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Bleach #28
Bleach, Vol. 28: Baron's Lecture Full-Course
Ichigo, Chad and Uryû are determined to rescue Orihime from Aizen's vile machinations. But though the Arrancars' fortress is in sight, the would-be heroes must first pass Tres Cifras--the land of the disgraced Arrancars, who see destroying Ichigo and his friends as a way to redeem their honor!
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 4, 2007
67 people are currently reading
1120 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
July 2, 2023
Good volume with some comedic moments throughout. We’ve got some new people joining Ichigo including the Arrancar Nel.These new characters really bring a lot more comedy to the story so far. Not to mention Rukia and Renji are here as well! I never thought I’d see a group like this together, but it didn’t last long because everybody has split up and Ichigo is the first to find trouble. It’s time to see how much stronger everybody has gotten. I’m ready to see what happens next!
June 29, 2024
"As we approach the crucial battleground, believe that our blades will not shatter. Believe that our resolve will not weaken. Though our paths may diverse, our iron hearts will remain together. Swear that though the land itself may break asunder, we will come back alive!
After the courtesy of Urahara, our heroes landed in Hueco Mundo. The moment they had shown up in the new environment, a battle started. Ichigo's being out of the fight - it's the time for Ishida and Chad to shine. And they shine indeed. Both got an opportunity to show their new power. Ishida's fighting with a new spirit bow named Ginrei Kojaku while Chad, who's now being able to stop an enormous fist with his hand, is attacking with El Directo. They win without much of a problem.
"The battle only begins here. And there is no victory where you are going."
After their first victory, the heroes are out in the desert of Hueco Mundo. Their goal is to get into a palace named the Las Noches so they could find Orihime and rescue her. But before they could do so, a very strange situation happens where they meet four very strange Arrancars and they had to put on a fight against an enormous guardian of the desert made of sand. Now the heroes are split up and each had to go through dangerous fights, not only against normal Arrancars - but also against the Espada members. Are they strong enough to survive in Hueco Mundo? Will they succeed and rescue Orihime? What will happen if they fail?
"You idiot! Why did you come to Hueco Mundo?! Why didn't you wait for us to come back?!"
"Cause... I wasn't sure that you guys were gonna come back."
"We would've come! No matter what it took! Stupid jerk! That was our intention from the beginning! Why couldn't you wait? Why couldn't you trust us? Aren't we your friends, Ichigo?"
This scene shows not only the depth of the friendship between the characters, but also the big change that already took place in the Soul Society after the events of Rukia's execution. Before Ichigo's arrival in Seireitei and his fierce battle to rescue his friend, situation like this would never happen. We know it, because of the example of Rukia. She was accused of a betrayal and she helplessly wandered back to the Soul Society where she waited for her execution. She didn't try to fight for herself and didn't try to run away. She just stood there, accepting her fate. Not only because she believed that she made a mistake and that she wasn't worth to keep on living, but also because she believed in Seireitei's justice. One word of the Central 46, Gotei 13 or Genryuusai already seemed like a law. Ichigo changed it spectacularly (and will keep on changing it, either being aware of it, or not).
"I have news. Your friends have entered Hueco Mundo."
"Why?"
"To rescue you, of course. What else would bring them here?"
Why the hell was Orihime so surprised when she received these news from Ulquiorra?! It's like she forgot what kind of people her friends are, especially the guy she's in love with! It was OBVIOUS that they will come for her! It was OBVIOUS that they will be ready to sacrifice themselves for her sake! It should be OBVIOUS for her too! Especially for her! O my gosh, I'm trying to not get angry, I really do, but this girl is so frustrating! I understand why she decided to get to Hueco Mundo, she didn't really have any other choice. I understand it. But she should've been ready for the rescue! Or, even better, should do anything in her power to make the rescue somehow easier for her friends, I don't know how, but just DO. SOMETHING. instead of standing in her room, and looking at the window all the time!
It's something only I can do. The phenomenon I have to destroy is the Hogyoku. - I WISH SHE DID IT INSTEAD OF ONLY TALKING ABOUT IT *sigh* (she literally didn't do anything, just waiting to be rescued. Orihime 'damsel in distress' Inoue *sigh*)
"Now brace yourself, Soul Reaper, for Arrancar no. 103! Dordoni is going to crush you right now!"
