Bleach?

[wakuchan]

Okay, so everyone keeps telling me I should try Bleach. Fine. Just wondering what you people think of it, and if it stays quality throughout all 18 volumes that're out so far. Also, how long is it expected to be? The comparison chart show 18 volumes and ongoing, just wondering if there's a projected length or anything. The only other long-running shonen title I'm collecting now is Prince of Tennis (29 and counting? Gyah.), but don't a lot of SJ titles tend to run on for...well, a really long time?

[Zanza Hiro]

as a huge SJ fan, and enormous Bleach head, my opinion may be just slightly bias but, here goes

buy it. seriously. buy it now. why? who cares, buy it then you'll find out...

have you bought it yet? /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

in all seriousness, Bleach has the potential to become one of the greatest Shonen series of all time. i am sure my fellow Bleach heads can all agree with me, both the anime and manga format kick some serious ass. what is so special about it you ask? it looks like a funny haired kid who gets a huge ass sword and kills monsters. fairly typical, ne?

while the shonen formula is very strong in this series (ie. boy fights, gets wasted, wants to get stronger, protect those he loves etc.) this series is just so chalk full of awesome characters, fights, plots and sub-plots etc. that you hafta keep reading/watching! i kno many people watch the show just for the amazing fights, which are friggin awesome. as well, the characters are all interesting and have really cool backstories and motivations for doing what they do and why they do it

plus, Orihime is hot. case closed, buy the manga NOW! /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif

[Noodle]

I enjoy the title (have read all 7 released so far) but I don't know if it's the kind of thing I'd read again. But I'm totally saying that with no knowledge of future events. It's definitely entertaining, but I find it so in much the same way that I find most other long-running tourny-style Jump series -- In other words, despite everyone singing it's praises of uniqueness and individuality, I think it's just another take on the same stuff. But that's not intended to be a bad comment, actually.

I think it's worth a read, it's definitely fun, but it'll be a big investment if you're worried about that kinda thing. I'm not currently buying it, but avidly borrow a friend's copy -- I guess the question is, do these types of stories have re-read value for you (and do you care)?

[Jarred]

I wouldn't expect Bleach to end for a long time, this one will most likely hit 30+ as the manga sells extremely well, both in Japan and the US, and the anime is also doing quite well.

[Zanza Hiro]

just a quick note: it gets better. a lot better

something that is so interesting about Bleach is that as awesome as all the fighting and stuff was in the first kinda arc, the series keeps getting better and better. up to the latest tankubon release in Japan, i am blown away by how Kubo-sensei doesn't seem to want to rest or slow down. there is no lull or recess after the Seireitei Arc, it keeps getting better and better. huge plot twists come in, new characters show up, events unravel and battles/wars are imminent! oh good gracious, don't let it stop!!!

[Noodle]

[ QUOTE ]
Zanza said:

plus, Orihime is hot. case closed, buy the manga NOW! /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Really..? I don't find her hot.. just.. well-endowed. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Zanza Hiro]

hehehe, she's a cutie then. d'accord? /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif

[harrywang]

[ QUOTE ]
Zanza said:
just a quick note: it gets better. a lot better

something that is so interesting about Bleach is that as awesome as all the fighting and stuff was in the first kinda arc, the series keeps getting better and better. up to the latest tankubon release in Japan, i am blown away by how Kubo-sensei doesn't seem to want to rest or slow down. there is no lull or recess after the Seireitei Arc, it keeps getting better and better. huge plot twists come in, new characters show up, events unravel and battles/wars are imminent! oh good gracious, don't let it stop!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Listen to this man, he speaks the truth. I've been a Bleach reader for along time and Zanza is right that this manga never loses steam, but it just keeps picking up. The characters are really enjoyable, the plot is nice, as wel as the sub plots, the "evil guys" are good as well. Right when an arc ends, it goes right into the next one without much downtime, but the character interactions are spectacular. There are also some really big revelations and such that come out of nowhere it seems, but it all seems to fit in place. Kubo is a genius and no other manga has Orihime Inoue. /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif

[wakuchan]

[ QUOTE ]
harrywang said:
Kubo is a genius and no other manga has Orihime Inoue. /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

But does it have any cute guys?
*cough* Just kidding.
Well, I can get it pretty cheap if I buy it tomorrow (last day of my employee discount XD) so I'll have to look up summaries or somesuch.

