Man this story is getting crazy. Another Homunculus (Sloth!), a giant transmutation circle under the whole country, more Von Hoenheim backstory, something wicked in the tunnel...

Man this series is good.

Chapter 66: The Snow Queen



Al's anime face is greatly amusing.



SHOOP! KATONG! COMIC BOOK SOUNDS!



Sloth seems awfully hard working. Which I guess is the point?

Chapter 67: Burgeoning Borders



Those poor horses. Imagine being lowered down into a dark tunnel beneath the whole country with no idea what to expect. Pretty crazy.



I thought Strongarm Alchemist Armstrong was the best Armstrong, but Major General Armstrong is really growing on me. She's awfully snarky.



ZU GUK. But what is he doing?!

Chapter 68: Portrait of a Family



Man the backstory fo Von Hohenheim is getting so crazy. What in the world is he? What's going on there? A proto Homonculus? But he had children of his own? And Ed and Al's mother knew?!



Man some of the beasties in this series are terrifying. The terror of the darkness come alive...

Chapter 69: The Foundation of Briggs



Be a shame if something were to happen to them... Man FPKBWrath is intense. ( )

Olivier Mira Armstrong is proving a welcome addition to an already overstuffed cast list (over 110 recurring series characters, with a running character count for this volume of 30). This go-round is an emotional and action-filled rollercoaster with epic battles, spooky tunnels, bloody conspiracies, and dire threats all set at a frozen border fortress in the north. Game of Thrones influence showing maybe? ( )

Major General Armstrong is great! I really like her character. I also appreciate that there is a lot of plot activity in this volume. I know fight scenes are frequent in this genre manga, but they aren't my preference compared to the more plot-heavy volumes like this one. ( )

So many pieces of the puzzle fall into place with volume 17. We finally get some explanation on how the alchemy in Xing works and we even find out some history on how the alchemy in Amestris works. Several groups of people also finally figure out what Maes Hughes died for way back in volume 4. The time when all of the homunculis’ scheming finally comes to fruition is close and things are more dire than anyone could have thought.

I'm really liking some of the new characters. Miles, an Ishbalan solider serving in the Amestrian army, is so rough and tough in amongst all of the crap he has to put up with because of his race and the history the Amestrians have with his country. He's not afraid to flash his red eyes at someone to shake them and their preconceptions up a bit. I also really liked the Major General Olivier Armstrong, she is tough as nails and doesn't take any crap from anyone. I also really admire her commitment to her job guarding the border and to the troops defending it. The women in this series are all portrayed in an empowering way, whether they are generals in charge of a fort, mechanics and doctors helping put people back together, or even mothers and wives who are shown with a unique strength and empowering love and devotion all of their own. Don't forget that it was for the love of their mother that Ed and Al started on this crazy adventure in the first place.

With the dastardly plans of the homunculi finally being revealed things are coming to a head for the characters in this book, but the enemy still has as many hands tied as possible and makes sure the heroes know it. It's your move, Fullmetal. ( )