Ranma 1/2: One Page Per Volume, Part Two

[rainsometimes]

Art runs from left to right as it's been flipped.



Second part of this repost series from Tumblr last year, featuring some editing and expansion!

This page from volume 2 of the Ranma 1/2 manga features a sudden mutual hug out of relief between Ranma and Akane, from the first Ranma/Ryoga fight where Akane tried to help Ranma change back into a guy, putting her in the line of fire. (That first fight took place before Ryoga fell in love with Akane, when he was just in VENGEANCE VENGEANCE VENGEANCE mode.)

I love how the big borderless panel and the white space underlines the moment of the hug. Alas, it was clearly a little too sudden for the characters at this point! (In hindsight, they should just enjoy it, honestly, there won’t be too many moments like this.)

But note how relatively gentle and quiet the "what are we doing?" realization and reaction are on the page. You could say that the slower pace of the very first volumes strike against the madcap comedy/action pace for the overwhelming majority of the series, but another way of looking at it is that the early chapters set the foundation for how we view the characters, which is part of why the comedy can work so well later on, picking up the pace substantially.

What do you think?

Comments

[overlord_mordax]

Man, Ranma, what a blast from the bast. <3 I think you're right about the first volumes slower pace letting us get acquainted with the characters before the nonstop wtfery happens.

[rainsometimes]

Still so good and so funny after all these years. <3

Yeah. The downside of that is that after the first slow pace, it can feel a bit "wait, now it's getting TOO silly" initially. I remember way back in the day I had that reaction at some point... probably when finding out Mousse's curse, I think. Then I got over it and enjoyed the silliness fully. ♥

[overlord_mordax]

Ranma especially out of Takahashi's work can get waaay over the top. I know its definitely too much for some people.

I would love, LOVE a modern take on Ranma, either a new condensed anime series in the style of Dragon Ball Kai, or for Takahashi herself to go back and do a 'reboot' of the manga.

[rainsometimes]

Yeah, but I like the OTT-ness! It was just during the initial run I had to adjust a little.

I guess some of the later volumes could drag on slightly, but mostly I'm still very entertained when I re-read them. I would rather see a sequel than reboot, honestly... On the anime side, though, I'd be all for a more faithful adaptation starting over from the beginning.

[izilen]

Oh, I recently got back into Ranma. I really like seeing these selections you're making here. I super enjoy Rumiko Takahashi's art.

This is a really tender and awkward moment, isn't it?

I agree that you need a slower start to get used to the characters before you bring in all the ridiculousness of the later volumes!

[rainsometimes]

Her art is so nice and pretty! Not in a super-elegant way that draws a lot of attention to itself. But just very easy to follow, superb sense of motion and composition, with a great balanced use of black and white that I find really appealing. Over on Tumblr I used the tag "that beautiful manga art" for any repost of Takahashi's art (among other tags).

/fangirls!

[tonko]

Ahh my problem with these less-madcap volumes is that my expectations (as a hormonal teen, for context) were that I wanted a) romance and b) payoff. I didn't realize for quite some time that it was gonna be status almost quo for 38 volumes! Ah, my little teenaged heart was quite broken when I found out the OVA anime episodes I'd watch and enjoyed happened after the end of the series.

This was also kinda baffling to me that it could possibly NOT have a stereotypical resolution, lol.

It's arguably a better "fun" read now that I'm older and not mooning over Ranma's jealous rage being "so romantic" (ugh!!!!) or trawling the internet for bad lemon fanfic posted in .txt format. Ah the bad old days.