[harrywang]

[ QUOTE ]
Waku-chan said:
[ QUOTE ]
harrywang said:
Kubo is a genius and no other manga has Orihime Inoue. /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

But does it have any cute guys?
*cough* Just kidding.
Well, I can get it pretty cheap if I buy it tomorrow (last day of my employee discount XD) so I'll have to look up summaries or somesuch.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, some people say there are alot of bishounen in it, so they may fit your taste. I can't tell you because I like girls. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[Zanza Hiro]

well, i'm not completely sure as i am a guy but, the dudes in Bleach are very... hot /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

girls that like Sasuke from Naruto will definitely like Ishida. they are very similar. as well, you do not get any cooler than a Shinigami division captain, and in the looks department, you gots to give Byakuya his props. the dude is very good looking.

as well, for the women out there with weird fetishes, hey, we haven't forgotten you either! we have a blind dude, a giant man sized fox, a dude with a huge mouth and lines for eyes, a very old man with a cane and a chronically sick guy! we have em all! /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif

[harrywang]

[ QUOTE ]
Zanza said:
... you gots to give Byakuya his props. the dude is very good looking...



[/ QUOTE ]

Now I know why you watch Bleach, Zanza. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[Noodle]

[ QUOTE ]
Waku-chan said:
[ QUOTE ]
harrywang said:
Kubo is a genius and no other manga has Orihime Inoue. /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

But does it have any cute guys?
*cough* Just kidding.
Well, I can get it pretty cheap if I buy it tomorrow (last day of my employee discount XD) so I'll have to look up summaries or somesuch.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think this question is always a matter of relative exposure. Because, as any true fangirl can tell you, the longer you read/watch something, the more attractive the characters become, even if the art isn't (at first) to your liking. /images/graemlins/wink.gif My best example: Yu-Gi-Oh -- Damn, when did Kaiba get so hot? Er, and Bakura... and Marik...and Jounichi... and.. well, you get the idea.

Regards to Bleach, though? I rather like Ishida Uuryu and, of course, Kon's pretty cute.. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Zanza Hiro]

HAHAHA! SILENCE!!!

*goes BanKai on harrywang* /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[Noodle]

[ QUOTE ]
Zanza said:
well, i'm not completely sure as i am a guy but, the dudes in Bleach are very... hot /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

girls that like Sasuke from Naruto will definitely like Ishida. they are very similar. [.. and more stuff...]



[/ QUOTE ]

Ahh, crap, you beat me again!!!!
And my reply.. of course.. plays right into your hands.. ARGH!!! /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Zanza Hiro]

hehehe, yeah. i am in lecture right now, but the prof is just doing review so, i am watching Bleach on my computer and browsing AoD

ah, what we learn in our yrs in school /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

p.s. Noodle, if you keep reading the manga, i'm sure you'll find more bishies. heck, i'm a guy and even i am finding a lotta bishies

STOP LAUGHING, harrywang! /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[harrywang]

[ QUOTE ]
Zanza said:
hehehe, yeah. i am in lecture right now, but the prof is just doing review so, i am watching Bleach on my computer and browsing AoD

ah, what we learn in our yrs in school /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

p.s. Noodle, if you keep reading the manga, i'm sure you'll find more bishies. heck, i'm a guy and even i am finding a lotta bishies

STOP LAUGHING, harrywang! /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't want to even imagine why you like One Piece so much. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[sir_integra]

[ QUOTE ]
Zanza said:
well, i'm not completely sure as i am a guy but, the dudes in Bleach are very... hot /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif
....

as well, for the women out there with weird fetishes...a dude with a huge mouth and lines for eyes... /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I love Ichimaru Gin! He's my favorite.

Seriously, I would quit Prince of Tennis. With Bleach, the story just gets better and better and there are enough bishies for every taste. All PoT has going for it are the guys.

