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Bleach #23

Bleach, Volume 23

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¡Mala Suerte!
The Arrancars, Hollows that have attained Soul Reaper-like powers, have descended on Karakura Town. Led by Grimmjow Jaegerjaques, they plan to eliminate anyone who poses a threat to them. And their deadly hunt doesn't stop with Ichigo and the Soul Reapers--the Arrancars are after anyone with even a trace of spiritual powers!

208 pages, Paperback

First published August 4, 2006

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1275 people want to read

About the author

Tite Kubo

1,126 books2,032 followers
Noriaki Kubo, known professionally as Tite Kubo ( 久保帯人), is a Japanese manga artist and character designer. His manga series Bleach (2001–2016) had over 130 million copies in circulation as of 2022.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
Profile Image for Jeremiah.
93 reviews8 followers
June 22, 2023
Rukia and Ikkaku are awesome!! The Arrancars are in town and they’re wreaking havoc going after anybody with spiritual pressure!! They’re underestimating Ichigo and the others, but they’ll soon figure out they made a mistake.
Profile Image for Sana⁷ (Sawamura Version).
400 reviews186 followers
June 21, 2024
"Everybody ready? There's no need to hold back. If they have any spiritual pressure at all... Kill them. Spare no one!"

Now that Ulquiorra and Yammy left, it seems like there will be some time to regroup, train, and think of a plan. After Ichigo said no to the idea of all of the Soul Society delegation squad sleeping in his house, they split up - Matsumoto (and Hitsugaya) left to bother Orihime, Renji went to Urahara's shop and Ikkaku and Yumichika left who knows where. The only one who stayed is Rukia. The atmosphere is quiet and peaceful - like silence before the storm.

The situation gets dangerous once again when an Arrancar named Grimmjow Jeagerjaques (and his squad) shows up. Just like Ulquiorra and Yammy before him, Grimmjow is no ordinary Hollow. He's one of the Espada members. It's not only Ichigo, Rukia and the other Soul Reapers who's in danger now. All of Ichigo's closest friends seem to be on the Arrancars' hit list.

"Arrancar no. 6, Grimmjow! Nice to meet you, Soul Reaper!"

I have to admit that it's a big joy for me to see Grimmjow 🥰 He's a bad guy, there is no doubt about it, but I can't help, but really like him. He's not only one of my favorite Hollow characters, he's also one of my favorite Bleach characters in general. He's kind of like Zaraki, but on the Hollow side 😆 They share the same brain cell when it comes to the need of fighting and the instinct of finding the strongest opponent. You can say that an other certain Espada member is more like Zaraki, but, despite also sharing the need to fight, the Espada member, that shall be not named yet (no spoilers, don't worry), is cruel, while Zaraki is not. Grimmjow isn't either. There is also one thing that both Grimmjow and Zaraki share - the obsession with fighting against Ichigo 😂

"What if he dies?!"
"Then I suppose... he'll die happy."


Anyways, while Grimmjow and his squad appear in the Karakura Town and the fights start, Volume 23 mostly focuses on the battle between Ikkaku and an Arrancar named Edorad. It shows not only how insane Ikkaku is (and looks) when he fights, or how strong Ikkaku truly is, but also how the Hollow Zanpakuto release looks like. Everything in the manga seem to be more impressive in comparison to the anime and this fight isn't an exception. I'm very excited to see the rest of the fights (especially the Ichigo vs Grimmjow one!) in the manga version, so I'm jumping into Volume 24 immediately! 🤩


P.S.

I can see ghosts. I can touch them and speak to them. They just disappear like this sometimes. I never know what happens to them. There's something they leave behind... spots of blood that only I can see... and the faint smell of fear. No matter how strong I get, I can't protect them. The realization cuts my heart like a cold steel.

