Naurto Volume 24: Unorthodox

Usually Kisgimoto moves much more quickly to the inevitable showdown. This arc is taking much longer than I expected. The Leaf ninja have nearly joined back up again, but first some old enemies need to be allies. It was interesting to see enemies fighting together but I'm still waiting for the big showdown between Sasuke and Naruto.

Bleach Volume 26: The Mascanron Drive

So Ichigo and Orihime are both taken out of the big fight by their abilities: Orihime because she's not a fighter, Ichigo because he can't control his hollowfied self. So she's kidnapped. Like Rukia was kidnapped in the first arc. Personally, I feel that there's some hidden motive behind this. I think there's something that Ichigo needs to see when he rescues Orihime. Of course, I'm also rooting for Orihime and Ichigo to become something of a couple so I may be biased.

Bleach Volume 25: No Shaking Throne

And thus begins the training montage. However, unlike a lot of times in this series, Ichigo does not master his new abilities right away. I don't quite get where Kubo is going with the inner Hollow thing. I don't know if Ichigo's always had it or if he's one of a special group, or if it's something all Soul Reaper go through, or what. Interested to see where it goes though.

The Path of Daggers

The first time I read this book was easy. My favourite character had just had a building fall on him and he had knives in hidden pockets all over his body. I figured there'd be resolution for sure. Except that Mat's not in The Path of Daggers. At all. He's mentioned. There's a sort of vague feeling that he's hurt but will be OK but that's it. That's what makes this one one of the least satisfying of the series.

Other stuff does happen. Another Forsaken falls. People move toward where they need to be for the end game. It's like the mid-game and the pieces are just moving into place.

Red Robin: Collision

Part of the reason that I picked up Red Robin was that I had also enjoyed the new Batgirl. In Collision Tim returns home to Gotham and meets some of those he left behind. Having teamed with Ra's al Ghul, it's not always pleasant.

I don't know if I enjoy Red Robin enough to start collecting the monthly titles, but I will continue to look for the graphic novels.

Red Robin: The Grail

I was hesitant in picking up Red Robin because, although I enjoyed Tim's character when he was first Robin, it seemed like a failed concept. Tim became Red Robin because Dick's Batman wanted Damian as his Robin? And Tim was the only one convinced that Bruce was still alive? I was hoping Tim was wrong. I like that Dick has become Batman. However, some of the events of Batman's return got me curious enough to pick up The Grail and I'm glad I did.

Tim's grown as a character since I last read him. He's almost an adult and he's got Bruce's drive, I think Dick was right, he wouldn't have been a good Robin for him. He's too much his own person to be a sidekick anymore.