Roy Mustang

Origin

Riza and Roy at Berthold's Funeral

Roy Mustang learned his Alchemy from Riza Hawkeye's father, Berthold Hawkeye. He was his teacher, and taught his flame alchemy. Roy Mustang believed that with this power, he could help people. When his teacher found out he wanted to join the military, he was displeased, but still agreed to teach him the strongest alchemy he knows as long as the intentions for using it were for good. Though before he could explain more, Hawkeye's father died from a health condition. Though he left all Mustang needed to know with his daughter Riza. His method of keeping this information with her was with markings on her back. He had to decipher the code in order to learn the alchemy. Before Riza's dad died, he asked for Mustang to look after her. At the funeral, Roy shares his dreams with Riza who finds his goals admirable.

Like other State Alchemists, Roy was sent to Ishval to raze the region, for the Army could not subdue this area. Mustang was 23 at this time. During these events he ran into Maes Hughes as they reminisced about the past and why this war started, they were ambushed by Ishvalan, but were saved by a sniper. The sniper was later revealed to be Hawkeye. During this "massacre", Roy has a very negative view of things. He felt like a killer, like a murderer, when his only intentions were to help people, not take their lives. Later, he realized that he was protecting his men, his allies, his friends from being killed themselves. He made a goal to become the Fuhrer, to stop meaningless wars, and to help people like he wanted to do. He surrounds himself now with his most trusted friends. He told Hawkeye that if he ever strayed from his goal, that he ever started to change, to want power more than the greater good, to kill him. That was an order.

Creation

Fullmetal Alchemist Vol 1 JPN (Jan 2002)

Roy Mustang is a supporting character of the Fullmetal Alchemist series that was created by Hiromu Arakawa. The series first began serialization in Monthly Shonen Gangan on August 2001.

He first appears in Fullmetal Alchemist Volume 1, Ch. 4 "Battle on the Train". Her first anime appearance is in Fullmetal Alchemist - Episode 5 "Those Who Challenge the Sun". He makes his second anime debut in the Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood - Episode 1 "The Fullmetal Alchemist." His Japanese voice actress for the first anime series is performed by Toru Okawa, and in the FMA: Brotherhood anime he's voice by Shinichiro Miki. The English dub produced by FUNimation is voiced by Travis Willingham in both series.

Character Evolution

Outwardly arrogant and playfully manipulative, Mustang is extremely intelligent and adaptable. Roy was scene as ruthless careerist, and a womanizer at the beginning of the series, but as in went one, his character really adapted. He became paternal Commander who cares about his men emotional and Physical well being. he would put their lives before his own at any moment. While he is haunted by the tragedy that was The Ishvalan War, and only the Innocent civilian lives he took, he was still thanked by his co-workers for saving their lives time and time again.

Story Arcs

Roy hates being called useless

After the Ishval genocide campaign, Roy is stationed in East City with the support of these officers under his command: Riza Hawkeye, Vato Falman, Kain Fuery, Jean Havoc, and Heymans Breda. When Roy and Riza are assigned to find potential alchemists for the State Alchemist program, their hunt leads them to Edward Elric in Resembool. To their shock, they find the boy who miraculously survived a human transmutation and binds his brother's soul to a suit armor at the age of eleven. While Riza talks with Winry and reassures her that the Elric Brothers are joining the military to protect the ones they love, Roy talks to Edward about the State Alchemy program and a chance to find a way to restore the themselves back to their former bodies. During the time that Edward has train under Shou Tucker to get his State Alchemist exam, Roy, Riza, and the others investigate the mystery behind the massacre of several state alchemists. (Roy attends Edward's exams and sees him pass with flying colors) Maes Hughes informs Roy that the killer has assassinated the Iron-Blood Alchemist, Basque Grand. Their search has lead to Scar who has attacked Edward Elric and Alphonse. Roy prepares to attack Scar, but Riza sweeps Roy off his legs and fire at Scar. She tells Roy that his alchemy is useless during the rain. Alex Louis Armstrong engages Scar in a close combat to lure him away from the Elric Brothers who are vulnerable. Riza manages to shoot at Scar's sun glasses. The identity of Scar is revealed as an Ishvalan due to his red eyes. After Scar escapes, Roy and the others provide the Elric Brothers with background information on the Ishvalans and the civil war.