Dordoni is certainly one of my favorite Arrancars and I was waiting for his battle against Ichigo. They had finally met! It's finally happening! Dordoni is such a fun character to be around, but also a very dangerous opponent, so Ichigo need to be very cautious. A wrong move can easily cost him his life. I love Dordoni's introduction, it's hilarious 😂 I think that in another life he and Ichigo could be friends. I really believe so. I wish for Dordoni to stay a little longer, but I know what's coming 🥲
Btw, where was Ichigo's 'Don Panini' joke? 😔
Anyways, Volume 28 ended with Nel's fearful face expression while watching Ichigo's fight against Dordoni. Ichigo refuses to perform Bankai, but it seems like it's his only way to survive this fight. Will he change his mind? Or will he lose? What's happening with the rest of the heroes? We will see in the next volume!
Some of my thoughts I like to share:
~ "So this is Hueco Mundo. Not very cheery. There is nothing here." - I'm curious what Ichigo expected to see 😂
~ "Good morning, Espadas. We've been invaded. But first... some tea." - Ladies and Gentlemen, the villain of the year 😂
~ "No matter what happens, as long as you're with me no one fan defeat you." - HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
~ The little Hollow was so cute! ☺️
~ Dondochakka's, Bawabawa's, Pesche's and Nel's chasing scene looked much more intimidating in the manga than in the anime and I understand why the heroes thought that Nel's in danger and decided to intervene.
~ Rukia and Renji each giving Ichigo a fist punch was kind of deserved (and funny), but in Ichigo's defence, he had every right to think that they wouldn't come to help.
~ The gang's reaction to the news of Byakuya's help, lmao 🤣
~ Nel clinging to Ichigo and being jealous of Rukia didn't happen in the manga. In fact, Nel being hysteric and chasing after Ichigo, when he kindly told her to leave (so she wouldn't face any danger), doesn't really make sense in the manga like it does in the anime.
~ *Renji trying to make a light using Kido and making only a little ball*
Ichigo: "That's okay. The red hair of yours will light our way. You know, like Rudolph. How does that song go again...?" - I'M SORRY, I CAN'T 🤣
After the courtesy of Urahara, our heroes landed in Hueco Mundo. The moment they had shown up in the new environment, a battle started. Ichigo's being out of the fight - it's the time for Ishida and Chad to shine. And they shine indeed. Both got an opportunity to show their new power. Ishida's fighting with a new spirit bow named Ginrei Kojaku while Chad, who's now being able to stop an enormous fist with his hand, is attacking with El Directo. They win without much of a problem.
"The battle only begins here. And there is no victory where you are going."
After their first victory, the heroes are out in the desert of Hueco Mundo. Their goal is to get into a palace named the Las Noches so they could find Orihime and rescue her. But before they could do so, a very strange situation happens where they meet four very strange Arrancars and they had to put on a fight against an enormous guardian of the desert made of sand. Now the heroes are split up and each had to go through dangerous fights, not only against normal Arrancars - but also against the Espada members. Are they strong enough to survive in Hueco Mundo? Will they succeed and rescue Orihime? What will happen if they fail?
"You idiot! Why did you come to Hueco Mundo?! Why didn't you wait for us to come back?!"
"Cause... I wasn't sure that you guys were gonna come back."
"We would've come! No matter what it took! Stupid jerk! That was our intention from the beginning! Why couldn't you wait? Why couldn't you trust us? Aren't we your friends, Ichigo?"
This scene shows not only the depth of the friendship between the characters, but also the big change that already took place in the Soul Society after the events of Rukia's execution. Before Ichigo's arrival in Seireitei and his fierce battle to rescue his friend, situation like this would never happen. We know it, because of the example of Rukia. She was accused of a betrayal and she helplessly wandered back to the Soul Society where she waited for her execution. She didn't try to fight for herself and didn't try to run away. She just stood there, accepting her fate. Not only because she believed that she made a mistake and that she wasn't worth to keep on living, but also because she believed in Seireitei's justice. One word of the Central 46, Gotei 13 or Genryuusai already seemed like a law. Ichigo changed it spectacularly (and will keep on changing it, either being aware of it, or not).
