Just Manga

Much to everyone’s surprise, Tsukishima has done the impossible, he has become friends with everyone! He isn’t just charming, he actually changed the memories of those he stabbed, making himself part of their lives. Now Ichigo’s family and close friends are now best buddies with the man he hates? Will Ichigo be able to survive now that only himself and Ginjo are able to stand up to this foe?

THE GOOD

It appears as if the world is turning against Ichigo and Ginjo because of this new bad boy in town. Not even Aizen had made Ichigo crack this badly. In fact, both men discuss in this chapter murdering Tsukishima in order to return their lives back to normal. Now correct me if I’m wrong (and most likely I am) but I can’t remember any shonen hero admitting murder is the best solution to a problem. Not only will Ichigo loose the moral high ground if he commits murder, but if the power does not reverse, it will mean that his friends and family will hate him forever because of it. That’s pretty much check mate right there.

Also we hear from Ginjo this chapter about his hypothesis about Tsukishima’s powers. He believes Tsukishima actually changes his victims past, and not just messes with their memories, which is 10 times worse. If you really put it that way I do not think there is any way to undo it. Ginjo’s hypothesis is about to be put to the test though, for their “hidden” base has been found, and Tsukishima himself would like to talk to them both, the perfect chance to carry out their crime. The two of them are then brought to their headquarters, a vampire den from True Blood, or at least that’s what I thought it was.

THE BAD

I’m disliking these few panels dedicated to Ichigo’s father and Urahara because I can never tell what’s going on in them, and I really really want to know what is going on between those two. Such a tease!

THE VERDICT 4/5

These last few chapters were great, I’m excited to see just how crazy Ichigo will become in order to stop this menace. I’m not sure how exactly this will progress, but I’m certain Ichigo will not kill him, because he isn’t that type of guy. But on the other hand you never know, death leads down interesting paths in this manga.

Even though I prefer the anime filler arc that's going on right now, this was a good chapter. I've never seen Ichigo snap like that, he's totally lost and desperate.

I'd say it's good to see Isshin and Urahara popping up again, but usually they appear doing something shady for a few panels then vanish again. Come on Kubo, we know those two are up to something. Let us in on it already.

@secretzfan: Well it's obvious they'll go back to the Soul Society at some point, that hardly makes this a redux. This doesn't feel particularly like the first Bleach arc to me at all.

@MohsinMan99: I'm pretty sure that's exactly what most of the espada were. Vasto Lordes if I remember correctly are the highest form of regular hollows. That's before they start doing all the funky stuff Aizen did with them to make them more powerful by removing their masks and getting shinigami-like powers and so on.

Enemies are always over-exaggerated like that at first anyway, it's done for impact.

@MohsinMan99: Silhouettes don't mean much, especially silhouettes with horns, that usually just signifies they're evil, they probably don't even have horns at all. Harribel was a Vasto Lorde when Aizen recruited her and even after all her transformations and power-ups she was still only captain level really. Oh, and she didn't have horns as a Vasto Lorde so that kind of throws the H2 Ichigo breed theory out the window if you ask me.