So Bleach. Or as we fans like to call it; Blah, Plotkai, The Troller's Guide to the Fandom, Rinse.
Story:
Well, it's really great. Too bad the same things happen 17 times with different characters. Or alternatively with the same characters who have new hairstyles or costumes. If "The Bold and The Beautiful" were an anime/manga, its name would be Bleach.
Characters:
Yes, there are a lot of them. Really great ones, like Inoue Orihime. Let's just say if Yagami Light knew her, her name would be written down really quickly.
Art:
In the beginning, there was some semblance of art. It was messy, and readers didn't always understand what was happening. So, it got fixed and turned into "lines." No ink is wasted anymore. You can really see how white those manga pages are before they are filled with things... and after that too.
Enjoyment:
Oh yes. If you see a guy who isn't moving anywhere but spinning in place and says he is going home—that's quality entertainment. How about Bleach? Well, it's like that guy, but all he does is say he is going home. After many years, it gets a little annoying.
My score was 10 for a long time after the start. After that, it has kept coming down little by little, just like the story has improved. It's now a 3. I'm looking forward to the future. :)
Bleach is a unique series to review, not just because of its length, but due to how encapsulated each story arc is. The quality varies significantly from one arc to the next, almost like different books in a series of novels.
Let me give you a brief overview, and if you're interested, you can read the more detailed version below.
Story: The story began weakly and episodically in the first section. The second section was decent and introduced some intriguing elements. However, the third section couldn't maintain the momentum, and the main plot line fell apart by the end. Since then, the author introduced new antagonists seemingly unrelated to previous events, indicating that the series has overstayed its welcome.
Art: The art started very weak but steadily improved, reaching a solid level by chapter 300. It has continued to improve since then.
Character: Bleach features many interesting characters, though the main character sometimes falls flat. Few characters are genuinely unlikable, and the author usually provides insight into the antagonists' motivations, except for the main villains, where this is most crucial.
Enjoyment: There are many exciting fight scenes, especially if you enjoy that genre, and light-hearted comedy sprinkled throughout. Until near the end, it's generally a fun manga to read.
Overall: Initially enjoyable, Bleach never fully realized its potential.
To understand why Bleach was popular for a while but now receives much criticism, let's go through my experience reading it.
Spoilers ahead. This will be long, given the manga's 500+ chapters.
-ARC 1 - THE HIGH SCHOOL KIDS DEMON HUNTING MANGA-
I started reading Bleach about five years ago and dropped it after chapter 10, only returning over a year later. The art was laughably bad initially, akin to the early chapters of Shingeki no Kyojin but without the superior plot and characters. It was a poorly drawn manga about a boy who could see spirits and met a spirit-girl who gave him superpowers. The story was lighthearted and good fun until the spirit girl got kidnapped, leaving the main character at death's door.
The first arc is a lighthearted ghost-hunting mystery with vague hints of something bigger. The ending pulls you in because you grow fond of Rukia, making you curious about her fate.
This leads us to the second part, which most fans consider "the good part."
-ARC 2 - THE SHONEN ACTION MANGA-
In the second arc, the main character powers up to rescue his spirit girlfriend, following standard shonen action hero steps. He fights increasingly powerful opponents, trains, rallies his resolve, and eventually wins against an implacably powerful foe. After saving the girl, a twist occurs: a villain stabs the main character, setting up the next arc.
This arc is classic shonen action, advancing through unique battles and power-ups. The art improves significantly, and colorful characters are introduced, fleshing out the world's cosmology.
The murder mystery plot seemed promising, with potential for future developments. If the series had ended here, Bleach would have been a decent entry in the shonen genre, spawning a neat anime and inspiring fanfiction forever.
Unfortunately, they didn't stop there.
-ARC 3 - THAT LAST ARC SOLD REALLY WELL SO LET'S DO IT AGAIN... ONLY THIS TIME MAKE THE ENEMIES SCARIER-
In the third arc, former antagonists join the main character, and the villain recruits vicious monsters. The story retreads the previous arc, with the main character losing fights, training, and powering up. A female character gets kidnapped, leading to another rescue mission.
Problems arise when they find the kidnapped girl. Time is spent showing her psychological abuse and developing Stockholm syndrome for her captor. The demon henchman becomes too powerful and unbeatable, overshadowing the main villain. When the main character finally defeats this demon, the story should end, but it doesn't; he must face the main villain next.
The main villain is portrayed as even more powerful, leading to ridiculous power-ups and transformations. Most original characters fade into the background, and the villain's lack of characterization makes readers lose interest. Eventually, the main character uses an alternate dimension for rapid training, yet still can't kill the villain, only imprison him, losing all his powers in the process.
Where can the story go from here? Using a villain so powerful that he can't be killed leaves little room for progression. Despite this, the artwork looks solid, and Bleach continues to make money.
So, they continue the series.
Currently, they're nearing the end of the fourth and allegedly final arc, which follows the same pattern with even more ridiculously overpowered villains. The frustration comes from the hype built for the third arc's climax, which ultimately disappointed. The second arc set up an epic battle, but it took 200 chapters to get there and felt like a lot of nonsense. Many hints were dropped but either dropped or picked up awkwardly.
**DISCLAIMER FOR THE REVIEW**
While I have numerous things to say about Bleach, both positive and negative, this review will focus on specific topics and aim to highlight its strengths and weaknesses. By this, I mean I'm reviewing Bleach as a 'battle shonen', not necessarily as a work of fiction. Therefore, I won't be criticizing every aspect I personally find flawed. In this review, I will touch on my major criticisms but also praise some elements that are often forgotten or underappreciated. This will be a generally positive review because my latest read of Bleach was quite enjoyable, and I believe it deserves a proper defense.