"I have news. Your friends have entered Hueco Mundo."
"Why?"
"To rescue you, of course. What else would bring them here?"
Why the hell was Orihime so surprised when she received these news from Ulquiorra?! It's like she forgot what kind of people her friends are, especially the guy she's in love with! It was OBVIOUS that they will come for her! It was OBVIOUS that they will be ready to sacrifice themselves for her sake! It should be OBVIOUS for her too! Especially for her! O my gosh, I'm trying to not get angry, I really do, but this girl is so frustrating! I understand why she decided to get to Hueco Mundo, she didn't really have any other choice. I understand it. But she should've been ready for the rescue! Or, even better, should do anything in her power to make the rescue somehow easier for her friends, I don't know how, but just DO. SOMETHING. instead of standing in her room, and looking at the window all the time!
It's something only I can do. The phenomenon I have to destroy is the Hogyoku. - I WISH SHE DID IT INSTEAD OF ONLY TALKING ABOUT IT *sigh* (she literally didn't do anything, just waiting to be rescued. Orihime 'damsel in distress' Inoue *sigh*)
"Now brace yourself, Soul Reaper, for Arrancar no. 103! Dordoni is going to crush you right now!"
Dordoni is certainly one of my favorite Arrancars and I was waiting for his battle against Ichigo. They had finally met! It's finally happening! Dordoni is such a fun character to be around, but also a very dangerous opponent, so Ichigo need to be very cautious. A wrong move can easily cost him his life. I love Dordoni's introduction, it's hilarious 😂 I think that in another life he and Ichigo could be friends. I really believe so. I wish for Dordoni to stay a little longer, but I know what's coming 🥲
Btw, where was Ichigo's 'Don Panini' joke? 😔
Anyways, Volume 28 ended with Nel's fearful face expression while watching Ichigo's fight against Dordoni. Ichigo refuses to perform Bankai, but it seems like it's his only way to survive this fight. Will he change his mind? Or will he lose? What's happening with the rest of the heroes? We will see in the next volume!
Some of my thoughts I like to share:
~ "So this is Hueco Mundo. Not very cheery. There is nothing here." - I'm curious what Ichigo expected to see 😂
~ "Good morning, Espadas. We've been invaded. But first... some tea." - Ladies and Gentlemen, the villain of the year 😂
~ "No matter what happens, as long as you're with me no one fan defeat you." - HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
~ The little Hollow was so cute! ☺️
~ Dondochakka's, Bawabawa's, Pesche's and Nel's chasing scene looked much more intimidating in the manga than in the anime and I understand why the heroes thought that Nel's in danger and decided to intervene.
~ Rukia and Renji each giving Ichigo a fist punch was kind of deserved (and funny), but in Ichigo's defence, he had every right to think that they wouldn't come to help.
~ The gang's reaction to the news of Byakuya's help, lmao 🤣
~ Nel clinging to Ichigo and being jealous of Rukia didn't happen in the manga. In fact, Nel being hysteric and chasing after Ichigo, when he kindly told her to leave (so she wouldn't face any danger), doesn't really make sense in the manga like it does in the anime.
~ *Renji trying to make a light using Kido and making only a little ball*
Ichigo: "That's okay. The red hair of yours will light our way. You know, like Rudolph. How does that song go again...?" - I'M SORRY, I CAN'T 🤣
February 1, 2021
More building towards the big fight.
This time Ichigo and co handle some weaklings, letting Chad and the Quincy show off their fancy new powers. While that happens we meet some kid hallows who...I guess are there for comedic effect. I already find them annoying but we'll see if they get better. There is some funny moments in this volume just not with them. The ending sets up Ichigo's next big battle but of course he hasn't even gone Bankai yet so I have no worries for him.
A decent volume. A 3 out of 5.
This time Ichigo and co handle some weaklings, letting Chad and the Quincy show off their fancy new powers. While that happens we meet some kid hallows who...I guess are there for comedic effect. I already find them annoying but we'll see if they get better. There is some funny moments in this volume just not with them. The ending sets up Ichigo's next big battle but of course he hasn't even gone Bankai yet so I have no worries for him.
A decent volume. A 3 out of 5.
