The first installment of this manga series introduces the brothers Alphonse and Edward Elric who are state-sponsored alchemists. While their powers and personal history emerge slowly throughout the volume, the bulk of the story focuses on their travels and encounters with bad guys. The book is full of action along with some philosophical commentary on alchemy and religion as well as some plebeian angst. Though I'm not familiar with the anime or the game, I did find the book enjoyable and look forward to reading more.