Bleach,
Vol 18
Author: Tite Kubo
Publisher: Viz Media
American
release date: April 3, 2007
Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Supernatural/208 pages
Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★
The time has arrived for
Rukia’s execution, the Sokyoku has been released and Rukia has been strapped to
the scaffold. She awaits her fate with resignation, grateful to those who
attempted to rescue her. The halberd assumes its true form as the firebird
king, ready to impale Rukia and complete the sentence. Only a deus ex machina
can save her now.
And here one is, in the
person of Ichigo Kurosaki! And Ichigo is single-handedly holding back the
firebird king itself! How can that be?
Instead of being grateful, Rukia calls him a fool and asks him why he came back,
warning him Byakuya will surely kill him this time. Meanwhile, the spectators
below are marveling at what has happened and wondering who in the world was
able to do that.
Before the bird can strike a
second time, which would surely be fatal to them both, Ukitake arrives, to
Kyoraku’s relief, and proceeds to destroy the Sokyoku. At that, Ichigo destroys
the scaffold and takes Rukia in hand. Can her rescue possibly be this easy?
Of course not.
Ichigo tosses Rukia down to
Renji and tells him to take her to safety, as he turns to confront Byakuya. Sai
Fon sends her people after those who are working to rescue Rukia, then finds
herself facing a foe of her own—her former captain, Yoruichi! Ukitake and
Kyoraku are about to attempt to talk to Sai Fon, but they are called to task by
the Head-Captain himself, and have no choice but to face him down together!
This volume of Bleach is
certainly not lacking in action. Everybody seems to be fighting against
someone! And the lines between the good guys and the bad guys is most definitely
blurred, as two captains—the first two captains to graduate from the Soul
Reaper Academy—choose to do what they believe to be right, even if it means
defying old man Yama.
Ichigo is his usual cocky
self. Remember he’s only fifteen, and still believes himself invincible. But
besides that, he has strong sense of honor, as well as a strong desire to
protect his family and friends from harm. He won’t allow Rukia to give up, no
matter what, a very admirable sentiment indeed. I don’t find manga-Rukia nearly
as wishy-washy as I did anime-Rukia. Maybe that’s because we are more privy to
her inner thoughts in the manga than in the anime.
I was especially thrilled to
see so much of Shunsui in this volume, especially as he is so obviously on the
side of right. He and Ukitake are such good friends and so very much in sync
with one another. It’s very heart-warming. (On the other hand, although I write
fanfiction, I have no desire to slash them, although I’m fairly sure that’s
been done already. I don’t see either one of them as being gay, and they
certainly aren’t written that way. I mean, have you ever watched Shunsui with
the women? Seriously?) One thing about the manga that I love is that I
sometimes end up having questions answered that bothered me from watching the
anime. Such as what’s wrong with Ukitake. He’s always treated as if he’s
fragile and might keel over at any moment. But common sense says that if he’s
strong enough to become a Soul Reaper, he’s not a wilting flower either. Well,
the answer is at the back of this volume, which has bios of both Ukitake and
Shunsui. Apparently Ukitake has a lung ailment! That explains much and answers
that question.
I like the little vignettes
in between chapters involving those left behind in the World of the Living. Kon
(in Ichigo’s body) has become involved in a soccer game with Jinta and Ururu
and Karin, and notices that Jinta has his Kon body! The result is hilarious and
is still ongoing.
I liked the scenes between
Yoruichi and Sai Fon. I think you’d have to be pretty blind not to realize that
Yoriuchi and Kiskue are a couple. But also, Sai Fon has a huge crush on
Yoruichi, which probably contributes to her behavior at times.
With most of the strength of
the Sereitei arrayed against them, can Ichigo and his friends pull off this
daring rescue? Only time will tell. Looking forward to the next volume!
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