Book Review: Bleach, Vol 17 by Tite Kubo

Bleach, Vol 17      

Author: Tite Kubo

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: February 6, 2007

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Supernatural/208 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

The countdown to execution has begun! No time to lose if Rukia Kuchiki is to be saved! Renji is determined to save his friend, even if he has to go through Byakuya, his captain, to do it. Byakuya is confident in his ability to defeat Renji, but Renji has been training with Ichigo and has a few surprises up his sleeves!

Kenpachi is happily facing the masked Komamura and the blind Tosen. Finally, a real challenge! As Rukia is being led to the Sokyoku, across the bridge, she encounters Gin Ichimaru, who can’t resist a last chance to tease the condemned Soul Reaper. He informs her that Renji is still alive, and offers to help her.  Reaching the Sokyoku,  she is asked if she has anything to say, and makes a last request.

Realizing Captain Tosen has used his bankai, Hisagi wants to go to him, but Yumichika tells him they are not finished. When Tosen questions his abilities and standing in his company, Yumichika enlightens him as to why he holds the position that he does. In fact, Yumichika will show him something, if Tosen promises not to tell the other members of his squad.

The execution has begun. It’s now or never, if Rukia is to be saved.

This volume is becoming a real nail-biter as Ichigo and friends battle to save Rukia from what they consider to be an unwarranted execution. Ichigo is conspicuous by his absence, still working to learn how to bankai. But he has an indomitable spirit and refuses to consider failure to be an option. No doubt we’ll see him in the next book.  Tosen’s backstory is poignant, and the revelation of Komamura’s actual face is enlightening. You can’t help but love Yachiru, the way she refers to Orihime as “Chubby”, and calls Ichigo “Itchy”. Although perhaps that should be translated as Ichi. It’s hard to tell, and translation can be a tricky thing.

There are so many questions here that beg to be answered. Is Rukia’s so-called infraction really of such a serious nature that it requires her execution? And, if you go with the idea that Soul Society is a sort of heaven, where the dead go, and that therefore the Soul Reapers themselves are not alive and not human, then how can she be executed and what does this really mean to them? Why is Byakuya such an uptight and cold monster, who is willing to see his own sister lose her life?

Plus we still have the mystery of who killed Captain Aizen. We know it wasn’t Ichigo and Company, despite what the Soul Society thinks. So who is the killer, and why was he killed? So many questions, so few answers. .. yet.  Something’s gotta give, hopefully in the next volume.

Looking forward to the big event, be there!

Ouran High School Host Club Volume 16 Review

 Ouran High School Host Club, Volume 16  

Author: Bisco Hatori

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: June 7, 2011

Format/Genre/Length: Manga/Shonen/192 pages

Publisher/Industry Age Rating: Teen

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

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The time is rapidly approaching for Hunny and Mori’s graduation, hard as that is to believe. Even more unbelievable is that Mori has challenged Hunny to a duel! What’s up with that?

Synopsis:

Ouran High School is abuzz with the news of the impending duel, and bets have even been placed. But no one can predict how the duel indeed ends.

April arrives, and time for the new school year, but the door to Music Room 3 remains locked…

So much is changing, more than friends graduating and moving on. Tamaki has been asked to move into Mansion #1, his longtime dream come true. Or is it a nightmare?

Suddenly Tamaki has no time for club activities. Or anything else that includes the Host Club. Determined to find out what’s going on, the Club approaches Tamaki’s father, to Tamaki’s dismay. Is he lost to them forever?

As a bonus story, we’re given a glimpse into the courtship of Haruhi’s parents.

Commentary:

This volume of Host Club is both wonderful and infuriating. Wonderful because we’re getting closer and closer to everything we’ve waited and hoped for. Infuriating because sometimes you just want to shake someone and tell them to see what’s really going on around them.

Only two more volumes left. I have no doubt that Haruhi and Tamaki will overcome everything and end up together. I hope. Okay, maybe I have a little doubt. And a lot of worry. And what will they have to suffer in the meantime? Let’s just say I’ll be disappointed with anything less than them being together.

Bisco Hatori has made the Host Club very real. I feel like I know the members very well. I love her artwork and her writing style. This series is definitely a classic.

I suspect that in the next two volumes we’ll be able to tie up everything, answer questions, and weave it all together into one soul-satisfying cohesive whole.  After the series is finished, I guess I’ll have to satisfy my desires to visit with the members of the club by writing fanfiction about them.

Can’t wait for Volume 17!

One Piece 5: For Whom the Bell Tolls review

 One Piece, Volume 5: For Whom the Bell Tolls  

Author: Eiichiro Oda

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: November 9, 2004

Format/Genre/Length: Manga/Shonen/200 pages

Publisher/Industry Age Rating: Teen

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Usopp’s pirates, protecting Kaya, are chased by the hypnotist/pirate captain Django, while Klahadore, the false butler, faces down Luffy, Zolo, and Usopp. He thinks he has them where he wants them, but Zolo shows that the Meowban brothers are no match for him, although Usopp goes down, and cannot rise. No problem! Zolo will carry him, leaving Luffy to deal with Klahadore.

Synopsis:

As Luffy and Klahadore battle, the pirate butler’s plan becomes apparent—annihilation for all, including his trusty crew. He wants to get rid of anyone who knows about his past.  He reminds them of the circumstances that caused him to quit the sea, and his desire to take the riches from Kaya and go where no one will ever find him. Naturally, this does not sit well with the crew. Luffy manages to half-declaw Klahadore, even as Django is working on hypnotizing the stubborn Kaya to get her to sign the will in favor of her butler, but to no avail—she refuses to open her eyes.

Klahadore has had enough of Luffy and his insults, so he decides to let loose one final attack, although his crew begs him not to—his out-of-the-bag attack! Luffy doesn’t see the big deal.  “He’s only slouching…”

Famous last words, as the attack begins. Can Luffy counter it?

In the aftermath of the battle, Usopp exhorts his little band of pirates, as well as Miss Kaya, to say nothing of what has happened, to allow the village to live in ignorance of what has occurred in order to maintain their peace of mind. And to let them keep on believing that he is a liar. It’s a hard thing to do, but they agree that it is in the village’s best interest, as well as Usopp’s.  Kaya offers Luffy and his crew a ship—a caravel. Not the best, but a sight better than what they had. Of course, Kaya has ulterior motives, which quickly become apparent.

Having added a new crewmember, Luffy’s crew sets sail and raises their own standard for their new ship, the Merry Go. Luffy knows what needs to be done next—they need to find a ship’s cook, and quickly!

Can it be as easy as it sounds? With this bunch, not likely!

Commentary:

This is the last volume concerning the fight with Klahadore and his band and the saving of the village. Great fun, much bravery, and spectacular fights.  Luffy gains a new crewmember, one who is worthy to be part of his crew. Very satisfactory, while leading into new territory with the search for the ship’s cook, and we meet some interesting people onboard the Baratie, an ocean-going restaurant.

With One Piece, the fun never stops. It’s a good read for all ages, and I highly recommend it!