Thread: Striking Similarity To M.G. Armstrong (Unavoidable Spoilers)

I've been reading GUNNM, or Battle Angel Alita as Viz calls it, for quite some time now, and just today I noticed a very powerful resemblance between two characters, Vilma/Sanguis from GUNNM Major General Olivier Milla Armstrong from FullMetal Alchemist.

Seeing as how GUNNM's first showing of Vilma predates the first showing of M.G. Armstrong, or so I calculate, is it probable that FMA's mangaka, Arakara Hiromu, may be a fan of Kishiro Yukito?

Anyway, for wariness of the rules, I'll simply post a link to the picture containing evidence of just such similarities. (as well as a few extra, full sized shots for individual comparison.)

Once again spoilers ahead.

Comparison Image -

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u.../GUNNMxFMA.jpg


Various individual pages from either manga -

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u..._Vol09_000.jpg
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u..._Vol09_028.jpg
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u..._Vol09_029.jpg

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u202/Terasiel/09.png
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u202/Terasiel/14.png
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u202/Terasiel/17.png

Anyone else wonder if this is simply coincidence, or accidental "inspiration?"