Hiromu Arakawa Manga Library – What Else Has She Created Other Than Fullmetal Alchemist?
Hiromu Arakawa is a gem in the world of story-telling. While she wasn’t always a writer, she has a variety of works of all genres that resonate with the heart. Famously, Fullmetal Alchemist is one of the most classic anime and manga, and it’s a must-watch for anime fans, old and new. For this, fans have embraced her as one of the best mangakas out there.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. [Credit: Studio Bones]
Arakawa has the ability to blend sharp plots with complex themes and even more iconic characters. The Elric brothers are one of the best duos in the history of anime. But is Arakawa’s creativity limited to the world of alchemy? Her library includes history drama to her very own autobiography with equally vibrant art. It’s time to highlight and explore those works.
1) Hero Tales (2006 – 2010)
Hero Tales by Hiromu Arakawa. [Credit: Studio Flag]
Hero Tales by Hiromu Arakawa tells the tale of Taito Shirei. The young man is a rebel who possesses incredible power as the incarnation of a star. However, he doesn’t know how to control his power but when the legendary sword given to him gets stolen after he and his sister are attacked, Taito embarks on a journey to get it back.
The manga series includes five volumes with Arakawa primarily on the art but collaborating with others on the story. However, the series has been criticised for its rushed story and weak worldbuilding.
2) Demons of Shanghai (2000)
Demons of Shanghai by Hiromu Arakawa. [Credit: Shounen Gangan]
Demons of Shanghai is one of Arakawa’s first-ever works. The main character looks familiar to the art of Fullmetal Alchemist. The manga is a four-part one-off set in the far future of Earth and follows the Demon Taoists Corporation protecting the citizens of Shanghai from, well, demons.
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The one-off manga blends Arakawa’s wit and hilarity with loveable characters only she can bring to existence in such a seemingly bleak plotline. It’s worth a read if you want something short but quirky.
3) Raiden-18 (2005 – 2021)
Raiden-18 by Hiromu Arakawa. [Credit: Shogakukan]
This series is an odd one for its scattered release. Raiden-18 only has 4 chapters, with the first two in 2005, a third in 2010, and then the final one in 2021. Of course, with its odd release, it’s an even darker story.
Raiden-18, the titular character, is meant to be the finest “Frankenstein’s monster” created by the professor, Tachibana Tokoha. Tokoha is obsessed with the dead and you’ll find that all over the manga. The poor Raiden-18 is forced to obey her and collect more parts by fighting others. If you want something short and dark, this is the perfect read.
4) Noble Farmer (2006 – Present)
Noble Farmer by Hiromu Arakawa. [Credit: Pie in the sky]
In this cozy autobiography, Hiromu Arakawa writes about her experience of living and working on her family farm in Hokkaido before she moved to Tokyo to become a mangaka. Noble Farmer paints a vibrant picture of her family and their hilarious antics.
Noble Farmer is light-hearted and Arakawa is very expressive with the art and stories. Much like her self-portrait, her family members are also depicted as cows. It’s a much cuter read as compared to her earlier works.
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5) Silver Spoon (2011 – 2019)
Silver Spoon by Hiromu Arakawa. [Credit: Toho Animation]
Silver Spoon is Arakawa’s best-selling work after Fullmetal Alchemist which is also recently written and overwhelmingly charming. The series is inspired by Arakawa’s early life at her Hokkaido family farm and follows Yuugo Hachiken, a young high schooler who studies at Ooezo Agricultural High School to become a farmer.
Hachiken ends up making unforgettable friends, but while they all have high ambitions, our protagonist is aimless. The crux of the story is that Hachiken, despite going through this listlessness, adapts to his new choices and enjoys it eventually. This was Arakawa’s most complete and endearing story, making it her obvious second-best series.
6) Stray Dog (1999)
Stray Dog by Hiromu Arakawa. [Credit: Shounen Gangan]
Stray Dog is her first ever work and as you can believe it, Arakawa even won an award for it. It’s a one-off story featuring Fultac, the main protagonist and bandit, who finds a young girl named Kilka with golden eyes and is called a “military dog.”
One of the most memorable but horrifying plotlines in Fullmetal Alchemist was the Nina one. Kilka’s name is incredibly literal. She is a chemically created hybrid of a human and a dog, almost a mirror of Nina. Kilka was definitely a foreshadowing of Nina’s fate. Despite this, Fultac creates a strong bond with her.
Watch Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood on Crunchyroll now!
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
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