Ranma 1/2 (1991)

[らんま1/2]

Volume 14

Author/Artist: Rumiko Takahashi
Publisher: Shounen Sunday Comics

Synopsis:
Shampoo is cursed to become the bride of a bakeneko. Principal Kunou offers to teach Akane how to swim. Genma becomes the pet of a shut-in. Ryouga is given a mark that makes him unbeatable. Happousai gets two new students.

Story/Characters:
We have one more chapter to finish out the moxibustion story and it ends fairly well. The bakeneko story that follows is rather amusing. The story about Principal Kunou teaching Akane to swim almost looks like it would open the door to some character development for him, but his teaching methods are entirely consistent with what you'd expect from him. Then there's one chapter about a bed-ridden boy who's keeping Genma as a pet (the reversal of expectation should elicit a chuckle at least). Ryouga's little belly art story is the highlight of the volume and pretty funny. Lastly, we've got a little one shot about a couple kids who think Happousai's Santa. It's a Happousai story, so ugh, but at least the kiddos are cute and the ending makes it worth it.

Art:
The art is consistently good. As noted, the kids in the Happousai-as-Santa chapter are really cute, especially with their little thief masks.

Conclusion:
I tend to favor the longer stories over little one-shots, but for those of you who favor the episodic format of one- and two-chapter stories, you should like well enough. It's a varied bunch and some work better than others. For the conclusion of the moxibustion story and the Ryouga story, I'll rate this as a read.

Rating:
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