October 26, 2022
I’ve had Nel for five minutes and if anything happens to her I will die
February 26, 2020
The foray into Hueco Mundo continues as the trio encounters a strange and silly bunch who hold valuable knowledge. They quickly run into a new sphere of the Arrancars that seems suspiciously dangerous, going by the name of the Tres Cifras.
The pacing is quite perfect with various subplots being developed at a reasonable and exciting pace. Intense battles are only just beginning!
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
The pacing is quite perfect with various subplots being developed at a reasonable and exciting pace. Intense battles are only just beginning!
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
November 29, 2009
Why do I get the feeling Orihime is playing right into Aizen's hands?
March 22, 2025
As close to filler as your gonna get in manga. Still cool and enjoyable especially with Nel but it's just filling time and building up for the espada arc.
July 28, 2019
Man, I did not expect Byakuya to help, or Rukia and Renji to show up!! I’m so glad though!
I wonder how they will save Orihime and beat Aizen when they are in enemy territory?! 😬
I wonder how they will save Orihime and beat Aizen when they are in enemy territory?! 😬
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2020
Ichigo and co break in to Hueco Mundo and they are emt by this child NEL and her friends and as they are fighting some sand hollows, they seem to be outclasses, then Renji and Rukia come in to save the day but then they split in five ways and Ichigo and Nel have to fight Dordonh aka fallen espadas. Its a good volume and we continue the rescue of Orihime!
September 15, 2016
Amazing volume!!!! such a great read, filled with feels, nostalgia, and all of that good stuff.
definitely was hooked!
as usual i was intrigued by the little differences that occur in the manga compared to the anime!
definitely was hooked!
as usual i was intrigued by the little differences that occur in the manga compared to the anime!
November 4, 2016
This volume felt a bit jumbled and a mess to me. I feel that the artist may have been struggling a bit with this. Really though It was great but not as good as the previous volume.
August 9, 2019
Bleach, Vol. 28 continues where the previous tankōbon left off and contains the next nine chapters (243–251) of the on-going manga series.
Using their new fighting skills, Uryū Ishida and Yasutora "Chad" Sado easily defeat Arrancar Demōra and Iceringer before they and Ichigo Kurosaki escape the collapsing building. Upon seeing Las Noches, the castle Sōsuke Aizen is located at, they begin running across the desert of Hueco Mundo for are impeded by the various natural hazards.
In the desert, they encounter three Hollows in pursuit of small child, and go to her defense. However, they learn the child is an Arrancar named Nel and the Hollows are her mutually adopted brothers Pesche Guatiche and Dondochakka Bilstin and their pet Bawabawa. Nel and her family, despite initially distrustful toward Ichigo, guide him to Las Noches before Rukia Kuchiki and Renji Abarai arrive to save them from the sand-based hollow Runuganga.
After breaking into Las Noches and finding themselves at a five-way fork, Ichigo's group splits up and each takes one path. When Nel chases after Ichigo, Pesche and Dondochakka forget the direction she took and travel down different paths. Ichigo, Uryū, and Chad soon each encounter a Privaron Espada, Espada who have been demoted in favor of stronger replacements.
This tankōbon is written and illustrated by Tite Kubo. The incursion into Hueco Mundo continues as Ichigo Kurosaki, Uryū Ishida, and Yasutora "Chad" Sado delves deeper into the enemy's territory. They are later joined by Rukia Kuchiki and Renji Abarai and together they head towards Las Noches, but when they come to a five-forked path, they are forced to separate and each encounter a powerful Arrancar that was once a part of the Espada.
All in all, Bleach, Vol. 28 is a wonderful continuation to a series that seems intriguing and I cannot wait to read more.
Using their new fighting skills, Uryū Ishida and Yasutora "Chad" Sado easily defeat Arrancar Demōra and Iceringer before they and Ichigo Kurosaki escape the collapsing building. Upon seeing Las Noches, the castle Sōsuke Aizen is located at, they begin running across the desert of Hueco Mundo for are impeded by the various natural hazards.
In the desert, they encounter three Hollows in pursuit of small child, and go to her defense. However, they learn the child is an Arrancar named Nel and the Hollows are her mutually adopted brothers Pesche Guatiche and Dondochakka Bilstin and their pet Bawabawa. Nel and her family, despite initially distrustful toward Ichigo, guide him to Las Noches before Rukia Kuchiki and Renji Abarai arrive to save them from the sand-based hollow Runuganga.
