TV-Series
Description
Basque Grand, known as the Iron Blood Alchemist, is a character whose portrayal differs significantly between the source material and the two anime adaptations, though his status as a high-ranking and formidable State Alchemist remains consistent. He holds the rank of Brigadier General in the Amestrian State Military and is a veteran of the Ishval Civil War, where he earned a reputation as a legend on the Eastern battlefield. Physically, Grand is a large, muscular man with a bald head and a distinctive, large, pointed black handlebar mustache, and in the manga and 2009 anime, he bears a small scar on his chin.
In the original manga and Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, Basque Grand is a posthumous figure whose actions are revealed in flashbacks. He is depicted as a man of great honor, charisma, and conviction, who led from the front lines, charging into battle as the vanguard despite his officer rank. His motivations are rooted in a sense of duty and a desire to end the devastating Ishval conflict quickly. This is most clearly demonstrated when he takes the Ishvalan spiritual leader, Logue Lowe, under his protection to facilitate peace negotiations. When his superior, Brigadier General Fessler, proves too committed to the massacre to allow a meeting with Führer King Bradley, Grand takes direct and drastic action by coldly shooting Fessler and assuming command. His subordinates, including a then-Captain Maes Hughes, witnessed the act but unanimously supported Grand by attributing the death to a stray bullet. In this version, Grand is an early victim of Scar's revenge, murdered by the Ishvalan before the main story begins. An omake by the manga author reveals this defeat occurred because Grand was caught off guard while intoxicated after leaving a pub.
In contrast, the 2003 anime series presents a much more antagonistic and cruel version of Basque Grand, who plays an active role in the early storyline. Here, his personality is characterized by ambition, ruthlessness, and a complete disregard for human life. He bullies Shou Tucker into continuing his chimera research to outshine Colonel Roy Mustang, and after Nina is transformed, he attempts to take her into custody for study at Laboratory 5. During the Ishval War flashbacks, this version of Grand authorizes the use of Tim Marcoh's research to create Red Stones, amplifying the power of State Alchemists to end the war without caring about the immense civilian casualties. He also coldly orders Roy Mustang to execute Winry Rockbell's parents, surgeons Urey and Sara Rockbell, for the crime of treating wounded Ishvalan insurgents. Grand's ambition is further shown when he confiscates Marcoh's Red Stones for his own use, a move that leads directly to his death. Scar kills him when Grand becomes too preoccupied trying to use a Red Stone during their confrontation.
Regarding key relationships, his interactions are primarily defined by his rank and the war. In the 2003 anime, he is a direct antagonist to Edward and Alphonse Elric, as well as a manipulative superior to Shou Tucker and a harsh commander to Roy Mustang. In all versions, his death is a pivotal early event; in Brotherhood and the manga, his murder at Scar's hands is the reason the military is hunting the Ishvalan avenger at the start of the series, and his likeness is later used by the homunculus Envy as a disguise to deceive Edward during the infiltration of Laboratory 5.
Basque Grand's notable abilities as the Iron Blood Alchemist are those of a master combat alchemist and hand-to-hand fighter. In the manga and 2009 anime, his alchemy is performed using elaborate gauntlets inscribed with alchemical arrays. He transmutes by slamming his fists together to create a transmutation circle with his arms, then uses direct contact to reshape large objects into weapons. In a flashback, he transforms an entire Ishvalan building into a massive array of cannons, gatling guns, and chained flails. In the 2003 anime, his style is less defined, but he is shown capable of transmuting his gauntlet for more effective punches and, with the aid of a Red Stone, encasing himself in an iron mass covered with cannons to rain fire on the battlefield. Regardless of the continuity, he is consistently portrayed as a powerful and infamous State Alchemist whose skills in combat and alchemy were legendary, even if his death ultimately came at the hands of Scar.
In the original manga and Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, Basque Grand is a posthumous figure whose actions are revealed in flashbacks. He is depicted as a man of great honor, charisma, and conviction, who led from the front lines, charging into battle as the vanguard despite his officer rank. His motivations are rooted in a sense of duty and a desire to end the devastating Ishval conflict quickly. This is most clearly demonstrated when he takes the Ishvalan spiritual leader, Logue Lowe, under his protection to facilitate peace negotiations. When his superior, Brigadier General Fessler, proves too committed to the massacre to allow a meeting with Führer King Bradley, Grand takes direct and drastic action by coldly shooting Fessler and assuming command. His subordinates, including a then-Captain Maes Hughes, witnessed the act but unanimously supported Grand by attributing the death to a stray bullet. In this version, Grand is an early victim of Scar's revenge, murdered by the Ishvalan before the main story begins. An omake by the manga author reveals this defeat occurred because Grand was caught off guard while intoxicated after leaving a pub.
In contrast, the 2003 anime series presents a much more antagonistic and cruel version of Basque Grand, who plays an active role in the early storyline. Here, his personality is characterized by ambition, ruthlessness, and a complete disregard for human life. He bullies Shou Tucker into continuing his chimera research to outshine Colonel Roy Mustang, and after Nina is transformed, he attempts to take her into custody for study at Laboratory 5. During the Ishval War flashbacks, this version of Grand authorizes the use of Tim Marcoh's research to create Red Stones, amplifying the power of State Alchemists to end the war without caring about the immense civilian casualties. He also coldly orders Roy Mustang to execute Winry Rockbell's parents, surgeons Urey and Sara Rockbell, for the crime of treating wounded Ishvalan insurgents. Grand's ambition is further shown when he confiscates Marcoh's Red Stones for his own use, a move that leads directly to his death. Scar kills him when Grand becomes too preoccupied trying to use a Red Stone during their confrontation.
Regarding key relationships, his interactions are primarily defined by his rank and the war. In the 2003 anime, he is a direct antagonist to Edward and Alphonse Elric, as well as a manipulative superior to Shou Tucker and a harsh commander to Roy Mustang. In all versions, his death is a pivotal early event; in Brotherhood and the manga, his murder at Scar's hands is the reason the military is hunting the Ishvalan avenger at the start of the series, and his likeness is later used by the homunculus Envy as a disguise to deceive Edward during the infiltration of Laboratory 5.
Basque Grand's notable abilities as the Iron Blood Alchemist are those of a master combat alchemist and hand-to-hand fighter. In the manga and 2009 anime, his alchemy is performed using elaborate gauntlets inscribed with alchemical arrays. He transmutes by slamming his fists together to create a transmutation circle with his arms, then uses direct contact to reshape large objects into weapons. In a flashback, he transforms an entire Ishvalan building into a massive array of cannons, gatling guns, and chained flails. In the 2003 anime, his style is less defined, but he is shown capable of transmuting his gauntlet for more effective punches and, with the aid of a Red Stone, encasing himself in an iron mass covered with cannons to rain fire on the battlefield. Regardless of the continuity, he is consistently portrayed as a powerful and infamous State Alchemist whose skills in combat and alchemy were legendary, even if his death ultimately came at the hands of Scar.