Bleach Review: Mimihagi - Sama

"They didn't say it would be this painful"

While the remaining Quincy are shocked that Yhwach would destroy them along with the worlds Ukitake activates Kamikake and calls upon the Right Arm of the Soul King Mimihagi to make him the Soul King replacement. Meanwhile in the underground prison Shunsui visits Sosuke Aizen.

Guess I'll talk about the most important development and that is the return of AIZEN!! I have been looking forward to this for years because Aizen is one of my most favourite manga characters and villains of all time. I don't know what Shunsui wants to talk to him about but I'm guessing it could be because of his powers, immortality or his vast knowledge that could be useful against Yhwach. Still Shunsui must know that he is playing with fire and that Aizen can't be trusted and will sure to work his own plan in this chaos. I so want Aizen to be the final villain of this arc because I can really see Ichigo defeating Yhwach but then Aizen steps in and becomes the final boss. It is a shame we don't get to see him so I really hope we do next chapter however I won't be surprised if Kubo moves away from this for several chapters because he has done that kind of tease before.

"Can you hear me Aizen?"

We also get some back story on Ukitake (about time) and find out that there are more Gods   worshipped in the Soul Society than I thought. I'm guessing, and I sure many have already, but I think Mimihagi is the actual right arm of the Soul King based on it's appearance and the fact that the Soul King is missing limbs. We also find out that Ukitake wants to replace the Soul King but I really hope he doesn't die because we have barely seen him fight and we haven't seen his Bankai. Instead I would prefer Ukitake to share his body with the Soul King so he can still have a fight in the future. As for everything else it is interesting seeing the Soldat as shocked as the Sternritter which makes me think they never really knew Yhwach's full plan. Since we also get a shot of Bazz - B I'm fairly sure the remaining Sternritter and Soldat will team up with the Soul Reapers to bring down Yhwach, which is a shame because I wanted my theory to be true of Yhwach making more Sternritter out of the Soldat. Finally the art work this chapter was really impressive, especially the shots with Ukitake when he using Kamikake.

That has got to be the Soul King's right arm, just look at it

Overall I'm going to give this chapter a near perfect score because of Shunsui meeting Aizen at the end, it would have gotten perfect if we saw him and that Kubo might move away from it next chapter.

SCORE: 9/10

Highlights: Long Live Lord Aizen!!!!!!
                   Ukitake and Mimihagi
                   The reaction of the Soldat

Let - Downs: We don't get to see Aizen

Bleach Review: All is lost

The King is dead

The chapter begins with Yuzu and Karin feeling earthquakes in the world of the living which is caused by the death of the Soul King. Yhwach explains his powers let him see the future and that his Reiatsu allowed him to control Ichigo. Ichigo and Yoruichi attack Yhwach while Orihime attempts to heal the Soul King but they fail meanwhile Urahara is shocked that the Soul King is dead but Ukitake has a strange look on his face.

Still wish these chapters where better but this one was more entertaining than the last few and that is because Kubo did do a good job of showing us that "all is lost": the worlds crumbling, the Soul King is dead and Urahara has completely lost his cool. First off while it is good to see Yuzu and Karin again bur I do wish they did something more interesting and that they where more relevant to the plot than just a quick cameo. Karin was teased with having such a big role, especially in the Fullbringer Arc, but it seems that Kubo forgot about her and the best he can come up with is her playing video games during a quake.

"Your anger makes you stronger Ichigo!"

I do really like that Yhwach has literally won over all of the heroes (when Aizen failed) and it looks like there isn't much they can do however I want to know more about his plans. I doubt he wants to be destroyed along with the worlds but maybe he wants to revert it to how it was before the Soul King. We also got some much needed background on the Soul King and that he was created by the Soul Society to control the flow of souls. This does explain why he seems more like an object than a person but I just hope we get even more in info on exactly who or what he is. I liked the short conflict between Ichigo and Yhwach however why did Yoruichi have to use wire? Does she really think that will hold him? Finally it looks like Ukitake's Kamikake is finally going to be put into effect with his expression at the end of the chapter and I think this technique might allow him to take the place of the Soul King or share his body with him for a while. The latter might explain why the Soul King is losing more and more limbs every chapter because it could already active; notice the Soul King has no ears when I'm sure he had some earlier.

"Wires! My one weakness!"

Overall a decent chapter but I hope there is more action and fights in the next one.

SCORE: 6/10

Highlights: Earthquakes destroying all the worlds
                   More information on the Soul King
                   Urahara losing his cool and Ukitake's plan maybe revealed next chapter?

Let - Downs: Yuzu and Karin just wasted pages
                       Still doesn't feel like the story isn't moving forward 

Bleach Review: The Ordinary Peace

"Time to take care of these meddling kids"

The chapter begins with Ichibei claiming that Ichigo and his friends won't be able to defeat Yhwach while having a weird look in his eyes and claiming that is what peace is all about. Back in Wandenreich City Ukitake has arrived with several others to go to the Soul Palace. Kenpachi also arrives and almost leaves to find Yachiru however he is convinced to stay and go to the Soul Palace by Urahara. The chapter ends with Ichigo and his group confronting Yhwach.