After breaking into Las Noches and finding themselves at a five-way fork, Ichigo's group splits up and each takes one path. When Nel chases after Ichigo, Pesche and Dondochakka forget the direction she took and travel down different paths. Ichigo, Uryū, and Chad soon each encounter a Privaron Espada, Espada who have been demoted in favor of stronger replacements.
This tankōbon is written and illustrated by Tite Kubo. The incursion into Hueco Mundo continues as Ichigo Kurosaki, Uryū Ishida, and Yasutora "Chad" Sado delves deeper into the enemy's territory. They are later joined by Rukia Kuchiki and Renji Abarai and together they head towards Las Noches, but when they come to a five-forked path, they are forced to separate and each encounter a powerful Arrancar that was once a part of the Espada.
All in all, Bleach, Vol. 28 is a wonderful continuation to a series that seems intriguing and I cannot wait to read more.
August 4, 2025
Este volumen se siente como un puente entre la llegada y las batallas más tochas. Aún así estuvo entretenido.
Me encanta Nel. La primera aparición que tiene con sus "hermanos" es muy graciosa 🤣🤣🤣. Sobre todo en el anime por la voz que tiene.
Me encanta Nel. La primera aparición que tiene con sus "hermanos" es muy graciosa 🤣🤣🤣. Sobre todo en el anime por la voz que tiene.
December 5, 2022
doodoo head fucking killed me.
I didn't remember those kids, awn, I love them so much, I just want to read more volumes now :')
I didn't remember those kids, awn, I love them so much, I just want to read more volumes now :')
September 2, 2023
NEL È LA COSA PIÙ BELLA DI 'STO MONDO.
January 29, 2024
I am just patiently waiting for Gin to fight
February 12, 2025
★★★½
Funny volume, but felt a lot like just an introduction
Funny volume, but felt a lot like just an introduction
February 13, 2025
Nel and her brothers are as funny in themanga as in the anime.
A volume mostly with info and setup to what's coming. I loved when Rukia and Renji arrived and Byakuya is a sneaky bastard, I love him ❤️
A volume mostly with info and setup to what's coming. I loved when Rukia and Renji arrived and Byakuya is a sneaky bastard, I love him ❤️
December 6, 2011
The little hollows are CUTE~!!
July 21, 2015
Nnoitra! ♥ A Nell!
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.
February 7, 2021
Having arrived in Hueco Mundo, Ichigo, Uryu, and Chad find themselves in the middle of a huge desert, facing Los Noches, Aizen’s residence/fortress. But the structure is farther away than it looks, as they find after running toward it for a long time, seemingly drawing no closer. Ah, the illusions of the desert! Meanwhile, Aizen has gathered his Espada in order to discuss current events. He tells them they have been invaded and not to underestimate the Ryoku, particularly Ichigo. Grimmjow doesn’t seem to be listening to his commander, and wants to head off to dispatch Ichigo immediately, and has to be reminded of his place.
As Ichigo et al take a break in the desert, a strange worm-like creature emerges from the said, with two other odd creatures on its back. It seems to be in pursuit of a small being, who screams in terror. Of course Ichigo can’t sit by and do nothing, so engages the pursuers, only to learn it’s just a game of Eternal Tag (because there is little to do in Hueco Mundo) and the person being pursued is just having fun. She turns out to be a little girl named Nel, who introduces her companions—Pesche and Dondochakka, all three of whom are Hollows. Nel takes an instant shine to Ichigo. Things seem to be going well until the Guardian of the White Sand appears to take down the Hollows for offering aid and comfort to the enemy.
Renji and Rukia appear unexpectedly, to Ichigo’s surprise. Rukia is angry with him for having left the World of the Living before they came back, saying he should have realized they would return to help. Coming to a crossroads, they decide to separate, in order to cover the different paths, promising to meet up afterward. Although Ichigo goes off on his own, Nel is soon running after him, crying. Dondo and Pesche want to follow Nel, but they confusedly end up going down the wrong paths, separating from each other in the process.
