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Bleach #46
Bleach, Volume 46
Back from Blind
With Captain General Yamamoto giving him an opening, Ichigo goes in for the finishing strike against Aizen! But Ichigo will need the help of some new reinforcements if he hopes to defeat both Aizen and Gin Ichimaru!
With Captain General Yamamoto giving him an opening, Ichigo goes in for the finishing strike against Aizen! But Ichigo will need the help of some new reinforcements if he hopes to defeat both Aizen and Gin Ichimaru!
192 pages, Paperback
First published August 4, 2010
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September 2, 2024
"There are no truths or lies in this world. The only thing that exists is hard reality. And yet everything that exists in this world lives by conveniently believing a few untruths. That's the only way they know how to live. But for the weak, who make up the majority of this world, some facts are simply too painful to believe." [Aizen]
After Genryuusai's desperate sacrifice to save the Karakura Town, Ichigo's there to attack Aizen. Every Ichigo's fight was never easy, but the one against Aizen seem to be the hardest of all. Ichigo's powerful, true, but still just a teenager. He's powerful, but still vulnerable. He's powerful, but doesn't have the necessary informations, like Aizen has. He's powerful, but simply not ready for this encounter.
He's powerful, but Aizen's already knows it. Knows his strengths and his weaknesses. Knows his limits. Knows everything.
"The number of ways you come up with to defeat me is proof of your desperation and is also the exact number of hopes you have left. It's my duty to crush every one of them. [Aizen]
In Volume 46 Aizen reveals himself not only as the strongest living Soul Reaper (and more than a Soul Reaper), but also as a true mastermind behind everything. And by everything, I mean EVERYTHING. He was playing his game before anyone realized it. His chess pieces were put in the right places a very, very long time ago. Now it was time for the final move. It was time for the win.
This volume is build up with a lot of twists and turns. It's truly a rollercoaster of events. When it seems like the heroes are close to victory, Aizen's there to prove them wrong time and time again. He was already absurdly strong before, but now he's like in Thanos' level. Undefeatable. No matter who comes with an attack, it's useless. There is no victory for the good side. All they manage to do is to speed along Aizen's evolution into the perfect being he always dreamed to become.
How to fight such a powerful individuum? It's like battling a god itself. Does our heroes stand a chance? Does Ichigo - the Soul Society's only hope - stand a chance? He seems to be more vulnerable than he had ever been. Even with support from his friends things are too hard for him to handle. Not only because of Aizen's strength - in Volume 46 he had to face some really shocking truths. How to keep a clear mind when everything you believed in suddenly became a lie?
Things are wrapping up quickly, so the Winter War arc will end up soon. Part of me is in a hurry to read as much as possible (TYBW Cour 3 is coming in October!), but other part of me is trying to read slowly so I could cherish the story as long as possible. Anyways, I'm jumping into volume 47 right away! I see Gin on the cover, so it's obvious what's coming. It feels like I saw this scene play out a thousand times already and I used all the tears that I had left, but I'm sure that I will be bawling once again. I will have tissues ready! ;)
Some things I want to talk about: (beware of the spoilers of the entire series!)
~ When Aizen said that Ichigo had been born special and started to say who he really was, Isshin's arrival gave Ichigo the answer he was looking for, but after watching TYBW it's clear to me that it wasn't what Aizen had in mind. I wonder now how the events would play out if Ichigo knew the truth!
~ The TYBW events let me realize what a mastermind Aizen truly was. When he said to Ichigo in Volume 46 "I've known you from the moment you were born.", I thought that he is just using his effortless manipulations skills to shake Ichigo up. That there is no truth behind it. But oh boy, I was wrong! He was truly there from the start!
~ Isshin might be seen as a bad father for all the punches he uses and for all the truths that he's hiding, but let's be real - he ISN'T a bad parent. He's doing his best and it clearly works for Ichigo. I don't like how he kept his son in the dark for so long, I admit it, but I really like his parenting methods. He uses his strength, but it's something Ichigo needs to snap up from his funk.
~ I really love the Isshin and Ichigo & Urahara and Yoruichi bickering scenes in this volume!
~ Ichigo's comeback to Rukia's words of understanding from the early Bleach volumes melted my heart.
~ Why isn't Gin leaving the battlefield? Why, why, why? Just go away, my boy, come back to Matsumoto and be happy (I know it will not happen, but I wish it did) 😭
~ I hate Aizen's narcissistic nature. His barkings in Urahara's direction about Hogyoku truly needed. Just admit that you're jealous that Urahara made something so amazing and not you, and move on, jeez (I know that he will not, but a I can dream, can I?).
After Genryuusai's desperate sacrifice to save the Karakura Town, Ichigo's there to attack Aizen. Every Ichigo's fight was never easy, but the one against Aizen seem to be the hardest of all. Ichigo's powerful, true, but still just a teenager. He's powerful, but still vulnerable. He's powerful, but doesn't have the necessary informations, like Aizen has. He's powerful, but simply not ready for this encounter.
He's powerful, but Aizen's already knows it. Knows his strengths and his weaknesses. Knows his limits. Knows everything.
"The number of ways you come up with to defeat me is proof of your desperation and is also the exact number of hopes you have left. It's my duty to crush every one of them. [Aizen]
In Volume 46 Aizen reveals himself not only as the strongest living Soul Reaper (and more than a Soul Reaper), but also as a true mastermind behind everything. And by everything, I mean EVERYTHING. He was playing his game before anyone realized it. His chess pieces were put in the right places a very, very long time ago. Now it was time for the final move. It was time for the win.
This volume is build up with a lot of twists and turns. It's truly a rollercoaster of events. When it seems like the heroes are close to victory, Aizen's there to prove them wrong time and time again. He was already absurdly strong before, but now he's like in Thanos' level. Undefeatable. No matter who comes with an attack, it's useless. There is no victory for the good side. All they manage to do is to speed along Aizen's evolution into the perfect being he always dreamed to become.
How to fight such a powerful individuum? It's like battling a god itself. Does our heroes stand a chance? Does Ichigo - the Soul Society's only hope - stand a chance? He seems to be more vulnerable than he had ever been. Even with support from his friends things are too hard for him to handle. Not only because of Aizen's strength - in Volume 46 he had to face some really shocking truths. How to keep a clear mind when everything you believed in suddenly became a lie?
Things are wrapping up quickly, so the Winter War arc will end up soon. Part of me is in a hurry to read as much as possible (TYBW Cour 3 is coming in October!), but other part of me is trying to read slowly so I could cherish the story as long as possible. Anyways, I'm jumping into volume 47 right away! I see Gin on the cover, so it's obvious what's coming. It feels like I saw this scene play out a thousand times already and I used all the tears that I had left, but I'm sure that I will be bawling once again. I will have tissues ready! ;)
Some things I want to talk about: (beware of the spoilers of the entire series!)
