An exciting action-packed volume from Tite Kubo, “Bleach” vol. 58 features the conclusion of the epic battle between Soul Reaper leader, Captain Shigekuni Yamamoto Genryusai vs. Quincy King Yhwach to the battle of the death. And what happens when Ichigo finally arrives to the Soul Society? If you are a “Bleach” fan, this volume is highly recommended!
© 2001 Tite Kubo. All Rights Reserved.
MANGA TITLE: Bleach Vol. 58
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
RELEASE DATE: October 1, 2013
A mysterious group calling themselves the Vandenreich launches a simultaneous attack against the Soul Society and Ichigo in the World of the Living. After invading the Soul Society, the Vandenreich’s strongest warriors launch a relentless attack as the Soul Reaper captains start falling one by one. It will be up to General Captain Yamamoto unleashes to defeat the Vandenreich’s king and save the Soul Society!
With many of the Soul Reapers slaughtered and some of the captains hurt, Captain Shigekuni Yamamoto Genryusai chooses to confront Yhwach, the leader of the Quincy’s. Because of the severity of the battle, the Captain knows that he must use his bankai, which results in the loss of his arm.
But the man that was supposed to be Yhwach is one of his shapeshifting followers and the real Yhwach comes to slaughter his old nemesis.
Meanwhile, it looks as if the Soul Reapers last salvation to protect them from being annihilated is Ichigo Kurosaki, but will Ichigo be powerful enough to take on Yhwach?
Meanwhile, the Soul Society’s Squad Zero is revealed in “Bleach” vol. 58!
What is “Bleach?”
For those who are not so familiar with “Bleach”, “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.
A Brief History of 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.
The second storyline arc of “Bleach” features the Soul Society wanting to sentence Rukia to death for transferring her powers to Ichigo. His friends also begin to develop special abilities. His childhood friend, Orihime Inoue, is given special abilities courtesy of her loving brother who has turned into a Hollow. Yasutora “Chad” Sato is Ichigo’s tall friend (who is half Japanese/half Mexican) who suddenly becomes aware of spirits and develops an ability to have a special armored right arm that has special abilities. And Ichigo’s rival/friend, Uryu Ishida, who is a descendant of a hollow hunting group known as the Quincy and are enemies of the Soul Reapers.
As their adventures have continued, we have seen Ichigo and his friends getting stronger, developing new abilities and taking on their most difficult foes yet but also earning the respect of his friends and the Soul Society, having saved their lives time and time again. But this time around, there comes a new enemy that may be so powerful that Ichigo may not be able to take them on…
Enter the Vandenreich!
The Current Storyline
We have only heard of how the Quincies had perished after a long feud with the Soul Reapers. The Soul Reapers which believed in having the soul of a hollow crossover to the Soul Society, while the Quincies believed in the total destruction of the hollow’s soul. And while the two had tried to work out their dispute, in the end, it let do a war in which the Soul Reapers vanquished the Quincies.
With only Uryu Ishida thought to be the last Quincy alive, in volume 55 of “Bleach”, it was revealed that one of the deadly Quincy’s from the past, Yhwach, was not killed and has assembled a group known as the Vandenreich to eliminate all Soul Reapers and destroy the Soul Society.
Many have gone missing in Karakura Town and while the Vandenreich have made their presence known to Captain Yamamoto by killing 1st Division Lt. Sasakibe. Also, Hueco Mundo Arrancars have been attacked by the Hueco Mundo Army led by Quilge Opie who are trying to force the Arrancars to join them or else be killed.
As Nel goes to the human world to beg for Ichigo to save Hueco Mundo, Ichigo, Kisuke Urahara, Chad and Orihime hurry to Hueco Mundo to see what is happening. And with the distraction caused in that area, Yhwach orders the Vandenreich to attack the Soul Reapers in their home area inside the Seiretei and the top Quincy combatants of the Vandenreich, the Stern Ritter continues their destruction by trying to kill all Soul Reaper captains.
In vol. 57, as Ichigo tries to hurry back to the Soul Society, he is encased in some object and is unable to escape from it. Meanwhile, Byakuya Kuchiki and Renji Abarai take on Stern Ritter’s “As Nodt”, Shuhei Hisagi takes on Stern Ritter’s “O” [The Overkill] Driscoll Berci and it looks like that without using their Bankai, the Soul Reapers have no chance.
Until Division 1 Captain, Shigekuni Yamamoto Genryusai, the most power soul reaper decides it is time to intervene and try to kill all of the Stern Ritter.
Leading up to a battle between Soul Reaper leader Captain Yamamoto vs. the King of Quincy’s, Yhwach.
In vol. 58, Captain Yamamoto unleashes his bankai on Yhwach, a bankai that is so powerful that he would lost his arm. With the great power of Yamamoto’s Bankai, it was thought to have killed Yhwach but instead, it is revealed that the man who died is one of his followers who has the power to shapeshift.
With many Soul Reapers badly injured or have been slaughtered by the Vandenreich, others try to get Ichigo Kurosaki to fight Yhwach but will Ichigo be powerful enough to take him or the Vandenreich on?
Meanwhile, there may be a group that can help Ichigo fight against Yhwach and its the mysterious and secretive Squad Zero.
For many volumes, we have seen how powerful Division 1 Captain Yamamoto is, but now he has confronted his most powerful adversary yet… Yhwach, leader of the Vandenreich.
Unleashing his bankai that is a powerful weapon that would take out his own arm, Yamamoto uses it on Yhwach, to find out it was a shapeshifter and now… the great leader of the Soul Society may be in deep trouble.
Will Ichigo Kurosaki be able to reach him in time and protect the Soul Reapers and what happens when Yhwach unveils something to Ichigo about his mother?
Meanwhile, a secret kept within the Soul Society is the mysterious Squad Zero and now they make themselves known in order to help Ichigo. But what is Squad Zero and also, how will Captain Yamamoto fare in his battle with Yhwach?
It is important to note that with the release of volume 58 of “Bleach”, the USA releases are now two volumes behind Japan (volume 60 was released in August 2013 in Japan).
As always, the artwork by Tite Kubo is fantastic. His action illustrations are wonderful and he has been doing it long enough to know what works and how to get the reader interested when there is so much action that takes place in a page. Granted, action-paced manga with a lot of fighting does make the reading go quickly but fortunately, there are some major surprises in store with this volume that makes things manga volume worthwhile.
An exciting action-packed volume from Tite Kubo, “Bleach” vol. 58 features the conclusion to the awesome battle between Captain Yamamoto and Yhwach! But also what happens when Ichigo tries to confront Yhwach?
For longtime “Bleach” fans, “Bleach” Vol. 58 is highly recommended!