Ranma 1/2: One Page Per Volume, Part 26

[rainsometimes]

Art is flipped and reads left to right.

The Ryugenzawa Arc is very much its own thing, both as part of Ranma 1/2 and among Takahashi’s works in general. Not having had read it for a while, I remembered it as having something of a more mythical, almost fairytale-like mood, more focused on Ranma's and Akane's relationship than most of the more adventure-oriented stories are, while also testing that bond more than usual - or, I should say, testing it in a different way than usual. Re-reading it again, I find that's all true, but the story also retains all of the usual Ranma 1/2 comedy tropes - is in fact replete with them, without those elements taking away anything from the unusual amount of anxiety and wistfulness it contains.

Likely the different feel of this arc comes from a combination of the remote setting in the great Higo Forest, the significant length of the story (for Ranma 1/2 arcs), and the small cast of characters. Apart from the brief set-up back home, there's really only five characters in it (I don't think the Yamato-no-Orochi counts). Two of those characters, Shinnosuke and his grandfather, are unique to this story. Ryoga is the only character from back home apart from Ranma and Akane: he takes on a support role here, and only shows up about a third or so into the story. Moreover, Shinnosuke's status as a figure from Akane's past who she feels duty-bound to save is unique to this arc.

Of course, it is also the story where Ranma seems fit to sacrifice himself by jumping into the gap of a huge monster, the Yamato-no-Orochi of Higo Forest, just to give Akane (who he at this point believes is in love with Shinnosuke) the chance to get away safely. Akane's not having that and promptly runs right back in. She's so badass here, I absolutely love it. ♥