Bleach Chapter 388 – Eagle Without Wings 2 [Extreme Battlemasters Edition]
It’s been three weeks since the last one, so I bet you were all half-dead before you read this chapter. Well now, you should all be invigorated after this one, ’cause it sure was somethin’. The last chapter entitled “Eagle Without Wings” was about Orihime going to Hueco Mundo and Ichigo being left alone to deal with it. You call Ichigo’s trip to Heco Mundo “The Eagle Without Wings” Arc, seeing as he went there, he fought and he came back. The only problem is that he came back in the same state he went – lonely and confused.
The long-awaited battle between Ichigo and Aizen has finally begun. To celebrate that Kubo even drew a color picture. As you can see Ichigo is facing a lot of blades, even though this chapter he was backed up by so many powerful fighters. You could say this is a metaphor of how much more powerful Aizen is compared to Ichigo and his mask breaking is a symbol of weakness and instability. Or you could just say it’s a really awesome pic; all the same.
Last chapter ended the way this one started – Ichigo broke through the Garganta and ended up right behind Aizen. He then fired a powerful Getsuga straight into his opponent’s blind spot, but it was a complete failure. Aizen, being a very smart and experienced fighter, has taken precautions and had, before coming to Karakura Town, cast a protective Kidou spell, which would automatically block all attacks coming from behind.
Ichigo’s attack wasn’t strong enough to even scratch Aizen, so he tried again, this time using his hollow mask. At first Ichigo was scared to put his mask on, because he thought he couldn’t control his inner hollow. Before arriving in Karakura Town, Ichigo swore to himself that he wasn’t going to hold back and that he would kill Aizen. In one shot. Of course, it was ridiculous of him to think he could actually do it. Even with the latest version of his mask, Ichigo’s speed wasn’t on par with Aizen’s. The strawberry tried to stay as far away as possible from his enemy, but even that distance was overcome in the blink of an eye.
As if to show off his power, Aizen casually appears right in front of Ichigo. He can at any time just rip out Ichigo’s heart and strawberry wouldn’t even realize it. Aizen once again uses psychological attacks to provoke his opponent. He tells Ichigo that since all of his friends (who are apparently dead wight) are fine, then the two of them have no reason to hate each other. And it’s exactly the lack of hate that makes Ichigo weaker. During his fights with Kenpachi, Byakuya and Grimmjaw, Ichigo managed to fight beyond his limits, unlike most of his other battles. That was mainly because he had to win and the thought of losing filled him up with hatred (mostly towards himself). After his fight with with Ulquiorra, Ichigo could no longer fight at full power, because he doesn’t have a cause to stand for. Aizen has seen through that weakness of Ichigo and is trying to exploit it. It almost sounds as if he’s encouraging the substitute shinigami to become stronger. But before Aizen can continue his brain-washing, Komamura steps in, followed by more back-up.
Four Captains, four Vizards and the weakest vice-captain. These guys look really reliable, standing all cool like that. Even Oomaeda, almost. The strongest asset here is Shunsui, who has probably been a captain longer than everybody else here has been a shinigami. We might be in for some new bankai, hopefully.
BTW, notice how Ichigo’s mask started crumbling almost immediately after he put it on. It disappeared in a few seconds, even faster than when he originally got it. This is very worrying.
Well, this week’s review wasn’t all that good, ’cause of he 3 week brake, but you’ll hafta live with it somehow. Here’s a little funny to make up for it.
Tags: bleach manga chapters
January 15, 2010 9:42 am 14 Comments
Other Links to this Post
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI
By RyoRaizen, January 15, 2010 @ 10:36 am
This was not a bad review, and that last panel here was just what i was thinking (very gay pose). You are right about Ichigo’s lack of resolve. Vs kenpachi, it was an obstacle in his way of saving rukia. Vs byakuya, he was angry because byakuya would do nothing to save his sister. Vs. grimmjow, he wanted payback for what he did to rukia along with satisfiying his own lust for battle. Vs. ulquiorra, ichigo didnt like him cuz he stole orihime. All of those battle had at least a hint of personal intrest to him. But Aizen hasnt done anything to hurt Ichigo personally. Attacking his town is bad, yes. But it doesnt really tug at his heart like all the other battles have. And this is where Ichigo loses a great deal of his strength. So great post Byakushi. Very insightful.
