BLEACH: THE DEATHBERRY RETURNS (VOLUME 18)
June 10th 2011 22:39
Category: Manga
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Story & Art by: Tite Kubo
English Adaptation: Lance Caselman
Translation: Joe Yamazaki
Touch up Art & Lettering: Andy Ristaino
Design: Sean Lee
Cost: AU$12.95/US$7.95
Amazingly I received this particular volume, along with two others, from a friend who picked them up on sale at his local Boarders which was surprising as I never expected a book store to stock quality manga before. So let me thank my good friend Bill for providing the eternal emerald gaze of the Lantern some good gear to peruse and bring to you the larger audience out there in the World Wide Web. If you have glanced over my previous efforts at reviewing the epic manga saga that is Bleach then you’ll know what I men when I say things are hotting up in the Seireitei…literally. If this is the first time you’ve read something about Bleach then perhaps a rundown is in order.
Essentially Ichigo Kurosaki, the spiky orange hair primary protagonist of this series, has invaded the home of the Soul Reapers, the Seireitei, an exclusive region of the Soul Society in order to rescue his friend and Soul Reaper; Rukia Kuchiki. Aided by his school friends, Orihime Inoue, Chad Yasutora, Uryu Ishida along with the shape shifter Yourichi Shihoin as well as new friends Ganju Shiba and Hanataro Yamada the group has faced numerous trials and travails and now they stand at the threshold of achieving their objective…can they pull it off though? Can they rescue Rukia and bring her back to the world of the living from under the noses of the most powerful members of the Seireitei…
So at last the day of the execution has arrived, Rukia has been lead like a sacrificial lamb to the ‘altar’ of the Sokyoku Hill, to be executed for her ‘crimes’. Actually the whole affair has the look of a penitent being sacrificed to the gods of ‘law’ and ‘order’ so that the universe may continue to exist in harmony, but there are others who are set on trashing this little ceremony as well as Ichigo, unsuspected allies who are no less sincere in their feelings for rescuing Rukia. But as the day dawns and the ceremony commences it seems on this clearest and brightest of days things are going according to plan, the Sokyoku itself is unleashed and its true form revealed as a giant phoenix blazing with the flames of righteousness.
It’s a spectacular moment when the Sokyoku is unleashed and you just get the sense that there is no level to the limits of carnage that this thing can cause; after all it’s said to have the destructive capability of at least a million zanpakuto. But is it enough when confronted by the resolve of Ichigo, by his relentless drive? It’s almost like the immovable object faced with an unstoppable force – which would prevail? Just as the Sokyoku strikes it finds itself having to work it this dilemma on a rather personal, up close scale. Its fierce beak blocked from piercing the flesh of its victim by the blade of Zangetsu, Ichigo’s trusty zanpakuto. The immovable object has blocked the seemingly unstoppable force and naturally everyone witnessing this is slightly gobsmacked…
This the moment that everyone has been waiting for, consciously or unconsciously as the captains and their subordinates all chose sides in this struggle to save Rukia. Junshiro Ukitake, Rukia’s superior isn’t going to let her day nor are his two assistants, his good friend Shunsui Kyoraku isn’t going to bail on his friend and is only to ready to help him especially as they both suspect that they’re going to have to face off against the head captain of the Thirteen Court Guard Companies, Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto. With the appearance of an old man Head Captain Yamamoto is like the Sokyoku, an elemental force who is relentless in pursuing his chosen course of action in this case punishing those he perceives have betrayed the existing order.
And of course there is also Byakuya Kuchiki; captain of Sixth Company and Rukia’s adopted brother. Serenely he watches events unfold until the moment comes when like a bolt from the blue he pounces upon Ichigo, looking to put an end to this ‘upstart’ ryoka and his efforts. Throw in the sudden appearance of Yoruichi to counter the efforts of Soi Fon from executing Captain Ukitake’s assistants and things are set for a literal fight fest extravaganza. Who will prevail in this sudden and somewhat miraculous rescue attempt? Hard to say as it all appears to be evenly matched and balanced on a knife blade… Bleach manga volume 18; The Deathberry Returns is well worth tracking down and getting your hands on. Scatter…Senbonzakura Kageyoshi…
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