Bleach 421 is out
Sep. 22nd, 2010 05:49 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
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Bleach 421 is out at Mangastream.
As always: Don't go tweeting to Kubo about this chapter until Monday, and if you want to tweet him 'bout something else, then don't use art from this chapter in your icon.
The color spread is pretty but... but... Ichigooooooo. ;_; ;_; ;_; ;_; ;_; Waaaaaah. Ichigooooo. T_T T_T T_T *cries for him*
"Farewell, Ichigo" <-- The ;_; began at that point. (Oh, and Zangetsu has blue eyes behind the shades.)
Ichigo's faces during this chapter. ;_; ;_; Someone needs to give him a hug. Someone other than Aizen, anyway.
Aizen's frothing at the mouth, even at the end of the line. 'I'm a winner, you're a loser, blah blah, let me say more things that are totally wrong and that I made up.' Okay. At least he loses some of his freaky features and goes back to relatively normal-looking.
Uraharaaaaaa. So he outplayed Aizen this round. Not that it was hard, what with Aizen becoming unhinged, both due to his super annoying arrogance and his eroding humanity/sanity/intelligence due to the hougyoku. But as others said in the spoiler thread, sealing a villain is never a good thing - they tend to become unsealed at a future point.
Apparently Urahara did know much more about the hougyoku than he let on, if he was able to predict that the hougyoku would no longer think of Aizen as his master once Aizen weakened. It's okay, hobaby, go back to mama Rukia. But it looks like the hougyoku is being sealed WITH Aizen? I wonder how that'll work out. (My Feeling: Not well.)
So the Spirit King keeps the spirit world together? Hmmmmm. Guess we'll learn more about that in the next arc. Aizen: 'Graaah, why do you listen to that "thing"!' <-- Why the venom, Aizen?
Ichigo looks away at the end as Aizen's being sealed. I wonder if it was because Aizen's rantings became too embarrassing or difficult to handle, coupled with Ichigo's exhaustion; or if Aizen's words that winners think not of how the world is, but how it should be, reminded Ichigo that he's lost his shinigami powers. We saw in the prequel chapters that Ichigo longed for the power to crush destiny; now he no longer possesses that power. Ichigo... ;_;
As always: Don't go tweeting to Kubo about this chapter until Monday, and if you want to tweet him 'bout something else, then don't use art from this chapter in your icon.
The color spread is pretty but... but... Ichigooooooo. ;_; ;_; ;_; ;_; ;_; Waaaaaah. Ichigooooo. T_T T_T T_T *cries for him*
"Farewell, Ichigo" <-- The ;_; began at that point. (Oh, and Zangetsu has blue eyes behind the shades.)
Ichigo's faces during this chapter. ;_; ;_; Someone needs to give him a hug. Someone other than Aizen, anyway.
Aizen's frothing at the mouth, even at the end of the line. 'I'm a winner, you're a loser, blah blah, let me say more things that are totally wrong and that I made up.' Okay. At least he loses some of his freaky features and goes back to relatively normal-looking.
Uraharaaaaaa. So he outplayed Aizen this round. Not that it was hard, what with Aizen becoming unhinged, both due to his super annoying arrogance and his eroding humanity/sanity/intelligence due to the hougyoku. But as others said in the spoiler thread, sealing a villain is never a good thing - they tend to become unsealed at a future point.
Apparently Urahara did know much more about the hougyoku than he let on, if he was able to predict that the hougyoku would no longer think of Aizen as his master once Aizen weakened. It's okay, hobaby, go back to mama Rukia. But it looks like the hougyoku is being sealed WITH Aizen? I wonder how that'll work out. (My Feeling: Not well.)
So the Spirit King keeps the spirit world together? Hmmmmm. Guess we'll learn more about that in the next arc. Aizen: 'Graaah, why do you listen to that "thing"!' <-- Why the venom, Aizen?
Ichigo looks away at the end as Aizen's being sealed. I wonder if it was because Aizen's rantings became too embarrassing or difficult to handle, coupled with Ichigo's exhaustion; or if Aizen's words that winners think not of how the world is, but how it should be, reminded Ichigo that he's lost his shinigami powers. We saw in the prequel chapters that Ichigo longed for the power to crush destiny; now he no longer possesses that power. Ichigo... ;_;
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Date: 2010-09-22 10:04 pm (UTC)This is sort of a disquieting way for Aizen to be defeated, assuming he has been defeated, because he's right. It is right to try to change the world for the better than to accept the status quo, and I think Ichigo would agree. Will the future see Ichigo on the other side from Urahara?
