Manga Reviews (2010-2019): Bleach Vol. 74 – Story & Art by Tite Kubo (a Neo-Tokyo 2099 Manga Review)

The conclusion of “Bleach” with this final 74th volume will no doubt give “Bleach” fans closure, but also giving fans a possibility for a new series in the future. If you stuck with this manga for the longest time, “Bleach” vol. 74 is recommended!

MANGA TITLE: Bleach Vol. 74

STORY AND ART BY: Kubo Tite (久保宣章)

FIRST PUBLISHED IN JAPAN: SHUEISHA, Inc.

PUBLISHED IN USA BY: VIZ Media, LLC/Shonen Jump Manga

RATED: T for Older Teen

RELEASE DATE: October 2, 2018

The final battle against Yhwach gets under way as Ichigo and his allies reach the Quincy King’s throne room. Can Ichigo put an end to the thousand-year war between the Soul Reapers and Quincies? The conclusion of Bleach is here!

The final vol. of the “Bleach” manga series was released and we finally get a conclusion to the battle between Ichigo vs. Yhwach and Ishida Uryu vs. Askin Nakk Le Vaar, plus a fast forward of the storyline ten years later!

What is “Bleach?”

For those who are not so familiar with “Bleach”, “Bleach” has a strong fan following and since its run began back in 2001, series creator, writer and illustrator Noriaki “Tite” Kubo has been hard at work, continuing to crank chapter after chapter for Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan and with the success of the series extending out to films, OVA’s, feature films and video games and other merchandise.

Because of its airing on the Cartoon Network and it being featured on Shonen Jump magazine, “Bleach” has gone on to become a fan favorite in America but also fans all over the world.

A Brief History of what “Bleach” is about

“Bleach” is a story about a guy named Ichigo Kurasaki who has a gift in which he can see spirits. One day, he saw a Soul Reaper (one who can govern the flow of souls between the human world and the afterlife) named Rukia Kukichiki who has come to find a Hollow (a lost soul). She ends up being wounded in battle when she tried to defend Ichigo and so she illegally transfers her reiatsu (spiritual pressure) to him, so that he can defeat the Hollow. But during the process, he nearly takes all of her energy and becomes a Soul Reaper himself and defeats the Hollow quite easily. So, the first storyline arc features Rukia now powerless stranded in the human world until she has the time to recover her true powers, while Ichigo fills in and battles Hollows in her place. And with each fight, Rukia starts to notice something special about Ichigo’s abilities.

The second storyline arc of “Bleach” features the Soul Society wanting to sentence Rukia to death for transferring her powers to Ichigo. His friends also begin to develop special abilities. His childhood friend, Orihime Inoue, is given special abilities courtesy of her loving brother who has turned into a Hollow. Yasutora “Chad” Sato is Ichigo’s tall friend (who is half Japanese/half Mexican) who suddenly becomes aware of spirits and develops an ability to have a special armored right arm that has special abilities. And Ichigo’s rival/friend, Uryu Ishida, who is a descendant of a hollow hunting group known as the Quincy and are enemies of the Soul Reapers.

As their adventures have continued, we have seen Ichigo and his friends getting stronger, developing new abilities and taking on their most difficult foes yet but also earning the respect of his friends and the Soul Society, having saved their lives time and time again. But this time around, there comes a new enemy that may be so powerful that Ichigo may not be able to take them on…

Enter the Vandenreich!

The Current Storyline

We have only heard of how the Quincies had perished after a long feud with the Soul Reapers. The Soul Reapers which believed in having the soul of a hollow crossover to the Soul Society, while the Quincies believed in the total destruction of the hollow’s soul. And while the two had tried to work out their dispute, in the end, it let do a war in which the Soul Reapers vanquished the Quincies.

With only Uryu Ishida thought to be the last Quincy alive, in volume 55 of “Bleach”, it was revealed that one of the deadly Quincy’s from the past, Yhwach, was not killed and has assembled a group known as the Vandenreich to eliminate all Soul Reapers and destroy the Soul Society.

Many have gone missing in Karakura Town and while the Vandenreich have made their presence known to Captain Yamamoto by killing 1st Division Lt. Sasakibe. Also, Hueco Mundo Arrancars have been attacked by the Hueco Mundo Army led by Quilge Opie who are trying to force the Arrancars to join them or else be killed.

As Nel goes to the human world to beg for Ichigo to save Hueco Mundo, Ichigo, Uryu Ichida, Chad and Orihime hurry to Hueco Mundo to see what is happening. And with the distraction caused in that area, Yhwach orders the Vandenreich to attack the Soul Reapers in their home area inside the Seiretei and the top Quincy combatants of the Vandenreich, the Stern Ritter continues their destruction by trying to kill all Soul Reaper captains.

And the battle continues as Mayuri Kurotsuchi (with assistant Nemu Kurotsuchi) take on Pernida Parnkgjas, while Shunsui Kyoraku takes on Lille Barro and we finally learn the truth of Soul Reaper Nanao Ise!

And now surviving Soul Reapers Toshiro Hitsugaya, Byakuya Kuchiki and Kenpachi Zaraki must take on Gerard Valkyrie and if you thought he was tough in normal form, wait until he goes into his immortal giant form.

Meanwhile, Yoruichi Shihoin took on Askin Nakk Le Vaar, who has the ability to poison reishi. This would lead to Ishida Uryu in taking on Askin Nakk Le Vaar and Ichigo and Ywach confront each other in battle!

Who will become victorious?

Do not read further if you do not want to be spoiled as there are a few spoilers….

When the final volume of “Bleach” was released in Japan, I was there to read it immediately. Having read the finale to “Naruto Shipuuden”, “Bleach” and the finale for “Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Koen Mae Hashutsujo” (Kochikame), these three manga were no doubt a part of my life that entertained me year after year.

As for the final volume 74 of “Bleach”, the manga is released in North America courtesy of Viz and we get to read the conclusion between Uryu Ishida vs. Askin Nakk Le Vaar. and of course, Ichigo vs. Yhwach.

Who will survive and who will die? I think that is a bit of a given considering “Bleach” was a Shonen Jump series.

But I will say that it was a worthy conclusion to finally read an arc that has ran incredibly long, to finally conclude.

Similar to “Naruto Shipuuden”, we have a passing of the torch as well. Let’s just say, children are involved as the final chapter fastforwards ten years later. And I’ll leave it at that.

And the artwork and action is always well-done by Tite Kubo. The problem is that for people who were invested in reading the stories of Ichigo Kurosaki, are surprised to find out that long ago that it became less about Ichigo and the volumes focused on the Soul Reapers. So, you go through many volumes without full-on stories with Ichigo and friends and this is one of those volumes.

For those who stuck with the series for the long run, then this volume pays off as it focuses on Ichigo, Orihime and Uryu. There are a few surprises in store of who will actually be there for Ichigo in the final battle, but if anything, a fitting conclusion for this series that probably went longer than it should have.

Overall, the conclusion of “Bleach” with this final 74th volume will no doubt give “Bleach” fans closure, but also giving fans a possibility for a new series in the future. If you stuck with this manga for the longest time, “Bleach” vol. 74 is recommended!

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