x 7.58 (h) x 1.20 (d)

                                                                (Cover Artwork)
Book Description: Story & Art by Hiromu Arakawa
Containing volumes 10,11 and 12 of Fullmetal Alchemist!

 Ed returns to Resembool and meets his estranged father Hohenheim for the first time in many years. Though their meeting is brief and strained, Ed comes away with the revelation that Al’s body is still alive somewhere. But before the newly energized brothers can search for it, Scar returns, catalyzing an unlikely alliance between the Elric brothers, Prince Lin of Xing, and Colonel Mustang. Though they hope to use Scar to lure in a homunculus, the hunters become the hunted when Gluttony proves more than they can handle.

Product Details

Price: $13.07 "Barns and Noble"

• ISBN-13: 9781421554914
• Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
• Publication date: 3/12/2013
• Series: Full Metal Alchemist 3-in-1 Series, #4
• Edition description: Original
• Pages: 576
• Sales rank: 93,854
• Product dimensions: 5.24 (w) x 7.36 (h) x 1.20 (d)

                                                             (Cover Artwork)
Book Description: Story & Art by Hiromu Arakawa
Containing volumes 13,14 and 15 of Fullmetal Alchemist!

  In the midst of heated battle, Ed, Envy and Prince Lin of Xing are swallowed whole by the homunculus Gluttony. When they finally escape, they find themselves face-to-face with the “father” of the homunculi, who offers Lin immortality as the new Greed. Meanwhile, Colonel Mustang learns the military’s corruption goes all the way to the top, and the truth of what really happened in the Ishbalan War is revealed.

Product Details
Price: $12.75 "Barns and Noble"

• ISBN-13: 9781421554921
• Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
• Publication date: 7/9/2013
• Series: Full Metal Alchemist 3-in-1 Series, #5
• Edition description: Original
• Pages: 576
• Sales rank: 102,465
• Product dimensions: 5.00 (w) x 7.30 (h) x 1.30 (d)

                                                                  (Cover Artwork)
Book Description: Story & Art by Hiromu Arakawa
Containing volumes 16,17 and 18 of Fullmetal Alchemist!

  The Elric brothers head north to Fort Briggs in search of May Chang, whose Xing alchemy may contain the answers they seek. But as Ed and Al soon discover, the only thing less forgiving than Briggs’s weather is the regiment of hardened soldiers assigned to defend it. Matters grow even more complicated when Ed and Al get thrown in lockdown and the sadistic Kimblee arrives from Central with Winry as his hostage. But even Kimblee’s cruelty pales in comparison to the evil of the new homunculi watching from the shadows...

Product Details

Price: $11.95 "Barns and Noble"

• ISBN-13: 9781421554938
• Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
• Publication date: 11/12/2013
• Series: Full Metal Alchemist 3-in-1 Series, #6
• Edition description: Original
• Pages: 576
• Sales rank: 85,716
• Product dimensions: 5.12 (w) x 7.50 (h) x 1.21 (d)

                                                                   (Cover Artwork)
Book Description: Story & Art by Hiromu Arakawa
Containing volumes 19,20 and 21 of Fullmetal Alchemist!

  The story enters its final stretch as the Elric brothers learn of the homunculi’s ultimate plan to turn all of Amestris into an alchemical bloodbath on the “Day of Reckoning.” While tempted to use the open portal that day to get their bodies back, for now the brothers build opposition to the homunculi-corrupted military with others who have learned of the grisly plan. While Al learns the secret of the homunculi’s origins from his father, Ed joins forces with a familiar homunculus who seems to be having pangs of conscience.

Product Details
Price: $11.51 "Barns and Noble"

• ISBN-13: 9781421554945
• Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
• Publication date: 3/11/2014
• Series: Full Metal Alchemist 3-in-1 Series, #7
• Pages: 568
• Sales rank: 97,943
• Product dimensions: 5.00 (w) x 7.30 (h) x 1.30 (d)

                                                                  (Cover Artwork)
Book Description: Story & Art by Hiromu Arakawa
Containing volumes 22,23 and 24 of Fullmetal Alchemist!

  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 and his brother's bodies...the legendary Philosopher's Stone.

  With the Day of Reckoning at hand, war breaks out in Central City. On one side, the homunculi and corrupt military; on the other, the Elric family, Ishbalan refugees, and a ragtag alliance of soldiers loyal to Major General Armstrong of Fort Briggs and Roy Mustang. While Hohenheim confronts the homunculi's "father," Mustang finally learns the truth about Hughes's murder. Will he be consumed by hatred and do the unthinkable?

