Practice for FMA Re-read post
(All scans from the scanlated version available in the locked post.)
Thanks to serafinapekkala for kindly telling me how to add pictures to this. This is perhaps a bit long for a gaiden post, as I got a little carried away.
Summary - This gaiden chapter is a flashback to the Ishbal war, and is centred around Mustang and Hughes. An Ishbalan district is due to be ‘exterminated’. Hughes tries to lighten the mood with talk of his girlfriend, but Mustang is less than enthusiastic, faced with yet another day of war.
Things we learn - Mustang was a Major during some part of the Ishbal war, and is now close to promotion (which would make him a Lieutenant-colonel). Gracia is Hughes’ girlfriend at this point and is living in Central. As far as the soldiers are aware, the Ishbalans have “disturbed the order in the country” and are to be ‘eliminated’. Maes and Roy obviously know one another well enough for Hughes to lose his temper over Roy’s attitude and in some concern for the other man. Oh, and it take thirty seconds for Roy to turn from being cynical and melancholy to the Flame Alchemist ready to destroy yet another district of Ishbal….
Page 1 - Mustang - A very simple panel, this, but one which gives a fine contrast between the light coming from outside the tent, and Roy partially in shadow. The pose alone is most unlike the way he is in the present day.
Page 3-4 - Blood/Happiness - True to form, Hughes attempts to distract Roy with a picture of his girlfriend, Gracia. When Roy dismisses Hughes bitterly, the exchange shows an important contrast between the two in how they face the war and manage to deal with it. Roy’s perspective is depressive and stuck in the grotesque present, whereas Maes is focussed upon what awaits him, and is fiercely determined.
Page 5 - Thirty Seconds - I don't know why I like this bit so much. I think how easily Mustang asks and Hughes agrees indicates that they know each other well. Quite possibly this isn't the first time Maes has used a watch to time 30 seconds for Roy to 'compose' himself. The idea that it is that is all the time it takes for Roy to stand up with a fierce/mad look in his eyes is something I found rather unusual, simply because it was so abrupt.
Page 7 - Eyes - Later on in the Ishbal flashbacks, Hughes and Mustang talk about how each of them has gained ‘a killer’s eyes’. Arakawa gives a fine example here, and I love this page. The perspective and look of the final panel emphasises the abrupt change from silent melancholy to dynamic action.
Page 9 - Loyalty - Something about this line, how it is said in unison, really struck me. I figured that all of Roy’s subordinates have some understanding of what he did in Ishbal (Hawkeye having the most, I’d assume, going by the later flashbacks) and now all trust in his objective. As for whether they believe their words, I'm not so sure....
Or are they just saying it because it's the 'correct answer' to give?
Discussion
Most of the previous gaidens have been light-hearted, but this is almost entirely serious. What did you think of this one?
Hughes’ attitude was most unlike what we see of him in the present-day canon. What do you think of Maes’ treatment of Roy, as well as his plans for the future?
More generally, what did you think of Mustang's behaviour here?
A slightly different question: we know that, for whatever reason, Roy has strong supporters in his small group. What was your response to the “the colonel would never give that kind of order” line? Do you think it is possible Roy will have to give his subordinates a similar order (to kill their countrymen)?