Aizen sends for Orihime and sends the others away in order speak with her privately, producing jealousy in two of his female followers, arousing their hatred for the innocent Orihime. Aizen shows off the Hogyuku to her, so now she knows exactly where it is as he tells her he needs her help. Now Orihime knows what she must do. Meanwhile, the battles with the Espadas begin.
Ichigo is determined to rescue Orihime at any cost… it’s what he does. He faces the challenge with the same relentless determination he showed in saving Rukia from being executed. He just does not know the meaning of failure. There is a lot being set up in this volume, sowing the seeds for what is to come. It’s interesting to note that Ulquiorra believes Orihime is one of them, having given her word to help. Those of us who know and have followed her from the start of the series know this can’t be true… can it? We know how honest she is, to a fault. But she is also timid. Is she going along because she gave her word or because she is afraid? Or does she truly have something else in mind?
Ulquiorra is an interesting character, obviously intelligent, and not insensitive to Orihime’s beauty and charms. At the same time, he is a hardened Espada. An interesting dichotomy indeed. I can find nothing redeeming to say about Aizen, though. Nel is also an interesting character, the sort of helpless innocent that Ichigo tends to attract, and whom he automatically defends.
Another great volume of Bleach, can’t wait to see the battles as they unfold.
As Ichigo et al take a break in the desert, a strange worm-like creature emerges from the said, with two other odd creatures on its back. It seems to be in pursuit of a small being, who screams in terror. Of course Ichigo can’t sit by and do nothing, so engages the pursuers, only to learn it’s just a game of Eternal Tag (because there is little to do in Hueco Mundo) and the person being pursued is just having fun. She turns out to be a little girl named Nel, who introduces her companions—Pesche and Dondochakka, all three of whom are Hollows. Nel takes an instant shine to Ichigo. Things seem to be going well until the Guardian of the White Sand appears to take down the Hollows for offering aid and comfort to the enemy.
Renji and Rukia appear unexpectedly, to Ichigo’s surprise. Rukia is angry with him for having left the World of the Living before they came back, saying he should have realized they would return to help. Coming to a crossroads, they decide to separate, in order to cover the different paths, promising to meet up afterward. Although Ichigo goes off on his own, Nel is soon running after him, crying. Dondo and Pesche want to follow Nel, but they confusedly end up going down the wrong paths, separating from each other in the process.
Aizen sends for Orihime and sends the others away in order speak with her privately, producing jealousy in two of his female followers, arousing their hatred for the innocent Orihime. Aizen shows off the Hogyuku to her, so now she knows exactly where it is as he tells her he needs her help. Now Orihime knows what she must do. Meanwhile, the battles with the Espadas begin.
Ichigo is determined to rescue Orihime at any cost… it’s what he does. He faces the challenge with the same relentless determination he showed in saving Rukia from being executed. He just does not know the meaning of failure. There is a lot being set up in this volume, sowing the seeds for what is to come. It’s interesting to note that Ulquiorra believes Orihime is one of them, having given her word to help. Those of us who know and have followed her from the start of the series know this can’t be true… can it? We know how honest she is, to a fault. But she is also timid. Is she going along because she gave her word or because she is afraid? Or does she truly have something else in mind?
Ulquiorra is an interesting character, obviously intelligent, and not insensitive to Orihime’s beauty and charms. At the same time, he is a hardened Espada. An interesting dichotomy indeed. I can find nothing redeeming to say about Aizen, though. Nel is also an interesting character, the sort of helpless innocent that Ichigo tends to attract, and whom he automatically defends.
Another great volume of Bleach, can’t wait to see the battles as they unfold.
December 26, 2022
Loved this first look into Hueco Mundo, and I loved the introduction of Nel and her crew. Rukia and Renji’s appearances were sweet, but the immediate plan to split up to cover more ground was such a major plot convenience to further individual stories despite the fact that it would be smarter for them to stick together considering the strength of their enemies and being in unknown hostile enemy territory. I would have much preferred if they had all gotten forcibly separated somehow. However this criticism was mostly rectified as the antagonists even acknowledge this plan as a bad one. I liked the concept of the Privaron Espada, the three digit former Espada Arrancars that used to be among the most powerful. This volume made me appreciate the numerical numbering system the Arrancar use despite being a sometimes complex one. I thought that Ulquiorra’s explanation of framing Orihime as betraying the Soul Society and her friends while insisting it wasn’t an integral part of the plan and just out of spite was dark and very fitting for Aizen’s character. While I had some problems with some narrative choices in this one, I loved how this volume functioned as a deeper transition point into my favourite arc of the series.
