Bleach 422+ Current Manga Discussion (Spoilers)

[Mr. Obsession]

So according to the Jump Festa 2012 info:

*Kubo still plans to continue bleach for [at least] 10 years. He's got the next 2 arcs planned.
*Aizen is going to reappear in the next arc.
*Ginjou's and Tsukishima's past will reveal important information about the shinigami and soul society.
*There's going to be a new nakama.
*Kubo said again that Ulquiorra [turning to ashes] has been the most impactful scene to the fans. Though he wants to apologize to the fans for not drawing Grimmjow's dying scene.
*Urahara's shady nature will unfold.
*He wants to reassure the fans that Yoruichi is fine.

I'm not sure if any of this has been confirmed. But if it has, I'm seriously going to ignore this series' existence for...a while.

Got a source for that? I saw this information posted on another forum this morning, but the only thing they linked it to was a post on 4chan… So yeah.

 

[Rynnec]

I got this from that same 4chan post you mentioned. Admittedly, I did jump the gun on this. Now that I've had time to think this over + having a poster on another forum provide some logic on why this is likely fake. I'm thinking that Kubo did say something similar to what was posted, in the vague way he usually does, but the anon who posted it twisted his words around to get fans riled up.

So "Aizen will return next arc" was originally something like "Aizen will still has a part to play" or "Urahara's shady nature will unfold" really was "Urahara will get more focus" and so on, and so on.

 

[Mr. Obsession]

And the 4chan post was confirmed as fake. Lulz.


This week we got the first five pages of the three week break info "chapters." Nothing spoilery though. Covers Squads/Divisions (pick your translation preference) 1 - 4:

1: Yamamoto

He did not have his lost arm replaced. But as someone who's been a shinigami for over 2,000 years it wouldn't be strange that with some training he didn't lose any strength. However, he has changed on the inside.

2: Soifon/Soi Fon/Soi Fong/Suì-Fēng (PICK ONE AREADY! >_<)

Thanks to Soul Society's healing skills, the hand she lost to Barragan was replaced. And her new, shorter haircut is to reflect the covert-ops value on speed.

Kubo mentions that he's considering changing Yoruichi's design as well, but he really likes her current one so he's conflicted.

3: Rose

He has returned to the position he held during Turn Back the Pendulum. His look is modeled on a "western gentlemen."

Kira is still the lieutenant of the 3rd.

Kubo makes it clear, just in case it wasn't, that Shinji returned as captain of the 5th and Kensei of the 9th again.

4: Unohana

In the next arc the most senior captain behind Yamamoto will finally enter battle and turn her zanpakuto against the enemy. Kubo says that when she finally fights the true form of her zanpakuto will be revealed. And that when she does fight, Unohana undoes her large hair braid.

Next week Kubo will reveal the battlefield for the next arc and reveal something about the 5th - 9th.

No other new information, other than Kubo says he had Ichigo's new look designed before the Lost Shinigami Agent arc started. The second page has a sketch from Kubo's first take on Bleach (the one where most of the characters were going to have guns, that was rejected for being too similar to Yu Yu Hakusho). Rukia's pretty much the same but had a scythe. Ichigo looked like Hisagi (minus the scars and tattoo) with glasses.

 

[Neo Ultra Mike]

You know we've been teased a lot with Unohana joining the battlefield so again I'll only beleive it when I see it. If the top Shinigami are involved in the next big battle though we better start seeing their bankais because honestly I'm sick of the idea we've seen all of Soul Society defeated yet haven't seen a lot of the captains full strength. Because really makes it seem kind of pointless to say they have bankais if they never even use them.

 

[JustLeagExpansio]

And the 4chan post was confirmed as fake. Lulz.


This week we got the first five pages of the three week break info "chapters." Nothing spoilery though. Covers Squads/Divisions (pick your translation preference) 1 - 4:

1: Yamamoto

He did not have his lost arm replaced. But as someone who's been a shinigami for over 2,000 years it wouldn't be strange that with some training he didn't lose any strength. However, he has changed on the inside.

2: Soifon/Soi Fon/Soi Fong/Suì-Fēng (PICK ONE AREADY! >_<)

Thanks to Soul Society's healing skills, the hand she lost to Barragan was replaced. And her new, shorter haircut is to reflect the covert-ops value on speed.

Kubo mentions that he's considering changing Yoruichi's design as well, but he really likes her current one so he's conflicted.

3: Rose

He has returned to the position he held during Turn Back the Pendulum. His look is modeled on a "western gentlemen."

Kira is still the lieutenant of the 3rd.