In the present year, many people often misunderstand the Big Three Shonen. This term refers exclusively to One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach. These three series hold this prestigious honor due to their influence in popularizing anime and manga in Western cultures. People commonly fabricate arguments surrounding replacements and reinventions of the series in the Big Three. Some believe Dragon Ball Z should be included, despite airing well before them. Others feel the need to create a new Big Three with modern titles, even though two of the original series are still ongoing. There's also the ludicrous conspiracy of a "Big Four" with an additional slot for Fairy Tail. The most common group, however, believes a certain series in the Big Three shouldn't be there because they didn't like it, with Bleach being the frequent target.
Many factors contribute to the shonen community's disengagement with Bleach. Fans' frustration while reading Bleach (especially during serialization) is understandable and justifiable. Bleach tends to toy with the audience by distorting their perception of reality in the manga. This can sometimes be clever with certain Bankai, but other times it feels dull, recycled, and unflattering. For most of the series, the value of an ability comes from its reveal in battle, which can be patience-testing in such a long-running series. Comedy is often haphazardly thrown into scenes, even pivotal ones. Enemies frequently explain their abilities to their opponent before attacking, essentially telling them how to beat them. Kubo often neglects a "show, don't tell" approach due to the lack of backgrounds. The absence of landscapes also highlights another common occurrence: characters frequently appearing out of nowhere. This happens too frequently and is never considered when tallying plot holes, as the community seems to have accepted it. The list goes on.
When I look at Bleach, I try not to focus on "right" or "wrong," because I tend to contradict myself. While I think the battles playing out like Death Note scenarios are silly, I also find the overall nature of Bleach to be awesome. The series does the bare minimum to set up the world, characters, and plot, yet it's loaded with blood-pumping power battles and fights. Bleach doesn't inherit the tournament arc cliché, but the whole manga feels like a never-ending test of power. As a long-running shonen competing with Naruto and One Piece in terms of length, popularity, and lack of hiatuses, Bleach is easily the most unique one. The protagonist, Ichigo, does not strive to become the greatest like Luffy or Naruto. There was no endgame set in stone. People who think it should have ended after the Soul Society arc or the Hueco Mundo arc would be limiting Bleach from its full potential. While I don't think Bleach executed all its ideas properly, I don't find a single arc to be out of place. I think the final arc, spanning almost half of the entire manga's length, is completely necessary. It provided worthwhile answers from day-one questions in a digestible way, even if there was little foreshadowing. Characters redeemed themselves and were mostly utilized for development rather than plot devices. I can even defend some of the most overhated characters, such as Orihime, with this arc. The final fight itself is one of the most unique in battle shonen that I've seen. I believe it will inspire the ending of something like Jujutsu Kaisen. The return of the anime is also a great opportunity to utilize the potential of this arc. I’m not using this arc as a crutch for the whole series; I believe the Soul Society Invasion arc made Bleach what it is today and solidified it in the shonen community. The argument that Bleach dips in quality after this arc has some truth, but the lows are exaggerated. The minor fights aren’t memorable, and the major fights not involving Ichigo aren’t compelling, but the main event bouts are some of the most iconic in battle shonen. The Lost Substitute Arc is an underwhelming conclusion to the anime, not the manga. It’s a necessary buildup for the final arc and enjoyable at that.
The art is another complaint by fans. Bleach's art progresses before your eyes when reading it and isn’t an eyesore. In early chapters, the art is amateurish but develops into something unreplicable. Backgrounds are sacrificed to focus on drawing characters and their emotions, giving the manga an intimate feel during battles, something the anime lacks.
Bleach rarely copies from other shonen. The manga has its own identity and style, working best when sung to its tune. It accepts its own strengths and flaws, bursting out unique ideas and a sense of style in the process. Even though I would have wanted the series to play to its strengths more, Bleach is still a good battle shonen manga. It piques your curiosity and holds your attention while dishing out awesome fights, high-intensity action, and badass characters. After all, it is one of the big three.
To start off with Bleach, I think it's a good manga in the beginning; it had a lot of potential and was doing a great job, in my opinion, at the start. I initially watched it on Toonami when it aired late on Adult Swim, which motivated me to get into the manga.
In my view, if it had ended after the Hueco Mundo arc, it could have concluded on a much better note. From the beginning up until the end of the Hueco Mundo arc, everything seemed to align well. Although the artwork was somewhat disorganized at times, the story still felt fresh and original. There is a scene where the protagonist experiences a significant power-up, but it's disappointing to see that it was somewhat borrowed from another manga.
The originality steadily decreased as the series progressed. They could have stopped at a certain point, leaving it on a bittersweet yet satisfying note, but the push to continue made it feel dragged out. In my opinion, the worst part was the ending. It just didn't flow right. I apologize if this review sounds pessimistic, but as a reader, I felt I deserved something better, especially since the earlier arcs were fantastic. If they had ended it at a point where it felt perfect, this review would likely be praising it instead.
A treatise on strength and its two fountains, courage and power.
A person's resolve to break the millstone of fate.
An artistic depiction of various aspects of power, both directed and creative.
A recognition of solitude wrapped in sorrow, upheld by words.
An unbroken flair amidst a variety of distinct character designs and fighting abilities.
A stark portrayal of the soul within the blade.
