FMA Doujinshi Review: Hermaphrodite

[pandarot]

"Humans live on their own so if they are confronted with only a little bit of gentleness, their hearts are touched like this, and I'm sure that's how people's hearts start growing closer bit by bit." - Edward Elric (line excerpt from Hermaphrodite: Part 5)

EDIT: Okay, originally, I was only supposed to post a doujinshi review I've made, but after

Comments

[strawberrykaoru]

OOH. *sneaks off to download said doujin* Must...read... *__*

...after exams. ;__;

I'm not of a religion, well, not really... (My grandma tries to get us into Christianity and the whole works, but yeah.) And yes, it's really frustrating to see the Church so blindly stating that homosexual relationships just won't work. My aunt went on a protest about it, and I flatly said "no" when she asked me to go protest with her. =/ Augh.

Haha, they got married in Canada? Awesome! XD

[pandarot]

I see. Well, I agree on what you said about the Church; they speak as if homosexual relationships are mistakes and claim that they're not self-righteous at all. Right, some hypocrites you all are. Getting some Pharisee-complex, maybe? *gets shot*

My aunt went on a protest about it, and I flatly said "no" when she asked me to go protest with her.

Well, at least it was only your aunt who was inclined to protest about it. In my case, it's me against my family. >_> They're all homophobic people, and I don't know what I'd do in order to change their mind about that. At least, getting into anime and knowing shounen-ai really opens everything to me, lest I'd be the same as family. *sighs in relief*

Yep! Have you heard about it in there? In news or something? =D

[astizya]

Bambi Takada's drawing style

I like her drawing style well enough, though some things about it bothers me. The characters seem kind of stiff and more cute than realistic (I prefer GD-mechano's more realistic style). And I really wish she would have darkened Roy's eyes; a light-eyed Roy bothers me in every panel it shows him, honestly.

RizaThis doujinshi made me more interested in Riza. Before, she was just kind of there for me. I like how Ed asks her if she loves Roy, and then later she explains that there are different types of love, and her's for Roy is probably different than the one Ed is thinking of (purely romantic). It seems she has more of a companionship love for Roy than just a silly crush. Love it

[astizya]

Oh, just have to add that Al reading/viewing gay porn totally rocked hardcore! LMFAO. Oh, dude, when Ed finally admitted to himself in part 5 what having sex with Roy - or in general, another man - was really like for him, wasn't that a different presentation! Now, that's something you definitely don't usually see/read in doujinshi. It's such a realistic - and somewhat risky - take on it for the material it's presented in, don't you think?

[pandarot]

Oh, just have to add that Al reading/viewing gay porn totally rocked hardcore!

OH, YES, IT DID! XDD You don't know how much I laughed when I saw that part, including that part where he's rolling on the floor! And remember that scene where Al imagines Ed and Roy doing that? TOTALLY PRICELESS! XDD *gets shot*

when Ed finally admitted to himself in part 5 what having sex with Roy - or in general, another man - was really like for him,

Well, actually, I'm really glad to hear that from Ed in this doujinshi. XD I mean, it's not at all fun to be the submissive one all the time, what's with putting it in the butt and all, so I understand Ed's sentiment here. *grins* Besides, for a normal growing boy like Ed, don't you think it's normal for him to say kissing a guy is gross? After all, it's his first kiss, and he doesn't consider himself gay yet. *laughs* And damn, how I love his description about having sex with Roy to Al. *__*

Now, that's something you definitely don't usually see/read in doujinshi.I guess Bambi Takada's goal is to make

[pandarot]

I knew you'd come! XD;;

The characters seem kind of stiff and more cute than realistic

Exactly! It's more like a personal choice, actually. =P And I guess the reason why the characters look stiff is because Bambi Takada's lineart is really thin compared to other doujinshi-kas, but that just me talking. ^_^;;

a light-eyed Roy

In what way? *is clueless*

This doujinshi made me more interested in Riza. Before, she was just kind of there for me.

It seems she has more of a companionship love for Roy than just a silly crush.

You're right. I think most doujinshi I've read neglect Riza's existence or how involved she is when it comes to Roy. Sure, she's there, but I never get to see a doujinshi where Riza actually talks to Ed about things. I do remember G.D Mechano made a short Roy-Riza interaction before in Solitude, though. ^_^;;And I also don't think that Riza loves Roy in a purely romantic way, both in doujinshi and canon. She loves Roy, all right, and she's ready to sacrifice herself in order to secure Roy, but she wouldn't go '

[destinydivine]

I had read this and loved it so much as well, and considering you and astizya already said most of my reasons for loving it, I won't bother to repeat ^____^ But, I will say that I love that it has plot, and a long plot that goes chapter by chapter and keeps extending and isn't stupid and dinky. It's rare to see a doujinshi like that (or at least to me it is. That's what striked me the most about this one.

[pandarot]

Oh...why not? You know you want to rant with us! *pouts* Happy that you liked it, too. ^__^ Normally, doujinshi are only one-shot, so I'm really glad when I saw this one because I can really indulge myself with Roy/Ed stuff by each part of the book. ^__^ I guess the only thing I don't like about it is that I have to wait long each time for another part to come - I'm just glad that this one's far from being neglected, considering that the last one just came out last 12/29/05. =D

[destinydivine]

Well, part 6 came out recently...I wonder where I downloaded that from...? >.

[pandarot]

part 6

Actually, I was talking about Part 6 in my reply above. strawberrykaoru told me when it was posted in steelandsparks and I downloaded it right away! *is a doujinshi h0r* XDD ^__^ It only came out last 12/29/05, so I have high hopes this doujinshi isn't neglected yet. ^_____^

[saturnsdaughter]

These are the two passages that the church bases their views of homosexuality on:
"You shall not lie with a man as with a woman; it is abomination." -- Leviticus 18:22
"If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them." -- Leviticus 20:13
They're not taken literally today though and have various interpretations. People will be debating this for a while, I'm sure.

[pandarot]

I see. So does that mean the Church actually prohibits homosexual relationships, and not just made up by their own insane mind? Anyway, thank you for the helpful scriptures. I can so see people debating about it sooner or later. -_-;;

[saturnsdaughter]

Nope, they didn't just come up with it on their own. Hell, if it weren't for those two passages I doubt homosexuality would even be an issue :\

[pandarot]

*sigh* Somehow, this revelation makes me real sad. So those homophobic people really do have a reason to rejoice, but still. T_T

[chrysa]

You've basically said everything I've ever thought and said about this doujin because it is absolutely wonderful.

However, one different thought is that I admit I like the Riza --> Roy love thing. I'm selfish, and it's probably mean to like unrequited love, but the simple fact the mangaka -presents- it, especially since it's a fairly canon aspect, something so very rare and appreciated in doujin-fandom.

Thank you for the lovely review, and feel free to lock it now? ^^;

[pandarot]

Thanks! Glad you liked my review. ^_^

Hehe, actually you're right. I like Bambi Takada's take on Roy/Riza relationship, actually, because it looks canon, IMO. ^_^