Kubo makes it clear, just in case it wasn't, that Shinji returned as captain of the 5th and Kensei of the 9th again.

4: Unohana

In the next arc the most senior captain behind Yamamoto will finally enter battle and turn her zanpakuto against the enemy. Kubo says that when she finally fights the true form of her zanpakuto will be revealed. And that when she does fight, Unohana undoes her large hair braid.

Next week Kubo will reveal the battlefield for the next arc and reveal something about the 5th - 9th.

No other new information, other than Kubo says he had Ichigo's new look designed before the Lost Shinigami Agent arc started. The second page has a sketch from Kubo's first take on Bleach (the one where most of the characters were going to have guns, that was rejected for being too similar to Yu Yu Hakusho). Rukia's pretty much the same but had a scythe. Ichigo looked like Hisagi (minus the scars and tattoo) with glasses.

Where did you find this? I'd like to see this.

 

[Mr. Obsession]

Where did you find this? I'd like to see this.

Among other places here.

 

[Captain Highwind]

Ichigo looked like Hisagi (minus the scars and tattoo) with glasses.

Sounds like that design eventually turned into Ishida (Hisagi of course too), if what I have in my head is right with the glasses.

As for designs, Kubo's been throwing those around for everybody, he might as well go to town with Yoruichi and Soi Fon.

 

[RockmanDash]

You know we've been teased a lot with Unohana joining the battlefield so again I'll only beleive it when I see it.

It seemed like he really wanted to do it during Fake Karakura since he brought her there with Ichigo. But the idea probably got conflicted and changed because he had to finally wrap up the arc. I was actually imagining her fighting Gin oddly enough.

 

[KYO'NYUU IMOUTO]

In this week's interview with Kubo!

Spoiler

I: In the next Arc, the Shinigami will of course reappear but will their be any other characters?

Kubo: I guess so? If the Arrancar do appear I think they will be on Ichigo's and the Shinigami's side.

I: What characters would appear as comrades?

Kubo: Well Ulquiorra has turned into ash. Grimmjow might be a comrade. Harribel who is currently living? It's just, how would she get out of Hueco Mundo. Harribel doesn't really seem like she would leave Hueco Mundo.

I: Talking about the Arrancar becoming comrades in this special project hiatus page, does this mean they will appear?

Kubo: I said they might appear but it doesn't mean they will (laugh). Well, if they do come out, it won't just be one, but many.

I: What about Nel?

Kubo: I want to get Nel to appear.

I: It would be nice to see some interaction with Kon and Nel

Kubo: That's because Kon didn't appear in the Lost Shinigami Agent Arc. Speaking more thoroughly, he hasn't really appeared since the SS Arc ended around 5 years ago. (laughs) Readers who have only just started reading probably don't even know that Kon exists (laughs)

I: Actually, they haven't been abandoned have they?

Kubo: (Laughs)

So hey, he's alive! Whee!

 

[Neo Ultra Mike]

Spoiler

Yeah glad Kubo talked about the Espada who are still alive. I can see his point based on Harribel's character on why would she want to leave Hueco Mundo though I have a feeling if she ever does it will because of some new dark presence in Hueco Mundo that she can't defeat that she would try hiding somewhere else away to protect her suborinates or something. And yeah Nel and Grimmjow would be good to see again. Like everyone else said there just needs to be a scene of Grimmjow in a school uniform challenging Ichigo to a fight and Ichigo being incredibly shocked at that scene. And I guess adult Nel can be there too in a school girl uniform. I'm sure some people might find that appealing heh heh. Still hope that proves this interview to be correct since other rumored ones haven't been but this one actually does have promise since it actually means Kubo ISN'T going to forget about beloved characters some thought he might.

 

[RockmanDash]

Grimmjow, Nel, and Harribel in school oufits..MAKE IT HAPPEN.


And silly Tite Kubo...Kon was in the Arrancar arc as well.

 

[Mr. Obsession]

The return of Grimmjow and Nel? Hell yes!

Kubo's editor made the following predictions about possible Espada returning (comments in parenthesis are mine):

Yammy – No Comment (Didn't the extra side-story that confirmed Harribel's survival also confirm Yammy's death?)
Stark - Extremely Unlikely sad
Barragan – No Comment (He was eaten by his own power on panel.)
Harribel - Unlikely (Kubo admits he can't come up with a reason for her to leave Hueco Mundo.)
Ulquiorra – No Comment (He turned to ash before our very eyes. And Kubo felt it necessary to remind us of this.)
Nnoitra - Extremely Unlikely (Wasn't it confirmed that Kenpachi's blow did kill him? Flashback maybe.)
Grimmjow - Very likely D)
Zommari - Extremely Unlikely (I would think so, he was purified by Byakuya's zanpakuto on panel. Flashback maybe.)
Szayel – No Comment (Kubo drew him in hell.)
Aaroniero – No Comment (See Szayel.)
Nel - Very Likely D)

So, Harribel, Grimmjow, and Nel are confirmed as alive. Yammy, Barragan, Ulquiorra, Szayel, and Aaroniero are confirmed as dead. And according to Kubo's editor Starrk, Nnoitra, and Zommari () are a maybe?