Maybe Ukitake will have a decent fight soon

Wow now this was one really short chapter where not much happened again and while this could be because of Kubo's recent illness it still felt like a waste. The progress of Bleach has been slow lately and this chapter was really just a small continuation of the last one; with more Captains preparing to go to the Soul Palace. Now I really don't like that so many Captains are leaving for the Soul Palace because first off there isn't enough Sternritter up there for enough one on one fights but maybe Kubo is planning some team ups. Secondly this is really going against my predictions that Yhwach will create more Sternritter from the Soldat and that there will still be quite a few Captains still in Wandenreich City to take them on, like Kenpachi for example. I do like that Ichigo and his group are finally confronting Yhwach however I doubt this is the final fight already so Yhwach will probably survive and maybe they will also fight Uryu, Haschwalth and the Elite Sternritter.

Just slice your way through Kenpachi!

As for everything else it was interesting that Ichibei seems to be siding with Ywach now with his vague talk of peace which is what Yhwach likes to talk about all the time. This is just a theory but maybe since Yhwach has killed the Soul King maybe he will be the new one and the Zero Squad has no choice to obey him. That would be cool because we will get to see them in action again and they will have to fight the main characters and the Captains who are arriving. I also did like the moment with Kenpachi who didn't care about going to the Soul Palace at first and wanted to find Yachiru.

Overall this chapter was just really short and not very exciting.

SCORE: 3/10

Highlights: Ichibei and the Zero Squad possibly the enemy now?
                   Kenpachi wanting to go find Yachiru

Let - Downs: Too Short
                      Nothing really significant happens
                      Too many Soul Reapers going to the Soul Palace

Bleach Review: Don't Call My Name

The chapter starts off with Shunsui walking around Vandenreich city, commenting on all of the damage, before coming across Ukitake. Ukitake says that Kamikake is taking effort and a mysterious shadow appears behind him. Shunshui says he has to ask the Central 46 about something before he opens a passage underground and walks down the stairs.

"Who's going to pay for all this"

In the Royal Realm Ichibei has drawn another seal and says to Yhwach he will be defeated within it, however Yhwach replied that it will be Ichibei. Ichibei again says that he should not call out his name before drawing another seal and actives Senri Tsūtenshō where a massive hand comes out of it and smacks Yhwach 1000ri away. He creates another one that sends Yhwach downwards, Yhwach tries to counter this but Ichibei says that his throat has been crushed by calling his name so casually. Yhwach then punctures his own throat, gives himself the power of "The Voice" and casts a spell called Sankt Bogen which creates a massive spirit bow and fires several arrows upwards. One grazes Ichibei who notices that Yhwach had pieced himself with an arrow bring himself back up, Ichibei says he has no more choice but to kill him before his eyes roll up into his head.



"Told you not to say my name" 

Got ourselves a really great fight this chapter and really proves that Ichibei is a badass and probably the most powerful member of the Zero Squad. What I really liked about this chapter was that it has been even between Ichibei and Yhwach; all of the fights lately have been completely one-sided and just shows someone dominating the fight (Nimaiya) until a new power is revealed and another one dominates the next chapter (revived Sternritter). I really liked this fight and the moves that where used as well; Ichibei must have put a curse on his name to crush the throats of those who spoke it too many times and it worked on Yhwach who almost found himself ejected out of the Royal Realm. As for his eyes rolling up it did make him look really sinister and I guess he does that when he is finally taking the fight seriously.

A Titian's hand!!

As for Yhwach I always thought he had the fighting style of a berserker from what I saw in this previous fights and what I saw now really strengthens that. His willingness to tear open his throat and piece himself with a giant arrow just to gain back the advantage in a fight is pretty crazy. His Sankt Bogen ability was awesome; that massive bow had a huge panel to itself so it looked cool, I hope he uses it again. As for giving himself the power of "The Voice" it makes me think that he is using the letter V he bestowed upon Gremmy for himself since the power has returned back to him. But since Gremmy was "The Visionary" that implies that Yhwach can use the letter V for anything he wants or that was the power of a previous Sternritter who died.

I think this is what Yhwach used to summon his broadsword

I didn't really like the beginning of this chapter however because I just didn't get what the hell was going on. It was great seeing Ukitake again but I didn't like that he mentions something called Kamikake but doesn't explain what it is or that Shunshui was going to visit Central 46 but doesn't say what for. I have read that several people think that it is to see Aizen and while that one be one of the best things ever why couldn't he just say it. I know Kubo is trying to build suspense and have a big reveal later but it is kind of annoying while we got all these fights in the Royal Realm and since we haven't seen Ukitake or Shunshui fight yet during this while second invasion.

Overall this was a great fighting chapter and we got to see some awesome abilities but I just didn't see any point for the beginning of the chapter.

SCORE: 8/10

Highlights: Yhwach vs. Ichibei
                   An even fight between those two
                   Cool abilities like Sankt Bogen  and  Senri Tsūtenshō 

Let - Downs: Didn't care much for the beginning