biting tongue

[dragonimp]

And it meant a lot to me that the series was written and drawn by a woman. I am sometimes bothered by the fact that so few of my artistic heroes are women, especially comic drawing women. I very much enjoy the work of many female cartoonists, but they all tend to be about my age or younger, so I consider them more peers than artistic heroes. Arakawa was not only older than I am, but damn prolific, and she’d written and drawn a series that had many of the things I craved to put in my own comics: action, adventure, magic, limbs getting lost, brotherly love (I actually really enjoy stories about male relationships, especially brother relationships. Readers of my old webcomic Demonology 101 will recognize that), and KICKASS LADIES. Oh man, the ladies of Fullmetal Alchemist. THE LADIES! Strong and tough and funny and sweet and NEVER VICTIMS and every inch equals to the men in their lives (Roy Mustang and Riza Hawkeye’s respectful and deeply loving relationship just makes my heart ache), the ladies of Fullmetal Alchemist were my wildest dreams come true. It didn’t matter to me that they weren’t the main characters of the manga, because they never played second fiddle. They were their own characters with their own lives, not written to stand around and “support” the male characters. While I do care about having main female characters in media, I’m perfectly fine with main male characters as long as there are female characters who are CHARACTERS, not props for the male character’s journey.

I don't disagree with most of what she's saying here, but I have to wonder if she missed the huge, massive scene of Riza/Roy codependence. The man I love is dead, so I will SIT HERE and WAIT TO BE KILLED is not "every inch equals to the men in their lives". About any of the other ladies I agree, though.

She's also going on about how great the last chapter is so I'm going to keep my mouth shut. Though I agree that it's very good that it has an ending, unlike stories that get dragged on and on forever until they're so thin it's pathetic.

Comments

[pandoraculpa.livejournal.com]

I'm rather with you, in regards to these opinions. Although, given some time and perspective, I doubt that Roy and Riza could function as a couple (which I commented on below B's comment). And I'd also like to add that Winry's kickass character was completely diluted by the end of the story- something that really aggravated me. I had always liked how she was just as strong as the Elrics, but somehow she became subsumed by the same stupid trope you see all too often in manga- the girl who meekly waits on her hero. I mean, by the final chapter she even had the stuttering and stammering and blushing down too. (Yeah, yeah- she was in love and confessing, whatever. That's still not the Winry we were introduced to.)

And I think my biggest problem with the ending was that it was *too* pat. Everybody gets happy endings, which is nice, but not very realistic. In fact, the thing I liked the best about it, was the Roy still had to climb to reach his goals. He was the only one really left working for his happy ending-- and let's face it, that's really more the way of life. (And I'll admit, it's simply my personal preference that I'd rather see the messy, loose-ended shortfalls than the happily-ever-afters, so long as it's real. And the final FMA chapter just didn't ring true like the rest of the story did.)

[dragonimp.livejournal.com]

Someone pointed out that Riza seems to have transfered her issues with her father - devotion, need for approval and acceptance - onto Roy, which is probably the best explanation for manga characterization that I've heard. But it makes 'shipping them more than a little creepy.

I was bothered by Winry at the end, too. She's such a great character - or was - but then she got turned into standard manga girlfriend A and anything that made her and Ed work together - either as a couple or even just friends - was lost. But heaven forbid someone tell the EdWin shippers that.

And yeah, that's exactly why the ending bothered me. So when this person was going on about how perfect and happy the ending was, all I could think was that was the problem! I guess I'd rather that than have the story be dragged on and on, but I'm not going to be pleased.

[greedy-lover.livejournal.com]

Trytelling that to my friend (the oen I posted about) Apparently her lying about the screw and not telling ed? Totally a okay since it is showing how couples tend to lie to each other and such like a real coul. Um small lies yes but she almost fucking killed him cause of that! Sorry that is NOT something that is okay :/ I don't be liev in lies at all but really? A little lie like, Oh I put on this perfume, not this one, I can get, not Sorry I almost killed and didn't tell you...

Let's not start on the other friend who finds the killing herself rize thing romantic. Fuck, to em it shows how much she didn't give a fuck about roy's dream to do that. Friend: Maybe she knew Ed could be fuher and stop everyone. Um FUCK NO, do you not know a single fucking thing about Fma? Well she likes to say "equivlant exchange" when she wants what her ex boyfriend says to me but says I can't tell him stuff. Um no, Ed ward elric would slam your fuvking brains with his automil... The joys of people who aren't in fandom but act like they know everything.. I don't dicuss fandom with rl people for this reason >_>

[dragonimp.livejournal.com]

Not only lying but it's my fault your arm broke but since you haven't noticed that I'm going to CHARGE YOU a bunch to fix it. I can accept it because she's 15 and 15-year-olds do stupid selfish crap like that, but that does not make it okay. I don't think it's okay when other couples lie to each other, either, I think it hurts the relationship.

Maybe she knew Ed could be fuher and stop everyone
Wow, that's a new one on me. That's waaaaay stretching for a justification. Really don't think Riza was thinking that clearly or thinking at all right then.

Yeaaaah, sometimes it's like banging your head against the wall. That's one reason I'm not going to comment to this person's blog post.

[greedy-lover.livejournal.com]

She was trying to justfiy how riza wanting to kill herslef is somehow the most romantic thing ever. I was telling her how it wasn't and quite frankly to me, showing that she doesn't respect roy nor his dream for a damn good country. If she wanted to kill herself, wait til his dream was fulfilled, instead she showed how, to me, she didn't give a fuck.
Friend: But it wasn't worth to ehr without roy!

Doesn't matter, Roy would not be happy that she left the world like that just cause he died, he'd never be with her because she did not care about what he wanted done which is something I find a huge issue with manga roy/riza. first anime I adore them but this one.. no.. hell even in the first anime, even hough I don't like winry at all, at least she went on to better her damn job and not just say NO MORE FUTURE FOR ME, I BE STAY AT HOME WIFE NOW. Manga while good, kinda ruins some of the strong ladies I like, Thank goodness for Oliva and Izumi

And yeah, she was trying to think of everything single thing she could to justfiy the riza. And really ed would never ever do that job

[dragonimp.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty convinced we're meant to take Riza's obsession as codependent and unhealthy. I know we're supposed to think Ed and Winry are some sort of perfect manga couple, but even Roy berates Riza for the way she acted. I kinda think people are missing the point when they think it's "romantic".

Thank goodness for Olivia and Izumi is right.