~ When Aizen said that Ichigo had been born special and started to say who he really was, Isshin's arrival gave Ichigo the answer he was looking for, but after watching TYBW it's clear to me that it wasn't what Aizen had in mind. I wonder now how the events would play out if Ichigo knew the truth!
~ The TYBW events let me realize what a mastermind Aizen truly was. When he said to Ichigo in Volume 46 "I've known you from the moment you were born.", I thought that he is just using his effortless manipulations skills to shake Ichigo up. That there is no truth behind it. But oh boy, I was wrong! He was truly there from the start!
~ Isshin might be seen as a bad father for all the punches he uses and for all the truths that he's hiding, but let's be real - he ISN'T a bad parent. He's doing his best and it clearly works for Ichigo. I don't like how he kept his son in the dark for so long, I admit it, but I really like his parenting methods. He uses his strength, but it's something Ichigo needs to snap up from his funk.
~ I really love the Isshin and Ichigo & Urahara and Yoruichi bickering scenes in this volume!
~ Ichigo's comeback to Rukia's words of understanding from the early Bleach volumes melted my heart.
~ Why isn't Gin leaving the battlefield? Why, why, why? Just go away, my boy, come back to Matsumoto and be happy (I know it will not happen, but I wish it did) 😭
~ I hate Aizen's narcissistic nature. His barkings in Urahara's direction about Hogyoku truly needed. Just admit that you're jealous that Urahara made something so amazing and not you, and move on, jeez (I know that he will not, but a I can dream, can I?).
September 2, 2023
Now things are really starting to get intense! Ichigo’s dad is here along with Urahara and Yoruichi and there trying to take on Aizen who doesn’t even look like himself anymore. I don’t know what they plan to do, and honestly I’m not sure there’s anything left to do, but they’ll find a way to stop him. Also Ichigo is currently battling Gin and it’s getting dangerous for Ichigo. I’m ready to see what happens next.
July 28, 2021
و اينم از جلد چهل و ششم مجموعه مانگاbleach...
اين جلد به جرأت يكي از بهترين جلد ها بود كه نبرد بين ايچيگو و كوروساكي ايشين و اوراهارا كيسكه رو در برابر ايزن نشون مي داد كه نبرد خيلي خوبي هست جز بهترين نبرد ها نيست اما خيلي لذت بخش بود و فكركنم دو سه جلد ديگه ادامه داشته باشه....
اين جلد خداروشكر كمدي نداشت و بيشتر به صحنه هاي اكشن و توضيح در مورد قدرت اصلي هوكيوگو مي پرداخت و اطلاعات شكه كننده اي رو ميداد...
در مورد طرح جلد بايد بگم كه هيچ ربطي به داستانش نداشت و فقط مربوط به اخر چپتر اخرش هست...
پيشنهاد ميكنم حتما اين مجموعه رو بخونيد....
اين جلد به جرأت يكي از بهترين جلد ها بود كه نبرد بين ايچيگو و كوروساكي ايشين و اوراهارا كيسكه رو در برابر ايزن نشون مي داد كه نبرد خيلي خوبي هست جز بهترين نبرد ها نيست اما خيلي لذت بخش بود و فكركنم دو سه جلد ديگه ادامه داشته باشه....
اين جلد خداروشكر كمدي نداشت و بيشتر به صحنه هاي اكشن و توضيح در مورد قدرت اصلي هوكيوگو مي پرداخت و اطلاعات شكه كننده اي رو ميداد...
در مورد طرح جلد بايد بگم كه هيچ ربطي به داستانش نداشت و فقط مربوط به اخر چپتر اخرش هست...
پيشنهاد ميكنم حتما اين مجموعه رو بخونيد....
April 7, 2025
Damn, only two issues to go 😥. Another stellar addition to the story as we see Aizen become a monster nobody can stop. Knowing what is coming i cannot wait (looking at you Gin Ichimaru). Ishin turning up to stop Aizen was incredible but MY GOAT KISUKE turning up was even better. One of my favourite moments of the entire manga. The goat is here and now Aizen is gonna see the truth of what it means to be a 'genius'. Ichigo brother we gonna need you to come with that energy you had Byakuya my boy. Cannot wait to read the final two issues.
November 4, 2022
MY BLOOD IS PUMPING OMG THESE FIGHTS ARE PEAK!!!!
November 27, 2023
Quante cose lasciate in sospeso in questo volume, aiuto.
September 8, 2025
spatapim, spatapum
in questo volume succedono millemila cose, vengono rivelate robe folli, finalmente viene allo scoperto un personaggio che ormai aspettavo da un po' e aizen ha proprio sbroccato.
che dire, tutto bellissimo.
in questo volume succedono millemila cose, vengono rivelate robe folli, finalmente viene allo scoperto un personaggio che ormai aspettavo da un po' e aizen ha proprio sbroccato.
che dire, tutto bellissimo.
February 17, 2023
This was an interesting volume as we finally get to see Aizen and Ichigo face off. I thought that the retcon explanation that Aizen was behind Ichigo’s development and strength the entire time was poorly executed in the anime (or just unsatisfying), but here it felt more natural to the story and very fitting of Aizen’s characterization. I liked seeing Ichigo’s dad finally join the fight and come to his rescue and reveal to him that he’s a Soul Reaper as well, confirming that Ichigo has his own Soul Reaper abilities through his father’s bloodline. I loved how Ichigo’s reaction to his dad being a Soul Reaper wasn’t betrayal or anger, but he simply quoted one of my favourite Rukia moments by saying that his dad didn’t have to say anything or have that conversation with him until he was ready for it. That pulled at my heartstrings. I loved seeing Gin reveal his Bankai, and I loved how simple yet effective it was compared to other characters. I loved that we never saw Gin open his eyes until this volume, it felt very significant. I loved how the Hōgyoku’s power is fully explained and how it effected the events and characters in the series up until this point. I loved how Kisuke arriving to fight Aizen was so much more significant to me as I skipped the flashback episodes of the anime but read through them in the manga this time around. I love how Kisuke feels like a fully fleshed out character to me now rather than the mysterious powerful side character with a dark past that felt disconnected from me as a viewer of the anime. I loved seeing Yoruichi enter the fight and complete the triad of side characters from the beginning of the story with great links to the world of the Soul Reapers. It was so satisfying seeing Yoruichi, Kisuke and Isshin fight together.
January 16, 2024
Read in: January 2013 and January 2024.
Well, wow!! Here's a twist- guess who shows up?? Ichigo's father- Isshin Kurosake.
Continuing from the last volume, Ichigo gets his one strike in on Aizen and does draw blood. However, unbeknownst to us, Aizen has fused himself with the Hogyoku. He then starts to blab on and on about how he has set everything up since the beginning (and I mean, THE BEGINNING!). At this point, I'm dying for him to shut up, but that's when papa shows up!
