Child Soldiering (1)

 

    Colonel Roy Mustang, veteran of the Ishvalan War of Extermination, hears of two young gifted alchemists in the village of Resembool. Upon investigation, he finds that not only are the brothers children, but they have already committed the greatest taboo in alchemy--human transmutation. Mustang's immediate reaction is to violently interrogate the boys, likely a gut reaction from his time in the war. Mustang and every other state alchemist in Ishval committed grave acts, and no doubt interrogated Ishvalan soldiers that were the same age as the Elric brothers. Even as Edward is armless, legless, and wheelchair-bound from the cost of the human transmutation, Mustang still berates the traumatized child.

    Seen here on pages 106 and 107, Mustang lets down his guard as Alphonse, body lost and soul bound to a suit of armor, begs him to forgive their crime. While the brothers knew how taboo the transmutation was, they were orphaned and desperate for their mother to return. Mustang, perhaps seeing this desperation, offers the boys a position as state alchemists, working for the military. Perhaps it was purely out of good will, but he was making the trip to recruit the brothers anyways before he knew they were children. 

    Edward Elric later becomes the youngest state alchemist. Since there is no precedent for child soldiering in the state alchemist program, Mustang may truly have been trying to help the boys. However, either way they are from then on "Dogs of the Military," an undoubtedly grim name for eleven- and twelve-year-old boys. Whether he meant well or not, Mustang took advantage of the brothers' vulnerability after being orphaned and disfigured. This later leads them into wildly dangerous territory fighting supernatural monsters, uncovering government conspiracy, and risking their lives for the citizens of their country.

    The panels with Colonel Mustang on page 113 further emphasize his emotional manipulation of the Elric brothers. He calls Ed a "self-pitying cripple" and questions his alchemical prowess, saying he could make a "real contribution to alchemy" if he joined the military. While he likely means this to inspire, it is a clear exploitation of their vulnerable situation. The woman in the dark panels, Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye, often serves as a foil to Mustang. She is having a separate conversation with another character about how she did not join the military for herself, as Mustang is proposing to the brothers, but rather to keep someone she loves safe.