Fandom - Bleach News

BLEACH MANGA CHAPTER #492

emakimeister — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:59:00 CDT

Bleach manga chapter #492 "Balancer's Justice" is out.

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BLEACH MANGA CHAPTER #491

emakimeister — Wed, 09 May 2012 08:03:00 CDT

Bleach manga chapter #491 "Toden Engel" is out.

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BLEACH MANGA CHAPTER #490

emakimeister — Wed, 02 May 2012 08:31:00 CDT

Bleach manga chapter #490 "March Of The StarCross 2" is out.

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BLEACH MANGA CHAPTER #488

emakimeister — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 09:20:00 CDT

Bleach manga chapter #488 "Bond Behind Blast" is out.

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BLEACH ANIME EPISODE #367 - SUSPENDED

tezukameister — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:17:00 CDT

Bleach has been cancelled temporarily.

It is unknown when Bleach Episode 367 will air, due to cancellation of the Bleach anime tv series in Japan. If and when it will continue, we will announce it here.

BLEACH MANGA CHAPTER #487

emakimeister — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 18:23:00 CDT

Bleach manga chapter #487 "Breathe But Blind" is out.

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BLEACH MANGA CHAPTER #486

emakimeister — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 08:04:00 CDT

Bleach manga chapter #486 "The Crimson Cremation" is out.

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BLEACH ANIME EPISODE #366

tezukameister — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 08:35:00 CDT

Bleach anime episode #366 "Changing History, Unchanging Heart" is out.

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BLEACH MANGA CHAPTER #485

emakimeister — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 08:04:00 CDT

Bleach manga chapter #485 "Foundation Stones" is out.

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BLEACH ANIME EPISODE #365

tezukameister — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 08:50:00 CDT

Bleach anime episode #365 "Secret of the Substitute Badge" is out.

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BLEACH ANIME EPISODE #364

emakimeister — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 09:21:00 CDT

Bleach anime episode #364 "Byakuya's Troubled Memories" is out.

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Bleach Episode 364 Review

Kamui_Takahashi — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 05:43:00 CDT

The fight rages on, while taking some breaks to expand the back story.

What They Say:
The battle between Byakuya and Tsukishima escalates as they both push their powers to the limit. Meanwhile, Rukia struggles against the cute traps set up by Riruka.

The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
As the series winds down, it continues to roll things out in a brief way with the various battles between opponents that lets our long known favorites get a chance to shine just a little bit more. With Ichigo having had so much of the screen time for so long with this arc since his post-Aizen encounter where he was depowered, it's not a surprise that for the final few that it shifts to focusing on the others who have been completely absent. At the same time, it's all just a bit by the numbers because whereas we used to have very extended fights with these characters because of their power levels, here it's just dealt with rather quickly. But it also kind of feels a little appropriate too.

Because of this nature, the show alternates between a couple of different matches again, though it has some primary focus on two of them. We do get a little overflow time with Ikakku after his match has essentially ended, though his opponent intends to die trying to win, but for the most part it focuses on other matches. The one between Byakuya and Tsukishima is fairly decent as it gets going, though it spends too much time on dialogue, something that you'd imagine that Byakuya has little desire to engage on considering past experience. But he pretty much humors Tsukishima for a bit and sees what traps he has laid out for him to spring so that he can just get to dealing with him.

On the other side of things, we get more of the fight between Rukia and Ririka, which is kind of annoying since Ririka's abilities are too cute and pink for my tastes when you get down to it. While there's some cutely annoying aspects to this in the main stage of the fight between the two, it also decides that with just three episodes left in the series to spend some time going over Ririka's back story. Frankly, at this point, who cares? If this was done a dozen episodes ago it might have been more interesting and relevant to the story at hand, seeing why she was involved with Ginjo and the others. But here, it comes across as just more padding and pointless material when you know the end is practically here. Instead of focusing on the things that the fans want to close out the show, it does this instead.

In Summary:
Bleach really doesn't surprise here as it goes about its business. There are some decent moments to the fights that we get and it moves towards where it's going to go again with a focus on Ichigo, but it naturally wants us to spend time with the other characters a bit first since we're not going to see them for awhile and they've been off screen for even longer so far. While I generally enjoy the Soul Society characters that are focused on here, it's more a by the numbers approach to what's going on rather than anything that stands out, which is unfortunate. Byakuya even looks a little off balance at times which doesn't feel right even considering his opponent. Mostly this episode works if you're really into the characters but if you're watching it to see how the series is going to end, it may just remind you why you dropped it ages ago instead.

Grade: B

BLEACH MANGA CHAPTER #484

emakimeister — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 09:15:00 CST

Bleach manga chapter #484 "The Buckbeard" is out.

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Check out the new LIVE CHAT feature in the manga reader! Click the 'full screen' mode or 'chat icon.

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Bleach Episode 363 Review

Kamui_Takahashi — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 09:02:00 CST

The fights rage on, empty as they are in the end.

What They Say:
The Soul Reapers take on the Xcution members in one-on-one battles. Meanwhile, Ichigo and Uryu prepare to take on Ginjo.

The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
With the clarity given about the Xcution members and the arrival of the Soul Society captains, the show moved easily into the one on one match formula that has long dominated the series. These often do have some really good moments, when there are strong ties to events that are going on, but with the show ending in just a few episodes you know we're not going to get extended fights that lasts for too many episodes. Everything is going to be handled more qiuckly, which for some removes the fun but for others will get us to the more enjoyable material quicker. There's something to be said for shortening such material in general as it might have made Bleach a tighter and more enjoyable series. Still, with it being at the end of its run, it's hard to begrudge it anything.