My #1 favorite manga as of writing this review. Give me another shounen manga with the same level of artistry and attention to how power is conceived... BLEACH is truly great. Don't dismiss it as just another trope-filled shounen filled with flat characters limited to one-liners, repetitive battles, and countless fights with minimal constructive dialogue. If you can look past all that, change your perspective and realize that Bleach is something different—an exploration of sorts. Tite Kubo uses this series to show us the potential residing within life energy, reiatsu in this case, through characters who serve as vessels for such power to varying degrees and combinations. Ichigo is the centerpiece, but the many character dynamics contribute to a spiraling wheel of Fate, or millstone as Kubo called it. The anime is best enjoyed after reading the manga so you can appreciate it as a moving, sound-backed representation of the source material.
However, even then, the anime falls short of realizing Kubo's vision, which is fully captured in black and white. Even with just those two shades, there is an ineffable quality that resonates within the created shadows and parameters of light. The general human design is also quite clear-cut, more so than in works by Kishimoto, Togashi, or Oda. What I call "focus"—the mangaka's ability to present certain parts of characters or moments of movement with truncated panels—is a significant component of what makes Bleach a strong manga. It leverages the medium's capabilities in a way that cannot be surpassed by any other format. For example, look at Hunter x Hunter, which was somewhat diminished by the 2011 anime adaptation, or Boku no Hero Academia, whose anime looks like the manga colored and given movement and sound.
You might complain about the lackluster character development and progression. You could point out the overwhelming focus on fighting. You may criticize the imperfect writing and label Bleach as just another mainstream shounen that doesn't deserve more than what its genre demands.
But let me tell you this. Align yourself with the artist's mission, the intent behind the creation, and perhaps you will see more clearly. Break free from the limits imposed by popular perception. If you haven't seen the blade unsheathed, keep it that way. If Naruto is a story about the meaning of Hokage—and if One Piece is a story of pure adventure—Bleach is a story of the strength held in a blade and its origins. Watch Ichigo rise again and again, witness his courage, and ponder the process of black being bleached to white.
To begin with, Bleach is an excellent manga to read. While it might be somewhat cliché with the whole 'save the girl' theme, it remains enjoyable. The characters are engaging, interact well with each other, and their development is evident. It shows a lot of promise. During the Soul Society arc, it truly delivers with its mission, new characters, battles, and plot progression. I would recommend reading up to the end of the Soul Society arc to anyone looking for something fresh to read.
However, beyond that point? I suggest giving up. Drop it. There's not much left except for numerous generic characters designed to appeal to fans but lacking strong personalities and backstories. Even previously beloved characters become dull and uninspiring. As for the plot, it vanishes. Well, there is one—saving the girl again. How original.
The best part after the Soul Society arc was the Turn Back the Pendulum arc, likely because it revolved around two of my favorite characters. Another issue is how poorly some characters are treated, especially those who don't rank highly in popularity polls. The panel time distribution is skewed and uneven among characters who are supposed to be central to the story.
The artwork also deserves mention. The number of wasted panels is astonishing. You often find entire pages filled with incomprehensible splatters of ink that seem meaningful but aren't. This contributes to the overall sloppy, lazy, and careless feeling that has come to define Bleach. Additionally, the chapter titles became problematic for me. I felt like breaking things when it got to "Deicide 23." Twenty-three chapters?! That spans three volumes. For nearly six months, Kubo used the same title. Words fail me at this point.
I have continued reading up to chapter 430, but honestly, I don't think I can go on any longer. I'm only persisting out of a faint hope that I'll get to see my favorite characters again, who haven't been featured for over a year. Reading Bleach is no longer enjoyable or interesting; it just frustrates me. It used to be good, but now Bleach is a sorry excuse for a manga and should be dropped.
Bleach, like every other manga, has its pros and cons. Being the first manga I read, I grew quite attached to it. As the story progressed, I noticed several aspects:
Pros: It boasts a unique art style, with characters that are well-designed and avoid looking generic compared to some other mangas I've read. Their personalities are also compelling and feel almost real. The series is anything but dull; it features a vast, well-organized universe filled with rich content. Thankfully, the author didn't delve into deep romantic relationships, which could have potentially ruined the series. Instead, there's just enough ambiguity to keep people guessing.
Cons: I feel Ichigo's abilities were overhyped, especially at the beginning when he defeated Byakuya and Kenpachi. He also keeps acquiring new powers seemingly out of nowhere, as if the author thought Ichigo was too weak to survive in the world and thus threw in a bunch of abilities—Ichigo being part human, Quincy, Hollow, and Shinigami. Sometimes, it feels like the plot wasn't properly planned.
Overall, Bleach is a great manga, and I'd recommend anyone to try it for themselves rather than getting discouraged by negative reviews or comments about it.
I read this entire series in 2023 because the anime was removed from my streaming service, and at that time, the Thousand-Year Blood War (TYBW) arc wasn't available yet. In my opinion, the ending of this story makes it the weakest among the Big 3. I've watched Naruto, started on One Piece, and now have read Bleach. Most of my issues with this series occur during the time skip (volumes 49-74). Up until that point, I had an amazing time with most of Bleach, especially with Aizen. There are aspects of Ichigo's character that I appreciate, which set him apart from his Big 3 counterparts, Naruto Uzumaki and Monkey D. Luffy.
