Bleach, Vol. 26

Tite Kubo, Bleach: The Mascaron Drive (ViZ, 2001) The arrancar storyline is finally starting to get into gear. Aizen has found a way to kickstart his plan, and both the Karakura contingent and the Soul Society have to be worried about that. Meanwhile, Ichigo and his band are training to get strong enough to face the arrancars, but Ichigo's training isn't going well, and with Orihime's offensive powers shattered, Urahara is convinced she'd be a liability on the battlefield, and doesn't want her to fight. One of the visored, however, may be able to help her... looks like Kubo's finally back on track, and I'm very glad about that. *** ½

Chad, Ichigo and Uryu are all pursuing their own means of training, and they'll do whatever's necessary to get stronger. That's most of the point of the twenty-sixth volume of Tite Kubo's "Bleach," which features our heroes working hard to get stronger and encountering more of the arrancar. Plenty of action, a spattering of comedy (including more of the deranged Hiyori), and some new arrancars causing massive trouble for the good guys. Orihime has a pretty tumultuous day -- she interrupts Ichigo's training to tell him the news from Soul Society, Urahara tells her that she won't be in the battle, and she befriends the gentle vizard Hachi, who reveals that he can help with her smashed Shun Shun Rikka. Then with Rukia's encouragement, she sets out on some special training of her own. But Aizen has some plans for Ichigo's little group. And as the Soul Reapers prep for battle (including some bankai training), Aizen's arrancar suddenly appear again, including a vengeance-obsessed Grimmjow. Ichigo and his friends are about to go up against the Espada, but Ichigo may be able to use his new abilities in battle... "Bleach Volume 26" is the calm before the storm. It's obvious that the action is building up to something big, but it's not quite clear what -- only that Our Heroes are getting stronger, that Aizen is making even more arrancar, and that the big bad guy has developed a creepy interest in Orihime's powers. Which, incidentally, are more powerful than we thought. And Tite Kubo packs this volume with plenty of action -- stone-smashing battles in Urahara's basement and the vizard lair, explosive clashes in the last few chapters, and a light-archery battle between Uryu and his icy dad. He takes the chance to explore some plot threads, such as a poignant conversation between Hitsugaya and a brainwashed Momo. Fortunately there's also loads of comedy -- the vizards forcing a screaming Ichigo to do dishes, Ikkaku being forced to wear a cutesy girly sweater (and head-butting a laughing Yumichika), Renji trying to throttle Urahara, and Yumichika and Rangiku whining about their zanpakutos. There's even a sweet reunion when Orihime gets to cuddle one of her Shun Shun Rikka. Orihime's feelings of inadequacy hit a high in this volume, as she struggles to deal with her lack of strength and her fear of being a burden on others. But Kubo also reinforces her strong friendship with Rukia -- even though Orihime has admitted that she's jealous of Rukia, the bond between them is illustrated when Rukia first stands up for her friend, then helps her grow stronger. Many other characters get some minor development here -- Ichigo is stronger and more relaxed now that his Hollow side is under control. We also see more of the vizards' personalities -- Hachi is gentle and wise, Shinji turns out to be a frequent crush-er, and others do stuff like read manga out loud and flip through filthy magazines. The twenty-sixth volume of "Bleach" has some necessary buildup, but it'