Bleach 22
March 10, 2008
I don’t know, friends. I’m not sure how much longer I can take this. While I’m still very happy to see that things have moved back to Hollows, I just can’t deal with the horrible plot point surrounding Isshin and the fact that members of the Soul Society keep popping in for cameo appearances in Ichigo’s school. I also don’t like the fact that Ichigo is always down on himself in this volume and is “unable to control his inner power,” which was apparently not a problem until recently. I suppose we can attribute this to Aizen’s meddling… but I’m not so willing to do so.
Rukia has reappeared. I never really liked Rukia, but it’s hard to blame the story for bringing her back. I was happy to see things once again between Orihime and Ichigo, but I don’t know that that is in the cards.
One good thing is that there are some pretty cool battles with new enemies. Not only do we get to see Orihime, Chad, and Ichigo fight, but Urahara and Yoruichi also battle, which is always cool to see. I hope Urahara gets more time in this story arc.
I also have to call out Bleach on its use of the name Grimmjow Jeagerjaques, which sounds totally made up. Not as made up as Quillish Whammy, I suppose, but still. I only read his name in the next volume preview, but I certainly didn’t want to forget it.
March 10, 2008 at 12:15 pm
I really disliked the appearance of the Soul Society at Ichigo’s school, as well as the number of jokes about Rangiku’s boobs.
March 11, 2008 at 2:57 am
Ugh, I forgot about the Rangiku jokes. I’m not sure how. I was just mad when the same joke got repeated verbatim a second time.
March 11, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Yep. I’m so glad I don’t own this series, but have been getting it from the library all this time. I don’t have to feel like a completist if I decide to abandon it if this arc turns out to be really lame.
April 18, 2008 at 3:44 am
Yea your right, I really didn’t want Rukia to come back but I guess she had to sooner or later. Honestly, I like the anime better I guess because the volumes are getting so long. With story lines like this that drag on awhile, I’d rather watch the anime. The same could be said for Naruto and Inuyasha. I could never keep on reading the volumes when it is draged on this long. However, the volumes explain much more and don’t leave things out most of the time.
April 19, 2008 at 6:05 am
Actually, I tend to stay away from anime adaptations of long series for just that reason. Maybe it’s just because I haven’t watched a long anime series like this in forever, but I remember things being stretched out much further in anime, and then having filler stuff thrown in while the manga runs and completes a story arc so things can get moving in the anime again. I know One Piece is extremely guilty of this, at least. Plus, yeah, in general manga has more story detail to offer… though in long series like this, I suspect most if not all the story details are probably carried over.