Overall, Bleach is tonally different from Naruto and One Piece, which is great. My main issue is that the TYBW arc seemed to drag on even longer than Naruto’s war arc but rushed its ending. I also felt that I never truly understood the motivations behind the opposition in the War Arc’s conflict, making it hard for me to get invested. Naruto had the cycle of hatred, but what did Bleach aim to say? In my view, not much. By that point in the story, with the level of power scaling and systems introduced, Ichigo feels more and more like a Gary Stu, and it seems Kubo wrote himself into a corner, similar to Kishimoto, when concluding the story.
I understand that, like Kishimoto, Kubo was also dealing with health issues during the time skip, which likely affected the writing quality of these weekly titles. Since Bleach is part of the Big 3, I’m sure he faced high pressure from multiple angles. If it were up to me, I’d want any mangaka to write when they're at their best, both physically and mentally. However, I have to be honest: I finished the series feeling more disappointed than ever before.
It's a complex story that requires careful reading and analysis. The plot is strong, though the ending feels rushed due to Kubo's poor health (he never took a hiatus from Bleach for us). The artwork is excellent, but it also starts to feel rushed towards the end. Ichigo is a good protagonist because he stands out as one of the few realistic characters in manga. I enjoyed reading the series because it makes you reflect on various events throughout the story. Contrary to some opinions, the story isn't looped. The Soul Society arc and the Arrancar arc are more like mirror images, showcasing two different societies. If you're confused about the story, I recommend checking out DBZimran's YouTube video titled "The Rise of Bleach." He explains the series maturely and without bias in just an hour, which I found very helpful.
At this point in time, is a Bleach review necessary among the masses? Well, probably not. But it’s my day off and I feel like writing a Bleach review.
Honesty time. I haven’t followed Tite Kubo’s Bleach for many years like a lot of fans. In fact, I’ve probably only been reading the manga and watching the anime since 2014/2015. Nonetheless, I think I’m familiar enough with it to offer my two cents worth of input.
I like Bleach, I truly do. However, this review will have to address the numerous flaws presented by the series.
If this review had to be titled something, it would suitably be "The Downfall of Bleach." The series experienced a significant decline, which even formidable characters like the Arrancars and Aizen couldn't halt.
Let’s go back to the year 2001 when Bleach began its run in Weekly Shonen Jump. It was akin to a cool new Yu Yu Hakusho but with its unique style. Ichigo Kurosaki can see ghosts—simple enough. He gains newfound powers from Shinigami Rukia Kuchiki and must now defend humans from evil spirits.
What initially set Bleach apart from other popular shonen battle manga like Naruto and One Piece was its real-world setting. Ichigo and his friends attended school, adding a layer of relatability. The series maintained solid popularity for over 70 weeks until it soared due to an incredible story arc—the Soul Society arc (rescuing Rukia). This arc introduced genuine threats and elevated stakes in an unfamiliar world.
This arc brought great new characters and impressive art, making battles easy to follow. Unfortunately, this quality didn't persist. With the rescue arc's conclusion came a plot twist introducing the true villain, setting up the next arc seamlessly.
Now let’s examine what followed: the Arrancar arc, dealing with Aizen and his Espada. Here lies the first major problem for Bleach. One of Ichigo’s friends is taken captive, and he and his friends must fight powerful enemies to save her. Sound familiar? This arc felt repetitive, lacking the spark that could have made it more engaging. Bleach began to slip from the top rankings, and the art became less focused, with some fights hard to follow and backgrounds often missing.
Ichigo’s power-ups seemed out of control, leading to a somewhat predictable plot. After years, the final showdown between Ichigo and Aizen happened, but many fans found it lackluster, either due to its one-sided nature or because fans were ready to move on. Kubo isn’t known for rushing his storytelling.
Perhaps Bleach should have ended after this arc. The most severe decline in rankings occurred here. A tiresome arc about Ichigo regaining his powers was followed by a long final war arc. While it fits the shonen battle genre, Bleach ultimately became too simplistic, focusing solely on good vs. evil without much depth.
Another issue is our main character, Ichigo. Compare him with Luffy, who dreams of becoming the Pirate King, and Naruto, who dreams of becoming Hokage. Ichigo lacks a clear goal, making his character feel flat. After more than 700 chapters, I still don’t feel like I know him well, which is problematic for a main character.
I won’t delve into Bleach’s ending because, despite being abysmal, the creator isn’t entirely at fault. Wrapping up the series in just three or four chapters left many loose ends, resulting in unsatisfying closure for several characters.
I’ll wrap this up on a positive note because, through thick and thin, I’m still a Bleach fan. If you’ve read this far, I appreciate it—it’s been fun. Feel free to comment on my profile; we can talk about Bleach.
Sure, the series had many problems, especially in its latter half. However, Bleach has some of the most enjoyable battles I’ve ever read, and that’s where it shines. With a strong start and an incredible first third, Bleach soared alongside Naruto and One Piece. Unfortunately, repetitive story structures and a blank main character led to its downfall, which was as damaging as Orihime’s chest size is large.
This was: Let’s Talk About Manga #2 - Bleach.
Well... A prime example of how appearances can be deceiving. Bleach initially seemed promising, oh so very good. However, in the long run, it is one of the few manga that I regret reading.
Bleach is another overrated shounen manga. Drawn in by a seemingly interesting plot, Bleach follows a young man named Kurosaki Ichigo, a high school student who can see spirits. One day, a girl claiming to be a shinigami enters his life, and everything changes. This premise grabbed my attention for a while, but then the story started becoming repetitive.
The author has gone through the same narrative process twice, which comprises much of the series so far. The latest arc has been ongoing for roughly three years now.
