Bleach Volume 31 cover image is courtesy of barnesandnoble.com.

Rated “T” for “Teen”

Ichigo “Strawberry” Kurosaki was born with the ability to see ghosts.  After his family was attacked by a “Hollow,” a malevolent lost soul, Ichigo was introduced into the world of the Soul Reapers.  With the help of a young woman named Rukia Kuchiki, Ichigo became a Reaper.  Now, he protects the innocent, and cleanses malevolent lost souls, helping them find peace.

In Bleach, Vol. 31 (entitled Don’t Kill My Volupture), Ichigo and his companions continue their mission to rescue Orihime Inoue from the clutches of the Arrancars.  Sneaking into Hueco Mundo, the other-dimensional headquarters of the Arrancars, Ichigo and the rescue squad have made it as far as the fortress of Las Noches.  Now, they must battle the ultra-powerful Espadas.  It’s Ichigo versus Ulquiorra, but Grimmjow wants Ichigo bad enough to kill his comrade.

THE LOWDOWN:  Most creators could not get away with decompressing a storyline to the extent creator Tite Kubo does with Bleach.  This “invasion of Hueco Mundo” storyline seems as if it has been playing out for over a year, but Kubo never goes more than a few chapters without offering some cool, bracing kinetic action.  The combat is what makes Bleach such a cool read, and told in Kubo’s striking graphic storytelling style, it is dynamite.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:  Shonen readers of all ages will love Bleach.

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