With this revelation, Aizen and Gin seem a lot alike-people who tried to do morally right things, from their perspective, but through the most assholish and opaque means imaginable.
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Date: 2010-09-22 10:29 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2010-09-22 10:05 pm (UTC)Love the color spread though. Bruuuuuuush stroooooooooookes!!! ^______^
I wonder if the Hogyoku is gonna roll over to Ichigo now and go "oh hai" even though he lost his powers.
Hmm, I wonder how long Ichigo will survive in SS without his powers. Shouldn't they be high-tailing him back to Karakura so that he can pop back into his body?
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Date: 2010-09-22 10:32 pm (UTC)Hmm, I wonder how long Ichigo will survive in SS without his powers. Shouldn't they be high-tailing him back to Karakura so that he can pop back into his body?
NO, THERE IS MEANINGFUL LOOKS TO BE HAD. D: It's a glorified gigai already, right? He's already dead, I can't think of it being that bad for him... but I'm only speculating XD
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From:OH MY GOD
Date: 2010-09-22 10:07 pm (UTC)Aizen: "Why does a man of your intellect sit idle?! Why...Why do you allow yourself to be controlled by that THING?"
Urahara: "That 'thing'? You mean the 'Spirit King'?"
Urahara: "....Oh. So you saw it."
OH SHIT, MY 'The King of SS is an eldritch monster and the Royal Realm is meant to contain it' THEORY JUST GOT A LOT MORE PLAUSIBLE
OH SHIT, OH SHIT
--G
Re: OH MY GOD
Date: 2010-09-22 10:33 pm (UTC)Re: OH MY GOD
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From: (Anonymous) - Date: 2010-09-22 10:45 pm (UTC) - ExpandRe: OH MY GOD
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From:no subject
Date: 2010-09-22 10:09 pm (UTC)That last Ichigo panel, when he looked away from Aizen, what was that about? It confused me...And are we finally going to see this Spirit King person/thing? Kubo as usual has us waiting...
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Date: 2010-09-23 12:32 am (UTC)Twas I. I've been batting 1000 for the past two weeks--called Ichigo having to make a sacrifice for his Final GT, said the Final GT wouldn't work and said Aizen should revert to his former pretty and live again to do mischef in the next arc. *blows on nails*
But Ichigo. *sobs* Page 21--that look. Oh how sad. I knew he couldn't defeat Aizen now, not after his wrongdoings on the dome. Poor boy--he's got a lot to overcome. So sad.
Urahara is awesome though. And hoo-wee, we got a mention of the Spirit King--we're on the bring of the RR arc. Exciting.
I'm excited.
Also since when has a seal ever held anyone--pretteh Aizen WILL be back.
Urahara, you are so wonderful. <3
Gotta go be a little sad for Ichigo now though. I feel the angst ahoy.
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Date: 2010-09-22 10:14 pm (UTC)I'm really hoping for them to explain exactly how does the world function since the Spirit King and his 'keeping the world together' has been mentioned. Ichigo will probably want to know more and I hope that Urahara says something new.
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Date: 2010-09-22 11:14 pm (UTC)Ichigo T_T *hugs him*
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Date: 2010-09-22 10:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-22 10:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-22 10:24 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2010-09-22 10:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-22 10:27 pm (UTC)And THANK YOU URAHARA for finally hitting the mute button on Aizen. Please Kubo, let this break from all that arrogant blah blah be a LONG break.
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Date: 2010-09-22 11:12 pm (UTC)...
You should have seen
And THANK YOU URAHARA for finally hitting the mute button on Aizen. Please Kubo, let this break from all that arrogant blah blah be a LONG break.
Amen. If Aizen comes back, fine, but not for SEVERAL MORE YEARS, please.
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Date: 2010-09-22 10:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-22 10:31 pm (UTC)Perhaps there is an epic Arc in the works and Kubo will somehow pull the most epic Arc ever after this. I am still slightly skeptical. I need to see it to believe it.
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Date: 2010-09-22 10:32 pm (UTC)A kido inside a kido, of course, why didn't we think of that?! XD That's so out of left field that it's almost on the same level as Yammy's status as Espada 0 (no, I still haven't got over that).
I'm glad about Ichigo being identifiable as Ichigo again, though, for some panels his long black hair made him look a bit like Byakuya.
