It's been a long morning already...After being relentlessly nagged by my mother while I was making breakfast and doing dishes, I finally got so fed up I left and bought something to eat instead. I also left the dishes in the sink too. Nothing pisses me off more than someone nagging at me. I do things my way, and on my own time. That's all there is to it. So, to make myself feel better, I ordered the entire PeaceMaker manga, which cheered me up right away. *laughs* It should be here next week! Yay!
Anyway, enough of that...
Today I'm going to talk about Bleach. Kubo Taito is the author (mangaka) and the story as been running in Weekly Shonen Jump since August 2001. There are 12 volumes as of right now, and it has also been licensed by Viz and is scheduled for a release in May (though I'm not sure if that date is correct). I currently have 7 volumes in my collection, though I do keep up with the story via Weekly Jump editions.
The story starts with Ichigo Kurosaki. He's a grouchy, cynical 15 year old boy with bright orange hair. He's a magnet for trouble, though he doesn't go looking for it. He has good grades, a loving family, a decent home. Sounds fairly normal right? Well, Ichigo is hardly normal. He has the ability to see and speak to the dead. He sees ghosts, so well, infact, that when he was little he couldn't tell the living from the dead. The dead sense his abnormally high spiritual energies and seek him out in hopes he'll aide them, SOMETIMES they'll catch him on a good day.
One night, while Ichigo is at home, he sees a strange girl in his room. She's dressed like a swordsman and carrying a sword. Her name is Rukia, and she's a shinigami (gaurdian of death). She's stalking a Hollow, a soul gone bad, and has lost track of it. She's astounded that a living person can see her, let alone talk with her and is a bit thrown off gaurd by Ichigo (who's NOT happy she's in his room).
Rukia is in for even more surprises, when the Hollow attacks Ichigo's home. What's shocking is that Ichigo sensed the evil spirit before Rukia. Ichigo tries to fend off the Hollow, and Rukia realizes that the spirit has come for Ichigo himself. Hollows feed on people with high spiritual energy, and Ichigo is a buffet.
Rukia saves Ichigo's life, getting badly hurt herself. She realizes they'll both die if she doesn't think of something fast. An idea hits her, but she's not sure if it'll work, but it's the only card they have. She transfers her shinigami powers to Ichigo.
Rukia is stunned when the "Soul Cutter" sword grows to an enormous length. The sword reacts to the spiritual powers of it's weilder, the sword is as long as Ichigo is tall. Ichigo saves them from the Hollow, but that's not the end of their problems.
The story continues, introducing Ichigo's school friends and sisters, even his goofy father. We learn that Ichigo isn't the only one with strong spiritual energy, and he earns himself some decent allies in his fight with the Hollows.
Hollows start off as souls that are full of regret or vengful. If they are not saved and sent to the next world, they become Hollows, losing all sense of what they once were. Their only desire is to exist and consume. Ichigo has many run ins with these beings, as it's his job as a shinigami to dispatch them. Until Rukia can figure out a way to get her powers back, Ichigo is working double time.
However, this story isn't just about Ichigo and fighting random Hollows. As the story movies on we meet Uryuu Ishida, a Quincy (another hunter of Hollows). Apparently Uryuu has a strong hate for Shingami, and challenges Ichigo to a match to see who can kill the most Hollows. Using "Hollow Bait", Uryuu unleashes a hoard of Hollows on the city, and now EVERYONE is running to save as many people as they can. Of course, the Hollow of all Hollows makes an apperance and it's up to Ichigo to stop him from fully entering the living world.
More enemies appear, as the Soul Society (the division Rukia works for), comes to find Rukia. Two shinigami's have been dispatched to find her. Their objectives, bring her back or take her out. Ichigo tries to stop them, but is badly hurt. Rukia leaves for the Soul Society and her death sentance.
Ichigo has only one choice. He has to save Rukia, but to do that, he has to go to the other world and to the Soul Society. After being beaten so badly, he's not certain it's possible, but Urahara (a mysterious shop keeper) tells him it IS possible. There's a catch, Ichigo will have to undergo training and pass three tests.
Once everyone is finished training, Ichigo and crew set off to the Soul Society, where Rukia is awaiting her death sentance. However, there's turmoil inside the Society as well, and things are starting to happen. Will Rukia be saved? Will Ichigo and his friends make it in time? What's going on at the Soul Society?
This is a great story. One of my most favorite shonen (comics targeted for boys) manga. The characters are so likable, even grumpy ole Ichigo (he's actually my favorite). There's a nice mixture of humor (Kon is probably one of the funnies manga characters ever), sadness, and excitment in each chapter. It's not just a story about fighting evil spirits, it's a story about overcoming your despair, making friends, and moving out of the past and to the future.
I really like the art work in this one too. It's not beautiful like Yami no Matsuei,Blade of the Immortal, or Angel Sanctuary, but it's crisp, fresh and has a real "hip" feel to it, IMO. The fight scenes are incredible, (especially the fight with Renji) and you can't help but get excited when reading them!
For those interested in this manga (and I HIGHLY recommend it), look for the Viz release this year. Until then, you can find text translations at Strawberry and Lion.
ALSO---> Bleach Web has put together two really cool mini movies using manga panels. Just run the mouse over the three boxes in the bottom right corner (they say Bleach on them so you can't miss them). You'll get to see a bit of Ichigo's fight with Renji as well as Ichigo's training with Urahara! CHECK IT OUT!
Once again, I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this manga. I was so happy when I heard it was scheduled for an NA released, depsite owning the manga already. I'm one of those weird people who collect both versions if availble (probably because I'm not confident enough in my japanese yet...*sighs*...I do try very hard though.)
BLEACH KICKS ASS!
Take care everyone!
Posted by Zoso at May 16, 2004 12:40 AM