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Ranma 1/2, Vol. 8

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Ever since arriving at Tokyo, Ranma Saotome's love life has been way too complex. But in the eighth volume of Rumiko Takahashi's "Ranma 1/2," things get even worse for the teenage martial artist -- he now has three fiancees and a newly-cursed rival to deal with.

A mysterious young man, Ukyo, thrashes Ranma's dad and threatens to do the same to Ranma. Ukyo is a childhood pal of Ranma's, now a master okonomiyaki chef (sort of between a pancake and a pizza). But he seems angry at Ranma, for reasons Ranma doesn't understand and soon challenges him to a duel. It ends with Ranma and Akane discovering a shocking connection to Ukyo: "He" is really a girl, and Ranma's fiance....

As if this weren't uncomfortable enough for Ranma, Ryoga soon arrives and tries to throttle Ranma for having another fiancee when he also has Akane. Ukyo clues in that Ryoga likes Akane; to get Ranma all for herself, she sets up a date between the bashful Ryoga and clueless Akane. Problem is, Ranma soon shows up as Ryoga's "long lost fiancee..."

There's no fun in the sun for the Ranma gang, when Ranma sets ancient martial-artists Cologne and Happosai on a date. Turns out Happosai raided the Amazon village a hundred years ago, and stole a valuable heirloom... which has three love pills embedded in it. And now Akane has accidently swallowed the "life" one. And finally, a trip to the circus reunites the gang with Mousse, who now has a Jusenkyo curse of his own... and a new grudge against Ranma.

Ranma doesn't even need to turn into a girl to have romantic complications -- he has enough of them just as a boy. The eighth volume tallies his fiancee count up to three, with poor Ranma not responsible for any of the engagements.

There's plenty of goofy humour in this one, everything from legally blind Mousse kidnapping a stuffed pig to Ryoga almost making out with the disguised Ranma. But it ends on a taut cliffhanger, with Mousse about to turn the captive Akane into a duck, so he can trap Ranma. Somebody get that boy a therapist.

This volume also introduces Ukyo Kuonji, a girl who has been living as a boy for ten years. Ukyo is also Akane's biggest rival: Not only does she have a longer acquaintance with Ranma, but she's also tough, blunt, pretty, a good cook, and far wilier than the brutally ditzy Shampoo. And poor Ryoga gets his feelings played with once again.

One of Rumiko Takahashi's most memorable characters makes her debut in the eighth volume of "Ranma 1/2," bringing even more romantic turmoil in her wake. And it gets even worse...

...now I've seen it all. (Of course, knowing Takahashi, there is probably a LOT more that is stranger than this!) Ukyo Kuonji was a childhood friend of Ranma's, but when he left for China, Ukyo wanted revenge. Armed with flour bombs, deep dish glue, rubber yakisoba noodles, and a human-size (literally) spatula, Ukyo tracks down Ranma and changes him to a fight on a ring surrounded by a hot plate.

But Ukyo is hiding something, and there is something else that Genma Saotome forget to mention to his son...

And Ryoga gets a fiancee!

Volume 8(originally vol. 9-10 in Japan) introduces Ukyo Kuonji, an old friend from Ranma's past. As our story progresses, we learn of her engagement to Ranma, and it's soon renewed afterwards, thus leading to Ranma gaining his "cute" fiancee as she's called. Now, if you want me to be honest, I do not like Ukyo. In fact, you could go as far as to say that I hate her. Which is probably why the scene where Ranma pours the hot water over her is my favorite in this. But that's just me. After the her introduction, we go to a few other stories, including her setting up a date between Ryoga and Akane, which is the funniest one(particuarly Ranma and Ryoga's battle at the beginning, it's hilarious), Happosai getting ahold of some love pills that will make anyone who swallows them fall in love with the first person of the opposite gender they see, and the second best in the group, Mousse's return in the series, and as of now he's cursed to turn into a duck when he gets splashed into cold water. That alone has some funny moments, escpecially Mousse's "fight," with a monkey that he mistakes for Ranma. So all in all, another solid volume of Ranma 1/2.

By this point in the series, we have seen many bizarre types of martial arts. Ryoga fights with an incredibly heavy umbrella, Azusa and Sanzenin fight and figure skate at the same time, Kodachi uses the tools of rhythmic gymnastics to beat up her opponents, and who could forget the take out race? Well, here's another one to add to the list--fighting with Japanese pizza!

Yep, you heard me. Ukyo Kuonji fights with a special batter that acts like glue, and rubber yakisoba noodles that wind around the opponent, and tempura flakes mixed with gunpowder, and flour bombs. The preferred weapon is a giant spatula, which stands taller than a person, although Ukyo also uses small spatulas almost like ninja stars.

More proof that the mind of Rumiko Takahashi must be a very interesting place!

Get this and read it! You won't regret it!

I considerer myself one of the greatest Ranma fans in the world, having gone to the extent of learning japanese so that I can try and read some of the un-translated comics. Volume 8 includes the introduction of Ukyo Kounji. This is my favorite Ranma comic, and anyone who likes manga must read this series! ^_^

This book is grate, and its so funny. It starts off by a guy named Ukyo trying to beat up Ranma but to Raman's surprise Ukyo turns out to be a girl and another one of his many fiancée's--go finger. Oh well, if that wasn't enough Akane and Ranma swallowed love pills, but which one has Akane swallowed the Day pill which makes fall in love with the first guy she sees for a day or the life-time pill which you guessed it, would make her fall in love with the first guy she sees for her life-time . Oh well, then you got Ryoga's and Akane's big date, yay. Last but not least well Ranma stop mousse before he sprays Akane with water from the legendary spring of the drowned duck!!!!---read it and find out