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The history of Bleach 4 out of 5 stars.
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Tite Kubo's "Bleach" series spans dozens of volumes and multiple arcs, and it's still not finished in Japan.
So "Bleach SOULs: Official Character Book" is a convenient little handbook for the first twentysomething volumes of the series, covering the large cast of important characters, the settings, the concepts, and a wealth of fun trivia (Uryu Ishida's nickname is the "Four Eyed Sewing Machine"). Think of it as a sort of Cliff's Notes for the "Bleach" series.
First, we get a bunch of coloured pictures, ranging from Kon and Ichigo celebrating Christmas to a wild-eyed Ichigo about to unleash his bankai. Then we get into the serious stuff -- a truncated summary of each part of the storyline, divided into a bunch of little articles. He starts at the very first "Bleach" chapter, and follows the storyline up through the introduction of the arrancar.
And very time a character is introduced, we get a basic profile with some funny little asides ("Rukia's illustrations are kitschy and chic. She's good and bad?!"). And though most of the individual stories are not described, Kubo keeps in important character development (Chad's vow with Ichigo, Ichigo's guilt over his mother's death) and plot elements (the potential destruction caused by the Quincies). He even adds some details that could not be easily included in the story (such as Byakuya's ridiculously expensive scarf, and why he throws it at Renji).
But that's not all -- he provides detailed information abouyt Karakura town and its important locales (even ones we never see, like "Sunflower Sewing"), as well as the Soul Society's structure, hierarchy, and the reincarnation cycle for souls who end up there. There's also a chronological timeline, title chapter translations, manga panels and pages when illustration is needed, and Kubo and Ichigo's Japanese voice actor Masakazu Morita give a fun little interview.
Since much of this info is contained in the series, Kubo also sprinkles it with odd bits of trivia, such as Hitsugaya mentoring genial gatekeeper Jidanbo. And there's a fun conpendium near the end, with all sorts of wacky terms (for example, "Kurosaki Family Tombstone Domino Tournament." Apparently it makes the local priest crazy).
Aaaaaaannddddd... that's still not all.
Kubo also includes two backstory chapters. One has an ordinary day for Ichigo before the events of the series (crazy pals, sad ghosts, memory lapses). The other is sort of an earlier draft -- Ichigo is a little more laid-back (he gives bus tickets to the Soul Society!), the Hollows aren't quite as ghastly, and one of the main characters actually dies for real.
Additionally, Kubo includes some deliciously wacky little short comic strips, such as the "Bleach" cast posing as pirates, Byakuya doing a demonstration on cell phones, or Ichigo being nagged into wearing a Santa costume during the holidays. Even crazy scientist Mayuri gets in on the action ("All that's important is how funny you are once I stab you!" "He's talked about stabbing twice. Is that all right?!").
In short, the "Bleach SOULs. Official Character Book" is kind of like a manga cliff's notes -- good for investigating the series, summarizing the complex storylines, or just refreshing your memory. And the extras make it worth the read, even if you already know it all.
Editorial Review:
Get the inside scoop on Bleach! This profile books contains extensive information on the characters and story lines from Bleach vols. 1-22. It also includes exclusive stickers, a poster, bonus manga, the original Bleach one shot, and an interview with Tite Kubo! Come explore the world of Bleach!Get the inside scoop on Bleach! This profile books contains extensive information on the characters and story lines from Bleach vols. 1-22. It also includes exclusive stickers, a poster, bonus manga, the original Bleach one shot, and an interview with Tite Kubo! Come explore the world of Bleach!
Ichigo Kurosaki never asked for the ability to see ghosts--he was born with the gift. When his family is attacked by a Hollow--a malevolent lost soul--Ichigo becomes a Soul Reaper, dedicating his life to protecting the innocent and helping the tortured spirits themselves find peace. Find out why Tite Kubo's Bleach has become an international manga smash-hit!
