NEW RANMA 1/2 MAXI-SERIES!

Viz Communications announced on its web site (http:www.viz.com), in the 
"downloads" section, that they just signed Rumiko Takahashi to do a Ranma 1/2 
maxiseries for release this fall.  According to the announcement, Takahashi, 
who just finished the series in Japan, started to get involved with the 
internet.  At the recommendation of Gerald Jones, she read some of the 
fanfictions available and came up with an idea for a limited series.

Takahashi said that the idea for a different approach has been bouncing around 
in her head since her visit to San Diego, where she found her work being sold 
in plastic covers and labeled "mature" in comics shops.  She basically says 
that it was unlikely that she could do something like this in Japan, but the 
American market might accept it since limited series are more common here.

"The new series will start in the middle of Ranma and Akane's second year in 
college.  They are married and have a one year old boy.  Nabiki is contacted 
by the head of the local yakuza, and is offered a position which she accepts.  
The rest of the series will deal with the consequences of her decision and her 
attempt to get out of the yakuza once she finds she's in over her head.  In 
the midst of this will be a situation where Akane thinks Ranma is having an 
affair with Ukyou."

Takahashi states that she found the idea attractive because "Its different - a 
break from the purely comedic work I've done in the past.  This will have an 
edge to it that Ranma doesn't have, though it will still have the elements 
that made Ranma popular in the first place.  Its not going to focus on 
Ranma, though he will remain a major character.  Second, working on a 
limited series rather than ongoing.  Thirdly, working on a monthly deadline 
instead of weekly.  And fourth, the chance to work with another artist."

The artist mentioned will be Ryoichi Ikegami [Sanctuary, Mai] whom Takahashi 
raves about.  "His women are sensual, the men handsome and stylish, and his 
sex scenes are just beautiful.  He has a sense for figures and action that 
will give [the book] a radically different feel."  Apparently making this a 
truly "mature" work, Takahashi says she does plan to show characters having 
sex (as a comeuppance to those who have already stuck the "mature" label on 
Ranma 1/2).  If successful, future collaborations may be possible.  Takahashi 
looks forward to seeing another artist's "take" on her characters.

When asked about what fanfictions she likes, she admitted that she was 
"astounded by the number", but that if she were to further acknowledge their 
existence she might have to take steps to protect her copyrights.  So for now 
she's ignoring them.  (She admitted that she liked the lemon fanfictions best)

[I saved the best part for last!]

Ikegami did some preliminary sketches of some of the characters and Viz has 
scanned them in.  Pencil sketches of Nabiki, Ranma, Ranma-chan, and Akane are 
also located on Viz's "downloads" page with the article.  A more explicit 
sketch of Akane dreaming of Ranma and Ukyou having sex is viewable through a 
standard "18+" buffer page.

[Poster's note - YOW!  NABIKI!]




















[APRIL FOOL'S!  For me, its early, but for most of the rest of the world, its 
April 1st.  And what would it be without something like this?  Just another 
day.]

JK