So! It’s Thursday and I’m back with another of Japan’s great classics in literature....
No? Fine I’ll review some manga then >=<
This week I’m going to review a very long running and popular series (if any of you are thinking Pokemon or Naruto, I will gut you...) by Tite Kubo.
For the first time(?) it’s not a girl manga.
It is, of course, BLEACH. A series which actually has very little to do with hair or cleaning products.
Sorry to disappoint, but the story actually follows the life of fifteen year old Ichigo Kurosaki, the son of a doctor in a small town. He has always been able to see spirits and often winds up in trouble because of that combined with his bright orange hair, which he has trouble convincing people is natural and makes him look like a delinquent.
One night, a girl in a black kimono appears in his room and starts fighting a monster that only they can see. The girl is Rukia Kuchiki, a soul reaper, and the monster is a dark soul called a “Hollow”.
When Rukia is badly injured protecting Ichigo’s family, he takes her powers and becomes a soul reaper himself, saving their lives but forcing her to become human temporarily and live in his bedroom closet until she regains her strength. Ichigo takes over killing Hollows and helping souls pass over. Under Rukia’s and mysterious shopkeeper Urahara’s tutelage he quickly becomes proficient, with his increasing power even leaking into his human friends, allowing them to see spirits too.
And everything’s going well until Rukia is kidnapped.
The underlying values of BLEACH are friendship, loyalty and honour, but I personally love the not-quite-relationship dynamic between Ichigo and Rukia. And my sister loves the friendship between two of the other soul reapers (who appear in later books).
What I’m trying to say is that BLEACH appeals to pretty much all the genres, and everyone can find something that they think is amazing that won’t necessarily be someone else’s favourite part. BLEACH is also relevant to all ages (that can handle a little blood and fighting... and swearing... never mind.) There is the typical hero overcoming insurmountable odds, but paired with Ichigo’s bad attitude it becomes a little more interesting.
Rukia’s hardly a damsel in distress either- kicking Ichigo in the face is a daily hobby she takes great pleasure in.
The characters are engaging, the plot continues to twist beyond the reader’s predictions, and the fights are EPIC.
Basically, this is one of my favourite series. READ IT.
(Pst... If you don’t want to buy such a large number of books there are... ways of reading it online. But I didn’t tell you that.)
MangaCat out!
6 comments:
Jeese you are pushy. ;)
Once you start reading it you won't regret it..D. really I'm doing everyone a favour by being pushy =
It's my favorite series and I plan on doing a dissection of it large and steady. You captured its essence rather well, although for me the Kick-ass bankai powers cemented my undying love for the series.
Haha BANKAI!
I thought doing a revoew of EVERYTHING in bleach would be too long so no one would read it xD and I'd be bound to forget something... like how much I'm in love with Kaien...
But who could forget Kaien?
Wasn't he a bit dead though?
My fave is Kenpachi. I am so in love with that guy and his attitude. :) However I wish Rukia had more page time and was shown do her dances.
Dead... but he lives on in my heart >.< haha
Rukia's made of win, and it has to be said that I love Urahara and Yoruichi... they kick ass
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