I could go on and on all day about Fullmetal Alchemist because quite frankly, I love this show. In case you haven't checked it out yet, you should know that I'm not alone in that adoration. This has become one of the most prominent series on the market and ever since it was a manga by Hiromu Arakawa the concept has captivated audiences. This is one of the most well crafted and memorable anime of all time and it just gets better with each volume.

Sadly the final two installments are upon us with the Conqueror of Shamballa right around the corner. If you're coming to this review to find out about the show and are wonder what it's all about be warned that you'll probably encounter some spoilers, though I will keep them as minimal as possible. It's hard to judge a show this late in its run to a new audience so typically it's better to assume the reader has seen what has transpired to date.

Some 45 episodes ago the show started with Edward and Alphonse Elric trying to bring their mother back from the dead using a taboo form of alchemy. Because the law of equivalent exchange is omnipresent in the world of alchemy the boys had to give up something in order to get something. Ed lost an arm and leg while Al lost his body all together, only to have his soul graphed to a suit of armor. The end result was a failed transmutation that did nothing more than create a horrid nightmare, let alone bring their mother back. The Elrics then set out on a mission to find a Philosopher's Stone which would give them the power to undo the mistakes of their past.

Over the course of the series though, things have changed. We learned that the Philosopher Stone could only be obtained by a vast amount of human sacrifice and even so it was unclear whether or not it would be able to accomplish what the brothers wished it to. While Edward joined the military and butted heads with Mustang, the Flame Alchemist, other characters came into the fold and darkness eventually seeped into the picture.

A man with a chip on his shoulder, Scar, was introduced and became a noble villain of sorts. Creatures known as Homunculi also found their way into the show. These critters were something entirely different; in fact they were not even human. Along the way we found out they were indeed the byproduct of a failed human transmutation. If that doesn't put two and two together for you, then surprise! The Elric's mother was introduced as Homunculi not too long ago and you can imagine the problems that led to for our heroes.

In the last volume the crap really started to hit the fan as things in Fullmetal Alchemist began going south. Well, to be honest they have been going downhill for a while. Scar's plan of turning Liore into a giant pit to draw in the military finally saw fruition as the Fuhrer moved his troops into place. The Crimson Alchemist and Scar had a showdown that essentially left both of them dead and in the process Al was turned into a ticking time-bomb. In a twist of fate though Scar saves his so-called life by giving him the transmutation circle engraved on his arm and changes the composition of his body into that of the Philosopher Stone. Oh, Ed and Al's father, the Hohenheim of Light, also showed up to a rather cold reception.

Things pick up in the twelfth volume with Hohenheim of Light squaring off against Dante and some of the Homunculi. Some history is revealed between Dante and Mr. Elric is revealed and it sheds a little bit of light on some things. In the meantime Al is suckered in by Shou Tucker and goes to see the man/thing alone. It would seem that he still pines over his daughter Nina and looks at Al's new Philosopher Stone body as the key to successfully bring her back.

While this is all going on Ed battles some of the Homunculi and actually finds himself working with Lust. She hopes that by helping Ed he'll help her become human again, though it's kind of a flawed logic if you really think about it. A big battle ensues that changes the playing field permanently. I'm not going to get into the details and spoil things, but let's just say that two Homunculi bite the dust and the Elrics become separated yet again. As things wind down Mustang and Ed find themselves closing in on the Fuhrer and the show begins to run toward the final three episodes.

Like I said at the start of this review; "I love this show." Every episode brings not only the plot, but the lives of the characters to a new plateau. There is such a depth to this world that other anime producers only wish they could achieve. The only thing about Fullmetal Alchemist that I don't like is the fact that there are only three episodes left. It is with a solemn heart that I leap forward into the final volume. If it is anywhere near as good as this one was you can rest assured that the series will end on a powerful note.

Fullmetal Alchemist is presented with a 1.33:1 full frame ratio and features an absolutely amazing transfer. The image is very clean but there is a little bit of grain in some parts that appear in darker more shadowed areas as well as a tad bit of aliasing at others points. A couple noticeable spots of compression artifacts were visible this time around as well. There's no short way around it; this is one great looking show. Hiromu Arakawa's art style is captured faithfully in every single frame.

There are three separate tracks to choose from, including Japanese and English 2.0 stereo and English 5.1. The 2.0 tracks are competent enough if you don't have a home theater set up and the 5.1 option features some nice directional sound and distribution. Unlike other anime, I can honestly say that when it comes to this show I prefer the English dubbing over the original Japanese. That's usually not the case for me but the caliber of actors here is unbelievable. Overall the audio treatment for Fullmetal Alchemist is top notch compared to other anime.

Just like every other volume in the series this one comes with one of those nice little alchemy booklets to look at. Other than that the supplemental stuff here is rather light. Some production art, character profiles, trailers, and textless animation are the only things you'll find on this disc.

If you haven't checked out Fullmetal Alchemist yet then you've really missed the boat. This is the best show to come along in a while and it simply gets better with each episode. There are only three left though, so fans will have to cherish them while they can. At this point though it may be more economical to wait for a complete collection instead of taking the thirteen volume plunge. Either way you look at it if you're an anime fan this is the show to watch.

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