Product Details
Price: $11.59 "Barns and Noble"

• ISBN-13: 9781421554969
• Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
• Publication date: 7/8/2014
• Series: Full Metal Alchemist 3-in-1 Series, #8
• Pages: 576
• Sales rank: 501,648

Book Description: Story & Art by Hiromu Arakawa
Containing volumes 25,26 and 27 of Fullmetal Alchemist!

  As the Day of Reckoning dawns, the Elric brothers, their father Hohenheim, and all of their allies battle to the death against the homunculi’s “father.” The fate of the entire world hangs in the balance. To claim victory, some will have to make the ultimate sacrifice. When the dust clears, will a happy ending await our favorite characters in the final volume of Fullmetal Alchemist?

Product Details
Price: $13.21 "Barns and Noble"

• ISBN-13: 9781421554976
• Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
• Publication date: 11/11/2014
• Series: Full Metal Alchemist 3-in-1 Series, #9
• Pages: 576

Read Online: *Note - Online version is different from American version
http://mangafox.me/manga/fullmetal_alchemist/v01/c001/1.html
More Information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fullmetal_Alchemist

 Anime

   Fullmetal Alchemist is an anime adaptation of the manga of the same name. Comprising 51 episodes, it was co-produced by animation studio Bones, Mainichi Broadcasting System, and Aniplex. It was broadcast on Mainichi Broadcasting System, TBS and Animax in Japan between October 4, 2003, and October 2, 2004. A second television series titled in English as Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood was later broadcast in 2009.

"Fullmetal Alchemist"

"Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood"

 Overall Rating: 5 Stars

The graphics, and artwork in both

Manga, and Anime series is fantastic

Blood+ Anime Included

                                                         (Cover Artwork)

Book Description: Story & Art by "The three Blood+ manga series were written and illustrated by different manga artists. In comparing the first volume covers from Blood+, Blood+: Adaigo, and Blood+: Kowloon Nights, one can see that each has a different, and distinct, artistic design while still being based on the basic character designs from the anime series."

Under the care of her adoptive family, Saya Otonashi has been living the life of an anemic amnesiac, but otherwise ordinary schoolgirl. However, her happy life is shattered when she is attacked by a Chiropteran, learning that she is the only one who can defeat them. Armed with her special katana, Saya embarks on a journey with her family, allies, and her chevalier Haji, to rid the world of the Chiropteran threat and recover her identity. The course of the journey reveals the background history of the Chiropterans and Saya's past, which extends into the mid-19th century.

The series is initially set in September 2005 Okinawa City (Koza), on Okinawa Island, near the US Kadena Air Base. Over the course of the series, Saya travels across the world, from Japan to Vietnam, Russia, France and finally the US, fighting Chiropterans.

Personal View:

 Yup, had a very hard time trying to locate the manga version of this, considering its three different kinds out there. I haven't found any in print in the US, only some translated stuff. Now me being totally into the vampire thing here. I loved this!! From watching the anime on Netflix I couldn't seem to get enough of it. All the fighting moments to the "OMG! Is my memory back yet!" It was very interesting to see though that for once it was two sisters fighting when in other type of vampire thing's its normally guys that are in the main rolls.

 Yes, we have all heard of siblings fighting right. But nothing like this.... These two hated each other so much it was all the way down to their blood rejecting the other, to the max of being poison to on another. Yeah, that's some pretty cold hatred if I do say so myself. One thing I liked alot was were each of them had a follower, and how Saya's sisters follower confessed his dyer love for Saya. But I think Haji loves her more, he just can't bring himself to say it.  

Overall Rating: 5 Stars

Read Online: *Note - Online version is different from American version 
http://www.mangareader.net/blood
More Information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood%2B

Anime

"You can watch these episodes on netflix"

Episode One: First Kiss

Original Airdate: March 11, 2007

Description:

Saya Otonashi is a fairly normal high school girl, except that she has no memory of her life before a year ago and needs regular Blood transfusions to stay healthy. She encounters a mysterious man playing a cello whose song triggers a vague memory. When Saya goes to the school that night to retrieve her forgotten shoes, the cello player approaches her holding a dagger. Saya flees and runs into a teacher.

Mr. Inamine, who is then killed by a monster. Saya runs into the school, locking the door behind her, but the monster easily breaks through. The cello player appears and fights off the monster before grabbing Saya and taking her to safety in a classroom. There he tells her the monster is a chiropteran. Meanwhile, her brother Kai arrives to retrieve her after her friend Kaori brings her shoes to their house, and also encounters the monster. The man kisses Saya, forcing her to drink his blood. He tells her "You must fight now."

My Bride is a Mermaid

Book Description:

From all the places I've checked this series is only in print via Japan. I have listed below information that allows you to read the translated version.

