BLEACH: QUINCY ARCHER HATES YOU (MANGA VOL 4)
January 25th 2010 18:35
Category: Graphic Novels/Comics
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Story & Art by: Tite Kubo
English Adaptation: Lance Caselman
Translation: Joe Yamazaki
Touch up Art & Lettering: Dave Lanphear
Design: Sean Lee
Cost: AU$13.95/US$7.95
Through reading this particular volume of the popular Bleach series I have managed to learn where the heck in Japan Karakura Town, home to the manga’s primary protagonist and his compatriots, is located. Apparently it’s a part of the Greater Tokyo region, a suburb of that thriving bustling metropolis as it were. The only reason why this gets a mention is that the particular fact is actually mentioned by one of the characters within this story, which revolves very much around possibly one of the most fearful and frightening creations of the modern era. No I’m not talking about the Macarena, Line Dancing or even Rouge Traders, they frankly are small fry in comparison to what I’m really talking about which is reality TV to use the buzz term that makes the rounds.
Actually considering the ridiculous propensity of reality TV on the idiot box in this emerging era of mass media I am surprised that there has not been a show like the one mentioned in this particular volume actually on peoples screens. Or maybe there possibly is and I’ve been fortunately living in a region of the world that has been isolated from having to endure such an experience. Spontaneous Trips is the name of this particular show and it involves is star, Don Kanonji, the number one premier spiritualist and Hells Messenger, going to various locations around the country and dealing with malignant spirits or Mean Spirit as he is fond of saying.
Still despite being a very strange character Don Kanonji is a quintessential showman and that is precisely what his show is all about; more than anything. His show captures 25% of the national ratings which as he so succinctly points out means that 1 in 4 Japanese people watch the show whilst it’s on the television. Frightening prospect indeed, even more so as it seems that most of these viewers are predominantly young teenage girls. Naturally that means that within Ichigo’s own family as well as his school there are bound to be a few fans of Spontaneous Trips, if not an entire cadre of them. It gets particularly weird when Rukia begins to think that the whole thing is truly an interesting spectacle to be enjoyed. What she doesn’t seem to realise is that even though he may not be a soul reaper or spiritually powerful Don Kanonji in the way of so many ‘civic’ minded individuals is capable of causing a great deal of chaos and harm.
Now in the Bleach universe there are essentially two major classifications of spirits, wholes and hollows. Hollows are usually malignant spirits who have a truly monstrous guise and a large hole in their chest region where their heart once existed. In all cases a hollow is often a whole that was either turned into a hollow via negative emotions, outside influence or was attacked and transformed by a hollow. In this particular tale we get to see how the maxim, the road to hell is paved with good intentions can transform a spirit into a hollow. The focus for Spontaneous Trips Karakura extravaganza is an abandoned hospital, which coincidentally does happen to be home to the spirit of a son of the hospital’s former owner. Bound to the place by chains forged by his own negative emotions he is a rather unpleasant entity and gives off some serious bad vibes, still he has not become a hollow. But he is on his way…
A hole is beginning to form in the spirits chest, if its left to its own devices it will go hollow in about six or more months. Assuming of course no one actually goes ahead and pokes the spirit in that region of its being and makes the actual hole occur…no one would be stupid enough to do that would they? Ah the joys of plot contrivance, the world’s number one premier spiritualist may have great ratings but he has the intelligence and knowledge of a colour blind parakeet, something that is swiftly apparent. Only the intervention of Ichigo with the assistance of Mr Hat and Clogs manages to save the whole thing from becoming carnage city. After reading this volume I can safely say I am really getting into the whole Bleach phenomena, it’s a great story and one that I just can’t seem to get enough of, I have to say I enjoy it as much as I do Naruto. It’s all about the story; Bleach has a compelling story and equally compelling and enjoyable characters. Sad to say but I think this aspect, along with monetary considerations are going to see continued Japanese influence of the comic scene for quite some time.
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