Bleach Chapter 593 – Mayuri’s Wonderland

Even when he smiles he creeps you out, what a unique guy Mayuri…

Unless you are Kisuke, don’t ever follow the “rabbit” that is Mayuri down the hole towards the “Wonderland” that is a world of torment and suffering waiting for you thanks to his drugs and unnerving taunts. Toushirou should have just died and saved himself the mental anguish and suffering he is currently subjected to. To be caught inside some ridiculous scrapping of reality, I too am bemused at the exact functionality of Mayuri’s drug which he administered to Toushirou at some point during their battle in a yet-to-be-revealed way. Whatever the case, Mayuri’s smile when caught up in his excitement over torturing others is quite the chilling gesture.

Bleach Chapter 592 – Zombie Hitsugaya Toushirou

Stripped of will and consciousness, Toushirou targets his fellow Shinigami

Interesting, so zombifying a person right before their death heightens the subjects movements and reactions, it also removes all traces of free will and consciousness. Looks Zombie Toushirou is going to be quite the challenge for Mayuri to handle, but given Mayuri’s “colourful” and mad personality, this battle is set-up to be quite an exciting one. Should be interesting to see what “drugs” Mayuri utilises in his battle against Toushirou and whether he can nullify the zombification done to Toushirou.

Bleach Chapter 591 – Arrancar VS Zombies

Arrancar (left to right): Cirucci, Dordoni, Charlotte and Luppi

What a pleasant turn of events to see Arrancar in the spotlight for a change, especially being featured in battles. It has been a while since we seen an Arrancar unleash, and frankly, I have been waiting for this, hopefully now, we get some other Arrancar members featured in battles this arc. Mayuri is such a sinisterly glorious fellow, to be able to revive Arrancar and even find a way to subjugate them to do his bidding or at least manipulate them to want to do his bidding =P. A shrewd and dangerous existence Mayuri is indeed. I look forward to seeing how Mayuri is going to deal with Giselle and her “zombies”.

Bleach Chapter 590 – The Incandescent Mayuri

Colour me shocked, what an unexpected twist

What a satisfyingly glorious chapter. Mayuri just knows how to bring the classy to weird and dam does he get down to business fast. That swagger he brings with his superiority complex can be ridiculously enjoyable to witness at times. His personality just like his outfit outshines all others.  As for Giselle and Bambietta, I find myself quite disturbed by the implied context of their exchange concerning Bambietta’s “needs”. Thankfully though Mayuri was there to sanitize the situation with his scientific grandeur and sheer madness.

Bleach Chapter 582 – Ichigo VS The Sternritter

The Head of the Special War Powers, Kurosaki Ichigo – colour by i-azu

What a shame, I was hoping to see Candice, Liltotto, Meninas, and Giselle in a more evenly matched battle, but with them now going against Ichigo, I doubt we will get to see them highlighted much more =(. It was though refreshing to see some Quincy use a bow for a change, it has been so long since a Quincy last wielded one. Amusing that the four female Sternritter believe they can take Ichigo on even though they realise he is the head of the special war powers. It won’t be too long before they begin they rectify their thought process with Ichigo drawing Zangetsu.

Bleach Chapter 581 – The Arrival Of The Savior

Love this colour spread, such a delicious use of colour

Aw, I was really hoping that the characters to appear from the flash in the sky were Sado, Inoue, Nel, Grimmjow and Kisuke instead of Ichigo =(. Given that the story of Bleach is approaching its end and there isn’t much opportunity for Sado and Inoue to be highlighted in battles, I did believe that this stage with Candice, Liltotto, Meninas, and Giselle was a perfect stage for them to be highlighted in battle. Sado, Inoue, Nel and Grimmjow would have also made great opponents for these female Sternritter to be highlighted as well. With Ichigo having arrived, a one-sided battle seems to be the destiny awaiting Candice, Liltotto, Meninas, and Giselle. Although I could be wrong and the female Sternritter could put up an exciting and intense battle against Ichigo.

Bleach Chapter 580 – The Assault Of The Female Sternritter

Impressive that she was able to avoid Zaraki’s attack

So we finally get the titles to the Sternritter initials of Candice, Liltotto, Meninas, and Giselle revealed, how exciting, but how sorrowful for them that the setting they had to show-case their abilities in was one where no-named Shinigami were the focus of their onslaught. Sure Zaraki may have been for the moment immobilised by them, but with the sudden development in the skies, these Sternritter may just find themselves with new opponents to fight. Hopefully before they defeated, they are given some opportunity to shine and have their abilities highlighted because for the most part they do seem quite interesting.

Bleach Chapter 579 – Fantasy End

More Sternritter appear in front of Zaraki: Candice, Meninas, Liltotto, and Giselle – – colour by HikariNoGiri

Well it has come at last, fantasy boy Gremmy has finally keeled over and the story can now progress into another of the many battles ongoing within Soul Society. I am surprised Gremmy’s concluding comments took half a chapter to deal with as he has already had substantial time within the last few chapters to be within the focus. Personally I didn’t find his character all that interesting and became indifferent about his character over four chapters ago. Yachiru’s sudden disappearance is interesting, especially with her shinigami outfit and badge left at the scene of the battle. Anyway with Zaraki partially injured and Liltotto, Meninas, Candice, and Giselle showing up I am intrigued to see how this scene will develop (and what happened to Bambietta?).