The second volume of “Bleach 3-in-1” (volumes 4-6) introduces us to characters that attend Ichigo’s school who also have powers. But also one who hates Soul Reapers and challenges Ichigo in who can kill the most hollows! An important storyline that sets up the characters for “Bleach”, a solid second omnibus volume sold for a pretty low price! Definitely recommended!
Image courtesy of © Tite Kubo. All Rights Reserved.
Click here to purchase this manga on Amazon
MANGA TITLE: Bleach 3-in-1: Volumes 4-6 – Omnibus Edition
STORY AND ART BY: Tite Kubo (ä¹…ä¿ å®£ç« )
FIRST PUBLISHED IN JAPAN: SHUEISHA, Inc.
PUBLISHED IN USA BY: VIZ Media, LLC/Shonen Jump Manga
RATED: T for Older Teen
PAGES: 576
RELEASE DATE: August 2, 2012
Containing volumes 4, 5 and 6 of Bleach! A new reality-show craze is sweeping the nation, garnering legions of screaming fans (the majority of them being teenaged girls). But this program comes with a supernatural twist–the host, a media-savvy spiritualist, travels to local hotspots and performs exorcisms, live on national TV! Surly Soul Reaper Ichigo Kurosaki has his doubts about this primetime prima donna, and his assumptions are about to be put to the test–the show is heading straight for his neighborhood! What effect will this unprovoked media presence have on the fragile balance between Earth and the spirit world?
In the latest volume of “Bleach 3-in-1” (covering volumes 4-6), Ichigo Kurosaki may be a substitute soul reaper, thanks to his encounter with Rukia Kuchiki. But as he is the only human that is supposed to see hollows, how is it that his sister and a few of his friends can as well?
Meanwhile, a classmate named Uryu Ishida approaches Ichigo and challenges him in a battle of who can kill the most hollows, but even more shocking is the fact that he is a Quincy, a group like Soul Reapers that went after hollows but instead of sending them to the soul society, the Quincy’s believed in the destruction of hollows.
Which caused friction between the Soul Reapers and the Quincy, leading to the latter’s elimination. But how is it that a Quincy still exists and what does he want with Ichigo?
Find out in “Bleach 3-in 1: Volumes 4-6”!
What is “Bleach”?
“Bleach” is definitely one of the most successful anime and manga titles in Japan and well-known to anime/manga fans all over the world.
“Bleach” has a strong fan following and since its run began back in 2001, series creator, writer and illustrator Noriaki “Tite” Kubo has been hard at work, continuing to crank chapter after chapter for Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan and with the success of the series extending out to films, OVA’s, feature films and video games and other merchandise.
Because of its airing on the Cartoon Network and it being featured on Shonen Jump magazine, “Bleach” has gone on to become a fan favorite in America but also fans all over the world.
BUT… what if you are a person who came into “Bleach” just recently. You feel that there are too many manga, anime and video games to read and watch that there is surely no way for you to start from the very beginning.
Not to worry as “Bleach” has received the 3-in-1 omnibus treatment from Viz Media and available now is the second volume of “Bleach 3-in-1” which includes volumes 4-6 of the popular manga series.
A brief spoiler-less summary what “Bleach” is about
“Bleach” is a story about a guy named Ichigo Kurasaki who has a gift in which he can see spirits. One day, he saw a Soul Reaper (one who can govern the flow of souls between the human world and the afterlife) named Rukia Kukichiki who has come to find a Hollow (a lost soul). She ends up being wounded in battle when she tried to defend Ichigo and so she illegally transfers her reiatsu (spiritual pressure) to him, so that he can defeat the Hollow. But during the process, he nearly takes all of her energy and becomes a Soul Reaper himself and defeats the Hollow quite easily.
So, the first storyline arc features Rukia now powerless stranded in the human world until she has the time to recover her true powers, while Ichigo fills in and battles Hollows in her place. And with each fight, Rukia starts to notice something special about Ichigo’s abilities.
Meanwhile, we get to see how friends of Ichigo also have some ties with the supernatural. From his classmate Orihime Inoue , to his tall friend with immense strength, Chad Sado and the mod known as Kon, we also get to meet friends that help Ichigo and Rukia take on the various hollows that are attacking humans and souls.
“Bleach 3-in-1: Volumes 1-3” is just the beginning but it gives readers an idea of how Ichigo became a soul reaper and how even at a early stage, he is able to demonstrate great ability. But not just Ichigo, but also his friendsWhen it comes to the “Bleach” franchise, there is no doubt of how popular the series is in America.
For me, I was in the very same position as many who are just coming to the series right now. I saw samples of it while watching “Naruto” when they were both airing on the Cartoon Network but my first foray into “Bleach” was the video game, “Bleach Heat the Soul 2” to be exact.