Aizen and Isshin begin to battle as Aizen is turning into a...a...he looks like a tampon. I don't know what else to say. It's bizarre. As this transformation is going on, Ichigo begins to battle Gin. We see more of Gin's Bankai and more of his fighting technique. For some reason, I loved their battle- when Ichigo tells him that he couldn't sense his heart after their first battle, I really enjoyed that conversation.
Well, as they are all fighting, in comes Urahara with a healthy blow to Aizen. They battle for a little while and them Yoruichi comes flying in. They bicker like an old married couple, but that's one of the reasons they are so fun to read about. After watching all of this transpire, Gin and Ichigo continue their battle. The last few scenes in this volume leaves us with Kira waking up and seeing Matsumoto on the move. We are left with that puzzle.
Well, wow!! Here's a twist- guess who shows up?? Ichigo's father- Isshin Kurosake.
Continuing from the last volume, Ichigo gets his one strike in on Aizen and does draw blood. However, unbeknownst to us, Aizen has fused himself with the Hogyoku. He then starts to blab on and on about how he has set everything up since the beginning (and I mean, THE BEGINNING!). At this point, I'm dying for him to shut up, but that's when papa shows up!
Aizen and Isshin begin to battle as Aizen is turning into a...a...he looks like a tampon. I don't know what else to say. It's bizarre. As this transformation is going on, Ichigo begins to battle Gin. We see more of Gin's Bankai and more of his fighting technique. For some reason, I loved their battle- when Ichigo tells him that he couldn't sense his heart after their first battle, I really enjoyed that conversation.
Well, as they are all fighting, in comes Urahara with a healthy blow to Aizen. They battle for a little while and them Yoruichi comes flying in. They bicker like an old married couple, but that's one of the reasons they are so fun to read about. After watching all of this transpire, Gin and Ichigo continue their battle. The last few scenes in this volume leaves us with Kira waking up and seeing Matsumoto on the move. We are left with that puzzle.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2012
Yet another excellent volume of BLEACH came out this month with assistant captain Rangiku Matsumoto on the cover. This volume confused me at page 26. With the whole 'I orchestrated everything that has happened to you since you were born.' I probably shouldn't be surprised though, you have to expect the unexpected in this series which is why it's so enjoyable and my favourite book series! I like the picture of Byakuya with his Starbucks at the start of chapter 396 and on the back of the volume. Even though this volume is great, why is Aizen getting stronger? There must be some kind of limit that's gonna have to kick in at some point!
Oh and I've been really, really sad at page 105. Fist off, I like Gin Ichimaru. I think he's an awesome character and I find it really hard to dislike him even if he is on the evil/ bad guy side. Gin demonstrates how fast his Kamishini no Yari is by clapping and claiming that it travels 500 times faster than that clap/ the speed of sound. This means that Kamishini no Yari travels at 350,000 mph. Useful/ useless fact of the day! XD
Oh and I've been really, really sad at page 105. Fist off, I like Gin Ichimaru. I think he's an awesome character and I find it really hard to dislike him even if he is on the evil/ bad guy side. Gin demonstrates how fast his Kamishini no Yari is by clapping and claiming that it travels 500 times faster than that clap/ the speed of sound. This means that Kamishini no Yari travels at 350,000 mph. Useful/ useless fact of the day! XD
September 14, 2019
Bleach, Vol. 46 continues where the previous tankōbon left off and contains the next nine chapters (396–404) of the on-going manga series.
Although Ichigo Kurosaki's attack wounds him, Sōsuke Aizen reveals that he fused the Hōgyoku into his body as it heals his injuries. Aizen then presents a revelation that all of Ichigo's fights since meeting Rukia Kuchiki have all been arranged by him that he had known long about since he was born. However, before Aizen could reveal Ichigo's true nature, Isshin Kurosaki, his father, intervenes as a shinigami.
After putting some distance along with Ichigo from Aizen, Isshin tries to tell his son that he will reveal what Aizen was about to tell him, but Ichigo tells him that there is no need for that. As Ichigo deals with Gin Ichimaru and his Bankai Kamishini no Yari, Isshin faces Aizen as he begins to transform while explaining that the Hōgyoku's true power is granting the wish of its possessor. Even with Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihōin joining Isshin, their efforts are ineffective as Aizen continues to slowly evolve. Meanwhile, a wounded Rangiku Matsumoto is running towards Gin.
This tankōbon is written and illustrated by Tite Kubo. The battle between Ichigo Kurosaki and Sōsuke Aizen continues and it is revealed that Aizen has fused with the Hōgyoku and is slowly evolving into something new. Ichigo Kurosaki finds out that his father, Isshin Kurosaki, is a Shinigami from Soul Society, but their discussion doesn't get any deeper than that. Isshin along with Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihōin joins the fight against Aizen, while Ichigo goes and battles Gin Ichimaru.
All in all, Bleach, Vol. 46 is a wonderful continuation to a series that seems intriguing and I cannot wait to read more.
Although Ichigo Kurosaki's attack wounds him, Sōsuke Aizen reveals that he fused the Hōgyoku into his body as it heals his injuries. Aizen then presents a revelation that all of Ichigo's fights since meeting Rukia Kuchiki have all been arranged by him that he had known long about since he was born. However, before Aizen could reveal Ichigo's true nature, Isshin Kurosaki, his father, intervenes as a shinigami.
After putting some distance along with Ichigo from Aizen, Isshin tries to tell his son that he will reveal what Aizen was about to tell him, but Ichigo tells him that there is no need for that. As Ichigo deals with Gin Ichimaru and his Bankai Kamishini no Yari, Isshin faces Aizen as he begins to transform while explaining that the Hōgyoku's true power is granting the wish of its possessor. Even with Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihōin joining Isshin, their efforts are ineffective as Aizen continues to slowly evolve. Meanwhile, a wounded Rangiku Matsumoto is running towards Gin.
This tankōbon is written and illustrated by Tite Kubo. The battle between Ichigo Kurosaki and Sōsuke Aizen continues and it is revealed that Aizen has fused with the Hōgyoku and is slowly evolving into something new. Ichigo Kurosaki finds out that his father, Isshin Kurosaki, is a Shinigami from Soul Society, but their discussion doesn't get any deeper than that. Isshin along with Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihōin joins the fight against Aizen, while Ichigo goes and battles Gin Ichimaru.
All in all, Bleach, Vol. 46 is a wonderful continuation to a series that seems intriguing and I cannot wait to read more.
April 10, 2020
The grand battle between Ichigo and Aizen continues. Mangaka Tite Kubo continues to apply plot armor around his great villain but at least it all feels natural. After all, he has been portrayed as a slimy and evil mastermind since his arrival within the Soul Society.
