Bleach Volume 43: Kingdom of Hollows

More posturing; still no Ichigo.  The biggest gun is out for Ichigo to come save everyone though.  At least he seems to be falling out of the sky to do just that.

Bleach Volume 42: Shock of the Queen

I keep reading Bleach hoping for resolution.  I keep getting fight scenes.  The big guns are coming in, this might be coming to a close soon.

Bleach Volume 41: Heart

I know I just complained that Bleach was one long fight scene.  But holy cow was this a cool fight scene!

And then back to the battle over Karakura Town.  sigh

Bleach Volume 40: The Lust

I keep waiting and waiting for something other than a major battle to happen in this series.  Maybe I'm reading the wrong series.  Things happen in Naruto though.  Not so much in Bleach.  I was rewarded with the return of Ichigo this issue though.  Orihime seems to be going through something.  I do want to see where she ends up.

Bleach Volume 39: El Verdugo

I'm seriously considering dropping Bleach.  I read it because I found Ichigo to be an interesting character.  He hasn't really been in it for pages and pages.  It's one long fight after another interspersed with the leveling up techniques.  I expect more.

Bleach Volume 38: Fear for Fight

I had a brief moment of hope with the last volume that Ichigo may be returning to the manga. Alas, it was brief. This volume was more battle between the Captains and Aizen's minions. I get that they're all really powerful, but each issue seems to be trying to one up the last with how over the top it can get. I want to see Ichigo rescue Orihime!

Bleach Volume 37: Beauty is so Solitary

So I've been complaining that the story has focused more on the Soul Society of late than it has on Ichigo.  This volume finishes up the back story (which does answer a few questions and even got me interested for a moment) and then heads back to the present.

Yay!  Ichigo is on his way to rescue Orihime!  And she's being all brave waiting for him!  And he's getting help from his friends!  And then it's back to what the Soul Society is doing against Aizen.  Sigh.

Bleach Volume 36: Turn Back the Pendulum

This is supposed to be a flashback to explain what's currently happening with Ichigo and co.  I don't see it.  I guess it sort of shows why Aizen is evil, and how he brought Gin in.  Seeing Urahara as a Soul Reaper is kind of interesting but I miss Ichigo.

Bleach Volume 35: Higher Than Noon

I really liked the character design on Nnoitora. He was truly creepy. This one feels like it breaks the mold a little by having actual flashbacks to something important in the villian's history to explain his reaction. Kubo has done that with Ichigo before but I can't recall moving away from a fight to do character stuff before.

The ante is upped. Ichigo can save his hometown or his can save Orihime. I won't be surprised if he chooses Orihime.

Bleach Volume 34: King of the Kill

Hey look!  Nel prevails and then an even bigger threat shows up.  It's becoming a bit predictable.  Thank goodness the big guns from the Soul Society decide to show up too.  I wonder how Ichigo will top them all.

Bleach Volume 33:The Bad Joke

Hmmm... I would've never guessed that Nel was a scantily clad warrior goddess.

Bleach 32 Howling

Looks like Ichico's training made a difference and he was able to defeat the Arancar that had defeated him previously.  Of course, that's not good enough when the next even tougher guy shows up.

Bleach 31: Don't Kill My Volupture

Hey!  A big fight scene.  That's surprising.  Or not, it's that point in the story.  And they're getting their asses handed to them until something bigger can step in and help them.  Also not surprising.

Bleach Volume 30: There is no Heart Without You

Surprisingly, Orihime has a plan.  I wasn't really expecting that.  Chad made it through, as expected, though it didn't look good for him.  It looks worse for Rukia.

Bleach Volume 29: The Slashing Opera

Big fight... Check.  Everybody needs to check out their new more powerful abilities...  Check.  I think Chad's still in trouble.

Bleach Volume 28: Baron's Lecture Full-Course

Oh well, the brief moment of character development in the last volume is over and it's back to the big fight scenes.  At least setting up for the big fight scenes.  First all the characters have to be in position with a little bit of exposition so that everyone knows what's going on.

Bleach Volume 27: Goodbye Halcyon Days

Wow!  Bleach actually made time for a meaningful moment.  Orihime totally declared her love to Ichigo and nearly kissed him.  It's not something I'm used to from Kubo but it was much appreciated.  Of course, Ichigo was unconscious at the time so things will continue on as normal, especially since he's a typical gormless male.  Sure, there was still the fantastic fight scenes in this volume but I think some of the best art was in Orihime's good bye.

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.

Bleach Volume 24: Immanent God Blues

I think Kubo may be growing as a writer. He's adding character development to his stories. This is two in a row where the characters are giving reasons for their actions, rather than just earning another level in their kick assedness.