[harrywang]

There is also a guy with a basket over his head if your into that kind of stuff.

[Johnny]

I love Bleach but am not enjoying the manga as much at the minute because it follows the anime pretty much exactly at this point and so it's just going over stuff I've previously seen.

If you haven't seen the anime though then I'd definitely recommend it as a superb example of how great Shonen can be.

[harrywang]

[ QUOTE ]
johnny said:
I love Bleach but am not enjoying the manga as much at the minute because it follows the anime pretty much exactly at this point and so it's just going over stuff I've previously seen.

If you haven't seen the anime though then I'd definitely recommend it as a superb example of how great Shonen can be.

[/ QUOTE ]

The new material in the manga is really great and suprising , johnny you will surely enjoy it if your tired of reading and seeing what happens. I don't know how much you like anime Waku-chan, but you should check out the anime as well.

[Jarred]

[ QUOTE ]
Noodle said:
In other words, despite everyone singing it's praises of uniqueness and individuality, I think it's just another take on the same stuff. But that's not intended to be a bad comment, actually.


[/ QUOTE ]
I have a hard time finding a lot of new stuff with shounen material, it's a formula. It is the "uniqueness and individuality" of its execution that makes these titles readable. Kubo does a great job of it with Bleach, taking a completely average story (as of 7 volumes) and makes it a lot of fun with his stylish characters and little attentions to detail. Sometimes those chapter headers with character art are my favorite parts of the book, such good looking clothing! /images/graemlins/shy00000.gif /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

So I think liking Bleach relies on liking 1) Kubo's style and fun panel work, and 2) the stylish characters, which get more plentiful as the story progresses. If you don't like these, the story can feel very average.

I love the style to pieces. /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif

[DrMM]

I don't know that I have a lot to add but I'm quite fond of Bleach. I like the characters and IMO, the story has improved a lot, whereas a lot of shonen series tend to stay the same or repeat the same ideas ...

[Gatts]

For those that like men who look like they've actually been in a fight or two instead of waif-like bishounen you also have Zaraki Kenpachi and Yamamoto Genryuusai.

Also for people who like their women sexy instead of cute, there's always... hmm.. guess I can't mention her name yet, but she's hot. /images/graemlins/happy.gif Soi Fong, Rangiku, and Nanao aren't too bad on the sexy scale either.

[Rogueman_8]

[ QUOTE ]
Gatts said:
Also for people who like their women sexy instead of cute, there's always... hmm.. guess I can't mention her name yet, but she's hot. /images/graemlins/happy.gif Soi Fong, Rangiku, and Nanao aren't too bad on the sexy scale either.

[/ QUOTE ]

man, don't forget Kuukaku, sexiest <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>am...(4get, i will not mention it)</span> evar. I wuv her /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif.

[Oniko]

I think everyone, especially Zanza, have said the same as I would. I can definitely vouch as a gal that there are a wide range of attractive male characters, even some characters with a nice amount of musculature.

It definitely does stand apart from other shonen titles I've read (or watched) partly through Kubo Tite's art style, but also through the story. I guess I can describe it as having a little bit of everything to attract to a wide range readers and viewers.

[sakurajade]

Bleach has lots and lots of bishies. It's actually my all time favorite non-Clamp source of bishies. My current favorite Bleach boy is Aizen Sousuke /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif...(extensive manga spoiler)<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>psycotic and glasses wearing, I'm in love! </span>.

[harrywang]

Waku-chan, if you don't buy this soon, all the Bleach heads will come after you. Now time to go grab my pitchfork and torch. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[darkhunter]

In my opinion, bleach might be one of the top 5 Shonen jump title out there (right up there with One Piece and Kenshin). Do you like Shonen titles? If so, then get Bleach because it execute a lot of ideas really well with nice and somewhat cliche characters. However, if you look at manga beyond the usual shonen jump, bleach (which seem average by that standard) isn't even in the top 10 compare to powerhouse titles like Buddha, Blade of the Immortal, Priest or Vagabaond.

