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(More customer reviews)Pantyhose Taro returns!
Rumiko Takahashi's most openly obnoxious character returns to the Ranma 1/2 series, as Ranma and his pals struggle with body armor, hot springs and fishing poles. A couple of the shorter stories are rather weak, but the other three are hilarious offbeat.
Happosai arrives at the Tendo house, beaten to a pulp and covered in ink. It turns out to be Pantyhose Taro, who plans to douse Happosai with the "Spring of Drowned Pious Man" water. Only problem is, he got the wrong cursed water -- the "Spring of Drowned Twins." Now Ranma, Soun and Genma must stop Pantyhose Taro from dousing Happosai with the water. But Pantyhose Taro has a new weapon -- giant tentacles.
In the aftermath, Nodoka Saotome returns to the Tendo house, just as Kasumi falls ill. Not only does Nodoka offer to cook their meals, but she offers to teach Akane. Problem is, Akane's cooking is toxic. So the disguised Ranma takes it on himself to cook as well, and soon he and Akane are sauteeing their way to disaster.
On the goofier front, Ranma ends up playing "Cinderella": A rich guy is trying to identify the pig-tailed girl who once stomped on his head. And school creepoid Gosunkugi discovers a way to defeat Ranma once and for all -- invincible body armor. Now if only the armor didn't explode...
Finally, Ryoga purchases a magic "fishing pole of love" to use on Akane -- except it hits Ranma instead. Much to Ryoga's discomfort, soon Ranma is washing his clothes, making his breakfast and asking if they can at least be "friends." As Ranma's infatuation grows, a confused Akane tries to figure out exactly what is going on.
Rumiko Takahashi has always been great at action stories, or stories that rely on character gags. The two shortest stories don't quite work; one is too goofy, and the other feels squashed into a too-short chapter. The rest of the twenty-first volume is pure gold.
One of the stories is almost non-stop action with a bit of goofiness thrown in, and the ever-arrogant Pantyhose Taro destroying bathhouses and causing mayhem. And then Takahashi switches to character-based comedy, with lots of romantic rivalry and kitchen disasters. Oh, the suspense -- will Akane ever learn how to cook without poisoning people?
But pity poor Ryoga -- Ranma's rival really goes through the wringer, with Ranma pursuing him, and Akane believing that he's so pitiful that he'll take affection from anyone, male or female. Even though he brought it on himself, you can't help but feel sorry for him.
Three solid stories (and two weak short ones) make up "Ranma 1/2's" twenty-first volume, full of action and comic goodness. A pleasant comic read.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Ranma 1/2, Vol. 21
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