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Ranma ½ #34

Ranma ½, #48

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Ranma ½ edición argentina, tomo 48. Contiene Ranma 1/2 Tomo 36 Japonés.

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 18, 1996

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280 people want to read

About the author

Rumiko Takahashi

1,587 books2,144 followers
Rumiko Takahashi (高橋留美子) was born in Niigata, Japan. She is not only one of the richest women in Japan but also one of the top paid manga artists. She is also the most successful female comic artist in history. She has been writing manga non-stop for 31 years.

Rumiko Takahashi is one of the wealthiest women in Japan. The manga she creates (and its anime adaptations) are very popular in the United States and Europe where they have been released as both manga and anime in English translation. Her works are relatively famous worldwide, and many of her series were some of the forerunners of early English language manga to be released in the nineties. Takahashi is also the best selling female comics artist in history; well over 100 million copies of her various works have been sold.

Though she was said to occasionally doodle in the margins of her papers while attending Niigata Chūō High School, Takahashi's interest in manga did not come until later. During her college years, she enrolled in Gekiga Sonjuku, a manga school founded by Kazuo Koike, mangaka of Crying Freeman and Lone Wolf and Cub. Under his guidance Rumiko Takahashi began to publish her first doujinshi creations in 1975, such as Bye-Bye Road and Star of Futile Dust. Kozue Koike often urged his students to create well-thought out, interesting characters, and this influence would greatly impact Rumiko Takahashi's works throughout her career.

Career and major works:

Takahashi's professional career began in 1978. Her first published story was Those Selfish Aliens, a comedic science fiction story. During the same year, she published Time Warp Trouble, Shake Your Buddha, and the Golden Gods of Poverty in Shōnen Sunday, which would remain the home to most of her major works for the next twenty years. Later that year, Rumiko attempted her first full-length series, Urusei Yatsura. Though it had a rocky start due to publishing difficulties, Urusei Yatsura would become one of the most beloved anime and manga comedies in Japan.

In 1980, Rumiko Takahashi found her niche and began to publish with regularity. At this time she started her second major series, Maison Ikkoku, in Big Comic Spirits. Written for an older audience, Maison Ikkoku is often considered to be one of the all-time best romance manga. Takahashi managed to work on Maison Ikkoku on and off simultaneously with Urusei Yatsura. She concluded both series in 1987, with Urusei Yatsura ending at 34 volumes, and Maison Ikkoku being 15.

During the 1980s, Takahashi became a prolific writer of short story manga, which is surprising considering the massive lengths of most of her works. Her stories The Laughing Target, Maris the Chojo, and Fire Tripper all were adapted into original video animations (OVAs). In 1984, after the end of Urusei Yatsura and Maison Ikkoku, Takahashi took a different approach to storytelling and began the dark, macabre Mermaid Saga. This series of short segments was published sporadically until 1994, with the final story being Mermaid's Mask. Many fans contend that this work remains unfinished by Takahashi, since the final story does not end on a conclusive note.

Another short work left untouched is One-Pound Gospel, which, like Mermaid Saga, was published erratically. The last story to be drawn was published in 2001, however just recently she wrote one final chapter concluding the series

Later in 1987, Takahashi began her third major series, Ranma ½. Following the late 80s and early 90s trend of shōnen martial arts manga, Ranma ½ features a gender-bending twist. The series continued for nearly a decade until 1996, when it ended at 38 volumes. Ranma ½ is one of Rumiko Takahashi's most popular series with the Western world.

During the later half of the 1990s, Rumiko Takahashi continued with short stories and her installments of Mermaid Saga and One-Pound Gospel until beginning her fourth major work, InuYasha. While Ran

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
Profile Image for Child960801.
2,901 reviews
September 23, 2022
You can tell that the end of the series is coming: things are being wrapped up.

One chapter story about swimming at the beach. One chapter story about Ryoga trying to go on a date with his new girlfriend. Eight chapters that bring a conclusion to the story about Ranma's mother and what will happen if she finds out about Ranma. One chapter about cooking.
Profile Image for Marc.
1,552 reviews31 followers
December 24, 2017
Enfin la résolution de l'intrigue avec la mère de Ranma !!
Profile Image for Lisa.
173 reviews26 followers
February 8, 2021
Like some of the previous storylines, volume 34 has a slightly more serious tone amidst the chaos that is Ranma 1/2. There are five to six stories in this one (since two bleed together), and three of them are only one chapter long.