[Noodle]

[ QUOTE ]
jarhead said:
[ QUOTE ]
Noodle said:
In other words, despite everyone singing it's praises of uniqueness and individuality, I think it's just another take on the same stuff. But that's not intended to be a bad comment, actually.


[/ QUOTE ]
I have a hard time finding a lot of new stuff with shounen material, it's a formula. It is the "uniqueness and individuality" of its execution that makes these titles readable. Kubo does a great job of it with Bleach, taking a completely average story (as of 7 volumes) and makes it a lot of fun with his stylish characters and little attentions to detail. Sometimes those chapter headers with character art are my favorite parts of the book, such good looking clothing! /images/graemlins/shy00000.gif /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

So I think liking Bleach relies on liking 1) Kubo's style and fun panel work, and 2) the stylish characters, which get more plentiful as the story progresses. If you don't like these, the story can feel very average.

I love the style to pieces. /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

It's funny you say this, because it's the style/art that acted as the hook for me when my initial interest waned the tiniest bit -- and I have a major love for those chapter covers! They are, without a doubt, my favorite things in each book. I spend a disproportionate amount of time looking at them.

It's interesting to me how basically the very things I don't see are what everyone else is saying is so good about the series. Even when comparing it against other shonen series. Perhaps I'm just not reading the right shonen titles to compare against? /images/graemlins/wink.gif I think the main thing that sets Bleach apart (right now) is that it is like all-action-all-the-time. I've also heard people complain about that, but it doesn't bother me at all at this point.

It probably doesn't sound like it, but I DO like the series, I guess I'm just not experiencing it on the same level as the rest of you. /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif Maybe in time I will... at least I know I'll be reading #8 when it comes out.

[darkhunter]

Rest of who? There's only like 2 guys (zanza and harrywang) in this thread that keep praising it like it was the next best thing to sex./images/graemlins/knowital.gif Everyone else think the book is good.

Bleach is a pretty good shonen title and just like Naruto, it rely a lot on the "cool" factor (cool character looking cool and kicking ass while looking cool) that many young boys find interesting. It's the probably the same reason why I think most girl adore some title because it's so cute even if the story is average (ugh like DNAngel).

From the past bleach thread that I post on in the past, I know there are legion of Bleach fan on the board that get angry easily, just be careful not to offend them.

Bleach would really rock though if it had a mature theme with mature elements. I wasn't fond of all the silly moments in the bleach and it could use a little bit more seriousiness to it.

[Jarred]

[ QUOTE ]
Noodle said:
Maybe in time I will... at least I know I'll be reading #8 when it comes out.

[/ QUOTE ]
Well, I've only read as much as you have, but I do sense that the real story is finally taking shape with what happened in the last volume. Everyone keeps mentioning that the story gets tighter and tighter, so I guess we'll find out.

It did succeed in 7 volumes in getting me to love the characters, all of them, so the setup was a success in sense.

[harrywang]

It seems most of the other Bleach fans hang out in the anime discussion forum. I would try to stay on topic, but I don't think there is much more to be said. It just oozes with style.

[Sandrylina]

[ QUOTE ]
Waku-chan said:
[ QUOTE ]
harrywang said:
Kubo is a genius and no other manga has Orihime Inoue. /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

But does it have any cute guys?
*cough* Just kidding.
Well, I can get it pretty cheap if I buy it tomorrow (last day of my employee discount XD) so I'll have to look up summaries or somesuch.

[/ QUOTE ]

The guy designs are really quite attractive IMHO for a SJ title. Not quite RuroKen, but because the manga-ka came up with so many different guy characters and designs for all the male captains, vice-captains etc, there was a pretty good chance some of them would be more bishonen types and as such, some of them are. /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif

-Sandrylina-

[Gatts]

[ QUOTE ]
darkhunter said:
Bleach is a pretty good shonen title and just like Naruto, it rely a lot on the "cool" factor (cool character looking cool and kicking ass while looking cool)

[/ QUOTE ]

Unlike Naruto, the story in Bleach shows signs of being planned out long in advance. Bleach and One Piece both have instances where they will make referance back to an earlier occurance which explains an event that was previously confusing. Maybe Oda and Kubo are just really good at making up excuses at the last minute (aka pulling it out of their butts), but in my opinion they show more planning than your average Shonen Jump title.

