SO.




TODAY'S LESSON.

TODAY'S CLASS.

The syllabus for this course describes multiple meetings of flailage and plot-forwarding. There are surprises scheduled on multiple pages, and the final pages will count for only ten percent of the overall grade. Be aware that there will be spoilers and Incredibly Lame Puns found throughout the terms. Refer to the online site TV Tropes for further information on some terms.



In our first class, we will be studying the Return of the King. This is not the classic Tolkien book, but rather, a reference to Bradley's sooner-than-expected reappearance, consisting of him getting out of the water in an ominous way. Remember this information, because it will be important later on.

We next move to a continuation of some information from a while ago, involving a character study of Major General Olivia Armstrong and those around her, with particular attention given to her relation with the one called Buccaneer. Several pages are devoted to reminding us how he fell like a wintastic hero against the Wrath of King Bradley, and yet passed away with a smile, which reminds us not to mourn him too much. In this part, we explore a softer side of Armstrong, as this is pretty much the first time she has really had an important figure taken from her--Smith brought out her Mama Bear, but this really hits home. And she turns away and is actually...quite hug-inviting. In the same way that one may want to cuddle a sulking polar bear. But she mans up (though a woman is she!) and continues onward, and that will conclude this section. More will follow in future courses, but this is all that we need to study here. There is also a very annoying political figure who is punched out in yet another one of this series's Crowning Moments of Awesome.

The rest of the course is devoted to the life of Roy Mustang, though the main focus at the beginning is on Riza Hawkeye. She, as you will remember from your last issue, was given a would-be fatal blow (in a very cruel, horrific way). Mustang faces a choice here, and it is designed to make you readers think, as well--what is the value of human life and relationships? Keep this material in mind. Hawkeye, of course, being a stubborn person, not only refuses to let Roy Mustang open the gate, but also refuses to die because he told her not to.

Immediately after, there is a surprise entrance by an unfamiliar figure--Mr. Frog Chimera. He shuts up the meddling Doctorwhonobodylikes and then introduces the legendary, lovable Mei-Chan. Who, along with Xiao-Mei, lays a complete array of butt-whoop upon all of the enemies present, with one of the greatest panels of her that has ever been seen (see page 23 for reference).

On the 24th page, Scar-san shows us all his own "I am going to destroy you" face. Which is scary. And glorious. And does not disappoint--he destroys every fool who touched him. Roy Mustang also owns several clones with their own swords (see Hoist By His Own Petard at TV Tropes).

The next few pages are then devoted to a game of "Inconvenient Keep-Away", which is ultimately won by the interloper, King Bradley of Wrathdom. Of important note, though, is that Mei-Chan could have won the game, but threw it because she went to save the life of Riza Hawkeye. One of the most obvious Mei-Chan/Xiao-Mei parallel panels is there, too, which may or may not lead to Fridge Logic regarding the question "Why didn't Mei-Chan save Hawkeye while Xiao-Mei got the bottle of antidote to the poison Indiana Jones just drank?" (there may not be time to address this in the course, though).

The 29th page is a review day, in which we notice that Mustang FREAKING HUGS HIS HAWKEYE. PULLS HER TO HIM AND HUGS HIM. There is also mention of eye signals--don't forget to go back and study those just to see how they worked.

There is a bit of untranslated text on the next page, that is definitely worth studying. The class is assigned to find out what it means, no matter how irrelevant, and turn in their findings as soon as possible. It is for extra credit, so you are all encouraged to do so.

It is also noted that Riza smiles there.

When classes meet again after Mush Break, though, much attention is drawn to the awesomeness that is King Bradley--coming in to finish off his wearied opponents, with a look of death in his one remaining eye that is TERRIFYING, this is not to be taken lightly. As a Homunculus who has always seemed to be gunning for an "Incomplete" score, he nevertheless continue's to maintain straight A's by being Ambiguous and Awesome. He gives a smile while saying that he is angry, and yet reminds us of how he is not regenerating like the other Homunculi. He spends several panels talking with Mustang about the value of people close to him, and wraps up the unit with a cryptically soft smile. Mei-chan ends this unit with an examination of the area below, sensing that there is something happening down there.

But everything then comes from above, as someone enters the scene in a much less flashy but no less deadly manner than Bradley--Pride has once again come. Pride cometh before a fall, and there are falls aplenty in the next few pages.

Not to be denied his spotlight, Wrath seizes some swords (PEOPLE NEED TO MAKE MORE OF THOSE KINDS IN TOY FORM...ARGH...) and leaps into the fray in the next section. He makes it brief, though, using his abilities to curb-stomp Mustang. The discussion topic for that part is in regards to whether or not he blinded his other eye to do so.

The next part is very open-ended, as Doctorwhonobodylikes declares his joy in Bradley's actions--though Bradley continues to be ambiguous with a dark look that does not show pride, while being overshadowed by a text box that makes him seem like a pet dog.

The Doctor's ego then gets gouged out by the Pride-man himself, who does not appear to take kindly to people belittling his "father" or any member of his species. He then prepares the final part of the chapter, which reveals that Bradley does seem to have both eyes--and then dissolves both Bradley and Mustang into the same fragments that Izumi, Al, and Ed all became. Which brings us to the conclusion of this course with the shade of an eclipse coming overhead. Material continues in FMA-102, scheduled to begin next month.

Participation counts!



For further reading, I would suggest Sunwing, the second book in the Silverwing saga. The final panels of this chapter have so many vibes....