Ranma 1/2 (1989)

[らんま1/2]

Volume 7

Author/Artist: Rumiko Takahashi
Publisher: Shounen Sunday Comics

Synopsis:
Ranma challenges Shampoo to a delivery girl race. An old terror from Genma and Soun's past returns to seek revenge.

Story/Characters:
The demae race is a fun little story that pits Ranma against Shampoo and Akane with Kunou in the middle. Afterward... Ugh... Happousai makes his debut... I can't stress enough how much I hate Happousai. Yes, he's plenty well-hated in-universe as well, but that doesn't make things any better. He's a stupid old pervert whose schtick wears out its welcome as soon as it's established and yet he keeps coming back again and again throughout the series, even well after the point Ranma surpasses him. He's basically a retread of Cherry from Urusei Yatsura, but far more annoying and far more prominent in the story. Thank God Takahashi doesn't rehash the character type again for Inuyasha. (I haven't gotten far enough into Kyoukai no Rinne to know if it's safe too.) I'm going to tell you right now that if Happousai shows up in any volume, the non-Happousai chapters are going to have to work their tails off to keep up the overall rating. I will say that Happousai's appearance does shake things up a bit. If only the Bakusai Tenketsu worked on organics, Ryouga could've blasted that shriveled old tako into oblivion right off the bat. *sigh* 'Tis not to be, and the series is so much worse for it.

Art:
The quality of the art is what you'd expect, but whenever Happousai's around, you can expect Takahashi to have to draw all manner of lingerie to satisfy that wretched little pervert. I never did get the whole underwear fetish thing. Anytime there's a character that indulges in it, you're going to lose points with me.

Conclusion:
While the first four chapters are fun, the rest of the volume depends entirely on how much patience you have for Happousai and his antics. I happen to have very little patience for that kusojiji, so I can't recommend this one as strongly as the rest of the series up to now.

Rating:
50/50