Personal View:

 I have yet to read the manga version, I only watched the anime series via Netflix. I can see why this was a requested thing. :) I'm always open to the challenge of finding a new series. Yes, This one really pushed it for me I nearly gave up. It's a pretty funny series so far, and I give alot of props to the main character for not giving up so easily on the challenges he ends up facing.

Though the whole mermaid thing is not my cup of tea, and I braved through this like a champ. I would say its more based for a younger group, not someone my age. Yet, the fight scenes were decent. Guess from all the many other things I've read or watched they were much more advanced than this. If your looking for a new series to show your friends that haven't ever watched anime I'd give them this.

Overall Rating: 4 Stars

Read Online: *Note - Online version is different from American version 
http://www.mangahere.co/manga/seto_no_hanayome/
More Information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Bride_is_a_Mermaid

Anime

"Part 1 Anime Trailer"

Episode One: The Yakuza Wife

Original Airdate: April 1, 2007

http://www.funimation.com/shows/my-bride-is-a-mermaid/videos/official/the-yakuza-wife?watch=dub

 "You can watch the full episode on the link listed above. Enjoy"

Description:

  Nagasumi Michishio, a teenage boy, is saved by the chivalrous mermaid Sun Seto while drowning in the ocean off the coast of Seto Island. Mermaid society rules are strict, being that Nagasumi and Sun are forced into marriage if both are to stay alive. Little does Nagasumi know that Sun's mermaid clan is in fact a yakuza  organization.

Death Note Anime Included

                                                        (Cover Artwork)

Book Description: Story & Art by Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata "Illustrator"

  Light Yagami is an ace student with great prospects - and he's bored out of his mind. But all that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. But when criminals begin dropping dead, the authorities send the legendary detective L to track down the killer. With L hot on his heels, will Light lose sight of his noble goal...or his life?

Light tests the boundaries of the Death Note's powers as L and the police begin to close in. Luckily Light's father is the head of the Japanese National Police Agency and leaves vital information about the case lying around the house. With access to his father's files, Light can keep one step ahead of the authorities. But who is the strange man following him, and how can Light guard against enemies whose names he doesn't know?

Product Details

• ISBN-13: 9781421501680
• Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
• Publication date: 10/10/2005
• Series: Death Note Series, #1
• Pages: 200
• Sales rank: 125,920
• Product dimensions: 5.20 (w) x 7.40 (h) x 0.80 (d)

                                                    (Cover Artwork)

Book Description: Story & Art by Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata "Illustrator"

Killer 2-for-1 value on the hit thriller Death Note!

Contains Volumes 1 and 2 of Death Note!

Product Details

• ISBN-13: 9781421539645
• Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
• Publication date: 12/28/2010
• Series: Death Note Black Series, #1
• Edition description: V
• Pages: 400  
• Sales rank: 61,661
• Product dimensions: 5.60 (w) x 8.40 (h) x 1.40 (d)

Personal View:

 I first noticed this series at the book store but never really put to much thought into it. Till I received a request from a close friend. Guess it was his way of getting me to show interest in this series it felt like a challenge and I gladly accepted. This is my first time reading anything like this type of series. I love the detail to the artwork the most. But I also can understand were Light Yagami's views are coming from. Don't we all want a better world? I just think its human nature to not be able to maintain a peaceful life without having some form of crime or such things happening around us.

I'm completely loving the charter Ryuk, hes the shinigami death god... "Evil Laugh" It cracks me up that he pretty much eats apples most the time, or in the one episode hes actually having withdrawals from not eating them like a junky would be from not having their preferred drug. Then theirs miss famous model Misa Amane, whom also has her own shinigami Rem. She becomes the second "Kira" but also has an infatuation with Light. Which ends up making so many problems for him in the overall. Even when he uses her to help him with his plans. She allows her emotions to take the better of her way more then once.

Okay, from all the research I've done thus far on this series. They did actually make a "human" based TV show out of it. "Never watched it" Along with the manga, and anime show. They also made the manga into the "Black Series" which is nothing more then sticking to volumes into one. Guess its just less books to buy. Hopefully I didn't give away to much on this great series. And that you'll become just as addicted to it as I did. Cause Yes, I am so wanting to see more of this show if only they had added at third part!!!

Overall Rating: HARD 5 Stars

Read Online: *Note - Online version is different from American version 
http://mangafox.me/manga/death_note/
More Information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Note

Anime

"Official Death Note Trailer"

"Box Set 1"                                                                         "Box Set 2"

You can buy this at Barns and Noble or you could watch it on Netflix "English Version" both seasons. I posted the first two episodes below. Or you can watch it on YouTube. Enjoy!

