Every once in a while an anime TV series comes along that manages to sustain and develop a terrific and involving story over many episodes; ‘Fullmetal’ Alchemist is one of those rare treats. Each successive volume brings astonishing new twists to the tale, revealing unimaginable layers of deceit and conspiracy, deepening the terrible dilemmas faced by young alchemist brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric.

In some ways, ‘Fullmetal’ could be seen as an allegory of growing up; the boys’ journey to find the Philosopher’s Stone (so that they can restore Al’s body and Ed’s missing arm and leg and make themselves whole again) reveals to them a world much more complex than they could ever have imagined. Time and again, they find themselves betrayed and manipulated by others whose agendas are quite different to their own.

As Volume 9 opens, Al has been kidnapped by Greed’s henchmen, a group of renegade Chimera on the run from the military. Greed, one of the sinister homunculi, is to all intents and purposes, the Elrics’ enemy, hungering for immortality. Ed, in his frantic desire to get back his brother, is determined to destroy Greed. In their first encounter, Greed taunts him; how can Ed ever hope to win against his special abilities, which enable him to make his body as hard as rock? And Al gains a ‘passenger’, Marta, one of Greed’s Chimera who hides inside him to make sure he doesn’t escape.

But all is far from simple as Ed learns when he goes after Greed and confronts him at Dante’s house. The maid Lyra has disappeared, Dante lies dead inside – and Ed assumes that Greed has killed her. A terrible duel ensues in which Ed learns – painfully, as ever– that Greed may not be the enemy he has assumed him to be, especially when he reveals a secret about the homunculi’s weakness.

Ed, Al and Winry, on Scar’s trail, come up against Lieutenant Hawkeye and her men who are guarding a prison train of refugees from Ishbal. Meeting the young brothers Leo and Rick again, they at last get the opportunity to learn more about Scar’s past. When the Elrics learn the truth about what Scar intends, they determine to try to stop him at all costs.

Meanwhile Winry, chatting to the two boys, realizes that they knew her parents. The boys, unaware of her identity, tell her that the two doctors were killed by a state alchemist, a flame-wielder. Determined to find out the truth, she returns with Lieutenant Hawkeye, intending to ask Maes Hughes to tell her what he knows, unaware of the tragic revelation that awaits her.

The animation is as exuberant and accomplished as ever; the character designs can seem a little on the sketchy side at times, but aided by a sharp script and excellent voice acting, it never distracts for long. Both Japanese and American voice casts are equally good; the US dub is one of FUNimation’s best so far, with Vic Mignogna and Aaron Dismuke utterly convincing as the Elric brothers. Even Christopher Sabat’s vocal range is improving and is significantly well cast as the muscled Alex Louis Armstrong, the boys’ ‘minder’ in the military.

The full orchestral score by Michiru Oshima is one of the significant bonuses of this series, adding greatly to the intensity of the viewer’s experience. Listen out for the throaty-voiced rendition of Dante’s Song which underscores the scenes in Dante’s house; this theme will reappear in other guises as the series progresses and each time, its haunting phrases presage some sinister or tragic event.

FMA's most compelling qualities lie in the way the intriguing story unfolds. The action moves from moments of genuine laugh-out-loud comedy to heart-in-mouth anguish. It’s impossible not to care for the characters, who, drawn with all their flaws, are all the more sympathetic and easy to identify with.

In summary

Another gripping and involving volume in this excellent series. However, if you haven’t been following ‘Fullmetal Alchemist’ from the start, this probably isn’t the best place to join the series; there’s way too much backstory to catch up on. Best to treat yourself and go to the beginning. You won’t regret it!