Fullmetal Alchemist (manga)



Fullmetal Alchemist has been serialized in Square Enix's monthly anthology manga magazine Monthly Shonen Gangan since July 2001 and is still ongoing with a new chapter in every issue. As of April 2008, there have been 82 chapters serialized and 19 graphic novel compilations released. Viz Media began releasing the manga in North America in May 2005; since then, seventeen English-language volumes have been released (number eighteen is due May 2009).

Due to the rate that Viz Media initially introduced the graphic novels (a new release approximately every two months), the English translation quickly caught up to the Japanese release, having already covered most of the series' bound volume releases to date. According to Nielsen BookScan, Fullmetal Alchemist’s first volume was the top selling manga in the year of 2005, and the following issues of the manga usually appear on the Bookscan's weekly "Overall Graphic Novel Top 10" list. Beginning with volume eight, Viz Media's releases of the manga will feature a new, updated version of the "Viz Action" logo at the top of the spine. News broke that volume eight contained an edit in two panels.

In Singapore, the manga is being released by Chuang Yi Publishing in both English and Simplified Chinese. Eighteen volumes have been released in English; fourteen volumes have been released in Simplified Chinese. In Poland, JPFantastica is releasing the manga; as of April 2008, ten volumes have been released. In France, the manga is being released by Kurokawa. As of February 2008, fifteen volumes have been released. Volume eight, released in September 2006, was available alone or in a collector's edition, which consisted of the book packed with the original humorous novel Flame Alchemist, focusing on Roy Mustang's schedule. Before that, this novel was only available with the first print run of volume six in Japan, making it highly collectible. In Brazil, Editora JBC is realising the manga, as of April 2008, thirty-two volumes have been released.