Bleach Review: Don't Chase a Shadow

"Can't believe I'm fighting someone with a gun again"

Shunsui and Lille begin their fight and while Shunsui is using his unique Zanpakuto abilities Lille is proving to be quite the match.

I guess I don't really have much to say about this chapter, I mean it was interesting and the artwork with it's use of shadows was great but all in all it was just one big explanation of powers. It's always great to see Shunsui's Zanpakuto in action because it is so unique with it's ability to turn children's games into reality but he went on such a long rant about his new game and maybe because of the translate errors but didn't get some of it. From what I can tell Shunsui's new ability is based on the Japanese game Darumasan ga Koronda (which is like Americana's Red light, Green light) and Lille was attack a fake doll of Shunsui because he keep his eyes and sense on that. We also get more on an explanation on sensing Reiatsu in the middle of battle which was what Shunsui was taking advantage of. We also then get Shunsui using Kageoni shadow ability which is always awesome to see but Lille still proves quite a match by saying he can even shoot through the shadows. Besides that there is not much else to talk about but I will mention the artwork again because it is great; Kubo does such a great job of making Shunsui laidback in one panel but then so menacing in the next. Also thought I'd mention that it is a shame Shunsui has told the rest of the Soul Reapers to go on a head because I would have really liked to have seen more try to take on Lille, plus there isn't that much Sternritter compared to the Soul Reapers so we can't just keep having these one on one fights.

Shunsui's shadow moves have always been awesome!

Overall the chapter was really long winded but hopefully that means we can just have some fighting next time and maybe Shunsui will release his Bankai soon.

SCORE: 5/10

Highlights: Awesome artwork
                   Lille vs. Shunsui has the makings to be a great fight

Let - Downs: Too much explaining of the new abilities
                      Barely anything really happened

Bleach Review: BABY, HOLD YOUR HAND 7 (Never Ending My Dream)

"SURPRISE!"

With Pernida defeating Mayuri enters a pod to recover meanwhile Shunsui and his group deal with the Sternritter sniper Lille Barro.

It looks like the Pernida fight is truly over now and I got to say this has been one of the best fights of the arc; it was one of the longest, very entertaining and my favourite captain was fighting it. After they fight he retreats to a pod to heal and I'm guessing this is an excuse for Mayuri to have a break now from this arc and let it focus on other character. Kenpachi is also healed and since he got taken out pretty quickly by Pernida I think he will recover faster so he can have a proper fight later on. I did really like how Mayuri states that he has surpassed Urahara because of Nemu which is something he wanted to do for ages and we also get an image of Mayuri and Nemu floating together in water (with Nemu being naked for fan service). It was cool because it rounded up the father/daughter relationship these two have, with Mayuri finally appreciating Nemu and most likely going to bring her back with the brain he has. However what I really, really didn't like about this chapter was the reveal of Toshiro and Rangiku now alive and well because I just do not like those two characters and would have preferred them to stay dead. The reason for this is because Toshiro loses all of his fights, makes himself out to be really strong thought I think he is the weakest captain and I bet he was only brought back based on his popularity. It was a big WTF moment when I thought Kubo killed him off (I gave him praise back then for having the guts to do it) but no he has now ruined it but what really annoys me is that I bet great captains like Rose and Kensei are still dead because they just wasn't as popular but that is Kubo's fault for mostly ignoring them in favour of Toshiro. Moving on from this it looks like the new fight will be with Lille Barro which I have been looking forward to and I hope he kicks some ass! I liked how Shunsui managed to trick him but I am interesting in seeing is how Lille Barro is going to fight such a large group? Because Shunsui was travelling with quite a few people I would be annoyed if they all are just going to wait on the side-lines.

I wonder if these two will fight during the arc?

Overall I really good end to the Pernida fight and set up for the next big show down however I have got to dock this chapter quite a bit of score for bringing back to of the worst characters in Bleach and all in all it was a bit slow. However I got to say that I hope in the future we will get a Flashback showing how Perndia came into existence and that Yumichika and Ikkaku will get to have a fight and they finally use their Zanpakuto to the fullest instead of always holding back which got annoying years ago.   