Unfortunately, with most of the Xcution members being fairly basic in what's been revealed about them over the time we've spent with them, it doesn't make for a really engaging series of fights. What works in its favor is that since it's been awhile since we've seen those from the Soul Society, and time has passed, they have a slightly different air about them, a little older, a little more serious (mostly) and definitely more intent on just finishing this out. They've had their reasons for growing intensity in training as the threats that they still have to face are severe indeed, so they're not exactly getting a huge workout here from the secondary members of the group. There is some closure that needs to b dealt with here with what Ginjo is and his origins, but for the rest of Xcution, they're just simple exercises to be dealt with.

The fights here are particularly good overall, especially with Renji as he has a certain coolness that he exudes at times that has been hard to come across during earlier arcs in the series because of his attitude. With his newfound focus on getting prepared to go against Aizen, he's matured a bit and it's definitely made him a lot more fun to watch. The same can be said for Ikaku in a way, though he's more of a barroom brawler here, as he just has a kind of glee while going up against an opponent he doesn't have to work much about, letting them get lulled into a sense of security before getting trampled on pretty well. The ones I wanted to see more of, like Kenpachi and Byakuya, get only a brief mention here but they're more set up for the next episode so that definitely gives you something to look forward to.

In Summary:
While my expectations for this arc did drop fairly well once it was made clear that this was the end run and not the setup for something bigger, I'm still enjoying the show a good bit simply because it's just down to the action at this point. While we've had a lot of time dealing with Ichigo as the main player, he's shuffled off to the side here so that the Soul Society members can get their last blaze of glory before the show goes off the air. The fights here are fun and both Ikkaku and Renji get some good time to showcase their growth and abilities and there's a lot to like about it, but it's pretty much fluff when you get down to it since it's just working through the cast until it gets to the end. It's fun but that's about it.

Grade: B

BLEACH ANIME EPISODE #363

tezukameister — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 09:02:00 CST

Bleach anime episode #363 "Fierce Battle! Shinigami VS XCUTION!" is out.

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Bleach Episode 362 Review

Kamui_Takahashi — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 11:54:00 CST

Ichigo gaining back his powers is just the beginning (of the end).

What They Say:
Under the orders of Head Captain Yamamoto, the 13 Court Guard Squad Soul Reapers share their Spirit Energy to restore Ichigo’s lost powers. With his Soul Reaper powers fully restored, Ichigo returns to challenge Ginjo.

The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
With the news that the series is ending at the end of March, this arc takes on a little more meaning as it unfolds as it's now formally a goodbye for the show (one I expect to return in another year or two when the manga gets further ahead). The previous episode was certainly a welcome one though and this episode starts off with the good stuff again as we see Ichigo return to form, powered up by the sword he now has, and surrounded by those that are definitely his friends and comrades. Facing off against Ginjo, who he know understands quite plainly has manipulated him from the start, and Tsukishima, it has a good sense of intensity and urgency all around yet Ichigo is still essentially calm and in control. Things are now once again familiar to him and it puts him in the right mindset to do things.

We get a good bit of action at the start here as Ichigo uses his power to go against Ginjo, who smartly knows that he's off balance and has to retreat for the time being. What we do get is a really good bit of exposition following that as Ichigo really gets a chance to take in those that came to save him. With a look at what the Head Captain has said, his reasoning behind saving Ichigo at this point, you can see how it's not really conflicting for those Soul Reapers as it's something they can get behind and understand because of their own connection with him, but there still feels like there's a little reluctance to it. But there's also a darker edge to all of it as these Soul Reapers are here for a reason bigger than Ichigo as well as it turns out that Ginjo was actually the first Substitute Soul Reaper, the reason certain rules were put in place. And it's an old mess that needs to be cleaned up at long last.

While we do get the small bit of back story, really just the skeleton of it, we also get things moving up quickly to the next level. With Ginjo having messed with the minds of so many through Tuskishima, he still has a good number of people to help him. Including those that Ichigo considers friends. It's kind of disheartening to watch as Chad goes on about how the Soul Reapers should be stopping Ichigo rather than helping him, but there's also a small bit of resolution when it comes not only to them but also the others under his control, like Ichigo's family. It all works towards narrowing the scope down to the real combatants as the Xcution folks have arrived as well and are ready to do their controlled part to help Ginjo achieve his goals. With a few small surprises along the way.

In Summary:
Bleach does set things up for a bit of action to come with a Soul Reaper vs. Xcution matchup, but as we see from the bit of it we get here it's likely to go fairly quickly. Which is good, since these are people at the top of their game and not overconfident considering the things they've been through and seen. This episode gives us a good bit of action throughout, some good back story teases that are unlikely to be fleshed out in detail and enough structure to tie it all together well. With the knowledge that there's just a handful of episodes left, it does alter your view of things and events so far are painting this as a good way to close it out. This arc has taken its time to get rolling, but now that it's hitting its stride, it's doing it just right. Not fantastic, but it's a solid way to start closing things out.

Grade: B+

BLEACH MANGA CHAPTER #483

emakimeister — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 09:40:00 CST

Bleach manga chapter #483 "KriegsErklarung" is out.

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BLEACH ANIME EPISODE #362

tezukameister — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 09:34:00 CST

Bleach anime episode #362 "Kurosaki Ichigo - The Substitute Shinigami!" is out.

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BLEACH MANGA CHAPTER #482

emakimeister — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:31:00 CST

Bleach manga chapter #482 "Bad Recognition" is out.

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BLEACH ANIME EPISODE #361

tezukameister — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:01:00 CST

Bleach anime episode #361 "A New Appearance! The Gotei 13, Arrives!" is out.

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