The Pantyhose Returns Arc is the 57th story arc covered in the Ranma ½ manga, spanning four chapters. This arc was included in volume 23 of the Weekly Shōnen Sunday tankōbon and volume 21 of the Viz Media tankōbon.
Plot Summary[]
Akane finds Happosai badly beaten on the Tendo doorstep. Soon a large fist breaks down the wall and Pantyhose Taro emerges. He tells everyone how he tried to live with his name but upon meeting some young girls he was unable to tell them his name. Determined to make Happosai give him a new name Pantyhose Taro travelled to Jusenkyo to get some water from Shannannīchuan - the Spring of Pious Man. While the rest of the family are relieved at the chance of getting rid of Happosai, Akane tells them that the water must be kept away from Happosai.[1] The water turns out to be from the Spring of Drowned Twins, so Ranma rushes to stop Pantyhose. Pantyhose reveals his new cursed form, with series of giant octopus tentacles coming out of his back. He holds Ranma with one of the tentacle and splash the water on Happosai.[2]
Before the water hits him, Ranma flashes to attract Happosai. Soun has an idea to keep Happosai in a bathhouse so that no matter how Pantyhose Taro strikes he will have to turn back into a boy to retrieve Happosai. Ranma desperately tries to get around Pantyhose's tentacles and comes up with a plan.[3] Ranma lures Pantyhose and traps him using his own tentacles. Pantyhose frees himself but falls into hot water. He learns that the water is not what he thought it was, and attempts to use it on himself, but is thwarted. Happosai steals the water to use it on himself, but the water ends up only splashing a bump on his head.[4]
Chapters Covered[]
| Image | Chapter Number | Arc Number | English Chapter Name | Japanese Chapter Name | Anime Counterpart(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
パンスト太郎の逆襲 (Pansuto Taro no gyakushu) |
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|
黒い秘密兵器 (Kuroi himitsu heiki) |
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|
お湯の砦 (O-yu no toride) |
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|
決戦！タコ足封じ!! (Kessen! tako ashi fuji) |
Major Events[]
- Pantyhose Taro comes back, this time with a brand new curse to make himself more powerful.
- Pantyhose Taro fails once again to have his name changed by Happosai.
- The spring of drowned twins is revealed.
Characters Introduced[]
References[]