OK, due to the poor response quality of Jack Lint's
review, I'm back.  Onward.


Elseworlds #1:  For Want of a Nail
by John Walter Biles

Biles' second appearance in these reviews, but it can't be
helped, because this one needs to be reviewed.

Most people know me now for my passionate defense of Akari
Unryuu, and she is my favorite character.  But I do have a
soft spot for Ukyou Kuonji.  The idea of giving Ranma a 
fiancee that isn't easy to dismiss, a fiancee that is nice
to him and that he likes, was an excellent one.  I am 
saddened that RT eventually decided to abandon that 
characterization to make the Ranma/Akane relationship work 
better.

However, this is the first of a series where some mysterious
figure, based on a DC comic that I don't read, is creating
alternate realities.  The first of these has one major
difference:  Ranma picked Ukyou, not okonomiyaki.

Actually, it's the simplest of the four released stories.
There are a few other differences (Ranma's engaged to Nabiki,
Ryouga's not cursed), but this is really an example of what
could have happened.  It's actually a little sad, because it's
such a grerat future for Ukyou.  She has Ranma, she's cooking,
everyone's happy.  Naturally, this happy ending cannot possibly
be allowed to continue. ;-)

The characterization is impeccable, with a Ranma who has been
tempered by his friendship with Ukyou, and a Nabiki who finds
herself falling in love with a man she cannot have (now,
where've we seen *that* before?  Best of all, it has the only
Ryouga/Akane romance that I could actually see happen.

This certainly made the Elseworlds series start with a bang.
And for me, it's still the best of the four (David Tai having
trouble with #5).

4 stars.  Joe Bob says check it out.


Next:  <pause>

<longer pause>

Kun-chan's on vacation, right?  She's unsubbed for now?

<even longer pause>

Next:  Split Personalities.

<runs like hell>

--Sean Gaffney
--who believes in living dangerously