Ranma 1/2

Publisher
VIZ
Country of origin
Japan
Length
30 +
Year
1987

Ranma 1/2 Volumes 5 + 6

By Joseph (Joe) Wood
8th Aug 05

Ranma Saotome is back again with more action, comedy, fiancés and victims of the accursed springs.

Ranma ½ Volume 5:

Volume 5 kicks of to conclude the cliffhanger of the end of volume 4. Ranma (trapped in his female form thanks to Shampoo’s grandmother Cologne) and Akane about to be attacked by a killer shark. Only Shampoo can help Ranma defeat the Shark…but how? Ryoga then returns, but before he gets a chance to challenge Ranma again, Ryoga is defeated by him. Learning that the reason for Ranma has increased strength since their last battle is due to the training given to him by Cologne, Ryoga goes to her for training. Deep in the mountains, they go, but not deep, enough as a few meters away are Ranma and his father who is also training, along with Akane who is “cooking” for them. When both Ryoga and Ranma have finished there training they fight, with Akane as the “prize”, now Ryoga has mastered the “Breaking Point” technique does Ranma stand a chance. Then Ranma must take the place of a missing bride in a martial arts tea contest, the only problem is, if Ranma wins he’ll have to marry his partner, who doesn’t know Ranma’s secret. Then it is the first past the post as Ranma, Akane and Shampoo take place in the annual female martial arts noodle race, the first one to deliver the noodles wins, but when the recover is Kuno will any three of are takeaway girls willing to deliver it.

Ranma ½ Volume 5:

You better put your underwear somewhere safe girls as Ranma and Akane’s father’s old master Happosai, a rather perverted morally challenged master of martial arts returns and promises to train Ranma. Although Ranma’s getting enough training preventing the old pervert from getting in the girls locker rooms at school. Ryoga aka P-Chan also makes an enemy out of the old man, when he tires to pretend he is P-Chan, however when Ranma truly angers Happosai can anything stop his revenge? Shampoo then returns with information about an extract from the accursed spring of drowned man, something that could return Ranma, Genma and Ryoga back to their normal selves and a bitter fight breaks out between them. However, it is Akane who must fight the guardian of this sacred extract, but who will she give it to when she keeps arguing with Ranma.

These two volumes are full of action and laughs that you should come to expect with the Ranma ½ series, yet more new characters increase the already large cast. Fans of the series will love it; others who are starting to get bored may find the introduction of Happosai (who is here to stay) that injection of freshness that stops the formula of Ranma ½ becoming stale.

-- Joseph (Joe) Wood 8th Aug 05