Bleach Vol. 63: Hear, Fear, Here (Manga Review)
/Ichigo and the rest of the Soul Reapers continue their battle to defend Soul Society from the invading Quincies. Hit the jump for my review.
Ichigo Kurosaki never asked for the ability to see ghost - he was born with the gift. 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 the tortured spirit themselves find peace. Find out why Tite Kubo's Bleach has become an international smash-hit!
Mask De Masculine's onslaught continues as he takes on multiple Soul Reaper captains at once. However, he may have met his match when Renji makes his appearance. Meanwhile, the secrets behind the Quincy king's power may finally be revealed.
Although I've been a big fan of Bleach and have followed the series since the beginning, this is actually my first time reviewing it. Bleach is an awesome action series with a nice touch of comedy. It has likeable characters, fantastic art, and unique powers...which they're known for. Unfortunately, just like Naruto, the series suffers from over extending the story instead of finishing strong. In my opinion, the series should've ended after the Aizen arc. Nowadays, a lot of hardcore fans follow Bleach just because they've already invested tremendous amount of time and want to see the series through the end despite the decline in quality. As part of that group, I've come into terms with the series' inconsistencies and flaws, and learned to just enjoy it for what it is while it last.
This volume is all about Renji and Rukia's battles. After receiving a beat-down from the first encounter with the Quincies, Renji and Rukia is ready to demo their power upgrades and deliver retribution. Renji battles Mask De Masculine while Rukia battles Äs Nödt. I always liked Renji as a character - badass tattoos, badass zanpakuto, and now a badass-er bankai! Sure, he gets pushed to fodder level from time to time but he's there and wins fight when and where it counts. Definitely more dependable than captain Toshiro Hitsugaya (sorry Toshiro fans). Mask De Masculine is a funny character that reminds me so much of the series Kinnikuman. Meanwhile, Rukia is about to open a can of whoop-ass on Äs Nödt as payback for nearly killing his big brother captain Byakuya Kuchiki. How will she beat the Quincy when her brother couldn't? Has she transcended to the next level? Will we finally see if she has unlocked her bankai? You'll have to read the volume to find out. This volume also provides a glimpse of the origin of Yhwach, the king of Quincy and how he came to be. For us readers, it's not a bad start to know more about him as the story continues to unfold.
One of the things I do like about Bleach is the quick flashback of a character before they die. Although short, it captures the very essence of the character and the reason for their actions. Speaking of action, the action in Bleach is always fantastic...as it should be, since it's the saving grace of the series. Tite Kubo knows how to frame the fight sequences and show some great angles. I can't say enough good things about his drawing, simply superb. Many of you know that this is the final arc of Bleach and come what may, Bleach is still a wholly entertaining series that I still enjoy and has my full support to the bitter end.
