Press Release

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), a premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing, delivers best-selling manga series FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST in a fully remastered collector’s edition with the release of FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: FULLMETAL EDITION on May 8th.

FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: FULLMETAL EDITION is a hardcover, deluxe collector’s edition with brand-new cover art, new color inserts and color versions of select pages previously printed in black and white, and behind-the-scenes character sketches from series creator Hiromu Arakawa. Volume 1 (which contains one and a half of the original graphic novels) will be released exclusively in print with an MSRP of $19.99 U.S. / $26.99 CAN and is rated ‘T’ for Teens. Future volumes will be published by VIZ Media on a quarterly basis.

In an alchemical ritual gone wrong, Edward Elric lost his arm and his leg, and his brother Alphonse became nothing but a soul in a suit of armor. Their journey to restore their bodies through the power of the Philosopher’s Stone begins here. Fully remastered with an updated translation and completely fresh lettering, the FULLMETAL EDITION is presented with color pages on large-trim archival-quality paper.

“With brand-new cover art, character sketches, and updated translations, the FULLMETAL EDITIONS are worthy additions to any FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST fan’s collection,” says Hope Donovan, VIZ Media’s Managing Editor. “These new releases provide an exceptional entry point for any newcomers and a chance for fans to rediscover the Elric brother’s timeless adventures the way they were meant to be seen.”

Manga creator Hiromu Arakawa first attracted attention in 1999 with her award-winning manga Stray Dog. Her series FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST was serialized from 2001 to 2010 with a story that spanned 27 volumes and became an international critical and commercial success, receiving both the Shogakukan Manga Award and Seiun Award and selling over 70 million copies worldwide. FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST has been adapted into anime twice, first as Fullmetal Alchemist in 2003 and again as Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood in 2009. The series has also inspired numerous films, video games and novels.

For additional information on FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST and other anime and manga titles distributed and published by VIZ Media, please visit viz.com.