We start with a trip to the beach, where Akane nearly drowns in the water. She wins a price for being the 10,000 person to drown there - it's a bathing suit that will make her swim. And it works! It seems to be made of jellyfish, and Akane loves swimming in it. Someone from the town suggests that she compete in a race the following day, so she does. Ranma is suspicious, so he races to - but Ranma is the only one who shows up who doesn't have this amazing swimsuit Akane's wearing. All the others have short, dark hair, too... Turns out the race is through whirlpools and other obstacles, to get to a giant jellyfish. Akane wins, and it grabs her up in his tentacles, so Ranma rushes forth to rescue her, and... gets a trophy for second place. The jellyfish tosses Akane up into the air to celebrate. It's... not dangerous at all. The following day, though, Akane's swimsuit dries up.

While the Tendos are still on vacation, Ranma comes across Ryoga, who's come to the same town to visit Akari. Her map to get there was ridiculously simple, and Ryoga still has trouble finding his way to the giant elephant statue where Akari is waiting. Ranma helps him, and Akari has left already - so he ties Ryoga to the statue before he goes looking for Akari. This leads Ryoga to impatiently walk off with the statue tied to his back. Eventually he and Akari connect - Ryoga sees her in his reflection in the lake (since she's climbed atop the statue) and he falls in. Ranma discretely turns Akane around so she doesn't see, and suggests that they butt out now. Later, at the Tendos bungalow, Ryoga is asking Akari if she was waiting long, and Akane and Ranma are noting that at least it keeps things interesting. (omg, Ryoga not mooning over Akane is a delight. I love him so much, but I also adore him moving on.)

The following story is the bulk of this volume, and it deals with Nodoka and Ranma. Ranma and Genma go to a family grave in order to take the Saotome treasure. But while they're there, Nodoka shows up and retrieves it (and sees Ranko and the panda there). She later shows up at the Tendos, noting that she feels that when Ranko is near, she can almost imagine her son. She says she wants to give Ranma the family treasure, and Ranma wants to reveal himself to her. There are two chapters of Genma trying to prevent this, and then he's revealed to Nodoka in his human form. She's... not particularly happy with him. Genma takes off with the treasure and Ranko declares that she'll get it back. (Nodoka is perplexed by how manly Ranko seems.) Watching Ranko and Genma fight, Nodoka notices that there's something threatening about hot water kettles. Later, when Ranko is knocked out, Nodoka tries putting one on her head. And then just the lid. (Ranma wakes up and kicks it away, revealing that there isn't even any water in it.) Nodoka wonders if Ranko is afraid of hot water, and Ranma runs away, thinking his mom has figured it out.

Ranma arranged to meet Nodoka at the family grave. But when she arrives, there's a fake Ranma there, and Genma knocks her out and takes the treasure. An angry Ranma appears, having been tied up and buried by Genma. A chase scene follows, with Genma and Ranma transforming quite a lot, and Nodoka (who can't see him) noticing that Ranma's voice keeps changing. Finally Genma runs into a tree on the edge of a cliff and Nodoka goes flying out of his arms. Ranma jumps to save her, knowing full well that he'll transform when they hit the water below. He throws her sword into the cliff face below them, and they land and balance on it, and have a touching, tear-filled reunion. (this boy needs a mom, you guys. seriously.) He's about to tell her about the curse when Genma lands on the sword. They all go tumbling into the water, and Nodoka sees Ranma transform as he crashes into the rocks beneath the water.

Unconscious, Ranma has some crazy seppuku dreams while Akane explains to Nodoka that Ranma didn't want to disappoint her. Nodoka says that it explains why Ranko felt like family to her, and says that she - no he - was so manly, and that this child is a fine boy. Soun and Akane verify that this means Ranma doesn't have to commit seppuku.(Genma, meanwhile, took the case with the family treasure to pawn it, only to discover a pawn slip within. Family tradition, I guess.)

Back at home, Nodoka comes to the dojo where Ranma and Akane are taunting each other and comments that they get along so well, and tells Akane that she should come visit them whenever she wishes. She's taking Ranma and Genma back home with her tomorrow. This flummoxes both Ranma and Akane.

