Bleach Chapter 669 – Zaraki’s BANKAI

Zaraki’s Bankai finally UNLEASHED!

Now that was wild, just for the illustrations of Zaraki unleashing makes the chapter worth it completely. That double page spread revealing Zaraki’s Bankai released form was/is amazing – the contrasting black and white coupled with the chaotic rawness was just…beautiful. Finally, with Gerard’s demise about to result we will finally see the end of the Schutzstaffel (well except for the fragments on Lille in Soul Society). The focus can shift back to Ichigo and other important elements of the story.

Bleach Chapter 636 – Zaraki and Mayuri VS Pernida

What else does the mysterious Sternritter have hidden beneath their twisted form?

The contrasting tactics of Zaraki and Mayuri against a mysterious foe with an unknown power really does create an interesting illustration of two captains personalities and the strengths the each possess. Zaraki via brute force and insane endurance and Mayuri through observation and the madness he possesses. One could argue that the two compliment each other and through Zaraki, Mayuri was able to deduce the enemy’s ability and possibly through Mayrui, Zaraki will have an opening to exploit to deal the finishing blow. Should be exciting to see what else Pernida has in store for the two captains and whether s/he can overcome the countermeasures Mayuri has for his/her ability.

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?).

Bleach Chaper 578 – The Double-Edged Imagination

And he didn’t even need to take his eye patch off, what a beast Zaraki Kenpachi

Well that was a fitting end to the battle, Gremmy killing himself through the perception of Zaraki he had formed within his mind. It was an excessively stretched out fight, especially with the result being obvious from onset, Zaraki was not going to lose to Gremmy, but at least it is over now and we can move on to the other battles and/or other characters. Still, now the Sternritter realises how dangerous Zaraki has become and that is exciting.

Bleach Chapter 577 – Nozarashi Unleased

Well dam, you just unleashed the beast Gremmy…

I did say last week that I had wanted Zaraki to quickly dispatch of the meteorite followed by Gremmy, but after seeing how beautifully Kubo-sensei highlighted Zaraki, I don’t freaking mind that it took one whole chapter just to get Zaraki to demolish that meteorite! The sheer audacity Zaraki has to challenge a meteorite of such a massive size, and to do dispose of it in such an effortless fashion, I couldn’t help but be satisfied at how badass Zaraki (and Nozarashi) is.

Bleach Chapter 576 – Twisted Excitement II

Gremmy still hasn’t realised how much of beast Zaraki really is…

I love Zaraki, but Gremmy is just not cutting the mustard for me, I seriously find myself losing interest in this fight the longer it goes on, especially since this battle is one in which Zaraki shines and Gremmy loses (Gremmy being annoying with his cockiness doesn’t help at all). Hopefully though there is some twist that I won’t be expecting coming up. The mystery of Zaraki’s zanpakutou though is extremely interesting, especially with him invoking its name at the end of this chapter. Zaraki vs Gremmy’s meteorite should be exciting, but hopefully after he deals with it, he quickly dispatches Gremmy as he has already passed his expiration date as an interesting character.

Bleach Chapter 575 – Twisted Excitement

Oh Zaraki, what can’t you do?

Gremmy finally opened his eyes fully! And man does he look demonic, especially with that unnerving smile he wears. The more this fight progresses, the more I am feeling that this could in fact be the real Zaraki as opposed to the manifestation of  Yachiru’s imagination after her zanpakutou ‘copied’ Gremmy’s ability =/. Zaraki attitude and the fight he is bringing to Gremmy is so very Zaraki that it makes it hard to believe that it could not be the real him there. Well whatever the case is, hopefully Zaraki manages to silence Gremmy and destroy everything and anything Gremmy is capable of imagining to oppose Zaraki.

Bleach Chapter 574 – Absorbed In Thought

Yip, just slice through anything he imagines…

Is it just me or does anyone else find Gremmy grossly offensive to the sensibilities? I mean like dam, those squinted eyes and pretentious smile just severely rub me the wrong way. If Kubo-sensei intended to create a character that repeatedly grates away at ones sensibilities, he succeeded, magnificently. Gremmy’s whole design, demeanor, attitude, cockiness, dialog, everything about him screams bastard. I can’t say I’m entertained much by his character so far, the arrogant nature central to his personality is pretty much urging my desire of wanting Zaraki/Yachiru to trash him on. Hopefully this battle won’t take much longer for “Zaraki” to wrap up.

Bleach Chapter 573 – Kenpachi VS Gremmy

Is there anything Gremmy can imagine to counter Zaraki?

I finally figured out what was going on in the previous chapter…I was under the impression that Guenael was a separate Sternritter from Gremmy but after rereading chapter 572 it was so obvious that he was a product of Gremmy’s imagination…ah, how exactly did I miss out on picking that up =/. Well, Gremmy is the “V” Sternritter, the “Visionary” Gremmy. It also seems that Gremmy doesn’t need to construct a separate dimension to allow his imagination ability to come into play, he has the freedom to manifest anything he imagines right into reality. But well, Zaraki Kenpachi is here, and it seems even imagination trembles in the presence of him.