Zach Goodier
http://www.mangapanda.com/bleach/572
This week, we finally see the return of our favorite advocate of relentless violence, Kenpachi Zaraki. While he doesn't come back in until the end, and doesn't do anything, it's nice to see his return. The twist involving Yachiru's opponent was interesting, but it might also mean the loss of a couple of fan favorite characters from the previous arcs. While I'm still not 100% convinced of their deaths, I still have to wonder what limitations this new Sternritter's power might have, because like so many we've seen, he's far too powerful, especially for an underling.
That brings me to one of the more irksome things about this arc. While I do enjoy the fact that Kubo has turned the heat up, and tossed aside some of that pesky plot-armor that virtually the entire cast of the show was wearing, I feel like he's gone about this a little backward. Instead of just saying the opponents are on a level playing field, he's made this seem extremely one-sided. While I don't mind that it builds up the suspense, and sets up for a desperate struggle for survival, I still find it a little inconsistent with the story we've experienced so far. While the tone hasn't completely changed from previous arcs, it still feels like there's a big shift with characters dying off, which makes this arc feel much more distinctive from the previous ones.
Overall, I'd say this new direction for the series is an improvement, but not without some drawbacks if you've been a fan from day one. I'm anxious to see what Kenpachi can do next chapter, and just how he'll fight this strange kid and his even stranger power (probably with his shiny new zanpakuto, if he even needs it).
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