Later that night, Ranma and Akane are home alone together, but before everyone leaves, Nabiki tells Ranma to find Akane and cheer her up, because she's been crying over the separation. Ranma doesn't believe her, but Nabiki convinces him, and then his head swells and he thinks that Akane can be cute sometimes. Akane, however, is in the dojo thinking that she needs to see him off with a smile, since it's not like she'll never see him again. But when they finally talk, Ranma is annoyed that Akane thinks his leaving is for the best. When Akane asks if he doesn't want to leave, he gets even more annoyed and says he can't wait. Akane takes the bait and says "I'm sure you can't, since you're not leaving anything you care about." They continue to bicker, and the next day everyone says goodbye to Ranma except Akane. She's looking out the window, but writes "Jerk" in the condensation when he sees her, so he holds up a sign that says "barrel", and they part. At Nodoka's house, Ranma is sulking, because "with that kind of goodbye there's no chance."

Kasumi sends Akane over to Ranma's house with some laundry he left behind, but before she arrives, Kodachi, Shampoo, and Ukyo all come over to introduce themselves to Nodoka. Akane slips in the front door to see them all, then slips out just as quietly. She sees a concrete brick out front, so she ties Ranma's clothes to it and throws it inside at him. Things are definitely not good in the Ranma/Akane romance world.

In the next story, Nodoka has a package she'd like Ranma to give Akane. But he and Akane aren't exactly talking to each other at the moment. His fist attempt fails, and he opens the box to see... a ring? Nabiki sees it as well and says it's obviously supposed to be an engagement ring, so now Ranma is freaking out over how to give it to her (preferably away from others). He messes up a few times, and even dresses up like his mother, pretending to be her in a dark shed so that Akane won't think it's from him. She calls him out, and then comments on how different it is, only seeing him at school. They then proceed to argue about wanting to make up. (I can't even make this up, omg.) Having failed at giving her the present, he crawls back through his window (still dressed in his mom's kimono, but as a guy) and is seen by his mother. XD

Nodoka sees Akane out and about and asks if she's received her gift yet. Ranma is still trying to come up with a clever way to give her the gift, and his ideas are garbage. Luckily he can't carry out his moronic idea because Kuno interrupts, having heard that Ranma was to give Akane an engagement ring (Nabiki blabbed). But Ranma keeps anyone from actually saying the word engagement, shouting "it's not!" so, you know, Akane won't get any ideas. But he seems to A. think it is an engagement ring, and B. wants Akane to have it, because when she demands that he hand it over, he asks "... you want this?" and she says "Darn right I do." and he thinks "It's not what I expected, but at last..." and then his suitors show up, demanding that he give the ring to them. He escapes and finds Akane in the park, and tells her not to get the wrong idea when he gives it to her. She seems genuinely touched, and asks if she can really have it. He says "Mom said it was for you, and, well, I thought it would look good on you, too." But when she pulls the ring out, it's actually just a fake top for a box to put pills in. Nodoka says "I always did love that pillbox. We Saotome women have so many hardships to tell with." And at the end it's also revealed that Shampoo, Kodachi, and Ukuo have destroyed the Saotomes' house, so they're back living with the Tendos again.

And finally, we have a cute little one-shot where Ukyo is sick and asks Konatsu to run the shop. But Konatsu is super thrifty after a life of poverty and makes terrible food and charges nothing for it. So Ranma and Akane help, and it gets worse. So Ranma suggests they make the money back by having a challenge - people can win a giant prize if they can eat all of the meal Akane prepares, and charges 100,000 yen per challenge. Finally, Ukyo decides to just close the shop altogether while she recovers, as Konatsu ended up emptying the till to hide money in the okinomiyaki to boost sales.

So, this is weird because I know that the next (last) two volumes focus on China and the curse, and Ukyo isn't much of a presence in them. A lot of shippers think that she's the most viable option (sometimes over Akane, which is narrative BS, in my opinion) - but really the fact that most of her storylines are just friendly stories, I really feel like she's not romantically threatening for our main couple. She's cute, sure, but it's pretty well established that Ranma thinks Akane is cute when she's *behaving* in cute ways. And while Ukyo and Ranma have a history of friendship, at this point Ranma and Akane have so much shared history, too. So I kind of feel like this volume puts the nail in the coffin for both Ryoga and Ukyou as suitors. But that's just me and my shipper goggles, I suppose.