May 27, 2024
Loved this first look into Hueco Mundo, and I loved the introduction of Nel and her crew. Rukia and Renji’s appearances were sweet, but the immediate plan to split up to cover more ground was such a major plot convenience to further individual stories despite the fact that it would be smarter for them to stick together considering the strength of their enemies and being in unknown hostile enemy territory. I would have much preferred if they had all gotten forcibly separated somehow. However this criticism was mostly rectified as the antagonists even acknowledge this plan as a bad one. I liked the concept of the Privaron Espada, the three digit former Espada Arrancars that used to be among the most powerful. This volume made me appreciate the numerical numbering system the Arrancar use despite being a sometimes complex one. I thought that Ulquiorra’s explanation of framing Orihime as betraying the Soul Society and her friends while insisting it wasn’t an integral part of the plan and just out of spite was dark and very fitting for Aizen’s character. While I had some problems with some narrative choices in this one, I loved how this volume functioned as a deeper transition point into my favourite arc of the series.
August 7, 2024
VOLUME 28: CHAPTER 243-251
Arc 5: Arrancar: The Hueco Mundo Sneak Entry
The news about the intruders are spreading out Aizen summined the Espada to assemble:
1: Coyote Stark
2: Baraggan Louisenbairn
3: Tier Halibel
4: Ulquiorra Cifer
5: Nnoitra Gilga
6: Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez
7: Zommari Leroux
8: Szayelaporro Grantz
9: Aaroniero Arruruerie
10: Yammy Llargo
Ishida used his new bow, Genrei Kujaku to defeat Iceringer while Chad defeat Demora. They went to Los Noches, a palace where Aizen resided. They meet the group of Arrancar known as the Desert Bros; Pesche Guatiche, Dondochakka Bilstin, Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck and a pet, Bawabawa. They fight the guardian of the Los Noches, Runuganga. Suddenly, Rukia and Renji appear and defeat the guardian.
They entered the Los Noches. The path split into 5 ways. All of them split up to take each paths. Nel followed Ichigo and they confronted the Privaron Espada, Arrancar 103 Dordoni Alessandro Del Socaccio. Dordoni released his Zanpakutou: Giralda.
Arc 5: Arrancar: The Hueco Mundo Sneak Entry
The news about the intruders are spreading out Aizen summined the Espada to assemble:
1: Coyote Stark
2: Baraggan Louisenbairn
3: Tier Halibel
4: Ulquiorra Cifer
5: Nnoitra Gilga
6: Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez
7: Zommari Leroux
8: Szayelaporro Grantz
9: Aaroniero Arruruerie
10: Yammy Llargo
Ishida used his new bow, Genrei Kujaku to defeat Iceringer while Chad defeat Demora. They went to Los Noches, a palace where Aizen resided. They meet the group of Arrancar known as the Desert Bros; Pesche Guatiche, Dondochakka Bilstin, Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck and a pet, Bawabawa. They fight the guardian of the Los Noches, Runuganga. Suddenly, Rukia and Renji appear and defeat the guardian.
They entered the Los Noches. The path split into 5 ways. All of them split up to take each paths. Nel followed Ichigo and they confronted the Privaron Espada, Arrancar 103 Dordoni Alessandro Del Socaccio. Dordoni released his Zanpakutou: Giralda.
February 5, 2025
Daje fortissimo, Rukia e Renji back in action, il dream team è di nuovo completo e sono pronti a fare le chiappette a strisce a tutto l'Hueco Mundo.
Ora tocca solo vedere se ci riescono, ops.
È stata una cosa molto gradita l'intervento di Byakuya, ha imparato qualcosa dalla storia di Rukia.
Invece chi non ha imparato niente, soprattutto dai film horror, sono i nostri 5 amici che decidono di dividersi, maledetti.
Il primo scontro tocca a Ichigo contro l'arrancar Enrique Iglesias, ma sinceramente non ricordo con chi si scontrano gli altri, dita incrociate e speriamo che non schiattano.
