I have no idea how this is possible, but when Kubo stopped the fighting, wrapped up the Aizen plot (FOR NOW!), and basically had Ichigo start over from scratch...Bleach became enjoyable again.
I don't really know why that is. Maybe Kubo actually got really bored with Aizen a long time ago but he had no idea how to end the plot, so he just kept throwing a bunch of crap on his storyboard. Maybe he couldn't keep refusing to believe that the Fake Karakura Town arc was godawful. Maybe he saw Oda taking One Piece through a timeskip and decided to follow his example like a blind sheep. Maybe he just wanted a chance to introduce a shitload of new characters and realized he couldn't do that while his half hour-long battle remained in print for over two years.
But whatever the reason for the change-up, Bleach is fun again. Sure, the time skip design changes are some of the laziest I have EVER seen (and quite a few characters look way worse than they used to - Tatsuki can't rock the long hair, lemme tell ya), but for the first time in a long, long while, Ichigo is the protagonist that readers idolized when the manga began nearly ten years ago: a rude, sarcastic, and yet overall good-hearted punk. He's even beating the crap out of random street thugs again! We can only hope Rukia returns soon so their old back-and-forth can make a comeback. For now I guess the obvious milf fan-service provider will have to fill Rukia's role.
Anyway I think I'll let this panel from the latest chapter speak for itself. The character's motivations haven't been revealed yet, but it's been heavily implied that he knows of Ichigo's connection to Soul Society. I want you to try to do what this guy is doing: offer somebody ramen in the most threatening manner possible. It doesn't even work as a slasher one-liner! Like you know how Freddy Krueger could say like "You need more iron in your diet," and have his victim be burned to death on an ironing board? Doesn't work with ramen. Ramen could very well be the least-threatening food in the universe, right up there with rainbow-colored sprinkles and Hostess Fruit Pies. And yet this guy is so obviously TRYING to look intimidating while actually offering Ichigo a steaming bowl of noodles he probably spent five minutes boiling JUST so he could have an excuse to pay him a visit.
And that is why this panel is the best manga panel I have seen in a long time.
This is a great...article, I think?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I'm looking forward to reading more Bleach now, because I've long since put down Bleach after the Arrancars were introduced.
i wonder if hes a friend or foe...
ReplyDelete"This is an eel shop."
ReplyDeleteI had some good laughs this chapter, and after the timeskip overall. SO Kudo's to Kubo.
ReplyDeleteWell,I'm glad that your still around.
ReplyDelete''I don't really know why that is.''
Could it be because they are actually speaking in full sentiences? Because they aren't comparing how long their swords are? Because they are showing some sort of personality?
Or it could be due to the lack of LOLKubo and LOLAizen factor.
''Maybe Kubo actually got really bored with Aizen a long time ago but he had no idea how to end the plot, so he just kept throwing a bunch of crap on his storyboard.''
Fun trivia: Kubo said in his second data book that he was going to end the Arrancar Arc in mid-july this year. Instead it finished in October.
As you've correctly guessed, Kubo doesn't plan ahead. He even said he didn't decided who was going to be the 3rd Espada until the captains arrived in HM.
''Maybe he couldn't keep refusing to believe that the Fake Karakura Town arc was godawful.''
I hope you're sitting down when you read this.
Officially, going from chapter 182 (Volume 21) to chapter 423 (Volume 48) is all the Arrancar Arc.
Yes, it was even advertised as so in the WSJ. Chapter 423, end of the Arrancar Arc.
This just goes to show how horribly paced this arc has been.
''Maybe he saw Oda taking One Piece through a timeskip and decided to follow his example like a blind sheep.''
Oh come now. We all know Kubo is a crap writer, but let's not make things up. Time skips have been a staple of storytelling since ye old days. He did not copy Oda, otherwise we need to say that Oda copied Kishimoto.
''Maybe he just wanted a chance to introduce a shitload of new characters''
If he wanted to, he could've. And going by what I read in MASKED, we are going to get a whole lot more characters after this short arc ends and the long one begins.
''The character's motivations haven't been revealed yet, but it's been heavily implied that he knows of Ichigo's connection to Soul Society.''
Considering the guy has an exact copy of Ichigo's Shingami badge, and the arc is titled ''The Missing Substitute Shingami'' this goes beyond heavily implied.
''I want you to try to do what this guy is doing: offer somebody ramen in the most threatening manner possible.''
Well, that's another way to look at it. I'd liked to think that he bought it after he offered him to eat with him, and just ran all around town trying to find him.
But the joke is actually divided in two parts, he is coming in, in a very serious manner similar to those hard boil commercials where the guy would present what's advertised in a very serious way.
On Ichigo's part, he is making an obvious pun with the name of the shop, all the while blowing off the guy because it's considered rude to bring a different dish into a specialty restaurant (You don't bring a ramen dish in an eel shop, you eat eel there. You go to a ramen restaurant to eat ramen).
It's done very Tongue-in-cheek way, so yeah, don't give it more thought than it needs.
that all being said, this had to be the most awesome panel in Bleach. I can't wait to see all the parody pictures.
Chapter was very good. All the chapters thus far in this arc were good. I wonder how Kubo will screw it up?
By the way Y, are going to do a mini/text review of the Koe de Oshigoto! episode 1 one the subs come out (the episode is already here)? I'd love to hear your opinion on it.
ReplyDelete"Want some ramen?" lol. Hey Nick (Or Y Ruler of Time, I don't know which you prefer to be addressed as) I was curious if you know anything about a manga series from 1983 (but it was published in the US in 1989) called "Fist of The North Star"? Sorry to ask you this in a comment but I couldn't find an email address to contact you.
ReplyDeleteDude idk what you're talking about Tatsuki looks fine. And secondly, I don't WANT Rukia back. I don't want ANY of the Shinigami back (except Maybe Kenpachi because he's the only worthwhile one). I want it to all be the damn Karakura 4 Rockin' it again. The Shinigami had 9 YEARS of flippin' fame and fan pandering and I hated it. He constantly focused on the fucking Lieutenants and HITSASUKEGAYA and never actually focused on the characters that needed focusing on or reveal things people actually want revealed. I hated everything about the Shinigami after the Soul Society arc because all the filler and stupid fangirls just ruined them for me with their insipid theories and stupid shipping wars and what not (Now I'd usually ignore that but since I RP on Livejournal I have to deal with NOBODY BEING IN CHARACTER 95% OF THE TIME and oh god Bleachness don't even get me started on them).
ReplyDeleteI AM GLAD RUKIA IS GONE. I know she'll inevitably come back because she is FAVORITE-CHAN DESU but until she does I am going to enjoy Orihime and her continually amusing crush while Ichigo flips around with the new Mysterious Allies. Which as of this point are not mysterious anymore.
Besides even if Rukia doesn't come back, Spiritually Aware!Karen will fill in her bicker with Ichigo and smack him role well enough. So win-win for everybody. Those that want a Loli Tsundere, and those that don't want a Loli Tsundere but enjoy SIBLING-like banter.
I'm sorry but Oda's "Nipple Lights!"
ReplyDeleteWill remain my favorite, possibly forever.