 

[Rynnec]

Considering Starrk, Nnoitra, and Zommari were slain by Zanpakuto, I can see how they can return. I guess Yammy went to hell with Szayel and the others, since he was (presumably) slain by a Zanpakuto as well but is counted among those unlikely to return.

Glad to see that Grimmjow and Nel have been all but confirmed as being alive.

 

[RockmanDash]

Zommari () are a maybe?

Zommari has to be dead. I'm not sure how the manga showed it, but the anime literally showed him turning to dust while he screamed "BANZAIIIIII!!!".

 

[Luna]

This is awesome news!...I'd love to see Grimmjow and Nel again...As I've mentioned before,they're favorite Bleach characters of mine,and I've been hoping they'd come back into the story somehow ...I guess I wouldn't mind seeing Kon again,though to be honest,I really didn't miss him in the latter part of the Arrancar arc and the Fullbring arc (It'd be funny if Kubo does a side-comic or something that reveals that Kon was just off-panel for the entire time he's been missing)...

Harribel never made much of an impression on me either way,so it doesn't matter to me either way whether she comes back...

I'm also glad that Kubo confirmed that Ulquiorra's dead/dust...I definitely don't want to see him again (I slowly grew to hate him during the course of the Arrancar arc,especially due to Ulquihime fans...who are almost as annoying as IchiRuki fans,and even more delusional)...

As for the rest,the only other Espada I wouldn't mind seeing again is Starrk...He actually seemed interesting,and I think he'd make a decent ally for Ichigo and Co...though that's unlikely....Oh,well...

 

[zoombie]

Great interview. Good news for Arrancar fans, not so good news for Kon fans. I agree Luna, I am glad Ulquiorra is gone, a kidnapper and rapiest, good riddance.

I am still hoping for the day when Nel and Grimmjow appear as the next exchange students. Though it is not as fun now that Ichigo friends and more specificly Ichigo is in on them being in on his Shinigami life.

Speaking of which, if Ichigo knows that his classmates know about his shinigami powers, does Ichigo accept that Karin knows about his shinigami powers?

 

[Mr. Obsession]

Speaking of which, if Ichigo knows that his classmates know about his shinigami powers, does Ichigo accept that Karin knows about his shinigami powers?

The one time Karin tried to talk to Ichigo about it he more or less shrugged her off because of something else he had to deal with right away. IIRC it was when Grimmjow and the arrancar showed up in Karakura for the second time. But he did transform right in front of her, so Ichigo knows Karin knows. On the other hand after the timeskip Ichigo monologued that she hadn't brought it up since then. And since getting his shinigami powers back we haven't seen Ichigo interact with either his father or his sisters.

At this point we probably won't find out anything new until Kubo does a slice-of-life downtime chapter or an omake about it.

 

[KYO'NYUU IMOUTO]

I do wish Kubo would do a few chapters of school stuff before getting into the next arc, if only to ease us into the next mega arc.

 

[EnigmaticWarrior]

Tite Kubo's Bleach Manga to Enter Final Arc

Approaching end of decade-long manga revealed in next Weekly Shonen Jump issue

This year's 10th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine is announcing on Monday that Tite Kubo's Bleach manga is entering its final story arc. Kubo has been drawing the manga in the magazine since 2001, and Shueisha published the 53rd compiled book volume of the manga in December.

Thanks to its "Shonen Jump Digital Warp" program, Viz Media just released the 53rd volume in electronic book form in North America last month. The Digital Warp program prepared the way for this week's launch of Viz's English-language digital anthology Shonen Jump Alpha, which is running chapters of Bleach and five other titles two weeks after their print debut in Japan's Weekly Shonen Jump. Viz will release the print version of the 38th volume next week.
[Via Manga News]

Update: More background information added. The 10th issue of Weekly Shonen Jump published the layout sketch (pictured above) for the color opening page of the manga's final arc in the next issue. [Via 0takomu]

 

[KYO'NYUU IMOUTO]

Kubo also said that he'd keep the story going another ten years, so we've still got a ways to go.

We also got a neat look at next week's double spread. I can't wait to see it in color!