Ichigo fordert den Quatro Espada Ulquiorra erneut zum Kampf heraus. Auch wenn es anfangs so ausschaut, als hätte Ichigo aus dem letzten Duell gelernt, so bleibt Ulquiorra ein übermächtiger Gegner mit Kräften, die dieser selbst vor Aizen verbarg! Und Orihime muss das alles mit ansehen!
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.
"Look, Ichigo Kurosaki. This is what true despair looks like." [Ulquiorra]
First of all I want to apologize for the delay of the review. I gave only a short reaction when I finished reading this volume and left it at that. I didn't write a proper review (until now) for two reasons. First, because of the lack of time (work is getting in the way of my reading and it's so upsetting!) and second, because of the emotional rollercoaster I was put in with the last chapter of this volume. It's truly funny how you think you're prepared for something because you already went through it before, but then it happens again and you're struck like you are living it for the very first time.
Before I will go to the most important part of my review (the ending), I will write down everything else (before I will forget or lose my notes!). Ready?
"I couldn't predict what you were gonna do the last time we fought. Your attacks, defense, reactions, speed, direction... I couldn't predict any of that. I felt like I was fighting a stone statue. Am I able to predict those things because I'm closer to a Hollow now? Or... have you become more human?" [Ichigo]
In the previous volume, Ichigo encountered Ulquiorra for the third time. After Orihime's capture, he didn't had any other choice than step into another battle with the Fourth Espada. Surprisingly, this time Ichigo can actually hold a stance against Ulquiorra and have a real chance to come out victorious.
Or so it seems like.
"Your hollowfication abilities have increased. You're able to keep the mask longer too. But I don't think it would shatter so easily. How unfortunate." [Ulquiorra]
This battle is as visually stunning as any other Bleach battle. It's as brutal as it's beautiful. The choreography is amazing and both sides impress very easily with their cleverness and strength. Don't even get me started on Ulquiorra's transformations designs. Tite Kubo is proving time and time again how incredibly talented he is when it comes to his drawings.
Okay, I delayed it as much as I could, but here it is - the talk about the ending of the volume. THE freaking ending of the volume.
I knew what will happen. Of course I knew. As the anime fan, it was obvious to me what was coming. I thought I was prepared for it. I thought that it will be easier to witness it in the manga than it was in the anime. There wasn't any sounds, just images, so technically it should be easier. But it wasn't.
Oh boy, it totally wasn't.
If I wrote that I cried it would've been an understatement. If I wrote that I bawled my eyes out would've been an understatement too. I feel like part of me hoped that the events were different in the manga than in the anime. An irrational hope, but hope nonetheless. Only because of the ending I gave this volume only three stars. Call me petty all you want, but this ending scene will always upset me. Ichigo is only fifteen years old. FIFTEEN. The things he had already went through to this moment are truly traumatic and it's far from over. My heart is bleeding for this boy :(
"What?" "I'm asking you why you helped him." "Why? Because..." "Because he's your friend? Then why didn't you protect him from the first strike? Why did you hesitate?"
Yeah, Orihime? Why did you hesitate? And why can't you answer such a simple question? Isn't Ichigo your friend?
I could not ignore the topic of Orihime even I wanted to, so let's just go with it. If you read my previous volumes, you know what kind of feelings I have for her character. I am very torn when it comes to her arc in this volume. Let's start with the Loly and Menoly case. First of all, why could Orihime sense Ichigo when he was missing and no one else could do so (when he was training with the Vizards), but she couldn't sense Loly and Menoly approaching? Second of all, why the hell did she let them manhandle her? She did the same thing she did when she encountered them for the very first time - nothing had changed! She just let herself beat up! I wouldn't care if it didn't mean that Ichigo would be distracted and very easily get killed because he was in the middle of the fight with Ulquiorra. This is what Orihime is in this arc - she's a freaking obstacle most of the time. It's not like I don't feel sorry for her. I do. She was treated very badly from the very moment she encountered Ulquiorra for the very first time. But there is no excuse for her to just freaking stand there and let herself be beaten up for no reason! The love of her life was fighting for her, so why couldn't she do the same for herself?
Now we come to the moment that really REALLY PISSED ME OFF both in the anime and the manga.