This was a good volume, and I really liked the resolution with Nodoka - as well as her being in Ranma's life ended the need for him to stay at the Tendos', and that this revelation completely threw him off because he and Akane hadn't really imagined life any differently. I just... I really love these two.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Natilin Alpaca Saurio.
1,276 reviews3 followers
September 9, 2024
Por qué todos los tomos no pueden ser así?! 😭😭😭😭

Lista de personajes que más me sacan de quicio (s o C?????.... Ah)

El viejo verde.
El padre de Ranma, panda hijo de mil.
El imbécil del Kuno, más pesado y lo cagan, no nace.
Mención honorífica a Nabiki, pero ella tiene más personalidad y es al menos graciosa así que se la pasamos.
La hermana de Kuno, por suerte no aparece tanto.
Shampoo, solo trata bien a Ranma casi, eso no me gusta, de ahí en más ta bien :D


Ahora mención de honor para el personaje que robó mi corazón completamente, la cual es por supuesto Akane, preciosa, divina, adorable, increíble, fuerte, buena persona, solidaria... Naaaah que podría seguir hasta mañana sin problema. La amo. Y a Ranma también, un poquito, solo que suele ser medio cortito el chico pobrecito.
Profile Image for Cecillie.
1,144 reviews15 followers
January 14, 2024
This was a relatively enjoyable volume, but probably still one of my least favourite. It's just a lot of really dumb, but not very funny short "episodes". It starts with a plant that attacks angry people, then a weird valentines thing, then the superintendant of the high school returns and he needs to get sued because what the fuck? Then there's another too long thing with Ranma's mom, who's standard for what a "masculine proper boy" is, is so insanely out of whack. Lastly, Akane has nightmares. No, I will not elaborate, because it's stupid.
Profile Image for Philmore Olazo.
Author 6 books4 followers
March 3, 2023
I'm quite sad reading this since it's pretty clear how the end of the story is comming.

We have many changes to the Status Quo, that is later reversed.
Ranma's mother here is pushing the plot to its natural end.

And I just love how Genma gets what he deserves when his wife doens't even acknowledge him.
Profile Image for Villain E.
4,035 reviews19 followers
February 12, 2019
First a couple of amusing short stories starring Akane and Ryoga. Then a resumption of the storyline with Ranma's mother. You can tell we're getting to the end of the series because there's an actual resolution and progression.
Profile Image for Chloe.
245 reviews1 follower
February 23, 2024
3.5 stars

There were some moments that got me laughing!

It was cute Akane gave Ranma chocolate for Valentine's Day. But it should have been 2-3 more chapters of it. Not about a girl with a rabbit stuffed animal and her granny.

The breast joke and breast attack bores me.
6,251 reviews40 followers
February 27, 2016
Part 1: The Conspiracy of Jellyfish Beach: Akane wins a prize of a swimsuit that will allow you to swim. She enters a swimming contest, but all the girls have the same suit on and the same hair style. A giant jellyfish grabs Akane but the sacrifice isn't exactly a sacrifice after all.


Part 2: Coming Soon: The family is in the highlands having a barbecue. Ryoga shows up, having a map from Akari asking him to meet her, but he takes Ranma's shopping list by accident. A story about Ryoga's total lack of direction.


Part 3: A Visit to the Family Grave: Genma tricks Ranma into trying to raid a grave of his ancestors. Nodoka shows up, though, and Ranma and Genma change into Ranma-chan and Mr. Panda. Ranma-chan keeps getting changed by hot water and has to escape to find cold water. Finally Nodoka catches Genma in his acual form.


Part 4: The Saotome Family Reunion: Genma steals the family treasure (just a medal, actually) and Ranko vows to get it back.


Part 5: A Mother's Doubts: Nodoka shows that she's not really very bright and is quite willing to draw her katana.


Part 6: Ranma's Seppeku: Genma shows some of the garbage he's truly made of and Ranma has to rescue Nodoka who has fallen off a cliff thanks to Genma.


Part 7: Reunion and Farewell: Nodoka gets to see Ranma for a few moments before they fall into the sea and she sees Ranma change. She plans to take Genma and Ranma back home with
her.


>Part 8: Goodbye Ranma?!: Genma and Ranma are at Nodoka's when Kodachi arrives. Then Ukyo and Shampoo arrive, and shortly after Akane arrives.


Part 9: A Package from Mother: Nodoka is concerned about Ranma and Akane not getting along. Nodoka gives Ranma a ring to give to Akane. He tries to pass himself off as Nodoka and is in women's clothes when he gets home.<


Part 10: Bet On The Ring!: Kuno, Kodachi and Shampoo all try to stop Ranma from giving the package to Akane. Genma gets beaten up by the girls. It turns out what Ranma thought was an engagement ring wasn't.


Part 11: The Sales Force: Ukyo is ill so Akane and Ranma offer to help out at her restaurant.
Profile Image for Mosley.
1,463 reviews2 followers
May 10, 2015

Spoilers!!!!