And even Aizen gets to be pretty again! Not that it's any help to him of course.
But geez, "the magic ball of doom has decided I don't need a sword!!!!!eleventyone!!" Delusional much, Aizen?
Enter stage left: Urahara! Well that was a sudden appearance.
If Urahara's there, does that mean we can safely assume that the rest of the group (a.k.a. Yoruichi and some others) have also arrived in Karakura?
What excited me the most, though, was Aizen's line:
"Why do you allow yourself to be controlled by that thing?!"
Excuse me, that thing? Well, if that doesn't sound mightily ominous. The predictions of the Spirit King being some kind of monster keep becoming more likely, me likes!
Does this mean the fight is over (for now)? :D
Will we get closure on the status of all the others now (
Giiin!!)? I'm actually a bit fearful of that prospect.Also, this is the first in a long time that I get the feeling again that Aizen's idea of overthrowing the Spirit King is truly the right decision (Aizen's motives and way of going about it are something entirely else, naturally).
Sounds exciting, I'm ready for the next arc!
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Date: 2010-09-22 11:36 pm (UTC)One of the entries in
aaahahahaha
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Date: 2010-09-22 10:38 pm (UTC)Ichigo! Casting Getsuga from his long luxurious hair! AND THOSE ABBS!!! Mmmm yeah boi! ;D
Zannngetsuuu! this is the last time we will see you (and Shirosaki since your both still fussed when saying goodbye) for a loong while...I don't care how much of a piece of eye-candy you turned into your still old man Zangetsu in my heart. :')
Watching Ichigo's powers chip away bit by bit is sobering but the whole "Crap- my powers" thing kind of ruined it Mr. Kubo, a simple exclamation point would have sufficed.
(Oh and Ichigo has almost looked as angsty as his future brother-in-law Baya-kun in one panel. o_o)
Pfffft! Aizen got practically launched into orbit! XD
Seeing him lying prone on the ground with his back split open was almost satisfying...until he got up...
Aizen just because something about you changes (like your sword disintegrating) it doesn’t always make it a "transformation" nor does it always mean it's a good thing! >:(
Aizen: Oh look my hair line is receding! I't must be a NEW STAGE OF EVOLUTION!!!11ONE
Also...woah, for Aizen to call the Spirit King a "Thing" he must be an interesting sight to behold after all the "makeovers" we have seen Aizen go through...
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Date: 2010-09-22 10:42 pm (UTC)I think Urahara one-uping Aizen would feel better if Urahara didn't look so freaking unhappy about it. Why does Urahara always look unhappy when he is fighting Aizen?!? WHYYYYYY?
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Date: 2010-09-23 12:30 am (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2010-09-22 11:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-22 11:25 pm (UTC)can Ichigo even see this battle anymore? I mean granted right now his body is that of a rukongai spirit, probably, but what does this loss of power mean to his life in general?
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Date: 2010-09-22 11:29 pm (UTC)Ichigo literally cut him in half, stem to stern.
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Date: 2010-09-23 02:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-22 11:52 pm (UTC)Also, Ichigooo. *pets him* What will you do now, my boy? And where did Urahara leave Yoruichi? Curvaceously draped over some rubble?
Mm. I did enjoy these chapters in the end. It's not the end of the series - it's the end of this arc of Ichigo's story, the one where he lost track of what he was supposed to protect, what he was supposed to be fighting for - and now he'll have to deal with what it's like to be protected. Not that happiest arc, but I think it's been said enough times that this ain't Soul Society. Kubo's pacing has been reasonably good for one of his "boss" fights - god knows it's not interminably long as some of the other ones - and you know what? I like it for the triple meaning play on the title alone, but I'm nerdy like that.
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Date: 2010-09-23 12:01 am (UTC)always down for some InuYasha lovin <3!
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Date: 2010-09-23 12:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-23 12:25 am (UTC)Back around the end of SS and into the HM arc, I had a theory that Aizen did actually start out as the kind, gentle man he appeared to be as Momo knew him, and became a Nihilist and/or Megalomaniac because of despair over the state of soul society, Hueco Mundo, and human existence, and that he was hope to remake existence to something more just and beautiful. The Fake Karakura arc sort of broke me of that a little, because he just seemed like too much of a pompous ass to have that type of convinction.
Now, I'm thinking I should have stuck to my first thought. It would be amazing if the Spirit King turns out to be a corrupt Despot, or some sort of insane or malevolent uncaring God, or just so far above humanity that we can't or won't comprehend his plans and manners.
