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Book Review: Bleach, Vol 62 by Tite Kubo

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Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Bleach, Vol 62   

Author: Tite Kubo

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: November 4, 2014

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Supernatural/192 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 

Hitsugaya continues to battle the manic Bazz-B, who threatens to take him down using only two fingers. Another Quincy, Cang Du, intervenes, reminding Bazz-B that orders were given to leave the Soul Reapers to those who stole their bankai. He has brought a stunned Matsumoto with him, and decides she and her captain should die together. Just then Uruhara reaches Kurotsuchi and tells him he’s completed his research and knows how the soul reapers can reclaim their bankai. He explains the procedure and how it makes the bankai poisonous to the Quincies, and then begins to implement his plan. His actions are just in time for Hitsugaya to turn the tide in his battle.

Omaeda goes to Sai Fon’s aid against the Quincy she is battling, explaining how she will regain her bankai. Meanwhile, Uryu is with Yhwach, who had predicted this outcome. Quincy Bambietta challenges the Soul Reapers to come out of hiding and fight her, especially the “doggy” she wanted to fight, who seems to be nowhere around. But Komamura is there, and so is Shinji. Shinji shows her what his bankai can do, which disorients the Quincy, but not long enough.

Uruhara receives a call from Ichigo, who reveals that he is ready to come back. Unfortunately, the journey back will be longer than the one he took to get there. Kiskue urges him to come as soon as possible.  Bambietta seems to have taken down Shinji. Komamura steps in, using his clan’s secret jutsu, and suddenly he is no longer a wolf but a man! But at what cost?

This volume of Bleach has so much going on! Edge of your seat stuff, too! Like, what’s going on with Shinji? He has to be okay, right? But I can’t help thinking about Kira and I know at this point anything is possible. The whole thing with Ichigo must surely be a delaying tactic in order to build up drama and suspense and bring everything to the brink of destruction, so he can swoop in and play the hero and make everything right again… right? We still don’t know what part Uryu will play in all of this. I have to believe his own innate sense of justice will not allow him to destroy the Soul Society, even though he’s been appointed crazy Yhwach’s successor. Only time will tell there. The part about Komamura is both amazing and heartbreaking.  And of course, seeing Shunsui is the icing on the cake, at least for me.

I especially loved the cover for the chapter Don’t Sleep Til You Sleep, with Renji and Ichigo and a bunch of white coffins with crosses . Kind of a vampiric vibe lol  Also, there’s a part with Ikkaku, Yumichika and Hisagi who are attacked by a guy who reminded me of a luchadore. More of him next time. 

Great volume, looking forward to the next one!

Book Review: Bleach, Vol 60 by Tite Kubo

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Bleach, Vol 60    

Author: Tite Kubo

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: April 1, 2014

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Supernatural/192 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

 

Isshin encounters an unusual foe in the form of a black Hollow, unaware he is being observed by the Gruesome Trio, aka Aizen, Gin, and Tosen. Masaki senses the Hollow’s spiritual pressure and is determined to do something about it, but Ryu tells her not to interfere. He says that is the job of mixed breeds such as Katagiri, not a pure bred Quincy such as Masaki. Turns out this Hollow was created, with the use of a Soul Reaper’s soul! Masaki steps in and saves Isshin. She is concerned he might find out she’s a Quincy, considering what he is, but to her surprise, it doesn’t matter to him.

Isshin makes his report to the Soul Society, but conveniently doesn’t mention the Quincy he met. He slips away to the World of the Living, leaving a note for Rangiku, because he hopes to run into the girl again. Why didn’t he think to get her name? When Masaki returns to the Ishida household, Ryu castigates her, but suddenly she collapses. Turns out she was wounded in the recent battle after all. Thinking quickly, Ryu snatches her up and runs out to find help. He runs into Isshin, who is battling another Hollow. Isshin is appalled at what he sees, but doesn’t know how to help! Luckily, Fate intervenes in the forms of Kiskue Uruhara! (funny how that works sometimes)

Kiskue tells Isshin and Ryu what must be done to save Masaki, and only one of them can do it. Ryu knows what must be done, as Isshin agrees to bind himself to her for life, setting the two of them on their own path which will eventually lead to the birth of Ichigo and his sisters. And now his dad has told him everything… except for the night of his mother’s death. Why she was killed when she should have easily been able to defeat that Hollow. Now he can return to the palace to get his sword. But he has another truth he needs to learn.

Hitsugaya has lost his bankai, but he won’t just accept being powerless. He requests to be retrained, starting with the basics. And Captain Komamura decides to face his own past.

Wow, oh wow, this volume of Bleach is filled with all sorts of revelations, truths, and heartbreak. So much to absorb! And undoubtedly there is more to come. We finally get a picture of Ichigo’s mother, and right on the heels of that she is lost to us. And what I predicted before came to pass, but no more mention of that for now until the next volume. This explains so much about Ichigo. I can see both his parents in him. He has Isshin’s eyes and Masaki’s stubbornness, plus their combined commitment to justice and defending the weak.  If this is true for Ichigo, what about Yuzu and Karin? Will they go through the same thing? Now we know more about Uryu’s daddy too. And I got a brief glimpse of Shunsui lol

Great volume, looking forward to the next one!