Of course, we couldn't forget the quiet Gin waiting patiently around the corner but the good thing is that the predictable reinforcement has finally arrived.
Things continue to be quite exciting!
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
Of course, we couldn't forget the quiet Gin waiting patiently around the corner but the good thing is that the predictable reinforcement has finally arrived.
Things continue to be quite exciting!
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
November 30, 2019
OMG - what's the backstory with Ichigo's dad, Gin and Matsumoto's story! Ahh! I need the next volume!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2021
2.5-3⭐
A bit too much talking for my taste, to be frank. I understand the wish to shock and awe readers with Aizen's power and these new revelations, but still not much actually happened.
A bit too much talking for my taste, to be frank. I understand the wish to shock and awe readers with Aizen's power and these new revelations, but still not much actually happened.
July 17, 2023
It just keeps getting better.
January 31, 2024
Leaving me on cliffhangers each ducking time
May 19, 2025
This volume was intense.
August 9, 2022
Todo el arco de Hueco Mundo es una de las mejores cosas que le ha pasado al manga (y en general a todo el genero shonen) por lo que, este volumen que es un poco más flojo que los otros, tiene que ser calificado contra los demás.
September 29, 2022
This volume was saved by Papa kurosaki and Urahara.
May 30, 2020
Given that Manga, and especially Shonen is split up into bigger arcs as composed to volumes I will be analyzing and reviewing this by Arc. I also reread this manga over the span of 2 months, some days reading as much as 100 chapters a day. It would be quite tedious for me to review each 7-8 chapter volume. So this will be copy and pasted throughout all of the 72 manga volumes. That being said, if you're looking at this without having viewed the series...spoiler warning. I don't recap anything, but I also mention things that happen. If you want me to answer the question "Should I pick this up?" Yes. Even if you stop at the end of the Soul Society Arc. It's worth it.
Karakura Town Arc - Chapters 1-56 - Rating: 7/10
(The official page lumps this in with the Soul Society Arc however I feel as if they are two very separate arcs with two very separate themes)
- A fun introduction.
-An interesting premise on the idea of ghosts and demons (Hollows)
-Does a good job of introducing the characters and I especially enjoyed the love for characters like Chad, Orihime and Uryu as these characters would later lose more and more spotlight as the series went on.
-It is a bit of a monster of the week. When it works, like with Chad's introduction story. It works. But Characters like Don Kanonji felt superficial and very gimmicky. Which, fair. I didn't enjoy them as much.
Soul Society Arc - Chapters 57-182 - Rating: 10/10
-The height of Bleach
-Establishes an afterlife seemingly perfectly. Later on revealed to be full of plot holes and never fleshed out but hey! That's not an issue in THIS arc. The fights are top tier, the themes of Ichigo owing a life debt to Rukia and his passion and determination to rise above literally God's army is inspiring and to this day is why I love Ichigo so much. He doesn't have some grandiose plan. He doesn't have a major goal to accomplish. He is a protector by heart, losing his mother has made him sour to failing to protect those he cares about and he'll do anything in his power never to feel that helpless again. Very powerful stuff.
-The twist near the end of this arc is revolutionary and would make waves for the next 200 chapters onward. A perfect ending and set up for the forthcoming arc.
-The only issues I have for this arc would be Ichigo's lightning speed progression. The guy goes from being able to barely defeat a third seat to besting multiple captains in roughly 100 or less chapters. I get that that is the point and him defeating captains was more of a struck of luck, but progression and pacing wise it feels very unearned and a factor of "for the plot he needed to be this strong" It only seems as fast as it is because Ichigo's progression slows drastically down for the rest of the story moving foreword so it's only now that I make that criticism.
-Also, and this will be an issue in most Shonen. There are 13 Captains with 13 Vice Captains and seats that branch all the way to 10 I believe? Regardless, there's a fudge ton of characters that are introduced here and it can get a little jarring at times. Luckily, Kubo does a great job at making their designs and characters unique despite such a large cast.
Hueco Mundo Arc - Chapters 183-423 - Rating 7/10
-This is another arc where personally I would split it up into two separate arcs. But for the sake of this review I will simply refer to the first half of the arc and the later half of the arc. First Half 9/10. Second Half. 5/10.
-The first half of this arc is a great continuation of the last. Ichigo now struggles with his inner demons and it affects his ability to protect the ones he loves. We are also introduced to a deadly unknown new villains. The Arrancars/Espada to this day remain one of my favorite villain factions in all of manga enemies.
-Just so you're aware I would say the first half of this arc ends right around the point of Ichigo vs Grimmjow. Grimmjow is one of the first Arrancar that Ichigo faces. And he's also one of two Espada that he faces three times. The conclusion of that fight shows Ichigo conquering his inner demons. Where Grimmjow is very much fighting to establish himself. Grimmjow has to fight Ichigo to prove to his fallen comrades that he is as good as he says he is. He doesn't care about Aizen, he doesn't care about the rest of the Espada. It is very personal for him. For Ichigo, Orohime is within his grasp of saving and he views this as his "final" battle. It's my favorite fight in all of Bleach.
-However, this is where things start to take a bit of dip in quality in my opinion. We had a goal and we were striving towards that goal. Each character of the original cast coming to repay the debt they made to their friend who had risked her life to save them in the Soul society arc. But somewhere along the way it seems we just had a fighter fest. Captains would face enemies with no themes or character revelations. The Espadas got a little light but nothing that made their fights compelling. You almost just feel bad for the Espada as they were monsters turned into a military force by an unstoppable tyrant. But even that wasn't enough to make half of the fights interesting. Now, that's with knowing the outcome. These fights played little importance in the larger scheme of things. Where at least in the Hueco Mundo fights each match up had the protagonists striving for a goal. Rukia to defeat Aaroneiro to free her former superiors soul. Byakuya to defend Rukia. Renji and Uryu teamwork. Nel to protect Ichigo and get revenge on Nnoitra. Whereas Stark fought Kyoraku.....cause.....and Hitsugaya fought Halibel because Water vs Ice would be cool.
-This leaves me to the end. I won't say it wasn't satisfying that Ichigo was able to defeat Aizen. And yes, I do feel like his new power was earned. 3 months of training. But this was clearly a last minute decision to save Aizen for a later date and the show must go on. I do feel like it wasn't as satisfying as 200+ chapter buildup needed to be.
The Fullbring Arc - Chapters 424-479 - Rating: 8/10
-A very underrated arc. And yes, I acknowledge that rating wise I think the Fullbring arc is superior to the Hueco Mundo arc. That is mostly true. Though I like the first half of the Hueco Mundo Arc more than the Fullbring arc. The end of the HM arc really brought it down for me. The Fullbring Arc is much more concise and is actually the shortest arc in the series and works as a glorified Ichigo getting his powers back arc. But that doesn't mean its bad.
