Ranma 1/2, Vol. 33 [Paperback]

Rumiko Takahashi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 7, 2006

Ranma Saotome never thought a martial arts training mission to China would turn out like this! An accidental dunk in a cursed spring changes boy Ranma into a young girl, every time he is splashed with cold water. Hot water reverses the effect - but only until next time!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Author and artist Rumiko Takahashi, the world's most popular and prolific female manga creator, has a large, devoted international fan base. Over 100 million copies of her work, such as URUSEI YATSURA, MAISON IKKOKU, RANMA 1/2 and MERMAID SCAR, have been sold worldwide. Takahashi's works have been the basis for four long-running animated series and over eight animated movies.

Other Rumiko Takahashi series available from VIZ

· Inuyasha - anime, manga and ani-manga

· Maison Ikkoku - anime and manga

· Mermaid Scar - manga

· Ranma 1/2 - anime and manga

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; 1 edition (February 7, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1421502569
• ISBN-13: 978-1421502564
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #758,614 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #26 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Comics & Graphic Novels > Manga > By Series > Ranma
  • #56 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Authors, A-Z > ( T ) > Takahashi, Rumiko
  • #79 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Comics & Graphic Novels > Manga > By Creator > Takahashi, Rumiko

More About the Author

The spotlight on Rumiko Takahashi's career began in 1978 when she won an honorable mention in Shogakukan's annual New Comic Artist Contest for Those Selfish Aliens. Later that same year, her boy-meets-alien comedy series, Urusei Yatsura, was serialized in Weekly Shonen Sunday. This phenomenally successful manga series was adapted into anime format and spawned a TV series and half a dozen theatrical-release movies, all incredibly popular in their own right. Takahashi followed up the success of her debut series with one blockbuster hit after another--Maison Ikkoku ran from 1980 to 1987, Ranma 1/2 from 1987 to 1996, and Inuyasha from 1996 to 2008. Other notable works include Mermaid Saga, Rumic Theater, and One-Pound Gospel.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Double trouble, February 8, 2006

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ranma 1/2, Vol. 33 (Paperback)

One Ranma Saotome is trouble enough. But what about two?

The funny thirty-third volume of action-comedy "Ranma 1/2" shows us how Tokyo isn't big enough for two Ranmas, and the fury of Nabiki scorned. In addition, author Rumiko Takahashi introduces a rather bizarre new character who would be Ukyo's ideal mate... if he ever got a clue.

After getting lost, Ranma and Genma arrive at a mysterious old mansion. But then Ranma accidently looks into a cursed mirror, which creates a slutty all-girl duplicate of him. Now girl-Ranma is running amuck, enraging Akane and smooching Ryoga... and in love with the real Ranma. The only hope of stopping her is to use a magical compact that traps anyone who looks inside... except Akane and Ranma get sucked in too.

Then Ranma is left at home with Nabiki, but he's uneasy because he accidently destroyed her concert ticket. Sure enough, Nabiki finds some ingenious ways to get even with Ranma. And on the night of the Star Festival, young lovers put their names on bamboo stalks, which is supposed to inspire true love. Except the wrong people keep trying to get Ranma and Akane's name cards.

And finally, Happosai tricks Ranma into coming to the Red Hot Tea House, a kunoichi (female ninja) brothel. After they see the butt-ugly inhabitants, they leave it in ruins. Now the beautiful ninja Konatsu is after Ranma for revenge, but she soon runs into Ukyo, the only person to ever show her kindness. What neither Ukyo nor Ranma knows is that Konatsu is hiding a secret crush...

Okay, "double trouble" is a bit cliched -- lots of series have duplicates-running-amuck stories. But there's a unique twist to this one, since the duplicate is of the opposite sex, is madly in love with the original, and is planning to kill off the love interest. You won't see that in any sci-fi series on TV.

And Takahashi plumbs the humor for all it's worth -- Ryoga's reaction to being kissed by "Ranma" is absolutely priceless ("I AM DISGRACED!"). But she also wedges in some touching moments, like Ranma's "sappy" dialogue on the final page, when he finally works up the courage to tell Akane of his feelings.

And this volume also introduces Konatsu, who is (get ready) a boy who believes himself to be a girl. He seems like the ideal guy for Ukyo -- submissive, adoring, gender-bending. And the only real problem is that he believes himself to be a woman, and won't act on his feelings. Maybe Ranma should give him a crash course in human anatomy.

Two Ranmas are more than his friends can handle, in the thirty-third volume of "Ranma 1/2." Fortunately for them, girl-Ranma wasn't a permanent addition.