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

This time the art is unflipped and reads left to right. It's from the recent omnibus edition, hence the so-so-quality on its left edge. (Because omnibuses are thicker and harder to scan.)

The Romeo & Juliet schoolplay arc in Volume 8 of the manga also features gems like Akane challenging Kuno with a sword (and seemed to do decently for the short time they fought), Juliet!Ranma using drunk-fu, and the spectacle of “Romeo” and “Juliet” being told to kiss because “your parents want you to!!”.

But in the end I went with this earlier page instead, both because of the adorable child-flashback panels and for what this says about Akane.

When I first got into Ranma 1/2 I was so unused to see tomboyish characters who were actually popular with other girls for their very tomboyish streaks. Mind you, Akane's not that much of a tomboy, but she's seen that way in canon. I was used to tomboys being spurned and scoffed at by other girls in Western works, so this manga trope was very welcome. Even if Akane wanted to play the princess...!

Tumblr repost of an old LJ repost: What the Strawhats call each other

Going through my tag "my meta" on Tumblr to see if there's stuff I want to repost here. (I haven't done the back-up thing because I'm honestly not sure most of my Tumblr posts are worth saving.)

And I found a post on One Piece about what the Strawhats call each other and how each of them tends to speak in general. This was originally posted to the old One Piece comm on LJ, years ago, and then reposted to Tumblr in a slightly edited form. I didn't want to lose those edits. Since all my old LJ posts are exported here, I could just go back and edit that one, but I was lazy.

At first I was going to back-date it but then figured that maybe someone will see this and add a comment. I don't know Japanese and depend a lot on what others say regarding this content. Plus I haven't paid as much attention to One Piece dialogue in recent years as I once did. So more contributions are very welcome!
( but it's all behind the cut )

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

Art reads right to left in this non-flipped edition.

Volume 9 gives us Ukyo's introduction arc followed by the "Ryoga's Fiancée" story, the last page of which is shown here. Briefly, Ukyo helps Ryoga set up a date with Akane, which a jealous Ranma attempts to crash by putting on a wig and a dress and pretending to be Ryoga's hitherto unknown fiancée. Ryoga is upset to hear of this fiancée, but when Ranma whispers he knows about his curse but still wants him, he starts to wonder if this is his one and only chance to find a girl. After Ranma's disguise cracks (leading to Ukyo learning about his curse in passing), Ryoga then runs off in despair because his devotion to Akane had wavered and now he thinks he no longer has the right to love her. Ranma is genuinely worried, thinking "I didn't think it would hurt him this badly!" as he, Akane and Ukyo run after him, but Ryoga runs into a sprinkler and transforms while out of sight, leading to this last page.

So why this page? Well, when I read the sequence the first time I felt so bad for Ryoga as he ran off like that. Even though I never wanted him and Akane to get together, I was still concerned about his reaction, and found myself thinking, "But what else does Ryoga have going for him in his life? He needs to be in love with Akane for a little longer, even though I know he doesn't really stand a chance!" ...Now, this is not my usual reaction to one-sided romantic feelings in fiction. I guess Ryoga's angst, somewhat comical and overwrought though it tends to be, still swept me away and pinched my heart. Although it's undercut here by how easily P-chan agrees to be scooped up by Akane, as Ranma's thought sardonically points out.

Nevertheless, the final panel points to a certain kind of uneasy reconciliation and attempt to get along between the characters. Akane seems slightly more accepting of Ukyo now (maybe because Ukyo also showed some worry for Ryoga?) than she was at the start of the story. Ranma allows P-chan to chew on his finger as a kind of grudging penance, while not even remarking on Ukyo splashing him repeateldy with cold and hot water. Ryoga, of course, is no longer trying to Tragically Run Away Full Of Tragic Self-Loathing, but does his angry Ranma-chewing without any wilder gestures than that. Moreover, I find Ukyo's sheer delight here in activating Ranma's curse so refreshing and endearing! She doesn't react like anyone else does when they find out about him, and I adore it.♥

While giving full due to the rest of the regular cast, for me it's Ukyo and Ryoga who are the most well-rounded characters of the ensemble after Ranma and Akane themselves. Ryoga and Akane are my top personal favourites, but Ranma and Ukyo come right behind them: together they form a kind of "Big Four" for me. (Add Mousse and Shampoo to get a "Big Six".) And so I really wanted to showcase a page where those four are all represented, from the volume where the last of them finally shows up.

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

Continuing the repost of this series from Tumblr, now sped up a bit and put behind a cut.
( Mousse behind the cut! )

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

( Ranma, Ryoga, Akane, and puppies )

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

Kuno, you're the best.
( best at bringing the comedy that is )

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

More Ranma & Ryoga goodness behind the cut, now from Volume 13 and the Hiryu Shoten Ha arc!

The art reads left to right as it's been flipped, as was standard in the 1990s translations.
( What, you're saving me for yourself? )

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

( The manga was SO GOOD at this point )

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

We move forward to Volume 15 of the Ranma 1/2 manga.
The art runs from left to right.
( A moment with Ranma and Ukyo )

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

Onwards to Volume 16! Art runs from left to right as it has been flipped.
( Remember this, my myopic friend )