Ichigo only knows one move and makes no effort to learn new techniques. Instead of addressing his weakness of having just one move, he powers up that single move to become unstoppable.
His training methods consist of losing a fight and then training mid-battle, which isn't exactly the best approach.
On a more positive note, Bleach does feature some intriguing characters, such as Chad: Ichigo's burly friend who is kind and extremely powerful even without special abilities. There’s also Uryuu, a spirit bow-wielding badass, along with other interesting characters I won’t elaborate on to avoid spoilers.
Bleach would be a better manga if it introduced more variety. The story has become stale, and I find myself losing the excitement I once had while reading it.
Overall rating:
6/10
*THIS REVIEW DOES CONTAIN SPOILERS*
Like a flutter of a butterfly’s wing, Kubo has created the dynamic of a life after death scenario, twisting people’s minds and imaginations throughout its journey with surprises, questions, and a bold statement of what happens after we leave this world. Invisible forces play into the scenes, grasping a hold of reality and raining out a massive event that not even humans can comprehend. Sparks fly as metal swords clash. Tears fall down pale cheeks. Romances bloom like soft flower petals in the spring. People think there is nothing after life, but they are wrong. Death is only the beginning.
Story:
Set in modern Japan and divided into five major arcs, Bleach stands out among the “Big 3” and Shounen manga. Initially, it appeared to be a typical high school-themed manga with characters having special powers. During this period, the chapters felt repetitive and lacked excitement. However, things changed dramatically, making Bleach wildly popular.
The next arc transformed Bleach into what it is known for today. Surprises and twists keep the plot engaging. To fully appreciate this arc, one must embrace the unexpected. The many characters introduced help shape this new world. Every word and panel is crucial, serving as a stairway to understanding future events. Pay close attention to details; the plot can easily become confusing. Easter eggs are scattered throughout, hinting at mysteries yet to unfold.
However, Bleach’s plot isn’t perfect. It’s riddled with plot holes and unanswered questions that may never be resolved. The pacing was often anti-climactic and disorganized. I found myself getting lost during the arcs following Soul Society, despite moments of suspense and excitement. Symbolism, such as the Hell Butterfly, wasn't explained thoroughly enough. Unnecessary events slowed the pace, while significant moments were rushed.
It wasn’t good.
Art:
Bleach is renowned for its artwork. From the first chapter to the last, the improvement in drawing is remarkable. Kubo's style evolved from simple to detailed and unique, inspiring many new artists worldwide. The character designs are distinctive and not overly stereotypical. The detail in fight scenes brought the manga to life, saving it from mediocrity. Some panels are left blank or black to create atmosphere, while others are intricately detailed, reflecting Kubo’s imagination. The occasional color pages add a pastel-like touch, enhancing the tone of the chapters.
Characters:
Three words: Too many characters!
Long-running manga often have numerous characters, but there should be a limit. Characters need backstories and purposes. One issue with Bleach is that Kubo created characters without considering their roles towards the end. Many didn’t get proper fight scenes or backstories, leaving them underdeveloped. Don’t be surprised if you wonder where someone is for over a hundred chapters—they’re likely unconscious or dead. Kubo doesn’t forget characters, though it seems that way.
There weren’t enough character deaths. While losing Ukitake-taicho was upsetting, his passing made sense for the plot. Characters who were supposed to die, like Byakuya, didn’t due to popularity issues. This imbalance affected the original plot. If a character doesn’t die when they’re supposed to, their role becomes useless.
The main cast wasn’t very compelling. Rukia was the only character I liked, but the others were overpowered and annoying. Orihime and Chad felt like wasted potential. Orihime’s powers weren’t well-explained, and Chad’s abilities couldn’t keep up with the other characters. Ichigo and Ishida reminded me too much of Naruto characters. There needed to be more character development.
Enjoyment:
Some things take time to process. After Bleach ended, I felt like a child whose Halloween candy was gone. It was hard to accept that after fifteen years, this huge manga was over. I waited for someone to say, “HAPPY APRIL FOOLS IN AUGUST!” But no, it was never meant to be.
Despite everything, I enjoyed Bleach immensely and consider it one of my favorite manga. Every Thursday morning was filled with anticipation. Now, those mornings will be empty, filled with memories of what used to be. Just kidding—I’ve got other things to read now. But seriously, this manga was one of the first I picked up and will always be special to me.
Bleach is an epic journey filled with action, suspense, and several possible romances. It’s a roller coaster ride of emotions and amazing fights. Nothing compares to this manga.
Nothing.
I give this manga 50% on the soul cleansing scale.
Popular Reviews
So Bleach. Or as we fans like to call it; Blah, Plotkai, The Troller's Guide to the Fandom, Rinse.
Story:
Well, it's really great. Too bad the same things happen 17 times with different characters. Or alternatively with the same characters who have new hairstyles or costumes. If "The Bold and The Beautiful" were an anime/manga, its name would be Bleach.
Characters:
Yes, there are a lot of them. Really great ones, like Inoue Orihime. Let's just say if Yagami Light knew her, her name would be written down really quickly.
Art:
In the beginning, there was some semblance of art. It was messy, and readers didn't always understand what was happening. So, it got fixed and turned into "lines." No ink is wasted anymore. You can really see how white those manga pages are before they are filled with things... and after that too.
Enjoyment:
Oh yes. If you see a guy who isn't moving anywhere but spinning in place and says he is going home—that's quality entertainment. How about Bleach? Well, it's like that guy, but all he does is say he is going home. After many years, it gets a little annoying.
