Bleach, Vol. 21

Tite Kubo, Bleach: Be My Family of Not (ViZ, 2001) The time has come for Ichigo and friends to return to Earth. Summer vacation is over, the Soul Society's problems are fixed (well, they're out of that plane of existence, anyway), and it's not like hollows have just vanished from Earth, right? So back everyone goes. We get some revelations about previously minor characters who seem as if they're going to become major characters, and someone new is introduced as another foil for Ichigo. It did seem as if some of the plot twists here were Kubo reaching, but given how wonderfully-plotted the whole Soul Society story arc was, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. ****

Even if you have watched the shows section for this volume, it still offers alot of volume. Luckily, it skips the Bounto chapters and goes straight into the rest of the story And I must admit, for those who haven't seen the remainder of the Show either Subbed or Dubbed, you will find the ending to this volume very very interesting. Even after I know what happens, I still love reading the Bleach Novels. Buy it.

It turns the world upside down, and leaves you grasping at straws for support. He may not be the best writer in the world, but Tite Kubo delivers what we want.

The first half of volume 21 deals with the fall out of the revelation of from the last book about the truth behind Rukia's execution and Ichigo and co. return to the living world. It's full of several humorous and heartfelt moments as they bid farewell to the Soul Society and return to their previous (but hardly normal) lives. The second half introduces two new races to the Bleach universe: the Vizard, soul reapers with Hollow masks and the Arrancar, Hollows with zanpaku-tôs. Ichigo is invited to join the Vizard while a few Arrancar attack Ichigo's friends. There's also to more revelations about both Uryu's father and Ichigo's dad. Overall, I personally found the first half was more interesting than the second. Though the second half was full of several new plot developments, it's not enough to judge the new storyline yet. Recommended.