If we assume that's true, I can see so many delicious implications for the past and future of Bleach. I'm wondering, now, if Urahura started down the path Aizen was on, that is, he created his Hyougoku to battle the Spirit King. However, he had some realization or epiphany or even defeat that made him decide it was not possible or profitable to go through with it instead. So the reason he looks so sad when he fights Aizen is because he recognizes what he could have become, and even, on some level, sympathizes with it.
It provides whole layers of possibility. Gin fights again Aizen not knowing that Aizen started much like he did, trying to avenge a wrongdoing and being swallowed by it. I'd love to find out that Isshin was another man tried and failed to oppose the Spirit King and slipped away to lead a life of quiet obscurity instead.
And all of this, of course, leads to a perfect next step for Ichigo. Maybe the Spirit King directly threatens Karakura, not wanting it to be used as a tool against him again. Maybe Ichigo just learns of his true nature. Either way, I could see Ichigo deciding to do what Aizen couldn't an oppose the Spirit King, not for power, but to protect those he loves.
Then there will be a time jump where he goes off to train with Isshin and Rukia and they come back and Ichigo is all growed up and Ichigo and Rukia had tons of babies that are also badass.But seriously, I am so, so looking forward to seeing how this develops. I'm sort of hoping Aizen is just sealed forever and the Spirit King is the new Villain, but whatever happens, I think it's going to be amazing, and there's a lot more said about it in this chapter than a lot of people realize.
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Date: 2010-09-23 12:50 am (UTC)I could make a lot of jokes about Urahara randomly showing up that have nothing to do with Bleach besides Miki Shin-ichirou voicing him. I remember when he showed up shooting Aizen in the back I seriously heard Lockon Stratos' battle cry. Today I remember thinking that it is a good thing Mugetsu doesn't make it rain or he would be totally worthless, but Rukia would have given him the heads up.
If we didn't know Ichigo would get his powers back by the end of Bleach I could feel bad for him. Then you realize that he still has Zoidberg, well and Rukia but mostly Zoidberg.
-Jacob
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Date: 2010-09-23 02:48 am (UTC)It seems that Aizen doesn't want to live under the "Spirit King's" rules or something, he really wanted to raise above that, for some reason... Really excited about Bleach's possibilities in the future.
Now... If Ichigo looses ALL his powers, wouldn't he loose ALL his clothing (Shihakusho) too o_O!! Somebody needs to bring Ichigo his BODY, some clothing and give him a big bear hug ;__;.
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Date: 2010-09-23 02:57 am (UTC)...
Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
Seriously, I found this chapter fantastic and immense fun. Who else suspects that Urahara's future-sealing (remember Hachi's promise to Soi Fon) will somehow parallel Aizen's sealing?
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Date: 2010-09-23 03:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-23 03:07 am (UTC)The most interesting thing for me in this chapter was that brief conversation about the Spirit King. Aizen calling it a "thing" and raging at Urahara for not going against The Establishment, and Urahara being so very resigned and pragmatic about the neccessity of the Spirit King. Very ominous. I've had an increasing suspicion that the Spirit King isn't some benign Sky Daddy - now it look like he/it might turn out to be the final villain in Bleach. I think it's possible that by the end of the manga the current status quo of the Bleach world will be changed somehow and the characters will stand on the precipice of a new beginning, a new world order.
Just one more thing...
Ichigoooo ;_;
Zangetsuuuu ;_;
He's never been among my favourite characters, but I seriously feel for the boy after this chapter.
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Date: 2010-09-23 03:38 am (UTC)Honestly, I'm not so sure that Aizen had great moral motives for this, I'm with qwirky that the dude's basically out for himself. It strikes me more as pride than anything, he thinks he's better than the Spirit King, and if it's nothing more than an insane monster...well, of course someone with supreme confidence in his abilities and intellect would believe himself better than the spirit king. But seeing as he's been behaving as a monster for years on end, I really can't say that, whatever horror the king might be, that Aizen would be any better. So yeah, I can't say I pity Aizen. Plus, his motives can't erase over 100 hundred years of deliberately hurting people and laughing at them to achieve his ends.
But poor Ichigo. Even in all your pain, you're still such a sweet boy. Looking away from Aizen like that...you're a much kinder person than me.
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Date: 2010-09-23 05:32 am (UTC)(no subject)
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