Volume 23 also has two little side stories - one with Ichigo, and other with Rukia and Renji. The one with Ichigo killed me. While I remember the one with Rukia and Renji, I do not remember the Ichigo one being in the anime. It probably wasn't animated because of the change they made in the first episode (with the ghost girl instead of the ghost boy that was in the manga). Anyways, all I want to say is that, I did not think that I could love Ichigo more than I did, but the little manga moments like this one proves me wrong. And I have a message for all the Ichigo haters out there - you all should be ashamed of yourself. How can you think that it's a shame for an MC to not have any big dream and just want to protect the one in need?


Some of my thoughts I like to share: (feel free to ignore)

~ The scene of Ulquiorra taking out his eye creeped me out much more in the manga than it did in the anime 🫣
~ The fact that Ulquiorra didn't receive the order to kill Ichigo immediately, is Aizen's biggest mistake 🤭
~ Rukia doing a whole theater performance to make Isshin and Yuzu agree for her to stay in their house (and Ichigo's deadpan face) was hilarious. When will she receive her Oscar nomination, ha? 😂
~ SHE WANTED TO SLEEP IN HIS CLOSET AGAIN, NOOOOOO *tears* *tears* *tears*
~ Orihime having a whole scene having a breakdown in front of Matsumoto should make me feel sorry for her... except it didn't. Why is she focusing on Ichigo and Rukia? Doesn't she have any other (and way bigger) problems to think about? 🤨 She's living all alone, without anyone to share her burdens with. Her brother is dead, while her parents were abusive. Ishida lost his powers and could be all dying of depression now (she does not know that he had found a way to become a Quincy again), and Chad got beaten up. Why isn't she focusing on that? Also, also the big danger is coming for both the world of living and the Soul Society. Shouldn't her main priority be, I don't know, TRAINING maybe, instead of crying in the bathroom over something she does not have any control over? 😐 Btw, she did notice that Ichigo had been feeling down, but did absolutely nothing with it, just making sad faces and throwing sad glances in his direction. If it wasn't for Rukia's intervention, Ichigo would still be drowning in guilt 🙄
~ Did anyone notice that, when Grimmjow refered to people with any spiritual pressure, the only focus of the Arrancars were Ichigo and his friends? Karakura is the town with the highest amount of people with spiritual pressure (it's confirmed later on when the war starts) and all the bad guys focus on are Ichigo and his friends only? 🤨
~ Poor Chad. I get that he wanted to help, but he really wasn't in any condition to fight. Heck, even if he was fully healed, he wouldn't be much of a help for Ichigo.
~ Why didn't Rukia stop Chappy when she basically tried to break Ichigo's arms off? My poor boy 😂
~ I find it amazing that Rukia's sword is white while Ichigo's (in the Bankai mode) is black. They are like Ying and Yang!
~ I admire Yumichika for just standing back and watching, while his best friend is fighting for his life. He knew that a battle is Ikkaku's joy of life and that's why he didn't interfere, but still, it had to be very hard to stand back.
Profile Image for Angela Auten.
Author 6 books135 followers
April 18, 2021
I love reading this manga so much. I loved this volume. I'm also happy that the filler seasons were not included...so now I am technically in season 5. Reading this still makes me want to rewatch the show...but I just finished it last year. Gonna wait a while and then do a rewatch. I know they are making a live action movie...hopefully that gets people interested in the anime enough for them to make more episodes. I'm annoyed that this show was cancelled. I love Bleach so much! Well anyway...review to come eventually. (P.S. All the volumes are running together for me now. When I may have to reread details for the volumes I read earlier.)
Profile Image for James DeSantis.
Author 17 books1,215 followers
December 9, 2020
Well Grimjaw shows up and shit gets real.

Grimjaw brings a bunch of his psycho friends to kill everyone with spirit energy. Rukia and Ichigo work together as well as other fighters spread across the city. Big battles happen here, Rukia showing off her weapon, and a brutal one on one that ends in a explosive finale. Overall, this is pure action volume but one that is entertaining throughout. A 4 out of 5.
Profile Image for thi.
828 reviews80 followers
August 9, 2022
only like 200 chapters in to see rukia do the thing, it’s fine, I’m fine
Profile Image for lana.
218 reviews44 followers
December 28, 2025
If I cannot protect them from the wheel... then give me a strong blade... and enough strength to shatter fate.