-When I read it originally back when it was coming out in 2010. (Cause I'm Old) It wasn't phenomenal. In fact, I hated it. But wouldn't you? It took just short of a year to get to the point that we were at. But upon rereading it, it gave much deserved love to the characters who hadn't been shown love in quite some time. The original cast. It was a very character focused arc. Ichigo never seemed more human. And despite me hating it before for taking so long, reading weekly can sometimes hurt these mystery based arcs. The twist is heavily foreshadowed and I really appreciated it.
-That being said, the end was super rushed. This was a big bummer for me. The villains this time around were humans. And the ones who had the most exposure and relations with these characters were the original cast who again....were humans. So to have the soul reapers, who have no connection to the fullbringers show up and basically no diff most of the fullbringers felt very forced and fanservicey to me. This very well could have not been Kubo's call. As the community was very vocal about their dislike for this arc as it was going on. But I appreciate it now much more as I appreciate character and story over big sword fights. Lol.
The Thousand Year Blood War Arc - Chapters 424-689 - Rating: 5/10
-And we're finally here. The final and largest arc within the Bleach story. And man...does it not stick the landing.
-That being said, this arc has phenomenal moments. Kenpachi's Shikai and Bankai. Ichigo's double swords. Renji's true Bankai. Rukia's Bankai. And many more. However, they are put together against the most break neck speed arc that I have ever read. Kubo was very ambitious when he introduced 26 new villains. However, most of them got barely any screen time and a lot of them even got off screened by higher level captains. This was unlike the Espada who each got a full double page spread for their Resurrections.
-Yhwach himself was a phenomenal villain but was dealt with swiftly and imo dirty. They did him dirty.
-There was just something off. The mood changed and it was very apparent. The villains had random powers instead of the powers reflecting their personalities or needs. The finale felt so underwhelming.
-Ichigo gets to be the strongest he's ever been....but he doesn't defeat a single person besides the main villain despite being in several fights.
-It isn't a good arc. In fact, I would say it's the worst. Hopefully the anime does a better job with this already mammoth of a story. 260 chapters is no joke.
This gives the story of Bleach an Overall rating of 7.4/10. Which to me is above average. It has it's ups and downs. It's not perfect. But when it's high, it's peak shonen. But when it's low, it's very forgettable.
Karakura Town Arc - Chapters 1-56 - Rating: 7/10
(The official page lumps this in with the Soul Society Arc however I feel as if they are two very separate arcs with two very separate themes)
- A fun introduction.
-An interesting premise on the idea of ghosts and demons (Hollows)
-Does a good job of introducing the characters and I especially enjoyed the love for characters like Chad, Orihime and Uryu as these characters would later lose more and more spotlight as the series went on.
-It is a bit of a monster of the week. When it works, like with Chad's introduction story. It works. But Characters like Don Kanonji felt superficial and very gimmicky. Which, fair. I didn't enjoy them as much.
Soul Society Arc - Chapters 57-182 - Rating: 10/10
-The height of Bleach
-Establishes an afterlife seemingly perfectly. Later on revealed to be full of plot holes and never fleshed out but hey! That's not an issue in THIS arc. The fights are top tier, the themes of Ichigo owing a life debt to Rukia and his passion and determination to rise above literally God's army is inspiring and to this day is why I love Ichigo so much. He doesn't have some grandiose plan. He doesn't have a major goal to accomplish. He is a protector by heart, losing his mother has made him sour to failing to protect those he cares about and he'll do anything in his power never to feel that helpless again. Very powerful stuff.
-The twist near the end of this arc is revolutionary and would make waves for the next 200 chapters onward. A perfect ending and set up for the forthcoming arc.
-The only issues I have for this arc would be Ichigo's lightning speed progression. The guy goes from being able to barely defeat a third seat to besting multiple captains in roughly 100 or less chapters. I get that that is the point and him defeating captains was more of a struck of luck, but progression and pacing wise it feels very unearned and a factor of "for the plot he needed to be this strong" It only seems as fast as it is because Ichigo's progression slows drastically down for the rest of the story moving foreword so it's only now that I make that criticism.
-Also, and this will be an issue in most Shonen. There are 13 Captains with 13 Vice Captains and seats that branch all the way to 10 I believe? Regardless, there's a fudge ton of characters that are introduced here and it can get a little jarring at times. Luckily, Kubo does a great job at making their designs and characters unique despite such a large cast.
Hueco Mundo Arc - Chapters 183-423 - Rating 7/10
-This is another arc where personally I would split it up into two separate arcs. But for the sake of this review I will simply refer to the first half of the arc and the later half of the arc. First Half 9/10. Second Half. 5/10.
-The first half of this arc is a great continuation of the last. Ichigo now struggles with his inner demons and it affects his ability to protect the ones he loves. We are also introduced to a deadly unknown new villains. The Arrancars/Espada to this day remain one of my favorite villain factions in all of manga enemies.
-Just so you're aware I would say the first half of this arc ends right around the point of Ichigo vs Grimmjow. Grimmjow is one of the first Arrancar that Ichigo faces. And he's also one of two Espada that he faces three times. The conclusion of that fight shows Ichigo conquering his inner demons. Where Grimmjow is very much fighting to establish himself. Grimmjow has to fight Ichigo to prove to his fallen comrades that he is as good as he says he is. He doesn't care about Aizen, he doesn't care about the rest of the Espada. It is very personal for him. For Ichigo, Orohime is within his grasp of saving and he views this as his "final" battle. It's my favorite fight in all of Bleach.
-However, this is where things start to take a bit of dip in quality in my opinion. We had a goal and we were striving towards that goal. Each character of the original cast coming to repay the debt they made to their friend who had risked her life to save them in the Soul society arc. But somewhere along the way it seems we just had a fighter fest. Captains would face enemies with no themes or character revelations. The Espadas got a little light but nothing that made their fights compelling. You almost just feel bad for the Espada as they were monsters turned into a military force by an unstoppable tyrant. But even that wasn't enough to make half of the fights interesting. Now, that's with knowing the outcome. These fights played little importance in the larger scheme of things. Where at least in the Hueco Mundo fights each match up had the protagonists striving for a goal. Rukia to defeat Aaroneiro to free her former superiors soul. Byakuya to defend Rukia. Renji and Uryu teamwork. Nel to protect Ichigo and get revenge on Nnoitra. Whereas Stark fought Kyoraku.....cause.....and Hitsugaya fought Halibel because Water vs Ice would be cool.
-This leaves me to the end. I won't say it wasn't satisfying that Ichigo was able to defeat Aizen. And yes, I do feel like his new power was earned. 3 months of training. But this was clearly a last minute decision to save Aizen for a later date and the show must go on. I do feel like it wasn't as satisfying as 200+ chapter buildup needed to be.