My score was 10 for a long time after the start. After that, it has kept coming down little by little, just like the story has improved. It's now a 3. I'm looking forward to the future. :)
Bleach is a unique series to review, not just because of its length, but due to how encapsulated each story arc is. The quality varies significantly from one arc to the next, almost like different books in a series of novels.
Let me give you a brief overview, and if you're interested, you can read the more detailed version below.
Story: The story began weakly and episodically in the first section. The second section was decent and introduced some intriguing elements. However, the third section couldn't maintain the momentum, and the main plot line fell apart by the end. Since then, the author introduced new antagonists seemingly unrelated to previous events, indicating that the series has overstayed its welcome.
Art: The art started very weak but steadily improved, reaching a solid level by chapter 300. It has continued to improve since then.
Character: Bleach features many interesting characters, though the main character sometimes falls flat. Few characters are genuinely unlikable, and the author usually provides insight into the antagonists' motivations, except for the main villains, where this is most crucial.
Enjoyment: There are many exciting fight scenes, especially if you enjoy that genre, and light-hearted comedy sprinkled throughout. Until near the end, it's generally a fun manga to read.
Overall: Initially enjoyable, Bleach never fully realized its potential.
To understand why Bleach was popular for a while but now receives much criticism, let's go through my experience reading it.
Spoilers ahead. This will be long, given the manga's 500+ chapters.
-ARC 1 - THE HIGH SCHOOL KIDS DEMON HUNTING MANGA-
I started reading Bleach about five years ago and dropped it after chapter 10, only returning over a year later. The art was laughably bad initially, akin to the early chapters of Shingeki no Kyojin but without the superior plot and characters. It was a poorly drawn manga about a boy who could see spirits and met a spirit-girl who gave him superpowers. The story was lighthearted and good fun until the spirit girl got kidnapped, leaving the main character at death's door.
The first arc is a lighthearted ghost-hunting mystery with vague hints of something bigger. The ending pulls you in because you grow fond of Rukia, making you curious about her fate.
This leads us to the second part, which most fans consider "the good part."
-ARC 2 - THE SHONEN ACTION MANGA-
In the second arc, the main character powers up to rescue his spirit girlfriend, following standard shonen action hero steps. He fights increasingly powerful opponents, trains, rallies his resolve, and eventually wins against an implacably powerful foe. After saving the girl, a twist occurs: a villain stabs the main character, setting up the next arc.
This arc is classic shonen action, advancing through unique battles and power-ups. The art improves significantly, and colorful characters are introduced, fleshing out the world's cosmology.
The murder mystery plot seemed promising, with potential for future developments. If the series had ended here, Bleach would have been a decent entry in the shonen genre, spawning a neat anime and inspiring fanfiction forever.
Unfortunately, they didn't stop there.
-ARC 3 - THAT LAST ARC SOLD REALLY WELL SO LET'S DO IT AGAIN... ONLY THIS TIME MAKE THE ENEMIES SCARIER-
In the third arc, former antagonists join the main character, and the villain recruits vicious monsters. The story retreads the previous arc, with the main character losing fights, training, and powering up. A female character gets kidnapped, leading to another rescue mission.
Problems arise when they find the kidnapped girl. Time is spent showing her psychological abuse and developing Stockholm syndrome for her captor. The demon henchman becomes too powerful and unbeatable, overshadowing the main villain. When the main character finally defeats this demon, the story should end, but it doesn't; he must face the main villain next.
The main villain is portrayed as even more powerful, leading to ridiculous power-ups and transformations. Most original characters fade into the background, and the villain's lack of characterization makes readers lose interest. Eventually, the main character uses an alternate dimension for rapid training, yet still can't kill the villain, only imprison him, losing all his powers in the process.
Where can the story go from here? Using a villain so powerful that he can't be killed leaves little room for progression. Despite this, the artwork looks solid, and Bleach continues to make money.
So, they continue the series.
Currently, they're nearing the end of the fourth and allegedly final arc, which follows the same pattern with even more ridiculously overpowered villains. The frustration comes from the hype built for the third arc's climax, which ultimately disappointed. The second arc set up an epic battle, but it took 200 chapters to get there and felt like a lot of nonsense. Many hints were dropped but either dropped or picked up awkwardly.
In the present year, many people often misunderstand the Big Three Shonen. This term refers exclusively to One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach. These three series hold this prestigious honor due to their influence in popularizing anime and manga in Western cultures. People commonly fabricate arguments surrounding replacements and reinventions of the series in the Big Three. Some believe Dragon Ball Z should be included, despite airing well before them. Others feel the need to create a new Big Three with modern titles, even though two of the original series are still ongoing. There's also the ludicrous conspiracy of a "Big Four" with an additional slot for Fairy Tail. The most common group, however, believes a certain series in the Big Three shouldn't be there because they didn't like it, with Bleach being the frequent target.
Many factors contribute to the shonen community's disengagement with Bleach. Fans' frustration while reading Bleach (especially during serialization) is understandable and justifiable. Bleach tends to toy with the audience by distorting their perception of reality in the manga. This can sometimes be clever with certain Bankai, but other times it feels dull, recycled, and unflattering. For most of the series, the value of an ability comes from its reveal in battle, which can be patience-testing in such a long-running series. Comedy is often haphazardly thrown into scenes, even pivotal ones. Enemies frequently explain their abilities to their opponent before attacking, essentially telling them how to beat them. Kubo often neglects a "show, don't tell" approach due to the lack of backgrounds. The absence of landscapes also highlights another common occurrence: characters frequently appearing out of nowhere. This happens too frequently and is never considered when tallying plot holes, as the community seems to have accepted it. The list goes on.