Nel frattempo Orihime continua a essere prigioniera e a me la Ulquihime è sempre piaciuta quindi mi dovrete sopportare ancora per un bel po'.
Ora tocca solo vedere se ci riescono, ops.
È stata una cosa molto gradita l'intervento di Byakuya, ha imparato qualcosa dalla storia di Rukia.
Invece chi non ha imparato niente, soprattutto dai film horror, sono i nostri 5 amici che decidono di dividersi, maledetti.
Il primo scontro tocca a Ichigo contro l'arrancar Enrique Iglesias, ma sinceramente non ricordo con chi si scontrano gli altri, dita incrociate e speriamo che non schiattano.
Nel frattempo Orihime continua a essere prigioniera e a me la Ulquihime è sempre piaciuta quindi mi dovrete sopportare ancora per un bel po'.
April 29, 2025
5 stars. Found my new favorite character Nel she’s best girl for sure. Soooo cute! I like how orihime has her own plan I don’t think it’ll work. Aizen is too smart. I don’t like how the area cars are letting ichigo and his team the ability to win some fights. They could totally just crush them at once but I get it they want the story to continue and it allows for more fights. Not realistic though.
I don’t like the enemy ichigo is currently facing even though it’s comedic relief just not my kind of humor. It’s dumb. Nel truly is the only reason for the 5 stars. She’s adorable and funny. I feel bad for her brothers though. Hahah
I don’t like the enemy ichigo is currently facing even though it’s comedic relief just not my kind of humor. It’s dumb. Nel truly is the only reason for the 5 stars. She’s adorable and funny. I feel bad for her brothers though. Hahah
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2021
Overall pretty great.
Summary:
Chad and Uryu beat the hollows. The underground tunnel starts to collapse and the three of them escape. Aizen calls a meeting with the espadas to let them know Ichego has arrived. Ichego, chad and Uryu meet some hollows on their way to the castle. The crew learns that hollows have names and families (this group they met is Nel and his family). They get attacked by the protector of the sand. Rukia and Renji save them. The Break inside the castle and each head down a different path. Ichego meets an ex and they start to fight
Summary:
Chad and Uryu beat the hollows. The underground tunnel starts to collapse and the three of them escape. Aizen calls a meeting with the espadas to let them know Ichego has arrived. Ichego, chad and Uryu meet some hollows on their way to the castle. The crew learns that hollows have names and families (this group they met is Nel and his family). They get attacked by the protector of the sand. Rukia and Renji save them. The Break inside the castle and each head down a different path. Ichego meets an ex and they start to fight
April 4, 2023
3.5 stars.
I still think the art is beautiful, though some of the fight scenes are hard to follow, but I'm starting to get a bit bored with this arc. I wish things were progressing faster or differently. I also think it was a stupid call to split up in enemy territory when a single soul reaper has yet to completely defeat any of Aizen's lackeys. I feel like Orihime is playing into Aizen's plan if she tries to destroy the sphere. I don't know... I'm just not entirely enjoying the arc right now. I do think the hollows that Ichigo and the others befriended are cute though.
I still think the art is beautiful, though some of the fight scenes are hard to follow, but I'm starting to get a bit bored with this arc. I wish things were progressing faster or differently. I also think it was a stupid call to split up in enemy territory when a single soul reaper has yet to completely defeat any of Aizen's lackeys. I feel like Orihime is playing into Aizen's plan if she tries to destroy the sphere. I don't know... I'm just not entirely enjoying the arc right now. I do think the hollows that Ichigo and the others befriended are cute though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2019
I love this volume as not only does my baby Nel come in but it has one of my favourite lines!
"We, at this moment head into the decisive battle, have faith that our blades will not shatter, have faith that our hearts will not waver, and even if our paths should diverge we all share a heart of iron. Swear that even if the ground beneath us should rent asunder, we will live and return to this place again."
I LOVE IT SO MUCH!
"We, at this moment head into the decisive battle, have faith that our blades will not shatter, have faith that our hearts will not waver, and even if our paths should diverge we all share a heart of iron. Swear that even if the ground beneath us should rent asunder, we will live and return to this place again."
I LOVE IT SO MUCH!
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