Bleach 545: Blue Stripes

Zach Goodier

Link to Chapter: http://www.mangapanda.com/bleach/545

To be honest, this week's chapter was fairly dull in terms of major plot developments, aside from the end.  Captain Kuchiki finally awoke, and must now begin training, and Renji and Rukia have begun training with squad 0.  At the Kurosaki home, Yuzu is preparing food for the family and life goes on as normal.  However, when Ichigo's friends are walking to school, they discuss his absence.  Then, Captain Kyoraku, the new Head Captain of the Gotei 13 appears, telling them about how they will eventually have to part ways with Ichigo.  The only other thing worth mentioning is that the rest of the Vizards make an appearance, and it looks as though they are on assignment from Shinji and squad 12 to fix the "distortion" between the World of the Living and the Soul Society.  Tune back in next week to see what else is in store.

Bleach 536: "June Truth"

Article by Zach Goodier

Bleach 536 @ MangaStream

This week's chapter continues the flashback into the history between Isshin and Masaki.  This chapter serves mainly as comic relief, before ending on the cliffhanger of telling the story of Masaki's death when Ichigo was young.  There really isn't any huge plot development here, but I was certainly laughing.  Isshin and Masaki have a very good dynamic working for them at this point, with Isshin struggling to save Masaki, and Masaki acting all sweet and oblivious.  Hopefully, we'll see the next chapter or two ending this mini arc and finally bringing us back into the main story.  I have loved the revelations this arc has provided, but I'm getting anxious to see what happens next in the current time frame.  Check back next week to see what happens next.

Bleach 535: Everything but the Rain Op. 7 "Defenders"

Link: http://www.mangapanda.com/bleach/535

***SPOILERS*** This week's chapter continues with the crisis that Masaki is going through.  With her forced hollowfication following her fight with Aizen's construct, she is in severe peril.  Ryuuken and Isshin are looking to save her however they can, and they may have found a way with the untimely arrival of Kisuke Urahara, who we all know has more than a little understanding of hollowfication.  However, the only way to save Masaki's soul from collapsing in on itself is to "tie" a soul that is "opposite" of her Quincy soul.  Ryuuken figures it out first, but Kisuke explains that she needs to be "tied" to a Shinigami, which means only Isshin can save her.  Will he go through with it? Well anyone who is familiar with the story will already know the answer, but if you are curious about the series, now is as good a place as any to start reading.  Stay tuned for news on manga releases right here at Scullynerdreviews.com!

Bleach Chapter 534: "Everything but the Rain Op. 7: Hole of Reproach"

Link to Chapter: http://mangastream.com/read/bleach/85605977/1

*Spoilers* This week's Bleach chapter is mainly more downtime, but it continues to advance us towards what we already know happens in the story.  The only real twist has been that Masaki Kurosaki seems to have been infected with hollow powers after aiding Isshin in battle against Aizen's experiment.  This could lay the groundwork for how Ichigo was able to manifest fullbring and hollow powers to the extent that he could. While we already know Ichigo manifested his own hollow powers, they may in fact have been fueled by the powers that may have been passed down through these events.  The entire purpose of this chapter was Isshin telling Ichigo the story of "his roots," so this may in fact be fully outlining the exact nature of Ichigo's past and how his powers have come into being.  While I am definitely interested in where this story arc goes, especially now that Kisuke Urahara has made an appearance, I wonder how this will guide Ichigo when we return to the present story.  As usual, I guess we'll all have to wait for the next chapter in order to have just a bit more of the mystery surrounding this story unveiled.

Bleach 533: Everything But the Rain OP.6 "The Gravitation"

