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

[rainsometimes]

Art reads from left to right.

This page is from the first Pantyhose Taro story, which is arguably the second of the epic adventure arcs of Ranma 1/2. It's not as emotionally charged as some other arcs, but it's still got a higher sense of danger than usual, with this new ruthless enemy who seems to have a grudge against fellow Jusenkyo victims -- and who's the first character to actually get stronger when his curse activates, which is something the characters have a hard time adjusting to. Also, fighting Pantyhose Taro - and later even uniting to help him in his quest to get Happosai to change his name - is the first time Ranma, Ryoga, Akane, Mousse and Shampoo are all on the same side. That does give the adventure a sense of the extraordinary. And Pantyhose Taro's temporary lair is on some tiny island hours of flying (well, flying if you've got a giant winged monster form, at least) from the regular neighbourhood in Tokyo's Nerima ward. Only part of the arc is set on that island, but it does help the sense of adventure more than when the change in scenery is just due to a training trip.

This specific page shows the second time in the series when Ryoga saves Ranma's life. (The first being in the Hiryu Shoten Ha arc, seen in part 13 of this series of posts.) Ranma had been fighting Pantyhose Taro when he was surprised by a sudden waterfall; the surprise and force made him pass out. Luckily, Ryoga was with him and stayed conscious, and even in his piglet form he manages to drag Ranma to the shore. Moreover, his body language and distressed sounds show he's worried about Ranma's wellbeing. When he thinks Pantyhose Taro has found them, he's ready to do his best to attack even in this form in order to buy Ranma some more time. (I can reveal that it's a fake-out and it's actually Mousse and Shampoo who have turned up; Shampoo's wearing one of her outfits with similarities to how Pantyhose Taro dresses, so the reader doesn’t find out until the next page it's not him.)

You know, I always felt the animal curses would have been that much more bearable for its victims if they'd been able to retain human speech while transformed. In many ways being turned into an animal with no way to easily communicate that you're actually a human being is a highly frightening scenario, even when there's a remedy in the form of hot water.