Even though the brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric are the stars of the Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood anime, there are many other fan-favorite characters in this series too, from the ambitious and protective Roy Mustang to the fearsome Ice Queen, Olivier Armstrong. And, of course, there's the muscle-bound Alex Louis Armstrong and the loving family man Maes Hughes.
Both Alex Armstrong and Maes Hughes appear early in the story, and they are good friends of the Elric brothers and aid them in their quest. Both of them are wonderful characters, but which of them should be named Best Boy? There can only be one, and Alex and Maes each have their merits. Let's see who the best guy around here is.
10 Alex: Battlefield Conscience
Alex Armstrong is a powerful fellow, but he refuses to use his alchemy and strength to harm the innocent. During the Ishval Civil War, neither Alex nor Maes took any pleasure from their genocidal work, but Alex actually disobeyed orders at some point.
He was reduced to tears by this gruesome war, and he held a dead Ishvalan child and despaired at the situation. So, he was shipped back to Central, and ever since, he hasn't had to lift a finger to harm the innocent.
9 Maes: Family Man
Both Alex and Maes have a strong sense of family, but Maes Hughes took it a step further when he married the lovely Gracia and had a young daughter with her, Elicia (pictured). Maes couldn't be more proud of the family he's built.
Not many Fullmetal Alchemist characters are married or doting parents, but Maes is both, and it's so refreshing and encouraging to see. Whatever horrors Maes endured in Ishval, he's moved on, and created something wonderful.
8 Alex: Devoted Brother
Alex may not have a wife and children of his own, but he is deeply committed to the family he already has, from his aging parents to his sisters. In particular, he holds Olivier, the oldest sibling, in high regard at all times.
As an officer and little brother alike, Alex looks up to Olivier, and he has learned much from her lessons and tough love. He addresses her respectfully and trusts her to look after herself, and Olivier is proud of him in return.
7 Maes: Making Friends
Somehow, Maes is even better than Alex Armstrong at making friends. He easily gets along with everyone around him at Central, and he is adored by his superiors and inferiors alike. He also makes a great impression on civilians.
At first, he came on rather strong to Winry, but she got used to Maes' enthusiastic personality and had a great time meeting his family. Maes introduced her to his wife and daughter, and Winry was overjoyed to meet them.
6 Alex: Cool Fighting Style
Alex Armstrong may not be the most powerful state alchemist of them all, but his fighting style is elegant, hard-hitting, and creative. His alchemy is often used to create hard projectiles out of stone or metal, and fling them at the enemy.
He combines that with his incredible strength to create a very physical sort of combat style, one that works both up close and from afar. If either his alchemy or muscles fail him, the other can take over and keep him in the fight.
5 Maes: Sharp Insights
There is a reason why Envy and Lust were so determined to mill Maes: he knew too much. Most of the Amestris military was involved in Father's insidious plans, and Father wasn't ready for anyone to be wise about them.
Maes connected the dots when no one else could, and he stumbled upon the truth without too much trouble. That was brilliant of him, but unfortunately, it made him the target of the homunculi.
4 Alex: Bodybuilder Friend
This just might be the funniest and most visually striking friendship in all of Fullmetal Alchemist. Sig Curtis is the brawny husband of Izumi Curtis, a butcher shop owner who can't use alchemy, but can bench press quite a bit of weight.
When Sig and Alex met, they sized each other up, then agreed to be bodybuilder brothers forever. They reunited in the battle against Sloth, and used their combined strength to finally finish off that hulking homunculus. It's a sight to see.
3 Maes: Hidden Weapons
This was just a minor battle scene, but it was still impressive to watch. Maes isn't an alchemist at all, though he is capable of defending himself at a moment's notice. That's a valuable skill for any military officer to have.
When Lust attacked, Maes was able to fend her off, and throw a knife right at her forehead to buy himself enough time to escape. That wasn't enough to actually kill Lust for good, but Maes was so smooth and confident about that knife throw, and he wedged it pretty deep into Lust's head.
2 Alex: Theatrics
Alex Armstrong has a flair for the dramatic, and while it exasperates the Elric brothers (and indeed most people overall), it can be pretty funny, especially since Alex's strength would suggest an emotionally stoic character instead.
But no, Alex is prone to amusing outbursts, melodrama, and even happy tears, and this can help break the tension and balance out the tone in Fullmetal Alchemist. No one steals the spotlight like Alex Armstrong can.
1 Maes: Good Looks
It's no wonder Gracia fell in love with Maes and married him. He's responsible and dependable, and has a good career in the military, too. But he's also a total charmer, and dresses pretty well, too.
Maes is well-groomed and has a simple but classy look with his dark, slicked-back hair, his rectangle frame glasses, and his short, neatly trimmed beard. It's a timeless and charming look.