Name: Nadine Isabelle G.

Osis Title: Bleach (Agent of the Shinigami Arc) Author: Tite Kubo ( , Kubo Taito) Date book was published: January 5, 2002 (Japanese version), June 1, 2004 (English version) Genre: Shnen, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy

Teacher: Ms. Marycon Mella

Shnen manga is typically characterized by high-action, often humorous plots featuring male protagonists. The camaraderie between boys or men on sports teams, fighting squads and the like is often emphasized. (www.en.wikipedia.org)

I.

SUMMARY MAIN CHARACTERS: Kurosaki Ichigo is a human who has Shinigami powers and is the protagonist of the story. Kuchiki Rukia is the lieutenant of the 13th Division of the Gotei 13 (13 Division Imperial Guards) in Soul Society. She is the adoptive sister of Byakuya Kuchiki and a friend of Kurosaki Ichigo. Urahara Kisuke is the former captain of the 12th Division. He currently lives in the Human World after being exiled. He is now the owner of the Urahara Shop, a small convenience store that doubles in selling Shinigami items. Abarai Renji is the lieutenant of the 6th Division in the Gotei 13 under Captain Kuchiki Byakuya and is a friend of Rukia. Kuchiki Byakuya is the 28th head of the Kuchiki Clan, one of the four great noble clans in Soul Society. He is also the captain of the 6th Division in the Gotei 13. PLOT: Kurosaki Ichigo has always been able to see ghosts, but this ability doesn't change his life nearly as much as his close encounter with Kuchiki Rukia, a Shinigami and member of the mysterious Soul Society. (www.mangafox.com)

One evening, Ichigo sees Kuchiki Rukia in his bedroom. He initially mistakes her for a burglar but Ichigo then realizes that maybe Rukia is a ghost because he is the only one who can see her. Rukia explains that she is not a ghost but a Shinigami, those who exterminate hollows who do evil in the Human World. During their conversation, a hollow attacks the Kurosaki Residence. Ichigo tries to save his sister by hitting the hollow with a baseball bat that did not even damage the hollow. Rukia helps them by using her Shinigami power but Ichigo's reckless actions force Rukia to shield him with her body, causing her severe injuries. Seeing Ichigo's determination to protect his family, Rukia offers to temporarily turn him into a Shinigami by piercing his chest with her Zanpakut and transferring half of her power to him. However, Ichigo absorbs almost all of Rukia's power. He then defeats the hollow easily. With her powers diminished, Rukia is left stranded in the human world until she can recover her strength. In the meantime, Ichigo takes over Rukias role of defeating hollows and giving soul burials to the Pluses who have lost their way after death. But that doesnt give this story an ending. Kon, a modified soul that Ichigo uses to transform into Shinigami form, says that Rukia is in big trouble and shows Ichigo a note that she left on his desk. Confused by the message, which tells them that Rukia has to leave and instead of looking for her, they should go into hiding, Ichigo decides to look for her. As Abarai Renji, a Shinigami, attacks Rukia, Ichigo arrives at the scene and defended Rukia. Realizing that he is the human who took Rukia's Shinigami powers, Renji attacks Ichigo. Renji aims to kill Ichigo for that is the only way Rukia can have her powers back. Ichigos reiatsu increases and he injures Renji badly. As Ichigo attempts to end the fight, Byakuya appears and stabs Ichigo subsequently leaving Ichigo badly injured. Rukia then tells them that she will go back to Soul Society with them and agrees to pay for her rule-breaking by having the execution. She tells them that they dont need to kill Ichigo as he will soon stop breathing on his own. Ichigo asks if this is a joke, causing Rukia to reply that if he tries to follow her, she will never forgive him. She tells him to conserve what energy he has left so that he may live a moment longer. Byakuya answers to Rukia's request and explains that Ichigo should die shortly due to his injuries, but if he does survive, he will no longer possess any Shinigami powers. As they leave, Ichigo notes that he cannot move or speak. He reflects upon coming to protect Rukia, but instead she protected him again. As Ichigo contemplates, Urahara and Yoruichi approach him.

Ichigo awakens in Urahara's shop, where Urahara tells him that his wounds are not yet healed and that if he moves too much he could die. Ichigo says that he cannot do anything as Rukia has been taken to the Soul Society and he cannot follow her. Urahara reveals that he can send Ichigo there on the condition that he trains with Urahara for the next ten days, revealing that the Soul Society typically allows a grace period of a month before executions. He states that it will take seven days to open the gate to the Soul Society, leaving Ichigo with thirteen days in the Soul Society to rescue Rukia. Though doubting that he can become strong enough in ten days, Ichigo agrees to Urahara's deal. Urahara then trains Ichigo for the next few days aiming to restore Ichigos Shinigami powers. Ichigo successfully became a complete Shinigami. After completing Urahara's training, Ichigo had a normal holiday while waiting for the gate to the Soul Society to be opened. AUTHORS MAIN IDEA I think that the authors main idea is to let the readers know and understand why strength, bravery and the willingness to save someone can actually overcome anything more powerful than you are. There are many times that Ichigo showed his braveness that led him to successfully save his friends. Even though Kurosaki is just a normal teenage boy, he still tried to save his sister from a hollow which he doesnt even know how to defeat (Volume 1 Chapter 1: Death and Strawberry). He still planned to go to Soul Society to rescue Rukia even if his not sure if he can actually manage to save her (Volume 7 Chapter 57: Unfinished July Rain). The author intends the readers to realize that as long as you have the urge to protect something/someone you can actually do it.

II.

III. SPECIAL FEATURE The part of the manga that made it special is that it contains Bonus Chapters and Special Features such as a Manga Omake named: Tedious Everyday Tales Colorful Bleach. This omake contains chapters generally concerned to the daily lives of the Gotei 13 Shinigami but there are few non-Gotei 13 characters that appeared. The stories were unrelated to the main plot of the manga.

IV. MY OPINION It was during my 2nd year in high school when I started reading Bleach and it got me all cheered up because of the awesome characters and great plot. This manga made me feel inspired actually. To tell you the truth, this is one of my most favorite graphic novels of all time. That is why I chose it to be the basis of my book analysis. I would recommend this book because it is much better than the anime adaptation. The anime adaptation of Bleach contains arc that werent needed for the story but were just intended to be filler episodes so that the anime wont catch up easily to the manga. I also recommend this because it teaches moral lessons that you cant just get anywhere.