Reviews

Bleach, Vol. 7: The Broken Coda by Tite Kubo

shonaningyo's review

3.0

I can tell I will never like Byakuya. What an asshole.

My shelf "stoic asshole" is JUST FOR YOU, Byakuya!

tiamariatamera's review against another edition

Kon being held hostage behind a toilet

"I couldn't see who was there, I had to figure it out by the sounds!!!"
"It was tough... I had to listen to three small tinkles and two big splashes FROM YOUR DAD!!"

More (intentional?) sword innuendo goodness

"...ridiculously oversized sword!!"
"What... it's big!?"
"I thought it was just big compared to Rukia's... up to now, I had nothing to compare to"
"Amazing, the SIZE OF THAT THING!!"

Renji insults

"It's no fun butchering a crippled pig anyway"

Killer, siren like butterflies

"LOOK! A sexy lady butterfly!!"
"Hi handsome! I'm Jennifer! Pisces, blood type A, with E cups!"
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?... you should be able to handle the hell butterflies on your own by now, FOOL"

theoryoftheafro's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

jasmineae's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

terhill's review against another edition

mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

antananarywa's review against another edition

adventurous funny tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

sbbrown25477's review

adventurous funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

theautumnalreader's review

adventurous emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

There are so many layers to volume 7 that I've been trying to wrap my head around. While on the surface the impotent/dick jokes when it comes to zanpakto were prevalent, I think there was a lot of insight into the future of Ichigo and the series. This volume had a host of funny moments from Urahara to Ururu, but there was so much meaning, too. The action and art were compelling but two things really stood out in this volume for me.

First, I was caught by the rain that is ever present with struggles and strife for Ichigo. Seeing Ichigo, and Uryu, too, lying face down in a rain puddle after being defeated and stripped of power by Byakuya shows the defeat that changes Ichigo's future. I found it both beautiful and compelling that Urahara, in all of his mystery, holds an umbrella over Ichigo and Ichigo realizes that "the rain has stopped." Urahara as a guide but also a teacher to unlock his true power and quest to save Rukia shines as the guide who literally and metaphorically will lead to the rain stopping.

Finally, I was really taken by Orihime and Ichigo's dynamic in Volume 7. Orihime alone recognizes Ichigo's mission for Rukia and confronts him with his inner doubts and resolves in a playful and subtle way. I'm interested in seeing how Orihime aids Ichigo's resolve moving forward, as the panel with him balling his fist and thanking her feels like foreshadowing for the future. Similarly, the doubts and resolve Orihime finds in herself to "not let" anything happen to Ichigo versus just hoping he'd be safe like she first mentioned shows how Ichigo strengthens her resolve, too. 

afreema3's review

5.0

So, I wanted to finally give my thoughts on Bleach because I think I'm 7 volumes in, and I still like it.

I didn't really read manga or watch anime that much in the early 2000's partly because I probably couldn't read until 2005-2006 and the only anime that I could watch at the time was Yugioh. I was only 1 month and so many days old when Bleach came out in 2001, but growing up I knew what Bleach was. Bleach is known to be a part of the Big Three, three Shonen Jump manga/anime that were extremely popular. I was growing up while the Big Three were at their peak in 2004, and around the late 2000's I knew what Naruto was, but Bleach and One Piece were not really on my radar. Yet, if you had shown me a picture of Ichigo back in 2007-2008 I could probably tell you he looked familiar to me. When I finally did start reading manga and watching anime, Naruto was ending or had just ended, and Bleach, well Bleach was on the down hill slope, also I had no way of watching the shows legally and I didn't know where manga was at my local library. The Big Three were no longer this powerful entity in the West, and for me as a new anime fan I was looking for what was new.

It is now 2021 I have three library cards and two of my three libraries have been building up their digital collection of manga. Now, I know my local library probably has Bleach and Naruto, but since the Pandemic I have mainly been reading manga on my Kindle, and I feel uncomfortable checking out books from the library. So, when I did see Bleach as an option, and for over a month no one was checking it out of the digital collection so, I decided to try Bleach. I was intrigued, and I decided to read more. Since 2007-08 I have learned a lot more about Bleach and how the ending is almost universally loathed so, while watching the Trash Taste Podcast and through simple research I learned that you should stop reading Bleach after you finish the Soul Society arc, and that is exactly what I am going to do. I plan to read Volume 20 then stop because that is when the Soul Society arc ends.

anga_kyla's review against another edition

4.75

The best volume so far. So fun and the stakes are getting higher. Love it.