'Fullmetal' racket

ICv2 reports that in addition to debuting the manga series in May, Viz plans to roll out novelizations and an art book based on the insanely popular Fullmetal Alchemist.

Himoru Arakawa's manga originally was published in the Shonen Gangan magazine in 2000, and spawned the anime series that now airs in the United States as part of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim programming block. FUNimation released the first DVD, The Curse, in the U.S. last month.

The manga will be rated "T" for teen, and have a $9.95 cover price.

The first novelization is set for an October release, followed by the full-color art book in November.