I knew nothing about the characters although I was aware of the bands and music artists that performed the theme songs for the series, I really didn’t know anything and there were way too many manga and anime series out there.
But with patience, I was able to catch reruns of the anime series on TV and eventually became more interested in the series.
The cool thing about the Viz “3-in-1” manga series is that everyone who have been weary of jumping in with “Bleach” can now do so and instead of spending $30, for these 3-in-1, you only spend $15 ala retail (price may be cheaper on online stores).
But with this first 3-in-1, you get to learn how Ichigo became a “temporary” soul reaper and how he met Rukia. But you get to meet characters like Ichigo’s friend Orihime Inoue, the significant of the flower hairpin that she wears and we also get to meet Yasutora “Chad” Sado and his unique abilities but also getting to know why a stuffed lion known as Kon can talk.
We get to meet Kisuke Urahara that owns the Urahara Shop (an illegal shop that tends to soul reapers) and a man with a mysterious past. We meet his assistants, the bulky Tessai Tsukabishi and the two young (but powerful) kids Jinta Hanakiri and Ururu Tsumugiya.
But also getting to know Ichigo and his family which includes his crazy father Isshin and his younger twin sisters Karin and Yuzu. With Karin, having the ability to see hollows.
And also their high school friends who seem to be spiritually aware such as the dramatic Keigo Asano, the older women loving Mizuiro Kojima and Orihime’s best friend Tatsuki Arisawa.
“Bleach 3-in-1: Volumes 4-6” begins with Ichigo adjusting to life as a substitute soul reaper.
With the fourth volume, we learn more about Kon and how he is tired of being kept inside a stuff animal, meanwhile a TV spiritualist named Kanonji Misaomaru has been receiving plenty of attention and Ichigo along with Rukia are curious if this guy can see hollows?
We are then introduced to classmate of Ichigo’s named Uryu Ishida who reveals himself to be a Quincy, a long lost group that hunted down hollows but unlike soul reapers that send the hollows to the Soul Society, Quincy’s believe in the destruction of hollows. And because the Quincy were eliminated by the Soul Reapers hundreds of years ago and he is the last one left, he has a hatred towards Soul Reapers.
In volume 5, wanting to prove that he is better than Ichigo Kurosaki, Uryu unleashes hollows all over the city to see how many hollows that he or Ichigo can defeat and who will win?
Uryu reveals that other people close to Ichigo have the ability to feel spiritual pressure and because he is unaware of that, his despair will lead him to lose the competition.
As hollows attack people of Karakura Town including Ichigo’s friends, we learn that Karin Kurosaki can see hollows but also Chad, who can’t see them clearly but he also has a supernatural gift that he was unaware of.
Hollows begin attacking people and taking control of their bodies but also revealed to see hollows is Tatsuki who is trying to protect Orihime and Chizuru. But also not knowing she has a special ability, Orihime finds out of a power that she is unaware of.
In volume 6, Chad and Orihime learn from Kisuke Urahara of how their latent powers were awaken by Ichigo Kurosaki who is a soul reaper. The competition between Uryu and Ichigo continues and we learn more about the Quincies.
Meanwhile two people have been keeping their eye on Rukia. Who can they be?
“Bleach” has been a title that captivated people all over the world. From one human who is able to grow his powers and take on the most destructive enemies while protecting his friends and family, every story has a beginning and with the “Bleach 3-in-1” omnibus manga series, fans or curious manga readers now have that chance.
As the first omnibus introduced us to Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia Kuchiki and how Ichigo became a substitute soul reaper, this second volume introduces us to Ichigo’s family and friends who appear to be able to sense spiritual energy, see hollows and also have some sort of latent power.
And with this second volume, we are introduced to the storyline of the Quincy with Uryu Ishida but we also get to see Orihime and Chad demonstrating their new powers.
The cool thing about the Viz “3-in-1” manga series is that everyone who have been weary of jumping in with “Bleach” can now do so and instead of spending $30, for these 3-in-1, you only spend $15 ala retail (price may be cheaper on online stores).
Every character, no matter if they are supporting characters or family member or friend of Ichigo or Orihime’s, will play a part in future storylines of “Bleach” and so, this second 3-in-1 volume (featuring graphic novel volumes 4-6) is quite important in the fact that it does help establish who the characters are and also focusing on those relationships but also the development of Ichigo, Rukia, Orihime and Chad which will be a constant theme from the beginning to the present volumes of “Bleach”.
This latest volume is quite important to the character base of “Bleach” but also is action-packed and full of excitement!
Overall, “Bleach 3-in-1” is a fantastic collection for those wanting to learn more about the series and if you want to start playing the video games or wanting to watch the anime series or just wanting a good action-based series with cool characters, you really can’t go wrong with “Bleach” because you are getting three volumes for a pretty good price!
Definitely recommended!
Click here to purchase this manga on Amazon