The Fullbring Arc - Chapters 424-479 - Rating: 8/10
-A very underrated arc. And yes, I acknowledge that rating wise I think the Fullbring arc is superior to the Hueco Mundo arc. That is mostly true. Though I like the first half of the Hueco Mundo Arc more than the Fullbring arc. The end of the HM arc really brought it down for me. The Fullbring Arc is much more concise and is actually the shortest arc in the series and works as a glorified Ichigo getting his powers back arc. But that doesn't mean its bad.
-When I read it originally back when it was coming out in 2010. (Cause I'm Old) It wasn't phenomenal. In fact, I hated it. But wouldn't you? It took just short of a year to get to the point that we were at. But upon rereading it, it gave much deserved love to the characters who hadn't been shown love in quite some time. The original cast. It was a very character focused arc. Ichigo never seemed more human. And despite me hating it before for taking so long, reading weekly can sometimes hurt these mystery based arcs. The twist is heavily foreshadowed and I really appreciated it.
-That being said, the end was super rushed. This was a big bummer for me. The villains this time around were humans. And the ones who had the most exposure and relations with these characters were the original cast who again....were humans. So to have the soul reapers, who have no connection to the fullbringers show up and basically no diff most of the fullbringers felt very forced and fanservicey to me. This very well could have not been Kubo's call. As the community was very vocal about their dislike for this arc as it was going on. But I appreciate it now much more as I appreciate character and story over big sword fights. Lol.
The Thousand Year Blood War Arc - Chapters 424-689 - Rating: 5/10
-And we're finally here. The final and largest arc within the Bleach story. And man...does it not stick the landing.
-That being said, this arc has phenomenal moments. Kenpachi's Shikai and Bankai. Ichigo's double swords. Renji's true Bankai. Rukia's Bankai. And many more. However, they are put together against the most break neck speed arc that I have ever read. Kubo was very ambitious when he introduced 26 new villains. However, most of them got barely any screen time and a lot of them even got off screened by higher level captains. This was unlike the Espada who each got a full double page spread for their Resurrections.
-Yhwach himself was a phenomenal villain but was dealt with swiftly and imo dirty. They did him dirty.
-There was just something off. The mood changed and it was very apparent. The villains had random powers instead of the powers reflecting their personalities or needs. The finale felt so underwhelming.
-Ichigo gets to be the strongest he's ever been....but he doesn't defeat a single person besides the main villain despite being in several fights.
-It isn't a good arc. In fact, I would say it's the worst. Hopefully the anime does a better job with this already mammoth of a story. 260 chapters is no joke.
This gives the story of Bleach an Overall rating of 7.4/10. Which to me is above average. It has it's ups and downs. It's not perfect. But when it's high, it's peak shonen. But when it's low, it's very forgettable.
January 8, 2026
4/5 (Review is for the series as a whole and does not contain spoilers)
Ichigo Kurosaki is a high school student who can see ghosts. When an evil spirit, called a hollow, attacks his family, he meets Rukia, a soul reaper tasked with fighting against hollows. But when Rukia is injured, Ichigo must make the decision to take over the role of soul reaper to help fight against hollows to save his hometown.
Bleach is a classic manga and one of the more popular options for those starting out in the genre/format. It features themes of friendship, growing up and changing, and never giving up. One of the most enjoyable elements of this series is watching the progression as the characters learn and evolve. Ichigo has a tendency to be really cocky, especially at the start of the series, but as time goes on and he learns more about the world he’s in, he changes and becomes more willing to listen to the advice given to him by other characters. His friends also continue to grow and progress along with him. Additionally, there is a change in the art style of the characters as the story progresses, which makes it easy to see how they have changed as they all get older. There were two elements about this series that I disliked. The first was that I felt the ending was a bit rushed, and there were some things that I was a bit confused about. However, I recognize that the author was sick and so that attributed to the way things ended. The other element that I disliked was the sheer number of characters in the series by the end. Many of the characters that I thought were dead or gone ended up coming back, and I had to try and remember who they all were. I definitely think I needed to make myself a character sheet with information about each character to help me remember everyone in the end. In terms of assessing age appropriateness for this series, I would say that it’s an okay series for middle school and up. A couple of considerations to keep in mind when deciding if it’s right for you: 1. There is some violence (which is common for shonen mangas), including some elements of body horror, but it’s not too bad. 2. There is no sexual content, although many of the women are drawn disproportionately (which is common in manga written by men). 3. The main character is fifteen years old at the start of the series and only gets older as it progresses. And 4. The themes are a bit mature in that they require some deeper level thinking in order to fully understand them all. Overall, I enjoyed this series for its interesting premise, and would definitely recommend it to those who enjoy the traditional shonen manga.
Ichigo Kurosaki is a high school student who can see ghosts. When an evil spirit, called a hollow, attacks his family, he meets Rukia, a soul reaper tasked with fighting against hollows. But when Rukia is injured, Ichigo must make the decision to take over the role of soul reaper to help fight against hollows to save his hometown.
Bleach is a classic manga and one of the more popular options for those starting out in the genre/format. It features themes of friendship, growing up and changing, and never giving up. One of the most enjoyable elements of this series is watching the progression as the characters learn and evolve. Ichigo has a tendency to be really cocky, especially at the start of the series, but as time goes on and he learns more about the world he’s in, he changes and becomes more willing to listen to the advice given to him by other characters. His friends also continue to grow and progress along with him. Additionally, there is a change in the art style of the characters as the story progresses, which makes it easy to see how they have changed as they all get older. There were two elements about this series that I disliked. The first was that I felt the ending was a bit rushed, and there were some things that I was a bit confused about. However, I recognize that the author was sick and so that attributed to the way things ended. The other element that I disliked was the sheer number of characters in the series by the end. Many of the characters that I thought were dead or gone ended up coming back, and I had to try and remember who they all were. I definitely think I needed to make myself a character sheet with information about each character to help me remember everyone in the end. In terms of assessing age appropriateness for this series, I would say that it’s an okay series for middle school and up. A couple of considerations to keep in mind when deciding if it’s right for you: 1. There is some violence (which is common for shonen mangas), including some elements of body horror, but it’s not too bad. 2. There is no sexual content, although many of the women are drawn disproportionately (which is common in manga written by men). 3. The main character is fifteen years old at the start of the series and only gets older as it progresses. And 4. The themes are a bit mature in that they require some deeper level thinking in order to fully understand them all. Overall, I enjoyed this series for its interesting premise, and would definitely recommend it to those who enjoy the traditional shonen manga.
December 3, 2021
The battle between Ichigo and Aizen continues! Ever arrogant, Aizen tells Ichigo he missed his chance to kill him. “That was my last vulnerable moment.” Then he reveals that it’s not due to super powerful regeneration skills, rather it’s because he has fused with the Hogyoku! Aizen further reveals that he has been watching and controlling Ichigo’s growth and development… from the time he was born? How is this even possible? Ichigo is confused, naturally, as he tries to process Aizen’s words. Flustered, he demands Aizen explain himself. But just as Aizen is about to tell Ichigo something perhaps he shouldn’t, another country is heard from, as Isshin Kurosaki appears, in full Soul Reaper uniform! What is going on here?