SCORE: 6/10

Highlights: Mayuri's joy at beating Urahara
                   Shunsui vs. Lille Barro

Let Downs: Toshiro and Rangiku now alive and well

Bleach Review: Snipe

A bit late reviewing this chapter but better late than never! The name of this chapter is a nod to the original title of Bleach because I think Kubo wanted the series to have more guns in it back then.

How much blood was in her head?

The chapter begins with Shutara dead on the ground with a massive pool of blood where the top part of her head was. Gerard is angry about this because her body and blood is blocking His Majesty's path, Lille then asks Pernida for assistance. Pernida then uses her power to crush Shutara's body in to a ball and then Lille uses his massive rifle to destroy the surrounding Soul Palaces. He bows to Yhwach and says his path is clear but Yhwach only stares on.

Now that is one powerful rifle

Just then the area surrounding the Sternritter is revealed to made up of fabric and the Soul Palaces and Shutara that Lille destroyed where fakes. Shutrara then says that the fakes where prepared for their arrival and that Ichibei Hyōsube is protecting the real Palaces by drawing a forbidden symbol over them. At that moment the Sternritter are also trapped in a cage made up of trees made by Kirio Hikifune who says she can use her powers to create life.

Bet the Sternritter have got a bad feeling about this

Lille tries to snipe his way out of it but his bullets have no effect; Hikifune reveals that the tree have a taste for Reishi and will constantly devour the bullets that are made from them. The chapter ends with the arrival of Ōetsu Nimaiya who removes his Zanpakutō from a box of water, challenges all the Sternritter to a battle and says the real battle begins now.

Have to say that Numaiya looks quite the badass!

The action in the Royal Realm are truly shaping up to be something epic here!

This chapter is a great follow up to the previous one; not letting up on any of the excitement and setting the stage for some awesome battles. Firstly I am glad that Shutara is not really dead because I wouldn't have wanted a Zero Squad member to have been one - shoted already and we get some more insight in to her abilities. It seems that she could weave a separate reality in to her fabrics, one that completely fools anyone who his trapped within them. They managed to fool the Sternritter but I am glad that Shutara is dispelling them now because I would hate for more chapters to have been an illusion.

I wonder if I can get curtains like that

Next we have Hikifune's tree ability and I am kind of disappointed with this because it just seems like a copy of the First Hokage's Wood Style Jutsu from Naruto. It does seem useful but I doubt that it will keep the Sternritter trapped in there for long (will explain why in predictions at the bottom). Lastly we get the arrival of Nimaiya who wants to fight all of the Sternritter and that was the best shot of the chapter; he looked really menacing holding his Zanpakutō with the shadows over his face, really great art for that as well. He also removes his Zanpakutō from a box of water which makes me think that it might be an incredibly powerful fire type for something else is special about it.

"Let's get his party started!"

Overall this chapter was almost as good as the last chapter where it introduced the new Sternritters however it didn't feel like much happened because it is still was a load of set up and no battles yet.

SCORE: 9/10

Highlights: Shutara is still alive
                   The epic arrival of Nimaiya
                   The prospect of a great battle next chapter

Let - Downs: Not that impressed with Hikifune's ability
                      Still no real fight between the Sternritter and Zero Squad

Predictions

As I mentioned above I don't think that the tree cage will hold the Sternitter for long because if they absorb Reishi then I think it is time for the return of Sklaverei. It is a Quincy move which uses their power to steal Reishi to it's highest degree and enslaves it, I think it is the best way for them to break apart and escape from the tree cage. Plus we haven't seen it used by any one else besides Quilge Opie many, many, many chapters ago.

I also hope the Kirinji steps back in to the battle and fights along side Nimaiya now that Weizol is out of the way because I don't know what he is doing now. I don't think Yhwach is going to personally fight just yet because, just like Aizen, he is content to watch his minions fight for him for a while.