Death of Maes Hughes

Roy feels how the Elric Brothers felt in bringing back the dead

While Armstrong accompanies the Elric Brothers to Resembool to get Edward's Automail and Alphonse's armor repaired, Roy and his comrades are busy searching for Scar. One clue leads to a sewer where they find Scar's bloodstained jacket. They conclude that Scar is still alive due to collapsed tunnel and other telltale signs. After the Elric brothers run into mishaps at laboratory five in order to find out more about the Philosopher's stones. At the hospital, Roy, Hughes, and Armstrong ask the Elric Brothers what they learn and who they confronted. Roy sees the sketches of Lust, Envy, and the Ouroboros tattoo. However, King Bradley appears and stops them from learning anything else. Later, Maes Hughes investigates by himself and figures out their plans. Lust attacks Hughes in surprise, but she gets stabbed by Hughes's knife. Meanwhile, Roy receives a call from Hughes who is desperate to pass on the information. Unfortunately, Envy kills Hughes before Roy could get answers. On a rainy day after the tragic murder of Hughes, Roy, Riza, and others attended Hughes funeral in Central City. Roy tells Riza that he now feels how the Elric brothers felt when attempting to bring back their own mother to life through human transmutation. As Hughes is laid to rest, Roy asks Armstrong about the murder, yet Armstrong does not reveal much. Riza scolds Armstrong for not telling the truth, but Roy states that he has learned that someone from the higher ranks is pulling the strings from Armstrong's cryptic message.

Powers and Abilities

Alchemy, and Fighting Style

Mustang snaps his finger creating a flame

As powerful as Mustang is with alchemy, he uses gloves that have a transmutation circle imprinted on them, and they are also made from a fabric called "pyrotex/ignition cloth." This allows him make fire from a spark that is created from snapping his fingers. He then uses his alchemy to manipulate the gases in the air in order to uses flames the way he wants. Since the oxygen isn't combustible, he inflames the hydrogen in the air. However, Mustang's weakness is that he is often considered useless on rainy days.

Other Media

Anime

Roy first appears in the first anime adaptation that first aired in 2003. However, the anime goes off in a different path once it got too close to the manga storyline. Roy makes another appearance in the Brotherhood anime series in 2009.

International Voices

• French - Martial Leminoux (FMA and Brotherhood)
• German - David Nathan (FMA)
• Italian - Gianluca Iacono (FMA and Brotherhood)
• Korean - Wan-Gyeong Seong (FMA and Brotherhood)
• Portugese - Hermes baroli (FMA and Brotherhood)
• Spain dub - Juan Antonio Arroyo (FMA)
• Spanish - Rolman Bastidas (FMA and Brotherhood)
• Tagalog - Bon Reyes (FMA), Eric Galvez (Brotherhood), Jefferson Utanes ([2nd] Brotherhood)

Movies

Roy Mustang appears in two movies: Fullmetal Alchemist: Conqueror of Shamballa and Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos.

OVAs

Roy Mustang has appeared in both OVAs for the Fullmetal Alchemist and Brotherhood anime series.

• Chibi Party
• Alchemists vs. Homunculi
• Reflections Chapter 3: Flame
• Reflections Chapter 5: The Journey Continues
• Brotherhood OVA: Yet Another Man's Battlefield

Video Games

• Fullmetal Alchemist and the Broken Angel (PS2)
• Fullmetal Alchemist 2: Curse of the Crimson Elixir (PS2)
• Fullmetal Alchemist 3: The Girl Who Surpasses God (PS2)
• Fullmetal Alchemist: Dream Carnival (PS2)
• Fullmetal Alchemist: Stray Rondo (Gameboy Advance)
• Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (PSP)
• Fullmetal Alchemist: Dual Sympathy (Nintendo DS)