Isshin takes on Aizen, leaving Ichigo to deal with Gin. Ichigo and Gin battle, but their fight spills over and interrupts the conversation Aizen is having with Isshin (or is that lecture?). But suddenly, another contestant enters the arena, none other than Kiskue Uruhara! AIzen is not surprised to see him, having been awaiting his appearance. He accuses Kiskue of being jealous of Aizen’s ability to control the Hogyoku. Uruhara manages to trap Aizen, but he knows that won’t last, and sure enough the villain returns, but he has… changed. What does this portend? And Ichigo is still in the midst of his battle with Gin, who warns him that they have no idea of Aizen’s true powers.
You didn’t think the fight would end that quickly, did you? Seriously? This is an epic battle, and it will not be told in one volume, or even two. The appearance of Ichigo’s father, and the questions that are left unanswered, is mind-boggling. But Ichigo shows an unexpected maturity when he sets his questions aside. “I don’t know how to ask you without being disrespecting you, so I’ll wait.” He has certainly grown since we first met him 46 volumes ago, hasn’t he? Aizen, as usual, has to run his mouth, but this makes for interesting conversation between him and Isshin, who has thrown off his usual doofy mannerisms and reveals himself for who he really is. Ichigo and Gin’s interactions makes for a fascinating read too. And at the very end, a very wounded Matsumoto becomes aware of Gin’s proximity and begins to stir. Guess we’ll see what’s up in the next volume!
Isshin takes on Aizen, leaving Ichigo to deal with Gin. Ichigo and Gin battle, but their fight spills over and interrupts the conversation Aizen is having with Isshin (or is that lecture?). But suddenly, another contestant enters the arena, none other than Kiskue Uruhara! AIzen is not surprised to see him, having been awaiting his appearance. He accuses Kiskue of being jealous of Aizen’s ability to control the Hogyoku. Uruhara manages to trap Aizen, but he knows that won’t last, and sure enough the villain returns, but he has… changed. What does this portend? And Ichigo is still in the midst of his battle with Gin, who warns him that they have no idea of Aizen’s true powers.
You didn’t think the fight would end that quickly, did you? Seriously? This is an epic battle, and it will not be told in one volume, or even two. The appearance of Ichigo’s father, and the questions that are left unanswered, is mind-boggling. But Ichigo shows an unexpected maturity when he sets his questions aside. “I don’t know how to ask you without being disrespecting you, so I’ll wait.” He has certainly grown since we first met him 46 volumes ago, hasn’t he? Aizen, as usual, has to run his mouth, but this makes for interesting conversation between him and Isshin, who has thrown off his usual doofy mannerisms and reveals himself for who he really is. Ichigo and Gin’s interactions makes for a fascinating read too. And at the very end, a very wounded Matsumoto becomes aware of Gin’s proximity and begins to stir. Guess we’ll see what’s up in the next volume!
May 27, 2024
This was an interesting volume as we finally get to see Aizen and Ichigo face off. I thought that the retcon explanation that Aizen was behind Ichigo’s development and strength the entire time was poorly executed in the anime (or just unsatisfying), but here it felt more natural to the story and very fitting of Aizen’s characterization. I liked seeing Ichigo’s dad finally join the fight and come to his rescue and reveal to him that he’s a Soul Reaper as well, confirming that Ichigo has his own Soul Reaper abilities through his father’s bloodline. I loved how Ichigo’s reaction to his dad being a Soul Reaper wasn’t betrayal or anger, but he simply quoted one of my favourite Rukia moments by saying that his dad didn’t have to say anything or have that conversation with him until he was ready for it. That pulled at my heartstrings. I loved seeing Gin reveal his Bankai, and I loved how simple yet effective it was compared to other characters. I loved that we never saw Gin open his eyes until this volume, it felt very significant. I loved how the Hōgyoku’s power is fully explained and how it effected the events and characters in the series up until this point. I loved how Kisuke arriving to fight Aizen was so much more significant to me as I skipped the flashback episodes of the anime but read through them in the manga this time around. I love how Kisuke feels like a fully fleshed out character to me now rather than the mysterious powerful side character with a dark past that felt disconnected from me as a viewer of the anime. I loved seeing Yoruichi enter the fight and complete the triad of side characters from the beginning of the story with great links to the world of the Soul Reapers. It was so satisfying seeing Yoruichi, Kisuke and Isshin fight together.
August 22, 2017
I'm shocked that us readers end up seeing Ichigo's dad, Isshin Kurosaki, on the battlefield but not as a bystander but a soul reaper wearing half of a captain's robe. I wonder if he was a captain before he became a father and left the Soul Society and which division was he a captain of. I really interested in finding out his backstory and what got him to this point battling Aizen and finally revealing to Ichigo who he really is. The battle between Ichigo and Gin is pretty cool because I got to read that Ichigo is not just a person like Zaraki who just loves to fight but he actually knows how to strategize and was able to figure out the ability that Gin's sword has. The power of Gin's sword is not its length but its speed. In a way it looked like Gin was trying to teach Ichigo something but was teaching it to him the only way he knows how by fighting. The commnet that Aizen made to Ichigo about knowing him since the day he was born was a bit creepy but definitely want to read the story behind it which probably involves Isshin. Aizen is still playing his mind games and tells Ichigo that he orchestrated the fights and battles that lead him here and how much stronger he has gotten because of him. FINALLY Urahara and Yourichi join the fight and with the help of Isshin try and fail to subdue him because he has fused with the Hogyoku and is evolving to something more than a soul reaper. The fights scenes are amazing and can't wait to read the next volume and find out what happens and how the remaining soul reapers are going to stop Aizen who seems unstoppable at the moment but could probably get more powerful.
August 15, 2024
VOLUME 46: CHAPTER 396-404
Arc 9: Arrancar: Downfall
Aizen encountered Ichigo and he revealed that he already fused his body with Hougyoku. Aizen said that everything that Ichigo have went through from he got his power from Rukia, his battle with Ishida, Renji, Byakuya, Kenpachi, Grimmjow and Ulquiorra and his development of power were all part of Aizen's plans. Aizen also said he have been watching Ichigo since he was born as he knows Ichigo is special. Suddenly, Isshin appears with his Shinigami outfit. Isshin take Ichigo away.
Gin meets Aizen. Suddenly, Ichigo and Isshin reappear. Isshin flicks his finger and sent Aizen flying. Ichigo fights Gin and Gin released his Bankai: Kamishini no Yari that can extend his sword to 13 km. Kamishini no Yari special abilities are it is the longest sword and also the fastest sword.
