Ranma 1/2 (1996)

[らんま1/2]

Volume 36

Author/Artist: Rumiko Takahashi
Publisher: Shounen Sunday Comics

Synopsis:
Akane gets a swimsuit that helps her swim. Ranma tries to help Ryouga meet Akari for a date. Ranma's true identity is finally revealed to his mother. Konatsu tries to run the shop when Ukyou gets sick.

Story/Characters:
The jellyfish swimsuit is a so-so beach episode. The Ryouga chapter is kinda cute, but they almost play Ryouga's houkou onchi ways too hard for it. The main feature is the arc in which we finally resolve the long-standing plot with Nodoka. Genma is such an insufferable dirtbag (and would be the most insufferable dirtbag if we weren't in a universe where Happousai exists). We get some short-term drama with Ranma and Genma leaving the Tendou household and the two-parter ring story is fairly amusing. (We'd have no story if Ranma and Akane were capable of being remotely honest with themselves and each other about their relationship.) The Konatsu chapter at the end is meh, mostly because it's Konatsu.

Art:
There are some really good panels for the emotional highlights of the Nodoka story. Other than that, it's the usual high bar for the series.

Conclusion:
The one-shots are nothing outstanding, but anyone invested in the Nodoka storyline will definitely want to see its resolution. It definitely makes this one worth a read in my book.

Rating:
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