FWIW, my favorite SJ title is Hunter X Hunter followed closely by One Piece, and Bleach.

[vegeta11]

It is worth reading just for all the hidden back story with Kisuke Urahara alone, but it has greatest flow of any manga I have read in a long while. Plus I find myself unable to stop reading without a lot of pressure on myself to do so which is usually a sign that it has an exceptional story too.

[Johnny]

[ QUOTE ]
harrywang said:
[ QUOTE ]
johnny said:
I love Bleach but am not enjoying the manga as much at the minute because it follows the anime pretty much exactly at this point and so it's just going over stuff I've previously seen.

If you haven't seen the anime though then I'd definitely recommend it as a superb example of how great Shonen can be.

[/ QUOTE ]

The new material in the manga is really great and suprising , johnny you will surely enjoy it if your tired of reading and seeing what happens.

[/ QUOTE ]

Any idea which volume the new material comes in?

I mean, don't get me wrong, I am a huge Bleach fan and am sticking with the manga. It's just that the story has been the same so far.

[harrywang]

[ QUOTE ]
johnny said:
[ QUOTE ]
harrywang said:
[ QUOTE ]
johnny said:
I love Bleach but am not enjoying the manga as much at the minute because it follows the anime pretty much exactly at this point and so it's just going over stuff I've previously seen.

If you haven't seen the anime though then I'd definitely recommend it as a superb example of how great Shonen can be.

[/ QUOTE ]

The new material in the manga is really great and suprising , johnny you will surely enjoy it if your tired of reading and seeing what happens.

[/ QUOTE ]

Any idea which volume the new material comes in?

I mean, don't get me wrong, I am a huge Bleach fan and am sticking with the manga. It's just that the story has been the same so far.

[/ QUOTE ]

I can't remember the exact chapters, but check out the latest two volumes and the latest SJ releases. But you have to finish the SS arc before, because there are some major twists and developments.

[Hollowine]

I've read the first 9 volumes of the manga because I've been unable to stop myself. And I've been watching the anime, slowly, one episode at a time--and I'm REALLY liking the anime—it's very stylish and cool. I strongly recommend the anime. It has one of the most coolest openings I've seen in a very long time. And that theme song will stick in your head...

I've actually been asking myself why I like this series so much and I can't really give a good answer to you much less myself. But there's one thing I really respect about the series and that its story is centered around the afterlife, and not in vague terms but in very specific concrete terms. It kind of reminded me of Richard Matheson's novel "What Dreams May Come" in which he basically chooses a metaphysical path equipped with a set of rules and beliefs and then uses it as the basis for his story. That's not to say he was right or wrong, but at least he had the guts to pick something and then run with it.

That's what Bleach does and what nobody else really has been able to to do (in my opinion)—it basically sets up a reason and purpose for life and death, and then sets a story against this metaphysical backdrop.

I know I'm getting a bit wordy here and may be making too much of this, but I really respect an artist who deals with a subject matter that is above and beyond him/herself, but who isn't afraid to at least try.

Bleach also has something else going for it, and that's it's characters. They are nicely conceived and you really get into them and come to care about them. There's something adorable in the fact that Rukia, the serious and no-nonsense Death God/Soul Reaper, can't draw worth a damn when she's illustrating one of many metaphysical concepts for Ichigo and she can't help but use cute bunny rabbits in her drawings. And it's also nice to know that Tatsuki was the first person to ever make Ichigo cry by kicking his ass in a dojo when they were kids. Or that Orihime is wearing the cutsey hair pins that her brother gave her before he died, even though she hated them at the time. Or Chad's shirts... Or the morning attacks by Ichigo's dad, which always makes me remember Kato's constant attacks of Peter Seller's Inspector Clouseau character in the Pink Panther series....

All this just to say—I really like Bleach a LOT; both the manga and the anime.