Episode One: Rebirth

Original Airdate: October 21, 2007

Description:

Outside the grounds of his high school, Light Yagami discovers a notebook that claims to be able to kill anyone whose name and face is known to its owner. He initially dismisses the so-called "Death Note" as a hoax, but, after testing its powers, he discovers that these claims are indeed real. The original owner, a shinigami named Ryuk, approaches Light and explains that the notebook now belongs to him. Since Light is the new owner, he is the only one who can see and interact with Ryuk. The shinigami also says that when Light's time to die comes, Ryuk will be the one to write down his name in his book. Light decides to use the Death Note's power to rid the world of evil and become the God of a new, peaceful world.

Episode Two: Confrontation

Original Airdate: October 28, 2007

Description:

As criminals begin dying from inexplicable heart attacks left and right, Interpol convenes to discuss the phenomenon. Unable to come up with an explanation for it, they turn to the world's top-ranked detective, L Lawliet, whose true identity is a well-kept secret. L speaks to the Interpol representatives through a computer and an electronic voice, promising them that they are dealing with mass-murder and that he will soon confront the killer whom the general public has been calling Kira (a play on the Japanese pronunciation of the English word killer). This displeases Light, who has been going to great lengths to keep the Death Note hidden, since learning that Ryuk becomes visible to any who touch the book. L tricks Light into revealing that Kira lives in Japan's Kanto region with a fake television broadcast. Having played right into L's hands, an enraged and humiliated Light swears to eliminate L.

Vampire Knight Series Anime Included

                                                     (Cover Artwork)

Book Description: Story & Art by Matsuri Hino
 

  Yuki Cross has no memory of her past prior to the moment she was saved from a vampire attack ten years ago. She was adopted by the headmaster of Cross Academy, and now works alongside Zero to guard the Academy's secret. Yuki believes that vampires and humans can coexist peacefully, but her partner has different ideas...

Cross Academy is attended by two groups of students: the Day Class and the Night Class. At twilight, when the students of the Day Class return to their dorm, they cross paths with the Night Class on their way to school. Yuki Cross and Zero Kiryu are the Guardians of the school, protecting the Day Class from the Academy's dark secret: the Night Class is full of vampires!

Product Details

• ISBN-13: 9781421508221
• Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
• Publication date: 1/9/2007
• Series: Vampire Knight Series, #1
• Edition number: 1
• Pages: 208
• Sales rank: 128,530
• Product dimensions: 5.00 (w) x 7.50 (h) x 0.60 (d)

Personal View:

 This is one of the best three way romances that I've seen in a while! Even more so with having vampires, it doesn't have werewolf's or other super-nature stuff like that. But it gets back to a more basic type vampire theme. Hunter vs. Vampire for the girl!! The romance isn't over the top for a younger age group, which is great. But I gotta say this, What girl doesn't like having two of the hottest guys in school or area want her, or fight over her constantly.

I have yet to read the manga series. With the high expectations I've already seen just from watching the two seasons of the anime. Theirs that lingering feeling that the manga series will just completely blow me away when I get to it. Theirs about 19 volumes in the manga.... I'm hoping they'll soon put them into omnibus form.

One thing that I didn't like so far, is they left the anime series with an open ending. I'm crossing my fingers that after reading the manga that will all be cleared up. "We all know that the manga always gives more info than the anime do." Yet again I've been left wanting more from a anime...... "Sad Face"

Overall Rating: 5 Stars
Artwork: HARD 10 Stars

Read Online: *Note - Online version is different from American version
http://www.mangareader.net/104/vampire-knight.html

More Information:

              http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire_Knight

Anime

(Vampire Knight: the Complete Series, Complete Set 2 "Guilty Series")

                                            You can watch both seasons on Netflix!

Vampire Knight:

Episode One: Night of Vampires
Original Airdate: October 2, 2012
                                                  "Episode One, Part One"

                                                    "Episode One, Part Two"

Description:


  Yuki Cross recalls her earliest memories in which she is attacked by a vampire, and saved by the Pureblood vampire Kaname Kuran. In the present, she attends the Cross Academy, a school founded by her adoptive

father, Kaien Cross, and she works as a "Guardian" with vampire hunter Zero Kiryu to protect the human students of the "Day Class" from the vampires of the "Night Class", an arrangement created by Kaien to foster better relations between vampires and humans. That evening, Yuki discovers a pair of Night Class students, Hanabusa Aido and Akatsuki Kain, threatening to feed on a pair of Day Class students. Yuki attempts to stop them, only for Aido to drink some of her blood from a wound she got from climbing down a tree. They retreat only after Zero arrives and threatens them with his anti-vampire gun, Bloody Rose. Kaname takes both of the Night Students to the Headmaster for punishment while the Day Students memory of the event is erased. Cleaning up for bed, Zero shows signs of vamperism by becoming inticed by the sight of Yuki's neck while she's drying her hair.