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

[rainsometimes]

Shampoo appears in Volume 4! Art is flipped and reads from left to right.



For volume 4 I was tempted to include something from the great Martial Arts Figure Skating arc, a.k.a the Charlotte Cup - the one where Ranma and Akane battle a girl-crazy Casanova and a kleptomaniac on the ice for the sake of Ranma's honour and the ownership of a cute little black pig who's actually Ranma's rival. But it was hard to pick just one page! And in the end, isn't it more momentous that it's the volume where Shampoo first appears, busting through the wall of the skating hall's dressing room in pure Shampoo fashion?

So I picked this page from the end of her introduction arc, as a moment that's pretty darn important for Shampoo's characterisation - and an arguably rare spot of emotional vulnerability from her. I remember being honestly worried about Ranma as Shampoo was just overcome with fury and attacked... but no, she stops herself, and doesn't follow her village's laws about killing an outsider woman who's defeated her. This is one of Shampoo's most compassionate moments. Considering what happens to her later because of it, it might not be so strange that she rarely shows that much compassion again.

Comments

[mudousetsuna]

Oh wow, man... this makes me super nostalgic! I never followed Ranma in order, just some random issues I had picked up, and random episodes I could get a hold of. I really like it though. Shampoo and Ryouga and Akane are probably my favorites!

I need to re-watch/read!

[rainsometimes]

Ranma nostalgia is best nostalgia! I never got into the anime (watching anime was difficult and hella expensive back in the day), but the manga is still a joy to read!

[mudousetsuna]

Man, yeah, people complaining about DVD prices nowadays lolol... Try paying 20 bucks for 2 dubbed episodes, or 25 if you wanted the PRIVILEGE of subs.

...I rented or borrowed fansubs from a friend. ;; And then more recently saw some online, but still didn't finish it. At some point I'll try again! I really think the voice acting in it is great.

The one time I had rented Ranma and didn't know annyyything about it, my mom walked in on me watching, and explaining that was hilarious failure on my part. I had to take the tape back to the rental store and was far more cautious after that at what I picked out.

[tonko]

For me Shampoo always went back and forth between funny and frustrating.

This is indeed a rare moment!

[rainsometimes]

She was never among my favourite characters, but she does have her moments!

[duthea]

Now I feel like I should dig up my Ranma volumes too, just as I was planning on a One Piece re-read... So many nostalgic manga, so little time!

[rainsometimes]

Pace yourself! :D

[justastrangegal]

I never really got into Ranma 1/2 (the manga or anime), or much of Rumiko Takahashi's other works (aside from One Punch Gospel), but I've always liked her art style, so I'm really enjoying your posts! (So much eye-candy, uwaaaaa, makes me want to draw...)

[rainsometimes]

Oh, that's great to hear! So glad you can get something out of this in spite of not being into the stories!