This is a review for the second printing of Ranma 1/2 Volume 11. This volume was “flipped,” which means that it reads like an American book instead of a traditional manga.

Ranma 1/2 Volume 11
Written by: Rumiko Takahashi
Publisher: Shogakukan
English Publisher: VIZ Media
Release Date: August 10, 2004

There are two story arcs that appear in this Ranma 1/2 volume. However, the second story arc is not resolved at the end of this release. The first story focuses on special soap that Shampoo gets from China that allows her to not be affected by the Jusenkyo curse when she is splashed with cold water. One day at the public bath, Ryoga manages to get a hold of the soap and discovers the soap’s secret, since he finds he has stopped changing into the little black pig, P-chan.

When Shampoo realizes that Ryoga has the soap and Ranma learns about the soap, they team up together to try to trick Ryoga into giving them the soap. Akane finds herself getting tangled into the situation, which culminates with Akane and Ryoga going on a date. This is a story that I recognize from the anime series, and the manga and anime versions of the story are very similar. This story arc utilizes the humor and tangled relationships that have become associated with the Ranma 1/2 series.

The other story sees Ranma angering the old pervert, Happosai, while he’s out on one of his panty raids. To get revenge on Ranma, Happosai burns him with a moxibustion. This has the effect of reducing Ranma’s strength down to the weakness of a baby. After being challenged by his many rivals, and Happosai running off with the one piece of information that would help Ranma defeat the moxibustion, he and his father leave to go to the moxibustion capital. Ukyo goes along with them. Akane learns where they went and follows. Cologne, Shampoo’s great-grandmother and Ryoga also show up, and Cologne works at training Ranma with a technique to use to defeat Happosai.

Overall, the second story arc is more dramatic in nature. However, there is some humor early on after Ranma is first affected by the moxibustion. To me, the most humorous part of this story arc is when a little kid on a tricycle can easily topple Ranma over. And just like the first story arc, this story also appears in the anime version of Ranma 1/2, and there’s very little difference between the manga and the anime adaptation.

Ranma 1/2 Volume 11 contains many of the elements that readers of the series have come to expect. For readers who are fans of the series and enjoy the tropes and the characters, this should be an enjoyable read.

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