Ch1: It's been awhile since I've read the other earlier mangas, but Akane can't swim? I feel like they've been on a lot of beach/water trips?????

Ch2: Poor directionally challenged Ryoga! I'm glade they paired him up with someone so Ranma and Akane can et together. :)

Ch3: Oh snap I think this is going to be the volume that his mom figures it out! Man she is dingy.

Ch4: Damn Genma is so mean to his wife.

Ch5: Come on and figure it out already!

Ch6: What terrible tricks, save her Ranma.

Ch7: Yay! She knows.... BOO! She wants to take Ranma away from Akane. Can't she just take Genma? lol.

Ch8: Their goodbye was almost sad/cute but then it turned into the normal cover up. Still kinda funny.

Ch9: So many suitors but only one he truly likes.

Ch10: Everything/one gets in the way. Can't believe his gonna give it to her or try to anyway.

Ch11: A pill box!!!! You got to be kidding me! Damn it Rumiko!!!!!!!

Ch12: "But you are a guy." " I wont tell if you don't." Akane-Konatsu.
and then the best line in the volume.
"Leave the sexy stuff to the Transvestites?!"

Profile Image for Miss Ryoko.
2,702 reviews174 followers
February 9, 2013
Finally! A volume that gets back to the main storylines! The first two storylines and the last one were clearly fillers, though it was nice to see Ryoga return, even for a little bit. I was SOOOOOOOO happy that It was also nice to see that storyline tie into the main storyline between Ranma and Akane (still don't approve).

Two more volumes to go and I cannot wait to finish this series! But then I won't be done, because I think I will watch the anime. But this series is just never ending. I'm excited to finish it and move onto something else.
Profile Image for Jesus Flores.
2,590 reviews67 followers
May 19, 2020
La aventura de Akane y el traje de baño, divertida, y mostrando de nuevo que Ranma es un envidioso y degenerado.
Ryoga y su cita, ooh pobre Ryoga.
Ukyo enferma, con esas ayudantes, creo que le salio peor mantener abierto el local que cerrar.

Y la historia que tiene más impacto, la de la mama de Ranma y la tumba Saotome. SPOILERS
Profile Image for Fugo Feedback.
5,108 reviews174 followers
July 26, 2014
Me venía riendo de lo lindo con este tomo (la historia de la Isla Calamar es una pequeña joyita) hasta que me empezaron a molestar varias pifiadas en la edición y algún que otro cambio de criterio (me gustaba más cuando los flashbacks iban en italic?) y se me terminó haciendo un poco larga la historia de Nodoka, que de todos modos me sigue resultando un personaje muy simpático. Punto a favor para Rumiko por empezar a cerrar cabos sueltos (como el famoso asunto del seppuku de la susodicha Nodoka), aunque claro que son sólo dos tomos por delante muchas opciones no le quedaban.
Profile Image for Jucchan.
61 reviews
April 22, 2011
They say you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. But I did - And I was right ;) This series is amazing! You get genderbender, fantasy, action, romance and slapstick-humor along with intense serious moments, what more can you want?
Profile Image for Emi えみ Takami 鷹見.
1,074 reviews29 followers
March 28, 2012
In which all of Ranma's secrets are exposed. Will Nodoka come to terms with her son's predicament or will she make him commit ritual seppuku?

Note: Seppuku is Japanese ritual self-disembowelment.
Profile Image for Ady Weasley.
1,797 reviews44 followers
June 7, 2020
Por fin llegamos al momento clave en la reunión entre Ranma y su mamá....descubrirá el secreto? Lo aceptara o les hará el seppuku? Yo ya se la respuesta pero si la quieren saber tienen que leer este tomo.
Profile Image for La Revistería Comics.
1,604 reviews89 followers
September 30, 2015
Ranma le da el ok a la recta final del que fue uno de los mangas más pospuestos de la historia argentina. Para leer y releer hasta que se reedite toda en el mismo formato... Jeh.
Profile Image for Isabella.
842 reviews55 followers
June 30, 2019
ranma finally met his mother (as a man) and she finally found out about his secret!!! all is well!!!
i loved this
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Khari.
3,129 reviews77 followers
September 17, 2019
らんまと彼の母の再開は面白かった。でもあかねは可哀そう、これから何をすればいいの?

指輪の話は一番面白かった。その薬箱はちょっとひどい過ぎ。
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews

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