This volume was so fun! I loved to see the new characters!
Profile Image for ExoDoll.
150 reviews
December 17, 2016
I can't believe I've read like 23 volumes of this manga! I've always wanted to read something this long! :)
5,870 reviews144 followers
July 30, 2019
Bleach, Vol. 23 continues where the previous tankōbon left off and contains the next eight chapters (198–205) of the on-going manga series with two additional bonus stories.

After Ulquiorra Cifer and Yammy Riyalgo are debrief their mission to Sōsuke Aizen and his inner circle, including other high-ranked Arrancars known as Espada, the impulsive Sexta Espada Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez decides to invade Karakura Town to kill any spiritual powered human with his fracción subordinates: Arrancar 12 Shawlong Qufang, Arrancar 13 Edorad Leones, Arrancar 14 Ilfort Grantz, Arrancar 15 Nakim Greendina and Arrancar 16 D-Roy Linker.

Yasutora "Chad" Sado is attacked by D-Roy, who quickly is killed by Rukia Kuchiki with her restored Soul Reaper powers and her zanpakutō "Sode no Shirayuki". However, Grimmjow arrives and easily defeats Rukia before Ichigo Kurosaki takes over the fight.

Meanwhile, Ichigo's classmate Keigo Asano ends up witnessing Ikkaku Madarame's fight against Edorad as the confident and self-determined Soul Reaper is forced to use his Bankai: Ryūmon Hōzukimaru.

This tankōbon is written and illustrated by Tite Kubo. It delves further into the structure of the Arrancar society and how they are grouped – numeric order of powers where the lower the number the stronger the Arrancar. It is rather interesting enemy for the Soul Reapers – an evolution of the Hallow, which they have been fighting for a long time.

All in all, Bleach, Vol. 23 is a wonderful continuation to a series that seems intriguing and I cannot wait to read more.
Profile Image for Lksreads.
165 reviews
August 7, 2025
After a very short 2.5 year hiatus… whoops… I’ve made a return to Bleach!

Hot off the trailblazing ending of the Soul Society arc and an introduction of the Visored’s, we’re ushered into what I think is the pinnacle of Bleach. Soul Society is special, Fake Karakura Town is special, but when I think of Bleach… I think of the Arrancar arc. I think of the Soul Reaper captain’s all standing next to each other at a meeting in the SS Arc being paralleled by the Arrancar all sitting around a table in Hueco Mundo in the Arrancar arc. Can’t have what Bleach is and later becomes without this arc and these characters. Prepare for shameless, biased glazing.

A lot to chew on. On the forefront, Visored’s and Arrancar shake up the hierarchy of power. Yammy and Edorad get the most screen time but Ulquiorra and Grimmjow are given their first appearances and that’s the real highlight. Also, Rukia and Ikkaku’s bankai. Heck yeah.

Underneath is the oft overlooked subplots that Kubo subtly cooks - Ichigo struggling with White and the fact he couldn’t protect others. Orihime being jealous of Rukia also takes clearer form here. It’s needed for Orihime’s character to not just be a brainlet. My two cents: she should be jealous of Rukia, my raven-haired queen.

Things shape up for the next big arc and this is everything you read Bleach for - big swords, big monsters, fighting in the sky that levels buildings and creates plumes of smoke. All wonderfully drawn by Kubo. Feels good to be back.
Profile Image for Chery.
329 reviews2 followers
July 17, 2025
Ha estado bien, pero el final ha sido un poco anticlimático. Es como los extras que ponían al final del ending en el anime 🤣🤣🤣. De hecho estoy segura de que eso se adaptó.

