Everyone, please keep this thread going (but don't repeat what's
already been said).  I've always wondered why various authors decide to
portray Cologne in such a ... vicious (?) manner.  *grin*  Wow, my first
ever (well, second) post to the mailing list.  Hope it's
thought-provoking.  Ja mata!

  Probably because she tries to force her way of life on to Ranma.  I find
it strange myself.

  There are only two "evil" regulars in Ranma 1/2:

Happousai, the dirty old pervert
Mousse, who has a blatent disregard for anyone who gets in his way.
(He changes in Vol 23, but for most normal fanfics..)

Genma isn't evil.  Lots of other things yes, but not evil.

  Ranma 1/2 is based on a "shoot first and search the body after"
philosophy.  When you add in the fact that all the characters have their
own adjendas which don't agree with anyone else's it makes for a very
volatile and destructive place.

  Shampoo doesn't chase Ranma because of Cologne, she chases him because
she wants him.  She tries to kill Akane when she thinks she can get away
with it.
  Mousse isn't trying to win Shampoo's heart when he fights Ranma..  Mousse
wants Ranma _dead_.
  For all of Ryouga's "honor," he always tries to doublecross Ranma when
they are forced to work together.  He never gets away with it because Ranma
often beats him to it.
  Nodoka is happy for Ranma because his goals are the same as hers.  If he
should stray.. out comes the katana!  She can very easily say "I love you"
while cutting his head off.

  Whenever a "powerful evil dude" shows up, the characters fight each other
as much as if not more than they fight the bad guy.  The movies don't count
since Takahashi had no part in making them.

--
mattera@tiac.net
http://www.tiac.net/users/mattera