Link to chapter: http://mangastream.com/read/bleach/38504462/1

*Usual **SPOILERS** ahead*This week, we see the conclusion to the battle against the mysterious hollow in the world of the living.  Despite the apparent failure of this creature to Kaname, Aizen sees this is a fortunate accident.  Obviously, Aizen has already anticipated roughly how events are potentially going to unfold, and decides to take a step back and let things play out.  With this part of the past unveiled, we now understand a lot more about how Aizen knew of Ichigo's existence for so long, and why Aizen was particularly interested in Ichigo's development and power.  Also, with this part of the past revealed, we can expect that Ichigo will have to move ahead, realizing that at least some of what Aizen explained to him was true.  There still are a few gaps to fill, so that likely means that this story arc will likely continue for another couple weeks, at least.  This arc has been enlightening, and provided some essential backstory and character development for both Isshin and Masaki, two very important characters to the current story.  I am rather interested to see how events unfold, but I am also eager to return to the present so that we can see what this revelation does to Ichigo.  I expect that Ichigo will eventually develop into a true transcendent being, like Aizen was hoping to become.  All the pieces have been falling into place: Soul Reaper, Hollow, Fullbring, and Quincy.  Ichigo has elements of every natural form of spiritual power woven into his being, and now we just have to see how they will all fall into place, or if they even will at all.  The ever looming thought in my mind is how the Soul King is tied into things; Aizen's final words when fighting Ichigo are still ringing in my ears when it comes to the story, and I hope that overlooking this ominously foreboding thought won't lead to disaster for Ichigo and his friends.

Until next week, all we can do is speculate, and hopefully you are all just as eager for the next chapter as I am.  Come back next week where hopefully we can start to answer some questions relating to this compelling story.

Bleach Chapter 532 is out!

http://www.mangapanda.com/bleach/532/3

It's that time of the week: Bleach manga chapter is out for all to enjoy.  Some **SPOILERS** ahead. Last week, we saw captain of squad 10, Isshin Shiba, fighting a mysterious hollow clad in black armor.  Just when Isshin was planning to get serious, he suffers a wound from a surprise attack from behind.  As it turns out, Sosuke Aizen and his party have come to ensure that their "sample" isn't interfered with by someone who can use a bankai.  Now, Isshin is wounded and having to face this monstrosity all by himself, unable to use his bankai due to the seriousness of his wounds and the apparent toll it takes on his body to use his bankai.  Aizen is preparing to leave, claiming that if his "sample" couldn't survive a shikai, then it's a failure anyways; however, a young Masaki Kurosaki appears on the scene, sensing the fight and wanting to end it before someone gets hurt.  Kaname moves to eliminate her; however, Aizen stops him, saying that he wants to see what happens.  To see exactly what does happen, check out the link and read for yourself.

Bleach 531: Everything but the Rain OP. 4

Read at Manga Stream: http://mangastream.com/read/bleach/46466494/1

Written by Zach Goodier

This week's manga continues the story of Isshin Shiba, captain of squad 10, as well as Masaki Kurosaki.  As always, this article contains spoilers, so read at your own risk.  Masaki is heir to a pure-blooded Quincy family, and she doesn't really have any interest in her heritage; at least not in any way that includes hiding while innocent lives are at risk.  Isshin is confronted by a mysterious hollow; one with a strong spiritual pressure that not only has power and image resembling a soul reaper, but also bears some similar features to Ichigo's 2nd hollow form.  Coincidence? Maybe. Or maybe this will have some link to Ichigo's Fullbring powers and how his abilities have been shaped.  But for now, can Isshin survive this vicious hollow? And who is behind these mysterious incidents?  Check out Bleach 531  to find out.

Bleach Manga Chapter 530 is out!

http://mangastream.com/read/bleach/45526504/1

Article by Zach Goodier

**SPOILERS** This week's manga chapter continues the look into the past, focusing on what happens when Isshin Shiba, captain of squad 10, goes to the world of the living to investigate the deaths of Soul Reapers.  There is also a look at Masaki Kurosaki, who at the time was living in the Ishida household as the last of the Kurosaki family.  The chapter closes with two more soul reapers killed and Isshin being confronted by a Vasto Lorde: the most powerful class of hollow said to be even stronger than a captain.  The battle will likely begin next chapter but we'll have to wait a couple weeks since Bleach is on break next week. 

**ADDITIONAL SPOILERS** I rather like these "Turn Back the Pendulum" style arcs, they give a little additional insight on some of the characters and how events have turned out the way they have.  Most importantly, we gain some insight as to what sort of person Masaki herself was; closely resembling Orihime in terms of her childish attitude and mild temperament.  We're obviously building up to when she and Isshin meet, and eventually fall in love.  This is an attempt to fill in some important gaps in the story, particularly just how Ichigo is tied to the Quincy.  This arc is probably going to lead into just who these Quincy that have reappeared truly are, and just what Ichigo will have to do in order to stop them.  As usual, I'm eagerly anticipating the upcoming chapter, and getting a little more of the veil lifted around the story and the characters involved in it.