Chapter 40: Shocking Launch
The hottest thread was posted by a veteran reviewer, titled: "Rational Analysis of Fullmetal Alchemist Chapter 1—This Might Be the Most Shocking Debut in Manga History."
The post was long, but the opening set the tone:
"Just finished the new issue of NextGen. I went for the Silver Spoon finale, but after the last page, I flipped further—and experienced the most shocking half-hour of my life.
Fullmetal Alchemist Chapter 1, thirty pages full color, appeared without warning behind the Silver Spoon finale. From the warm, bright ranch, suddenly jumping to the rainy, gloomy town; from Hachiken 'I found what I want to do,' suddenly jumping to Edward 'I lost the most important thing.'
This extreme contrast, this caught-off-guard impact, is something no trailer or promotion could give.
But that's not the point. The point is the work itself.
I've been reviewing manga for ten years, read over ten thousand works. But I can say responsibly: Fullmetal Alchemist Chapter 1 is one of the most perfect openings I've ever seen.
In thirty pages, it achieved: 1) Established the images and bond of the two protagonists; 2) Showed a complete worldview and core setting (Alchemy, Equivalent Exchange); 3) Created massive suspense and emotional impact (Human Transmutation failure, brothers' tragedy); 4) Paved the way for future plot (seeking restoration).
And all this was done through near-perfect paneling, visuals, and narrative pacing.
Even scarier, this work and Silver Spoon come from the same author. One is a warm, real agricultural growth story; the other is a dark, cruel fantasy adventure epic. This range, this skill...
I can only say: Alex Walker is a monster.
Now I just want to know one thing: When is April coming? I can't wait for Chapter 2."
This thread broke a thousand replies in ten minutes and was frantically forwarded to every platform.
"OP spoke my mind! I was stunned after reading!"
"The quality of those thirty color pages... I'd believe it if you said it was tankobon quality!"
"NextGen played it big this time! No preview, direct drop, but the effect is explosive!"
"My head is full of Edward's eyes when he put on the automail... too shocking..."
Another technical analysis thread went viral too, titled: "Analyzing Why FMA Chapter 1 is So Strong from a Paneling Perspective."
The OP posted several screenshots, analyzing composition, camera language, color use:
"Notice here, the Human Transmutation part didn't directly show bloody scenes, but used silhouettes, lighting, and sound effects to express it. Conveyed cruelty while leaving room for imagination. Master-level handling.
"And here, Edward standing up for the first time with automail, the low-angle shot emphasizes his determination and growth. The sheen on the automail is handled perfectly, cold but powerful.
"Most importantly, narrative pacing—thirty pages told a complete story unit while leaving huge suspense at the end. Few domestic artists have this control."
Replies:
"Professional! I felt it flowed so well reading it, turns out there's technique!"
"Alex's paneling was always strong, saw it in Silver Spoon, but FMA is stronger!"
"This level could be used directly as anime storyboards..."
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11:00 AM. —Manga Weekly Editor-in-Chief's Office.
Editor-in-Chief Zhou stared at his computer screen with an ashen face. Forums, social media, even news sites were all discussing Fullmetal Alchemist.
He held a copy of NextGen Manga Monthly in his hand. He had read the Silver Spoon finale first—warm, touching, standard Alex Walker style. Then he flipped to the back.
And he sat in silence for twenty minutes.
"Chief..." his assistant asked carefully. "What do you think..."
"I think we're done," Zhou's voice was hoarse.
He pointed at the screen. "See that? Everyone saying 'shocking,' 'masterpiece,' 'monster.' Thirty pages full color, direct drop without preview—Lee, that madman, he won the bet."
The assistant whispered, "But isn't it too risky? What if readers don't accept it..."
"They have accepted it." Zhou smiled bitterly. "Look at these reviews, look at this heat. Readers not only accepted it, they went crazy. They are urging for updates, analyzing, begging for April to come faster."
He leaned back, closing his eyes. "Do you know what's most terrifying? It's the completion level shown in this work. It's not a trial run, not an experiment. It's a polished, mature, fully planned monster ready to sweep everything."
"Then what do we..."
"What can we do?" Zhou opened his eyes, tired. "Follow? Too late. Imitate? Can't learn it. An author of Alex Walker's level comes once in a decade. We can only watch, watch him use FMA to raise the industry standard by another level."
He stood up, walking to the window.
"Tell everyone," he said. "From today on, Fullmetal Alchemist is the object of our study. No, the object of our worship."
12:00 PM. Oak Creek Bookstore.
Mr. Henderson's phone was blowing up.
"Boss! Is NextGen still available?"
"I want ten copies! No, twenty!"
"I'll pay double! Save one for me!"
Henderson was confused. The morning batch was sold out. Usually, selling a hundred a day was the max. But now it was noon, over two hundred sold, and endless calls for more.
"What's going on?" He asked a student who just bought ten copies.
"Mr. Henderson, didn't you look?" The student said excitedly. "Behind Silver Spoon, there's Alex Walker's new work! Full color thirty pages! It exploded!"
Henderson paused, quickly grabbed a copy and flipped to the back. He read slowly. When finished, he was silent.
He thought of Alex. The kid who grew up on the ranch, drew such a warm work like Silver Spoon. Now, he drew this—dark, cruel, but soul-shaking work.
He texted Alex: "Saw the new work. Amazing."
Minutes later, Alex replied: "Thanks, Mr. Henderson."
Very calm, as if drawing a world-shaking work was just an ordinary thing.
Henderson smiled. He put away his phone and told the customers, "Another batch coming this afternoon. Sign up if you want one."
A long line instantly formed in the store.
2:00 PM. NextGen Manga Monthly Editorial Department.
Phones rang non-stop. Distribution staff hands were cramping from answering calls.
"Yes, reprint! Reprint 500,000!"
"What? Bookstores say sold out already? We're printing!"
"Reserve? Yes, you can reserve! Register info!"
Editor-in-Chief Lee stood by the office window, looking at the street below. Sue stood beside him.
"Chief, first printing of 800,000 sold out this morning," Sue said. "Printing plant is already reprinting, but earliest is tomorrow."
"Expected." Lee was calm. "How are the forums?"
"Exploded. All discussing FMA. Several veteran reviewers posted long articles, ratings scarily high." Sue paused. "Manga Weekly's side, Zhou has been quiet, probably sulking."
Lee laughed. "He should sulk. He thought we were gambling, but we bet on strength. Alex's strength."
He turned to Sue. "Tell Alex, he did it. No, he did it beyond imagination. Now, the whole industry is waiting for his official serialization in April."
"He will keep doing it," Sue said.
"I know," Lee nodded. "Because he is a monster. And we are lucky to be the first witnesses of the monster."