'What should I do, Ichigo? I don't know what to do! I... I don't know anything. Ichigo... Ichigo... Ichigo... Help me.' [Orihime]
Orihime's desperation, her fear and her devastation are something I had also felt, so it's relatable. The situation she was in (or, should I say, she put herself in) was incredibly difficult and the mess of emotions is something I can understand. But what I don't understand is what in the world had possessed her to scream for help to Ichigo. Like, I know it's something she would usually do, Ichigo's the one everyone are counting on when chaos encounters, but in that particular situation it was a totally ridiculous move. She looked completely stupid and I couldn't help, but cry, not out of sadness for her, but out of sadness for Ichigo. There he was, just laying there in a pool of blood, and there she was, kneeling and screaming for him to help her. It's funny how her first instinct was to reach out to Ichigo instead of, you know, trying to fight for herself. Didn't she want to get stronger so she wouldn't count for Ichigo's help just a couple of volumes ago?
Guys, I know that this action was needed for Ichigo's rise as you know what and for one of the greatest battles in Bleach's history to happen. I know that. But it doesn't mean I'm accepting it.
Anyways, that's the end of my review. I'm jumping into the next volume, but I'm not sure when my review will drop. As I said, I'm working now so it's difficult for me to find some free time to read. But I will do my best! :).
Some of my thoughts while reading:
~ I honestly am baffled when it comes to Loly's character. Why was she so obsessed with the need to bring Orihime down? All the girl did in Las Noches was being locked in her room and observing a window. And what was Loly's and Menoly's position in Las Noches anyway? How close were they to Aizen? Nothing was explained. ~ I'm fine. I can see it. I can react to it. ... Watch closely. Watch closely. Watch. - I love Ichigo's inner monologues! ~ I can't believe that all Yammy took as his Fracciones was a small Arrancar dog. ~ I love Ichigo's entrances the most, but Ishida's ones are close second. He's always so cool! And so clever! I love smart men 😌 ~ "You thought I would give up... just because you're stronger than me?" - this is who Ichigo Kurosaki is. He never stops fighting no matter who the opponent is. It's one of many reasons I'm so in love with him.
You know what? I actually like the Hollow form of Ichigo a lot more than the regular Reaper one. 💀 It's the epitome of emo boi and you guys already know I love emo content. Ulquiorra vs Ichigo gave me chills while reading, so much blood loss 😔. Good thing orange boi has Orihime as the best gal. 🥰
Well, hot damn, there goes my rationing plan of reading one Bleach a day. Bleach, Volume 40: The Lust left me lusting (heh heh Get it? Yes, I'm a dork.) for the next volume. If this review seems rushed, it's because I've got ants-in-my-pants impatience to run off to read Volume 41!
Unf! Ulquiorra is BADASS!
This entire volume focuses on the battle between Ichigo and Ulquiorra. The art for the fight scenes were easier to follow, so it made it all the more amazing.
Ulquiorra unveils a deathly secret ability that pushes Ichigo to his limits. Does Ichigo have what it takes to defeat this powerful opponent? The cliffhanger ending gives a hint to the answer!
EEEEEEEEEEEEE! Must read Volume 41 NOW!!
Oh! Uryū was amazing in this volume!
Volume 41, here I come!["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>
و اینم جلد چهلم مجموعه مانگای bleach.... بی شک بهترین جلد مجموعه بود واقعا لذت بردم و در این جلد بهترین نبرد بلیچ یعنی ایچیگو در برابر الکیورا (که هنوز تموم نشده و تازه شروعش هست) اتفاق افتاد.... پایان خیلی بی نظیری داشت که همون پایانی بود که من توی تمام مدتی که دارم بلیچ رو میخونم منتظرش بودم و صبر ندارم تا جلد بعد رو بخونم.... آرت خیلی جذابی داشت و واقعا مانگاکا خیلی روی این جلد کار کرده بود که واقعا اگه روی همه جلد ها اینقدر کار میکرد بی نظیر میشد... اگر مجموعه ای با صحنه های اکشن زیاد میخوایید این مجموعه برای شماست....
I…just…wow. The easiest 5 stars in the entire series. This volume was amazing with breathless action. Ichigo v. Ulqiorra is by far the best fight in the entire series.
Bleach, Vol. 40 continues where the previous tankōbon left off and contains the next nine chapters (341–349) of the on-going manga series.
Orihime Inoue shields Ichigo Kurosaki from one of Ulquiorra Cifer's attacks, but Ichigo requests her to let him fight alone. While the battle continues, Loly Aivirrne and Menoly Mallia approach Orhime with the former intending to harm Orihime. However, Yammy Riyalgo suddenly arrives, taking out Menoly and injuring Loly when Ulquiorra refuses to let him fight Ichigo.
After being healed by Orihime again, Loly releases her Zanpakutō to fight Yammy before he punches her through the wall and lets her fall, seemingly to her death. Yammy was about to attack Orihime when Uryū Ishida arrives and uses the mines he had got from Mayuri Kurotsuchi to drop Yammy all the way to ground level.
