Can our heroes stand up to the power of a god?
Creative Staff
Story/Art: Tite Kubo
English Adaptation: Lance Caselman
Translation: Joe Yamazaki
What They Say:
Aizen’s new powers are too much for even the combined efforts of Ichigo, Isshin, Urahara, and Yoruichi. But as Aizen and Gin head for the real Karakura Town, Ichigo decides to undergo intense training under his father’s tutelage.
Content:
Urahara and company continue their all-out assault, but Aizen remains entirely unfazed. Meanwhile, Gin tells Ichigo to just run away because he’s in no state to fight, but upon seeing just how pathetic he is he decides to kill him. However, Aizen appears before he can carry out the deed, having thoroughly defeated his opponents. Aizen’s shell breaks down into a new form, and he heads off for the Soul Society, leaving Ichigo behind. To prove how awesomely powerful he is, Aizen then smashes through the Kototsu, an act which should be impossible.
Isshin appears before Ichigo and puts some fight back into him, and the two depart for Soul Society. However, Isshin abruptly stops Ichigo in the middle of the Dangai, and explains that since the Kototsu is gone they can stay for an extended period of time. Thanks to the difference in the flow of time in the Dangai, that means that Ichigo can train for about three months, which will equate to only an hour in the real world. During this time, Isshin intends for Ichigo to learn the final Getsuga Tensho. In Karakura town, the tertiary cast runs like mad from the godlike figure of Aizen. Ichigo enters his inner world as part of his training, where he finds that it completely submerged underwater. Apparently Ichigo’s sadness has been making a mess of his inner world, a fact that Tensa Zangetsu explains upon appearing. Ichigo asks for his help in learning the final Getsuga Tensho, but this time he isn’t so willing to help out and even summons out and fuses with Hollow Ichigo, who is now wearing the form Ichigo used to defeat Ulquiorra. Will Ichigo be able to subdue this powerful foe and gain a new technique? And how will his friends possibly escape from the seemingly unstoppable Aizen?
In Summary:
Things are really heating up in this volume, with Aizen reaching a godlike level of power. Seeing how strong he’s become, it’s getting hard to see how he’ll ever be taken down. However, Ichigo seems to have gained a glimmer of hope to grab on to, which is nice to see after how broken down he is at the start of the volume. Most of all, though, it’s interesting to see the way that Ichigo’s friends are brought into the flow of things. It’s definitely a change of pace after the constant battles that have taken over the series, and it’s actually pretty interesting to see. With all the pieces in place, it seems that we’re finally set for the final showdown, so hopefully it’ll be worth the build-up.
Content Grade: B+
Art Grade: B+
Package Rating: B+
Text/Translation Rating: B
Age Rating: 13+
Released by: Viz Media
Release Date: Sep 4, 2012
MSRP: $9.99
