The hit anime series Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood features a colorful cast of characters. Many of them are soldiers or state alchemists, while others are rogues or outlaws living on the fringes of society. And, of course, there are the mighty homunculi lurking in the shadows!
Edward and Alphonse Elric are the stars of the show, and they're on a quest to restore their mangled bodies. One of their biggest allies is Colonel Roy Mustang, a career soldier and alchemist who uses his fearsome flames to take the fight to the enemy without hesitation. He aims to become the ruler of Amestris one day, and he's an intense man with a stern attitude to match. But he's got his soft side, too, and there's more to him than those flames. What else is there to know about Roy Mustang?
10 His Hair Reflects His Mood
For the most part, Roy lets his hair fly free, and it's a bit shaggy and messy. This makes for a real cool-guy look, and it contrasts with the more neatly slicked-back or trimmed hair of the other military men around him.
Roy will fancy up his hair for more formal occasions, though—namely the funeral of Maes Hughes. He probably did this out of respect, and it's a nice visual cue to show when he's thinking about others instead of himself. When you've got a one-track mind like Roy, a comb is the last thing on your mind.
9 He's Goofy Despite His Rigid Demeanor
In an anime like this, you're going to have some pretty straight-laced characters like Riza Hawkeye and King Bradley, and you'll also get comic relief characters like Alex Armstrong, prince Ling, and the Elric brothers.
Roy often scolds others for goofing off, especially Maes Hughes, but, just as often, he's the silly one! Roy comically overreacts to Maes' teasing, and his hot-headed eruptions at the Elric brothers' defiance is pretty funny. Don't forget that time the Elric and Hawkeye had to cram Roy into a car and get him off the battlefield despite his protests.
8 He's Not Above Teasing
Not only does Roy snap and get annoyed easily, but he's also a bit of a teaser, showing another soft side to his personality. He's even willing to do this to the tough-as-nails Major-General Olivier Armstrong.
Roy had a message to pass on to Olivier, but he didn't just pass her a note; he hid it in a fancy bouquet of flowers, and he teased her by stating how these particular flowers (hyacinths) represent lady-like charm. He even threw in a wink, and Olivier got so annoyed that she threw the flowers in a fire( but she still got the note, though).
7 He's A Snappy Dresser
Roy doesn't do much about that messy hair of his, but, otherwise, he does put some real effort into his appearance. He keeps his uniform crisp and clean, and he'll never be seen looking like a slouch.
During his days off, his choice of civilian garb is top-notch, where he favors three-piece suits of different dark tones to match his hair. Don't expect to see him in sweatpants or an old T-shirt, let us tell you that. It's clear that he only looks through uppity clothes catalogs for ideas!
6 He's A Surface-only Flirt
Many of the other men in the Amestris military's ranks resent Roy on a personal level. Why? It's simple: he keeps hitting on all the women around him! He's a total playboy, or, at least, that's what it looks like.
But not so fast! Roy isn't really serious when he does this, and he's committed to his strong friendship with Riza Hawkeye. Rather, Roy flirts with women to have a little fun passing messages on to them, like the aforementioned scene with Olivier Armstrong.
5 He Needs Pawns
Roy isn't one to act alone. To climb the ranks fast and fulfill his ambition to become the new president of Amestris, he surrounds himself with helpful and loyal agents, not unlike Greed.
Chief among them is Riza Hawkeye, but Roy also relies on Jean Havoc, Falman, Furey, and Breda. So, to keep Roy in check, Wrath/Bradley scatters those minions to the four corners of Amestris. The real reason for relocating all those officers is not lost on Roy, let us tell you that. The pressure is on!
4 He And Edward Are Foils For Each Other... Or Are They?
In many ways, Roy Mustang is actually a counterpart to Edward Elric. On the surface, the both of them annoy each other and try to sabotage each other's authority or plans, and they butt heads more than once.
But that just shows how similar they are, and each of them is trying to fix the nation from within the military. They're also hot-headed goofballs who have precious friends whom they will risk their lives to protect. Edward has Winry, and goodness knows Roy has Riza Hawkeye.
3 His Hands Have Different Alchemy Styles
Among the state alchemists, Roy Mustang is a real powerhouse, and his reputation has spread far and wide—and for good reason! He can deliver powerful fireball attacks and strike targets with great precision if he must.
For the most part, Roy delivers powerhouse attacks with his right hand, and his left hand is used for precise, smaller attacks. Envy learned this the hard way when he dueled Roy during the promised day where Roy's right hand set off devastating explosions and the left hand vaporized Envy's eyes.
2 His Blindness Was Predicted
Roy was the first character to slay a homunculus on screen, and he delivered a fatal series of explosions to the stab-happy Lust. But, just as Lust was crumbling to dust, she commented that Roy's eyes, so clear with ambition, would soon be clouded with suffering.
And she was right! When Roy was forced to open the Gate of Truth later on, he paid for the truth not with an arm or leg, but with his eyesight. He had such a clear vision of his lofty goal... and now, on the Promised Day, he is suffering greatly as the villains get their way.
1 His Namesake
Author Hiromu Arakawa put a lot of effort and research into many aspects of this franchise, including the names of her characters. In this case, "Roy" sounds like the French word for "king," and, indeed, this Colonel is aiming to rule the land one day.
Meanwhile, "Mustang" comes from the P-51 Mustang fighter plane of World War II, one of the most fearsome and reputable fighter planes of its time.