Ranma Saotome and her father lived in the Tendo family dojo. Their everyday life, however, differs from that of normal families. The basic problem is the curse, which causes the handsome and athletic boy to change into an attractive red-haired girl, and his father into a panda (only boiling water can reverse the transformation) every time he gets wet with cold water. Already the first volume showed that many misunderstandings can arise because of constant sexual shifts, but the second and third parts take advantage of this situation even more. Get ready for a good dose of laughter!
What runs in the family won’t perish!
The second volume introduces us to Kodachi, Kuno Tatewaki’s sister (who as we already know is crazy about Akane and the female version of Ranma). The girl has to face Akane in a duel of artistic gymnastics, but that’s not all, because she also wants to retake Tendo of her fiancé, so she selects Ranma himself as a reward. This, as you might suspect, is not necessarily an enthusiast of this idea. Kodachi is a great fighter, an ambitious woman and a creative opponent, which is why the game with her takes an unexpected turn. The next story begins with the disappearance of Ryogi aka Piguś. It turns out that it is being appropriated by a figure skating champion (who loves everything cute). Of course, Akane is unable to give up his pig, so the duel again ensues. However, because with Rumiko Takahashi nothing can be predictable and normal, figure skating turns into a fight, and participants also change along the way. The ending introduces another new character to the plot – the Chinese warrior Shampoo, who wants to murder the female version of Ranma.
How to get someone to training?
Part three gives us a broader insight into Shampoo’s skills, and the girl’s great-grandmother also enters the scene. Sparing their efforts, both try to make the young Saotome officially leave Akane. Between their clashes there is also a story about Ranma’s weak point and a certain insistent but not very bright stalker. Since, as always, the life of the Tendo x Saotome family has to be full of fights, also this time there are challenges and new opponents. In love with Shampoo, a boy named Mousse surprises everyone with his unusual technique, and Ryoga ends up in a grueling training session. In the background, emotional battles take place, as Akane’s relationship with Ranma is not the easiest one.
We accept brother as an object in combat!
Rumiko Takahashishe is amazing at creating an engaging and intense storyline. When it seems to us that a moment of rest will come after a fight with an opponent, there is a twist in the story and a new warrior enters the scene, who of course wants to get Akane or Ranma. For one cannot ignore the fact that the fact of an engagement between these two teenagers seems unpleasant to everyone. What’s more interesting, the people involved themselves also did not feel well with this idea, but with the successive events they are apparently more and more attached to each other. The chemistry between Akane and Ranma is based on embarrassment, a slight denial, and increasing jealousy that neither of them wants to officially admit. The emotions in these two are extremely intense, so they also affect the reader. In this manga, the author does not spare us funny scenes and dialogues. Absurd situations are chased by humorous interjections and monologues of excessively pathetic characters. With this comic book, it is impossible to keep a serious face and – as I mentioned in the introduction – its story does not get old at all and it can easily build a group of new fans around it.
Secret technique of Rumiko Takahashi
I come back to this manga somehow after more than 15 years and still enjoy it perfectly. The new edition with colorful inserts and in a larger format makes the already great reading even more enjoyable. I encourage, recommend and give a very positive assessment!