When I look at Bleach, I try not to focus on "right" or "wrong," because I tend to contradict myself. While I think the battles playing out like Death Note scenarios are silly, I also find the overall nature of Bleach to be awesome. The series does the bare minimum to set up the world, characters, and plot, yet it's loaded with blood-pumping power battles and fights. Bleach doesn't inherit the tournament arc cliché, but the whole manga feels like a never-ending test of power. As a long-running shonen competing with Naruto and One Piece in terms of length, popularity, and lack of hiatuses, Bleach is easily the most unique one. The protagonist, Ichigo, does not strive to become the greatest like Luffy or Naruto. There was no endgame set in stone. People who think it should have ended after the Soul Society arc or the Hueco Mundo arc would be limiting Bleach from its full potential. While I don't think Bleach executed all its ideas properly, I don't find a single arc to be out of place. I think the final arc, spanning almost half of the entire manga's length, is completely necessary. It provided worthwhile answers from day-one questions in a digestible way, even if there was little foreshadowing. Characters redeemed themselves and were mostly utilized for development rather than plot devices. I can even defend some of the most overhated characters, such as Orihime, with this arc. The final fight itself is one of the most unique in battle shonen that I've seen. I believe it will inspire the ending of something like Jujutsu Kaisen. The return of the anime is also a great opportunity to utilize the potential of this arc. I’m not using this arc as a crutch for the whole series; I believe the Soul Society Invasion arc made Bleach what it is today and solidified it in the shonen community. The argument that Bleach dips in quality after this arc has some truth, but the lows are exaggerated. The minor fights aren’t memorable, and the major fights not involving Ichigo aren’t compelling, but the main event bouts are some of the most iconic in battle shonen. The Lost Substitute Arc is an underwhelming conclusion to the anime, not the manga. It’s a necessary buildup for the final arc and enjoyable at that.
The art is another complaint by fans. Bleach's art progresses before your eyes when reading it and isn’t an eyesore. In early chapters, the art is amateurish but develops into something unreplicable. Backgrounds are sacrificed to focus on drawing characters and their emotions, giving the manga an intimate feel during battles, something the anime lacks.
Bleach rarely copies from other shonen. The manga has its own identity and style, working best when sung to its tune. It accepts its own strengths and flaws, bursting out unique ideas and a sense of style in the process. Even though I would have wanted the series to play to its strengths more, Bleach is still a good battle shonen manga. It piques your curiosity and holds your attention while dishing out awesome fights, high-intensity action, and badass characters. After all, it is one of the big three.
To start off with Bleach, I think it's a good manga in the beginning; it had a lot of potential and was doing a great job, in my opinion, at the start. I initially watched it on Toonami when it aired late on Adult Swim, which motivated me to get into the manga.
In my view, if it had ended after the Hueco Mundo arc, it could have concluded on a much better note. From the beginning up until the end of the Hueco Mundo arc, everything seemed to align well. Although the artwork was somewhat disorganized at times, the story still felt fresh and original. There is a scene where the protagonist experiences a significant power-up, but it's disappointing to see that it was somewhat borrowed from another manga.
The originality steadily decreased as the series progressed. They could have stopped at a certain point, leaving it on a bittersweet yet satisfying note, but the push to continue made it feel dragged out. In my opinion, the worst part was the ending. It just didn't flow right. I apologize if this review sounds pessimistic, but as a reader, I felt I deserved something better, especially since the earlier arcs were fantastic. If they had ended it at a point where it felt perfect, this review would likely be praising it instead.
A treatise on strength and its two fountains, courage and power.
A person's resolve to break the millstone of fate.
An artistic depiction of various aspects of power, both directed and creative.
A recognition of solitude wrapped in sorrow, upheld by words.
An unbroken flair amidst a variety of distinct character designs and fighting abilities.
A stark portrayal of the soul within the blade.
My #1 favorite manga as of writing this review. Give me another shounen manga with the same level of artistry and attention to how power is conceived... BLEACH is truly great. Don't dismiss it as just another trope-filled shounen filled with flat characters limited to one-liners, repetitive battles, and countless fights with minimal constructive dialogue. If you can look past all that, change your perspective and realize that Bleach is something different—an exploration of sorts. Tite Kubo uses this series to show us the potential residing within life energy, reiatsu in this case, through characters who serve as vessels for such power to varying degrees and combinations. Ichigo is the centerpiece, but the many character dynamics contribute to a spiraling wheel of Fate, or millstone as Kubo called it. The anime is best enjoyed after reading the manga so you can appreciate it as a moving, sound-backed representation of the source material.
However, even then, the anime falls short of realizing Kubo's vision, which is fully captured in black and white. Even with just those two shades, there is an ineffable quality that resonates within the created shadows and parameters of light. The general human design is also quite clear-cut, more so than in works by Kishimoto, Togashi, or Oda. What I call "focus"—the mangaka's ability to present certain parts of characters or moments of movement with truncated panels—is a significant component of what makes Bleach a strong manga. It leverages the medium's capabilities in a way that cannot be surpassed by any other format. For example, look at Hunter x Hunter, which was somewhat diminished by the 2011 anime adaptation, or Boku no Hero Academia, whose anime looks like the manga colored and given movement and sound.
