Full Metal Panic! Volume 4

I should point out that the review and description given are for the 4th volume of the -manga-, not the novels. This volume is the source material for more or less the first half of the FMP: The Second Raid anime version.

Sosuke, while not admitting any romantic feelings for Chidori, finds himself disconcerted when Kawa, an old flame of hers from junior high shows up on the scene. Sosuke decides to follow them on a date to an entertainment park to see if Kawa is on the level or just an enemy terrorist trying to get close to Chidori. Things get more dramatic when Capt. Tessa appears at Sosuke's apartment with a prisoner in tow, on the run from A-21, a terrorist organization that has acquired an Arm Slave and needs the prisoner because he can activate the "Lambda Driver". Did I also mention that the prisoner is slightly psychotic due to mind-altering drugs administered during his training? This volume of Full Metal Panic was a complete success because it melded comedy and action together effortlessly. The scenes where Sosuke fights some yakuza harrassing Chidori is especially funny as he takes them on wearing a giant hamster costume to hide his identity! There was also a little more romance instead of the usual hitting Sosuke over the head bits. The art is great. Just don't expect any profound character development here. Check out the original Full Metal Panic anime and its sequel Fumoffu for more adventures and comedy.