Bleach through volume 15

[rachelmanija]

I am at... um... about volume fifteen now in scans.

On one level, I really admire Tite Kubo for taking the story in a whole new direction rather than just having it be all Hollows, all the time. I loved the build-up to the trip to the Soul Society, and there have been many parts of the arc that I like a lot.

However...

1. It is driving me nuts that Rukia is just sitting there in her cell and waiting to be executed.

2. I don't like any of the new characters as much as the old characters, and even with the ones that do more or less interest me, I keep thinking, "But what about Rukia? How's Ichigo doing? Can we get back to Uryuu and Orihime and Chad now, please?" This reached its apex when two new characters started fighting each other, and a profound feeling of not caring came over me.

This all gives me a deep respect for Masashi Kishimoto, who managed in the "chuunin exam" arc of Naruto to introduce about a gazillion new characters, many of whom fought each other, and make me care what happened to them. It probably helped that Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi were in the stands and engaged with the action rather than entirely offstage.

3. I really miss sparkly shoujo schoolgirl Rukia, in addition to tough determined Rukia.

4. So... without spoiling me beyond what I'm asking for... just how long does this arc go on, has another arc started yet, and if so, is Rukia in it? Also, does Tatsuki ever come back? I liked her.