Kubo, Tite. Bleach / [story and art by Tite Kubo ; English adaptation, Lance Caselman ; translation, Joe Yamazaki]. San Francisco, CA : Viz, 2004-
Bleach is a classic manga that started its serialization in 2001 and lasted 15 years. It follows Ichigo Kurosaki, a 15-year-old high school student who can see ghosts. Ichigo’s introduction gives us everything we need to know about him. Introduced while beating up 4 delinquents who knocked over a vase of flowers marking the spot of where a young girl died. His bright orange hair, permanent scowl, and overly expressive gestures paired with his sincere beliefs on respecting shrines build a character with clear landmarks in a matter of seconds. Ichigo is always willing to throw down to protect those who can’t protect themselves and willing to risk life and limb to protect the sanctity of lost life.
That night, a Soul Reaper clad in a black kimono named Rukia Kuchiki comes through the wall of Ichigo’s bedroom. She was tracking a Hollow, masked horrors that serve as the series’ first threat for our heroes. However, as she entered, Rukia loses all trace of her target’s spiritual pressure. Thinking she can’t be seen or heard, she begins planning her next move out loud only to be rudely interrupted by Ichigo. Rukia states that she is from the Soul Society and there to vanquish an evil spirit. Not falling for any nonsense uttered by a ghost, Ichigo doesn’t believe it for a second and starts to usher Rukia out. Annoyed, Rukia places a binding spell on Ichigo making him fall to the ground: immovable. Now that her audience has no choice, Rukia continues with her explanation laying out the role Soul Reapers play in helping good spirits pass on and the cleansing of bad spirits (Hollows). All illustrated with poorly drawn rabbits in marker. Rukia’s forced lesson is cut short by a blood curdling shriek from a Hollow; but something is wrong. It’s far too close for Rukia to not have noticed until.
Still bound by Rukia’s spell, Ichigo tries to force his way out of the spell, his 2 sisters and his dad were in harm’s way. Rukia tells Ichigo that humans can’t break a Kidô spell so easily, but to her absolute shock, Ichigo breaks free and finds his father and one of his sisters, unconscious and wounded. He runs downstairs to find his other sister, Yuzu, in the clutches of a 2-story tall Hollow. In a desperate attempt to free her, Ichigo grabs a bat and springs headlong into the monstrous spirit, only to be knocked away like a fly. As the Hollow swings again on Ichigo, his sister still in hand, Rukia cuts the Hollow’s arm, forcing it to drop Yuzu in to Ichigo’s arms. Rukia warns him that the Hollow’s target is most likely him; since entering Ichigo’s room her sense of spiritual pressure while being around him has been clouded. A fact reinforced by her letting her guard down with a very much alive Hollow behind her poised to strike. She is struck, hitting a wall, battered and bruised. Ichigo stands up and provokes the Hollow, if he was its target then fine, at least he’ll protect the others. Rukia, knowing full well that the Hollow would not stop after eating Ichigo, jumps in and is critically bitten by the Hollow. It’s teeth as large as her forearm sinking deep. In a last-ditch effort to save the situation Rukia offers Ichigo a brutal decision: become a Soul Reaper in her place and gain the power to protect everyone or let the Hollow run rampant and consume all he loves. Without hesitation Ichigo chooses the former and becomes a substitute Soul Reaper, for the first of many times.
Tite Kubo, the series’ author, weaves gripping action, touching emotional beats, and slapstick humor into his most well-known series. His world building from the start has stuck with me from the first time I saw the anime adaption to every time I return to his world of Soul Reapers. For anyone who loves classic manga or newbies to the genre. ACPL has the first 23 volumes and physical or digital movie options on the Hoopla app.
Ian A. is a Library Assistant at North Park Library.