With Uryū protecting Orihime, Ichigo uses his Hollow powers to confront Ulquiorra. However, after taking their fight to the top of Las Noches to activate his released form, Ulquiorra reveals his Resurrección Segunda Etapa before blowing a hole in Ichigo's chest. A horrified Orihime rushes to Ichigo's lifeless body, only to be blocked by Ulquiorra. Uryū intervenes and attempts a sneak attack yet fails, but he decides to buy Orihime time to heal Ichigo's wounds. Ulquiorra quickly overwhelms him while a distraught Orihime cries out for Ichigo. Orihime's lament breakdown unexpectedly triggers Ichigo to undergo a new transformation.
This tankōbon is written and illustrated by Tite Kubo. It switches the narrative from Sōsuke Aizen's invasion of Karakura Town to the fight between Ichigo Kurosaki and Ulquiorra Cifer in Hueco Mundo. The fight seemed one sided, as Ichigo Kurosaki seemed to be distracted, until he feels comfortable that Orimine Inoue’s safety with Uryū Ishida protecting her. Unfortunately, he seems to be no match for Ulquiorra Cifer as he was downed rather quickly. However, it seems that, once again, Ichigo Kurosaki has another, presumably more powerful, transformation.
All in all, Bleach, Vol. 40 is a wonderful continuation to a series that seems intriguing and I cannot wait to read more.
Such a good volume! We’re finally getting the fight between Ichigo and Ulquiorra and it’s kinda going how I expected. Ulquiorra is so strong it’s hard for me to believe he’s only number 4. The way things are going it’s gonna take a miracle from Ichigo to beat him. I can’t wait to see how this ends between those two. Let’s go Ichigo!
It's time for Ichigo to confront Ulquiorra in an epic battle of brute power. With a couple of neat plot twists and surprise appearances, the entire arc remains a confrontation that has never been seen before in the series.
The cliffhanger ending was very much expected and one that will probably have an incredible impact on the rest of the narrative moving forward.
This volume was so freaking epiccccc!!! You can’t tell me that number 4 of the espadas ain’t the strongest. We need to reclassify them asap!! But really the fight between him and Ichigo was beautiful. The art was amazing. Plus 4’s second regeccion was awesome.
The best part of the history of bleach, when Ichigo kurosaki has a amazing and intense battle with Ulquiorra Ciffer, the villain has the friend´s Ichigo, he fight for she.
Ichigo has the ability to see ghosts and when his family is attacked by a Hollow, (a malevolent lost soul) Ichigo becomes a Soul Reaper, dedicating his life to protecting the innocent and helping tortured spirits find peace.
This entire volume focuses on the battle between Ichigo and Ulquiorra. And what a battle, so cool!!!! Ulquiorra is more powerful than I believed he would be, and correct me if I'm wrong but - is his abilities over death and/or despair? It seemed like it to me so..... Anyway I like his 'power-up forms' and with those bad-ass horns of his as well as those green streaks that go down the sides of his face like permanent tear tracks - are so awe-inspiring and impactful. The art in this volume especially felt more impactful and eye grabbing.
THIS WAS SO GOOD! We jump to Ichigo vs Ulqouira and that battle is unique and epic and jawdropping and all more. Its basically him trying everything to upend the latter but he can't as he is way too powerful and even when Ishida comes to the rescue and he goes in his hollow mode and even using Getsuga tenshou he is unable to defeat the latter and in the end wow when he unleashes his true form and kinda (spoilers) defeat Ichigo its something else. Its a great volume and the arc is getting better and better even though looks like its a little bit drawn out!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
As glad as I am to see the series return to Ichigo, holy crap how long is this fight going to take? How long is he going to draw out the captains' fights with secondary characters that for the most part don't add anything to the story? The Ulquiorra/Ichigo fight is actually very well down but it's the strongest bright spot in a volume of 'why is this still going on ugggh'. Also, Ishida is awesome and should make out with Orihime because I said so.
This is definitely one of my favorite volumes, because it's when Ulquiorra basically kills Ichigo (does blowing a big giant hole in some one's chest count as killing them?), BUT then his hollow (probably) takes over and goes all out bad ass (pardon French) with a totally amazing mask (it has HORNS XD) and even does a cero and then defeats Ulquiorra. REALLY good volume!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Just everything in this volume! Ulquiorra’s second resurrection bat wings form, white knight Uryu to the rescue, the way Ichigo couldn’t look at Uryu when he tells him he’s leaving Orihime’s safety to him… and that ending!!!!!!! I’m realizing Ulquiorra reminds me of Azriel from acotar but maybe it’s just the wings and general emo vibes