Esta parte es de mis favoritas del arco de Hueco Mundo. Es la primera toma de contacto con los arrancar (lo de Ulquiorra y Yami no cuenta porque no pelean de verdad) y los buenos parecen muy impotentes ante la situación. So exciting!!!
Profile Image for Mel.
892 reviews32 followers
December 22, 2025
This volume was fire! We have the arrancars coming to town and wreaking havoc but Rukia and Ikkaku are kicking serious butt.

Ichigo and the rest of the team are starting to get into the heat of the battle as well, and Grimmjow has stepped on to the scene.

Super excited for the next volume!
27 reviews
January 24, 2023
God Kubo really wants me to ship the two girls w big titties huh
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for K.
1,407 reviews1 follower
January 29, 2024
The arrancars artwork is STUNNING. How can you not be obsessed. I loved finally seeing some of Rukia’s “powers”. And we love a good bankai being revealed
Profile Image for Grace Hennessey.
480 reviews3 followers
September 2, 2024
I didn’t really understand how this ended. Rukia was great in this, very badass and cool but I felt lost the last like 1/4th.
Profile Image for Ronald.
1,490 reviews16 followers
February 12, 2025
This volume starts out slow with characters pairing off to spend the night together, err I mean find a place to sleep or live as the Soul Reapers visiting the world of the living might be there a while. Rukia is sad to learn she is expected to sleep in the girls room. Rangiku heads over to Orihime's place (she is to nice to turn Rangiku away). Rangiku takes a bath and then while nude tickle attacks Orihime.

Then a group of actual Arrancars show up. The fighting commences "for real" this time. It is a good bit of fighting and we learn a bit about the new villains and the visiting soul reapers. It is not going well for the good guys.
Profile Image for DonutKnow.
3,547 reviews48 followers
June 25, 2019
OMG so many ships!
- Ichigo + Orihime
- Orihime + Uryu
- Renji + Rukia (my OTP 😆)
- Rukia + Ichigo

*sighhh how amazing 😍😍 Plus there is always the amazing art ❤️❤️ I love Bleach 🙌
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Hafeez.
705 reviews6 followers
August 5, 2024
VOLUME 23: CHAPTER 198-205
Arc 4: Arrancar: The Arrival

After hearing Ulquiorra's report, Arrancar 6, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez dispatched to human world along with other 5 Fracciónes:
i. Arrancar 11:  Shawlong Koufang
ii. Arrancar 13: Edorad Leones
iii. Arrancar 14: Nakeem Grindina
iv. Arrancar 15: Ilfort Grantz
v. Arrancar 16: Di Roy Rinker. 

Hitsugaya and Rangiku confronted Shawlong and Nakeem. Renji confronted Ilfort. Chad confronted Di Roy but Ichigo appears to save him. Rukia fights Di Roy instead and she released her Shikai: Sode no Shirayuki. Instantly, Rukia defeats Di Roy. Suddenly, Grimmjow appears before them.

Ikkaku confronted Edorad. Edorad released his Zanpakutou: Volcánica. When an Arrancar release their Zanpakutou, it will release their true power and true form. Ikkaku was beaten and then he released his Bankai: Ryuumon Houzukimaru.
Profile Image for Subham.
3,080 reviews104 followers
December 5, 2020
Its a good start, as the Arankaru start to appear in Karakura town, its upto the Soul Reapers to defend the city from them and we get some interesting revelations about them and who they are. Plus Ikkaku has a great moment where he is fighting EDORADO and unleashes his Ban kai just showing his real power and its crazy. Also we have two prequel point issues about Rukia and Ichigo before they meet and next up: Ichigo vs Grimjow! Good volume and has some solid moments!
Profile Image for Vendea.
1,642 reviews166 followers
May 25, 2015
Můj přítel (dle knižního tagu) se tu pěkně rozjel a konečně ukázal svůj bankai. Bravo, Ikkaku. Tyhle části si neuvěřitelně užívám, protože je konečně na scéně Grimmíček a můžu si užít i Szayelova bratra Ilforta. Grimmy box do Jahody se blíží ♥
Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews