Bleach Volume 30 cover image is courtesy of barnesandnoble.com.

Rated “T” for “Teen”

Ichigo “Strawberry” Kurosaki never asked for the ability to see ghosts, but he was born with it.  After his family was attacked by a “Hollow,” a malevolent lost soul, Ichigo is introduced into the world of the Soul Reapers.  With the help of a young woman named Rukia Kuchiki, Ichigo becomes a Reaper:  protecting the innocent, cleansing malevolent lost souls, and helping them find peace.

In Bleach, Vol. 30 (entitled There is No Heart Without You) Ichigo, Rukia, Uryû Ishida, Chad Yasutora, and Renji Abarai continue their mission into Hueco Mundo, the other-dimensional headquarters of the Arrancars, to rescue Ichigo’s friend, Orihime Inoue.  A healer, Orihime is prisoner of the renegade Soul Reaper, Sôsuke Aizen.  In a series of one-on-one duels, Ichigo and company battle the Arrancars.  The Arrancars push them to their limits, but Rukia may be facing the toughest challenge.  Her opponent appears to be her former mentor and superior, Kaien Shiba, once an assistant Captain of Thirteenth Company and the man she killed.

THE LOWDOWN:  Always a good read, Bleach offers the kind of edgy, intense action for younger readers that seinen manga titles offer older readers.  Bleach creator Tite Kubo does not skimp on character, however.  Kubo unveils Rukia’s history with Kaien in tasty layers.  Kubo depicts the personal, philosophical, and professional dilemmas this hellish reunion presents as both taut character drama and as riveting samurai melodrama.  Read this.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:  Readers looking for great manga look for new volumes of Bleach.

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