Type: Manga Genre: Comedy Pricing: $2.95/$4.50 Canada Rating: along PG/PG-13 (mature situations, suggested nudity)

 

So I'm sitting on the bus stop, waiting for the 22 Mondawmin; and I begin to read this graphic novel I had picked up called "Ranma 1/2."  At that point in my life, I was utterly new to manga, and had brought the graphic novel purley on a whim.  It turns out Ranma 1/2 is the story of perhaps the greatest young martial artist on the Planet, one pigtailed Ranma Saotome.  He and his father are vagabonds, and perpetually travel as they train with one another.  One day, Ranma and Genma (Ranma's father) head to China, where they come across the legendary "Training Ground Of Accursed Springs."  Imagine a conglomeration of Springs, in which tall, scattered, and numerous bamboo poles stick up directly from the ground, allowing any individual with accurate enough balance to move about the tops of them.  Perfect for martial arts training.  So, Ranma and his father hop to it.  One problem.  Each Spring is cursed.  But no one discovers this important fact until Genma is knocked into one by a mid-air kick from his own son; and emerges as a Panda! Yes, that's right, a black and white, bamboo eating Panda!  As can be expected, Ranma then begins to think something is up.  But before he can do or say anything, in a fit of rage, Genma, in Panda form, knocks his own son into one of the cursed Springs.  And Ranma emerges as a female.  Now, you have to imagine my shock and amazement at this point.  Up until that point, I had only read American comics.  This was unlike ANYTHING I had ever read.  But I kept reading.  There was more.  Ranma, when just a young lad, had been engaged to the daughter of Genma's closet friend; Soun Tendo.  Soun owns a dojo in Tokyo, where he raises his three daughters: Kasumi (19), Nabiki (17), and Akane (16).  It had not been decided which daughter Ranma would marry; but the two fathers wanted the clans to be united, so Ranma would marry one of them.  Genma, after the incident at the Chinese Springs, for reasons unexplained, brings his son/daughter with him to Tokyo, where he comes to live with his old friend.  After a short series of humurous and embarrassing incidents, Genma and Ranma reveal their secret to the Tendo family.  It turns out Genma and Ranma have SOME control over their forms.  When splashed with cold water, Genma becomes the Panda, and Ranma becomes a girl.  When splashed with hot water, each can return to their normal selves, but only till next time they come into contact with cold water again.  Since all parties involved decide that Ranma is a male AND a female (except Ranma, who, at first, absolutely hates the concept of being called a "girl"), it is decided that he will marry Akane, the youngest sister, who hates boys with a passion.  And, as to be expected, weird, romantic, and stupid hijinks follow to no end.  Literally.  As time moves forward, more characters are introduced (a lot of which also fell into one of the Chinese Springs; hence, they become animals of some sort or another); all of which seem to either love Ranma, hate Akane, or love Akane, and hate Ranma.  It makes an uttterly fantastic romance story even more odd and unpredictable.  At the time this article was typed (8-11-99) there were thirteen graphic novels translated and released in America, all by Viz Communications, who also publish it monthly in a regular 32-page, black and white format.  And Viz won't run out of material anytime soon.  About 38 graphic novels were published in Japan by Ranma's creator, Rumiko Takahashi.  Takahashi is famous for her wacky, nutty, and overall funny romantic stories; and Ranma is definitely no exception.  Her style of artwork is very similar to manga artist Kosuke Fujishima (creator of "Oh! My Goddess!" and "You're Under Arrest!")  It's a very clean, neat, beautiful style.  And though perhaps it lacks the realistic detail of "Nausicaa Of The Valley Of Wind," or of numerous American manga, you never tire of it, and is always a treat to the eyes.  One of the biggest complaints I have is that the re-reading value fluctuates greatly from story to story.  Being a comedy, once you read it once, it'll probably not be so funny the second or third time around.  Some adventures you may tire of quickly; but some you will never forget.  I would say, to all fellow intellectuals thinking of breaking into the world of manga...don't ignore this, but start off with something a bit more mature and complex, like "Nausicaa Of The Valley Of Wind."  For those of you looking for some laughs, some memorable characters, and just a good ol' time; I think this is your stop.  As usual, I welcome all arguments, debates, counter reviews, etc.  Akelexre@aol.com or, if that doesn't work, try Akelexre@juno.com  Please, let's be intelligent, people.

 

I think its a good comic.If you haven't read it, read it.I think its  funny about Kuno is in love with Ranma's girl-side and hates Ranma's boy side.This comic gets a cast of werid characters which makes the comic even funnier.The more characters the better it gets.This martial arts comidy is so phat.

 

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