Hougyoku's power is not to control the boundary between the Shinigami and the Hollows but to manifest the mind of the wielder. Aizen wants to overcome the boundary between the God and the mortal. As Aizen is going to transform, Urahara shoot him. Urahara used Kidou to bind and attack Aizen but Aizen already fused with Hougyoku. Urahara then used special seal to seal Aizen's reiatsu and be incinerated by his own reiatsu. Aizen is unharmed. Urahara and Isshin attack Aizen and Yoruichi appears to join the fight.
Arc 9: Arrancar: Downfall
Aizen encountered Ichigo and he revealed that he already fused his body with Hougyoku. Aizen said that everything that Ichigo have went through from he got his power from Rukia, his battle with Ishida, Renji, Byakuya, Kenpachi, Grimmjow and Ulquiorra and his development of power were all part of Aizen's plans. Aizen also said he have been watching Ichigo since he was born as he knows Ichigo is special. Suddenly, Isshin appears with his Shinigami outfit. Isshin take Ichigo away.
Gin meets Aizen. Suddenly, Ichigo and Isshin reappear. Isshin flicks his finger and sent Aizen flying. Ichigo fights Gin and Gin released his Bankai: Kamishini no Yari that can extend his sword to 13 km. Kamishini no Yari special abilities are it is the longest sword and also the fastest sword.
Hougyoku's power is not to control the boundary between the Shinigami and the Hollows but to manifest the mind of the wielder. Aizen wants to overcome the boundary between the God and the mortal. As Aizen is going to transform, Urahara shoot him. Urahara used Kidou to bind and attack Aizen but Aizen already fused with Hougyoku. Urahara then used special seal to seal Aizen's reiatsu and be incinerated by his own reiatsu. Aizen is unharmed. Urahara and Isshin attack Aizen and Yoruichi appears to join the fight.
January 9, 2013
09 January 2013
Ooh! Looky! Aizen has become...
Bleach, Volume 46: Back from Blind begins with Ichigo and Aizen going to battle. Although this fight has just begun, it feels like it has been going on forever . Aizen reveals his twisted plans for the Hōgyoku, as well as his part in Ichigo's past that may or may not be true. You never can tell with his haha-fool-you-this-isn't-really-happening power.
I've been so eager for this fight to happen for so long that my patience with Aizen being a Chatty Cathy had run its course, especially after all the talking in the last volume. In fear of another filler volume, I started to get really antsy until this happened:
At this point, I don't see how Ichigo will beat out Aizen, who seems to have a stronger new power at every turn. Perhaps if the side of him that fought Ulquiorra shows itself again? I hope some of my other favorite captains show up in the next volume to add some spice to these action scenes. Even though I'm tired of Aizen's droning on and on, I'm still very excited to find out what happens next!
Favorite Characters ... so far:
* Byakuya Kuchiki
* Renji Abarai
* Isshin Kurosaki
* Kisuke Urahara
* Ichigo Kurosaki
* Jūshirō Ukitake
* Kenpachi Zaraki
* Grimmjow Jaegerjaques
* Ulquiorra Cifer
* Yoruichi Shihōin
* The Vizards (especially Shinji)
* Sajin Komamura
* The Great Desert Bros. (particularly Nel)
* Ikkaku Madarame
* Tōshirō Hitsugaya
* Gin Ichimaru
* Sōsuke Aizen
Ooh! Looky! Aizen has become...
Bleach, Volume 46: Back from Blind begins with Ichigo and Aizen going to battle. Although this fight has just begun, it feels like it has been going on forever . Aizen reveals his twisted plans for the Hōgyoku, as well as his part in Ichigo's past that may or may not be true. You never can tell with his haha-fool-you-this-isn't-really-happening power.
I've been so eager for this fight to happen for so long that my patience with Aizen being a Chatty Cathy had run its course, especially after all the talking in the last volume. In fear of another filler volume, I started to get really antsy until this happened:
At this point, I don't see how Ichigo will beat out Aizen, who seems to have a stronger new power at every turn. Perhaps if the side of him that fought Ulquiorra shows itself again? I hope some of my other favorite captains show up in the next volume to add some spice to these action scenes. Even though I'm tired of Aizen's droning on and on, I'm still very excited to find out what happens next!
Favorite Characters ... so far:
* Byakuya Kuchiki
* Renji Abarai
* Isshin Kurosaki
* Kisuke Urahara
* Ichigo Kurosaki
* Jūshirō Ukitake
* Kenpachi Zaraki
* Grimmjow Jaegerjaques
* Ulquiorra Cifer
* Yoruichi Shihōin
* The Vizards (especially Shinji)
* Sajin Komamura
* The Great Desert Bros. (particularly Nel)
* Ikkaku Madarame
* Tōshirō Hitsugaya
* Gin Ichimaru
* Sōsuke Aizen
August 28, 2020
Tite Kubo does more of what he's been doing all of Bleach- cool and flashy abilities that destroy the opponent in one shot, or are destroyed in one shot, as characters stand around talking about how their philosophy is superior to the other and they're just that strong. But for once it feels rightfully earned- Aizen has been built up from the very beginning and his power is appropriate for how he's been treated all series long. The characters participating have a lot of emotional investment in them and their struggles are passionate. Any other arc you know it's not ending then and there, so the stakes feel cheap. This feels like the series finale, that Bleach could end at any moment. Sure, we know there are like 74 volumes of this and we're not even close to ending... but we can't see where it goes next. The future is shrouded in mystery, and there's no ulterior goal. No ticking clock, no vast organization to fight through, just Captain Aizen. Beat him, and the protagonists win. Lose, and the world as we know it is gone. This match could end right now, or it could end in a dozen volumes, there's no way of knowing and it makes the entire thing tense.
August 12, 2021
Hello Finally getting back into the good stuff. Everyone's favorites are here.
Summary:
The captain general exploded on Aizen and Ichego was able to cut him. Aizen reveals hes been the mastermind behind Ichego's every battle. Boom Ichego's dad shows up. Ichego takes on Gin while his father fights Aizen. Aizen explains the hogyoku actually gives someone their hearts desire. He starts to transform and Urahara shoots him, and they fight. Aizen transforms into some creature. Urahara and Ichego's dad bind him and Yoruichi attacks and Aizen shrugs it off.
Summary:
The captain general exploded on Aizen and Ichego was able to cut him. Aizen reveals hes been the mastermind behind Ichego's every battle. Boom Ichego's dad shows up. Ichego takes on Gin while his father fights Aizen. Aizen explains the hogyoku actually gives someone their hearts desire. He starts to transform and Urahara shoots him, and they fight. Aizen transforms into some creature. Urahara and Ichego's dad bind him and Yoruichi attacks and Aizen shrugs it off.
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