You might complain about the lackluster character development and progression. You could point out the overwhelming focus on fighting. You may criticize the imperfect writing and label Bleach as just another mainstream shounen that doesn't deserve more than what its genre demands.
But let me tell you this. Align yourself with the artist's mission, the intent behind the creation, and perhaps you will see more clearly. Break free from the limits imposed by popular perception. If you haven't seen the blade unsheathed, keep it that way. If Naruto is a story about the meaning of Hokage—and if One Piece is a story of pure adventure—Bleach is a story of the strength held in a blade and its origins. Watch Ichigo rise again and again, witness his courage, and ponder the process of black being bleached to white.
To begin with, Bleach is an excellent manga to read. While it might be somewhat cliché with the whole 'save the girl' theme, it remains enjoyable. The characters are engaging, interact well with each other, and their development is evident. It shows a lot of promise. During the Soul Society arc, it truly delivers with its mission, new characters, battles, and plot progression. I would recommend reading up to the end of the Soul Society arc to anyone looking for something fresh to read.
However, beyond that point? I suggest giving up. Drop it. There's not much left except for numerous generic characters designed to appeal to fans but lacking strong personalities and backstories. Even previously beloved characters become dull and uninspiring. As for the plot, it vanishes. Well, there is one—saving the girl again. How original.
The best part after the Soul Society arc was the Turn Back the Pendulum arc, likely because it revolved around two of my favorite characters. Another issue is how poorly some characters are treated, especially those who don't rank highly in popularity polls. The panel time distribution is skewed and uneven among characters who are supposed to be central to the story.
The artwork also deserves mention. The number of wasted panels is astonishing. You often find entire pages filled with incomprehensible splatters of ink that seem meaningful but aren't. This contributes to the overall sloppy, lazy, and careless feeling that has come to define Bleach. Additionally, the chapter titles became problematic for me. I felt like breaking things when it got to "Deicide 23." Twenty-three chapters?! That spans three volumes. For nearly six months, Kubo used the same title. Words fail me at this point.
I have continued reading up to chapter 430, but honestly, I don't think I can go on any longer. I'm only persisting out of a faint hope that I'll get to see my favorite characters again, who haven't been featured for over a year. Reading Bleach is no longer enjoyable or interesting; it just frustrates me. It used to be good, but now Bleach is a sorry excuse for a manga and should be dropped.
Bleach, like every other manga, has its pros and cons. Being the first manga I read, I grew quite attached to it. As the story progressed, I noticed several aspects:
Pros: It boasts a unique art style, with characters that are well-designed and avoid looking generic compared to some other mangas I've read. Their personalities are also compelling and feel almost real. The series is anything but dull; it features a vast, well-organized universe filled with rich content. Thankfully, the author didn't delve into deep romantic relationships, which could have potentially ruined the series. Instead, there's just enough ambiguity to keep people guessing.
Cons: I feel Ichigo's abilities were overhyped, especially at the beginning when he defeated Byakuya and Kenpachi. He also keeps acquiring new powers seemingly out of nowhere, as if the author thought Ichigo was too weak to survive in the world and thus threw in a bunch of abilities—Ichigo being part human, Quincy, Hollow, and Shinigami. Sometimes, it feels like the plot wasn't properly planned.
Overall, Bleach is a great manga, and I'd recommend anyone to try it for themselves rather than getting discouraged by negative reviews or comments about it.
I read this entire series in 2023 because the anime was removed from my streaming service, and at that time, the Thousand-Year Blood War (TYBW) arc wasn't available yet. In my opinion, the ending of this story makes it the weakest among the Big 3. I've watched Naruto, started on One Piece, and now have read Bleach. Most of my issues with this series occur during the time skip (volumes 49-74). Up until that point, I had an amazing time with most of Bleach, especially with Aizen. There are aspects of Ichigo's character that I appreciate, which set him apart from his Big 3 counterparts, Naruto Uzumaki and Monkey D. Luffy.
Overall, Bleach is tonally different from Naruto and One Piece, which is great. My main issue is that the TYBW arc seemed to drag on even longer than Naruto’s war arc but rushed its ending. I also felt that I never truly understood the motivations behind the opposition in the War Arc’s conflict, making it hard for me to get invested. Naruto had the cycle of hatred, but what did Bleach aim to say? In my view, not much. By that point in the story, with the level of power scaling and systems introduced, Ichigo feels more and more like a Gary Stu, and it seems Kubo wrote himself into a corner, similar to Kishimoto, when concluding the story.
I understand that, like Kishimoto, Kubo was also dealing with health issues during the time skip, which likely affected the writing quality of these weekly titles. Since Bleach is part of the Big 3, I’m sure he faced high pressure from multiple angles. If it were up to me, I’d want any mangaka to write when they're at their best, both physically and mentally. However, I have to be honest: I finished the series feeling more disappointed than ever before.
It's a complex story that requires careful reading and analysis. The plot is strong, though the ending feels rushed due to Kubo's poor health (he never took a hiatus from Bleach for us). The artwork is excellent, but it also starts to feel rushed towards the end. Ichigo is a good protagonist because he stands out as one of the few realistic characters in manga. I enjoyed reading the series because it makes you reflect on various events throughout the story. Contrary to some opinions, the story isn't looped. The Soul Society arc and the Arrancar arc are more like mirror images, showcasing two different societies. If you're confused about the story, I recommend checking out DBZimran's YouTube video titled "The Rise of Bleach." He explains the series maturely and without bias in just an hour, which I found very helpful.
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