Ranma 1/2 (1995)

[らんま1/2]

Volume 34

Author/Artist: Rumiko Takahashi
Publisher: Shounen Sunday Comics

Synopsis:
The Tendou household fends off a bean plant that responds to anger. Akane delivers Valentine's chocolate for a sick little girl. Hinako-sensei is corrupted by delinquent energy and takes on Principal Kunou. Ranma has to prove his manliness to his mother to avoid having to commit seppuku. Akane is knocked out by incense that gives her wild dreams. Ranma helps Mousse calm Shampoo's anger.

Story/Characters:
The bean plant one-shot is rather meh as is the Valentine's chapter that follows. The Hinako-sensei two-parter is better. Delinquent Hinako vs. Principal Kunou is fairly amusing. Most of the volume is dedicated to a Nodoka story where she finally meets Ranma in his male form, but misunderstandings have tragicomic consequences. On of my favorite gags in the series is found here and it's worth noting that Soun demonstrates that he's a better father figure to Ranma than Genma (not a high bar to overcome). And of course effin' Happousai has to screw with things. (I hate him so much, not that this is news for anyone.) I do find it disturbing that Ranma has to prove his masculinity by peeping on Akane in the bath. The incense one-shot is pretty good and was adapted into a rather late OAV (2008 when the one before it came out in 1996). The Mousse one-shot at the end of the volume is so-so, better than the two at the beginning of the volume but not great.

Art:
The art remains as good as ever. There are some nicely dramatic panels in the Nodoka section and Akane's dreams are rather inventive.

Conclusion:
There are some mediocre one-shots, some decent chapters and a mostly good main story. All told, it makes a fair enough read but not one of the highest point of the series.

Rating:
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