Thank You, Kingofthewilderwest!

Thank you, kingofthewilderwest!

A few reasons it can be fun to pay attention to small details in the FMA manga…

1. There’s a liquor brand, Stray Dog, that recurs throughout the series. You’ll see the logo in Liore…

…in Youswell (multiple times!)…

…in the apartment Falman keeps Barry… held by a man walking past Hawkeye outside her apartment door… it’s even in Mustang’s office (during the side story made for the live action’s release). It’s really everywhere.

Does the label appear in Brotherhood? You bet it does! Here it is in “The Oath in the Tunnel” at Madame Christmas’ bar!

2. You’ll notice posters in the background detailing Yoki’s shenanigans (way before you hear him recount his adventures in the north to Ed and company). Have a visual advertising “Yoki Circus” that you see in Central when Havoc goes to visit Falman and Barry.

3. Arakawa repeatedly draws the same front cover for one edition of the Central Times paper (the issue which details Maria Ross’ “crime”) throughout multiple chapters.

The reason why this is cool is because it shows a photo of a factory on fire. Later, chapters later, when Roy’s in the hospital for Lust’s stab wounds, he mentions this fire to Doctor Knox.

It was this fire that led Mustang to believe he could expect Knox would be the one doing Ross’ autopsy. Because of the newspaper photo, we know when Roy got this information and decided he could use that in the escape plan: when Breda brought the paper with the headline of Ross’ conviction.

4. Speaking of news headings, there’s an important one we see during Ed and Al’s long childhood flashback (back when they’re preparing to do human transmutation). “The Conclusion of a Civil War.”

5. There’s some amusing signage here and there. Looks like Rush Valley has some issues with proper waste disposal.

There’s even a sign that’s a just drawing of a dog one place in Rush Valley. Aptly, there’s a dog near that sign.

6. We see English writing for names including Youswell, Xing, Aerugo, Creta, Drachma, Amestris, Ishval, Maria Ross, Maes Hughes, and Ling Yao in the background, so we know how Arakawa wanted the names spelled. 

Not only that, but we can see other details like matching numbers between Ling’s prison bracelet and the tag on his confiscated sword. W1582.

Though… you DO have to lovingly laugh at the letter Hughes gets, sent from a certain “Glacier Joyous Coeaofijea;ogi”……

It’s as amusing as one FMA manga illustration of a newspaper that mentions… Britain.

7. We can read a LOT of the Latin, etc. text in alchemy-related designs. Riza’s tattoo, the different Gates of Truth, Alex’s gauntlets, you name it. 

8. We see small background manifestations of Ishvalan cultural elements. Notice the intentional removal of footwear in this panel.

9. More sobering detail here, but… between Kimblee’s hand tattoos and one oft-drawn wooden crate… ever notice the six pointed star that recurs throughout Scar’s brother’s Ishvalan War flashbacks?

10. There’s dates in the Rockbell photo album! A memorable October ’11, of course, in which Ed holds up his new pocket watch…

…but also things like Pinako with her baby, meaning we can pin down when Yuriy Rockbell was born. That baby’s pretty little in May ’73. And does that top picture of May ’72 signify the year Pinako moved to that house in Resembool?

The photo of Pinako as a young woman with Hohenheim was taken in 1866.

11. Characters like Raven sneak in before they’re officially introduced and named. Here he is at the end of Chapter 44.

12. There’s a rich couple that appears multiple times throughout the story in Rush Valley and Central.

13. And there’s Mobuo Mobuta, too. If you haven’t heard of him before, he’s a man with a thin mustache and white suit who recurs throughout the background, in essentially a manga form of Where’s Waldo.

(And yes, he’s in the anime, too, have fun hunting).

Like… there’s some fun stuff in the details, even beyond the glorious artwork.

ALL THE INTENTIONAL DETAILS, YO!

JANUARY 10! I can’t wait. 

Some of Brett's older paintings are very different. They look like they were painted by a European master. A lot of them were portraits and still lifes. Check them out, if you can, on his Tumblr. 

Inner Conflict (2017-2018) oil on linen, 9″ x 12″

Pronunciation of Riza and Roy’s Ranks

In an inspired attempt to avoid doing important tasks, I searched on why the British and Americans pronounce “lieutenant” differently. There were several different replies (and insulting arguments), but this one seemed reasonable to me. And, serendipitously, the thread included a comment regarding “colonel.” 

There is fair evidence (in terms of how the word was spelled in middle english) that both "lef" and "lieu" pronunciations have coexisted for some time.  The French word "lieu" (place) on which the word is based, is occasionally seen spelt in old French as "luef".

Codified spellings and pronunciations of words is a distinctly modern invention - for most of the time before, things were a lot more vague.

foxglove87

So, it's a case of historical synonyms, with each culture arbitrarily choosing their preferred variation?

nwob

I think that's at least a plausible explanation, though presumably the spelling was standardised to the more French-looking version without the pronunciation catching up.

jianadaren1

2 points ·

4 years ago

The history of the word "colonel" has a similar story: one language's pronunciation became standard while a different language's spelling was accepted.

It took the pronunciation from a now-obsolete Middle French word "coronel" but during 16th-century translations of Italian military manuals, the spelling conformed to the Italian "colonella". Both pronunciations coexisted for a time, but the modern one eventually won-out.

The rank lieutenant-colonel is storied indeed.

I pledged for a deck, today. I love FMA art, and the contributors are so talented. 

Equivalent Exchange Tarot is the passion project of over 80 artists and writers brought together by our love for Fullmetal Alchemist. This full tarot deck serves as both a beautifully crafted set of art cards and as a divination tool for those who practice Tarot.  It is our fondest wish that this deck leads you to all of the information you seek and brings you the secrets from beyond the door, without the high cost.

Each deck comes with:

78 unique and beautiful tarot cards inspired by Fullmetal Alchemist

A custom top-bottom box

A tarot guide booklet

A digital pdf of the entire deck

With 10 different tiers, there’s something to be found for everyone whether a fan of FMA or someone looking to grow their collection of decks!

Kickstarter will close on December 31st, 2018

PRE-ORDER HERE!!

This is a for charity project. The charity will be the Jordan Thomas Foundation. The mission of the Jordan Thomas Foundation is to provide children affected by limb loss with the prostheses they need throughout childhood and adolescence and serves as a caring resource, advocate and support system for the children and their families.

More information on the project can be found here.

I’m torn between the art book (with larger size images) and the actual cards. At the moment, I’m leaning toward the cards.  

PLEASE SUPPORT THE EQUIVALENT EXCHANGE TAROT KICKSTARTER!!

We are incredibly close to our next stretch goal, which is Gilt edges and foil stamping on all cards and box!

As a small taste, I’m posting my @fmatarot card: The Five of Wands! There are a ton of talented artists who contributed to this fantastic project! We even have Artbooks available, where you can see the cards completely uncropped, in great detail!

EQUIVALENT EXCHANGE: @fmatarot KICKSTARTER: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/catstealers-zines/equivalent-exchange-tarot

Please reblog and share the kickstarter with your friends, even if you can’t afford to support it yourself! Thank you, and happy holidays!!