Ranma 1/2 (1989)

[らんま1/2]

Volume 9

Author/Artist: Rumiko Takahashi
Publisher: Shounen Sunday Comics

Synopsis:
Ranma is blackmailed by Kodachi over some compromising pictures. A new rival for Ranma emerges to settle a childhood grudge.

Story/Characters:
The Kodachi blackmail story is okay. You get to see more of the house of madness the Kunou siblings reside in, which counts for something, I guess. More importantly, this volume introduces Ukyou. I friggin' love Ukyou. I almost love her as much as I hate Happousai. There's something about a girl who speaks Osaka-ben. Also, the way Ranma and Ukyou stick to their childhood nicknames for each other ("Ran-chan" and "Ucchan") is adorable. I've mentioned before that I'm a Ranma-Ukyou shipper, but, honestly, part of me feel that Ukyou's too good for him. (Ranma can be a real dirtbag at times, after all.) Anyway, where most previous reworkings of Urusei Yatsura characters come up short, Ukyou's definitely an improvement over UY's Ryuunosuke. (And it's not just the Osaka-ben.)

The story after Ukyou's introduction, in which she tries to play matchmaker with Ryouga and Akane, is interesting because it shows Ranma and Akane both being jealous and possessive of each other. More than a few commentators have noted that even as this is presented as evidence that the two really care about each other, it isn't exactly the healthiest sort of relationship. Of course, given that almost every character is a great big dysfunctional tangle of neuroses at best (given that we have plenty of full-blown psychopaths and sociopaths in the cast), maybe we should look at those two with a more favorable eye.

Art:
Takahashi's style is appealing as ever. The steady sharpening of her work is less noticeable when you look from one volume to the next, but the development is there for the discerning eye.

Conclusion:
The first story is so-so, but the second two are quite good with my personal favorite Ukyou being added to the cast and getting an active role right away. And, hey, no Happousai. Gotta love that. Give it a read.

Rating:
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