Bleach Volume 42 cover image is courtesy of Anime Castle Books.

Rated “T” for “Teen”

Ichigo “Strawberry” Kurosaki never asked for or wanted the ability to see ghosts.  Then, a kind of malevolent lost soul called a “Hollow,” attacked his family.  Ichigo met Rukia Kuchiki who brought him into the world of the Soul Reapers and the Soul Society.  Now a Reaper himself, Ichigo protects the innocent and helps tortured spirits find peace.

As Bleach, Vol. 42 (entitled Shock of the Queen) opens, Tôshirô Hitsugaya, Captain of Tenth Company takes on the Espada Tres, Tier Halibel (the crazy looking female character on the cover).  That’s just one of the battles between a Soul Reaper captain and the Espadas, the followers of the renegade Soul Reaper, Lord Sôsuke Aizen.  As the battle turns for the worse for the Soul Reapers, here comes the Visoreds.  Whose side will they choose?  The fate of Karakura Town hangs in the balance.

THE LOWDOWN:  Beginning in June and going on into December 2012, VIZ Media will publish the Bleach manga twice a month.  That’s two graphic novels every month for your shonen reading pleasure.  Although my favorite character, Ichigo, doesn’t make an appearance in this 42nd volume, I still enjoyed that every page is about a battle.  There are also a number of sudden appearances by some interesting characters.  Back to back volumes of the Bleach manga should give me all the battle manga I need.  I hope.  A cliffhanger makes it hard to wait even a month.  Why not three volumes a month?

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:  Those who want the best battle manga want Bleach.