By TakashiD, January 15, 2010 @ 12:53 pm
see that scene with aizen would have been less gay if aizen had actually stabbed his heart or something. since ichigo has not seen his shikai, he should take him out quickly so that his victory is practily guarenteed, but of course he does not. did anyone notice that the good guys are doing what aizen said? all that stuff about everyone relying on one person that he said to shinji before they started fighting, is exactly what they are doing with ichigo!
By Pretend3r, January 15, 2010 @ 4:31 pm
Indeed. Aizen is the master manipulator in all of SS. He is probably better at provoling people with words that using his shikai on them. Ichigo’s resolve shattered like a brick as soon as the first attack failed.
His resolve seemed to get stronger.. but a one minute chat with Aizen shoved his mind down the crapper. And @TakashiD: I guess Aizen is still having a jolly good time f’ing around with people.
By mart1, January 15, 2010 @ 6:13 pm
“he should take him out quickly so that his victory is practily guarenteed” Villans give a speach and then get defeated, don’t you know the formula???
I think Aizen DOES want Ichigo to get stronger. Ichigo is someone who can identify with his “break the barriers” ideals if not his “friends are dead weight” ones. I think he may try something like Magneto in X-men 1 by turning the captains/king into a vizard.
By Bob Ichimaru, January 15, 2010 @ 8:44 pm
http://www.bleachedichigo.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/15-277×300.png
Can you hear that? It’s the combined deafening shriek of the Bleach yaoi fan girls. Now there’s no way Kubo didn’t do this on purpose, but the question is why!? It’s SHOUNEN Jump! Why are all my favorite battle mangas getting overtly gay these days!!
By madara uchiha, January 16, 2010 @ 12:08 am
makes sense aizen would kick his but, yay! the bleach world is logical again…where’s yamamoto…?
By TakashiD, January 16, 2010 @ 2:02 am
mart1: pssh, the formula does not apply to the badassness that is aizen(at least i hope not). yeah about aizen wanting ichigo to get stronger, i have a pet theory that he is waiting till ichigo is stronger then everyone but him, and then he will use the hogyoku to turn him into some arrancar/vizard creature similar to his form during the ulquiorra fight that would serve aizen. if that happened then aizen’s victory would be guaranteed though, so i dont think it will happen.
By qwertyuiop, January 16, 2010 @ 6:57 am
The pic where Aizen is wit ichigo losing his mask is probably aizens doing! If he has created some vizards then he porbably can control their transformations! That is why he touched ichigo’s heart cos it is where the hollow inside can be controlled.
If u remember back 2 when ichigo fully transformed vs ulquiorra his hollow hole was where aizen touched (in the centre of the chest cavity)! That could b aizens key to the control
By shantu, January 16, 2010 @ 9:12 am
@qwertyuiop: ichigo’s mask started crumbling before aizen touched him.
By Pretend3r, January 16, 2010 @ 12:41 pm
I dont think its crumbling. It’s dissolving. Which is consintent with Vaizard taking off their masks.
By DessamKurosaki, January 16, 2010 @ 7:11 pm
whats the song name?
By Mart1, January 16, 2010 @ 10:19 pm
Anyone else notice that Ichigo’s partial mask looks like grimjaw? Just a weird coincidence? Or not?
By BSK17, January 17, 2010 @ 8:38 am
awesome chapter. i’m wondering: can’t aizen just use shikai on everyone present, including ichigo, at any time? i can’t wait to find out what ichigo will do to not witness aizen’s shikai. and its almost time for ichimaru to start his show.
By Coach K, January 18, 2010 @ 2:21 pm
I’m just happy to see that Aizen was actually in the battle. It’s nice to see he is actually getting his hands dirty.