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In modern fiction, anti-heroes have gained immense popularity due to their complete disregard of conventional moral standards. Their actions and ideologies challenge the idea of a clear-cut distinction between good and evil. One prominent example of this trope is Scar fromFullmetal Alchemist, whose character often draws comparisons to Magneto fromX-Menfor his morally dubious persona.
The creator ofFullmetal Alchemist, Hiromu Arakawa, Created Scar as a character who forces audiences to confront difficult questions about justice, revenge, and morality. Despite being considered a serial killer with a twisted philosophy, there’s more to delve into his character when seen through the lens of rationality. Similar to Magneto, he blurs the line between good and evil, making it difficult for audiences to place him into a purely black or white category.
Scar’s Story of Vengeance inFullmetal Alchemist
Scar’s journey inFullmetal Alchemiststarted as a tale of retaliation. As a survivor of theIshvalan Civil War, he witnessed the severe brutality of the Amestrian Military. With his family, friends, and fellow Ishvalans being slaughtered by the state alchemists, Scar’s psyche was forever carved with a twisted sense of justice, resulting in him becoming a ruthless serial killer.
Assuming himself as an agent of God, he started a killing spree to eliminate the state alchemists for the sake of revenge. All of this was done with his belief in giving divine punishment as if God themselves had bestowed this duty on him. Additionally, his trauma played a key role in the creation of this ideology.
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His violent actions and his quest for revenge make him a feared antagonist in the series. However, despite his ruthlessness, Scar is not presented as a monotonous villain. Instead, he is a character who demonstrates the cyclical nature of hatred and trauma caused by war and genocide. The genius of Hiromu Arakawa lies in her ability to crafta character like Scar, whose motivations and actions are deeply tied to themes of loss, oppression, and vengeance.
Drawing Parallels between Scar and Magneto
Similar to Scar, the anti-hero fromX-Men,Magneto is a characterdefined by his past. As a Holocaust survivor, Magneto has seen the worst form of humanity — witnessing his family being taken in concentration camps to him being tortured by the German soldiers during WWII. These experiences shaped his worldview, leading him to advocate for mutant superiority and often resorting to extreme measures against humans to achieve his goals.
However, there is a striking difference between Scar’s and Megneto’s philosophy. Despite belonging to a religious minority and surviving genocides, both characters’ perspectives on God differ significantly. While Scar still retains his faith in God, being turned into a religious fanatic; Magneto completely disregards God’s existence as he believes he can’t rely on such entities.
Despite their clashing philosophies, their core issues are still the same — their refusal to accept systematic tyranny. Scar’s vendetta against state alchemists parallels Magneto’s war against humanity. Both characters are willing to go to extremes in order to destroy the oppressive system that they regard as their enemies, which has harmed their people. And despite being gruesome, neither of their reasoning is totally invalid.
Even in the middle of his bloody vengeance, Scar was surprisingly wise and was willing to show compassion towards others. It’s his misguided drive for revenge that blinded his thinking. Scar is sympathetic to individuals who look after those who have lost their place in the world and he looks after the people who care for their loved ones.
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Over time inFullmetal Alchemist, Scar is shown to be less bloodthirsty and violent, and his redemption arc begins when he realizes that his quest for revenge has blinded him to the possibility of creating a better world. Similarly, Magneto’s character has also been defined by his willingness to change. These moments of growth make both characters deeply human, showing that even those misguided by hate and anger are capable of change.
Hiromu Arakawa’sFullmetal Alchemistand theX-Menseries both stand as testaments to the power of storytelling that delves into the complexities of morality. Their stories remind us that the line between hero and villain is often not as clear as we might think and that even those who seem beyond redemption can find a path to change.
Fullmetal Alchemistis currently available to watch on Netflix.
Moumita Chakraborty
Articles Published :930
Moumita Chakraborty is a seasoned Anime Writer at FandomWire with over 900 published articles. Passionate about the vibrant world of Japanese anime, she brings sharp analytical skills and cultural insight to every piece. From dissecting intricate plotlines to spotlighting the latest trends and releases, Moumita’s work resonates with both casual fans and seasoned otakus. Her writing aims to connect with fellow anime enthusiasts while contributing meaningfully to the ever-growing anime community.
