15 years. 15 years of Bleach, a series that may have had dips in story but made up for it with some of the most stylish art around. That journey finally came to an end this week, as author and artist Tite Kubo drew the curtain closed on his grand tale of life, death and swords. Spoilers below, obviously.
So what’s the state of Soul Society then in these final chapters? With Ywach defeated at long last, peace has been restored and the afterlife has been properly fixed in Bleach. Traitorous captain Aizen Sousuke is locked up once again, the Quincy have been properly eradicated and at least one lieutenant has received a much overdue promotion as Rukia Kuchiki stepped into the big leagues as the final chapters of Bleach dealt with a ten-year time jump.
The Quincy War wasn’t without casualties however, claiming the lives of captain commander Genry?sai Shigekuni Yamamoto and captain J?shir? Ukitake having met a permanent end during the battle.
But on Earth, ten years later? Everyone gets a happy ending that they all fought for.
Ichigo and Orihime are together, having sired a young child:
As have Abarai Renji and Rukia:
Ishida has become a doctor, joining Ichigo in as a fellow medical professional:
While the most underrated member of the Bleach team, Yasutora Sado has gone on to become a world famous boxer:
With Ywach’s power finally scattered and destroyed across time, Aizen himself remarked how a world without death would be meaningless, as its the very act of facing it on a day to day basis that gave humanity courage to draw from.
But more importantly, the final chapter of Bleach passed on the torch in one quick scene, as the offspring of Rukia and Ichigo revealed that they too possess Shinigami powers.
A short and sweet chapter, capping off more than a decade of Bleach. After spending more than two years on the current arc, it’s no doubt odd to see it all finished off so quickly, but it’s about time. Full circle and all that, and I can’t wait to see Tite Kubo’s next big project. So long Bleach!
Last Updated: August 18, 2016
Dungeon of JJ
August 18, 2016 at 15:41
Wow. Can’t believe it’s over.
HairyEwok
August 18, 2016 at 16:46
Now for the live action film to happen.
Matthew Holliday
August 18, 2016 at 17:14
Didnt really get to see Ichigos new OP powers.
such a build up to it and its just like “nope”
pretty salty about that.
James S
August 19, 2016 at 19:12
Yeh! What happened to Getsuga Juujishou?!
Matthew Holliday
August 22, 2016 at 09:53
No idea hey, they made such a big deal of him being super OP, his new swords(plural) then showing us his combo shinigami/hollow/quincy form and where just like “yeah no, you know what, scratch all that, we wont even bother with his bankai, old shikai Zangetsu it is guys”
Umar
August 18, 2016 at 15:45
LOL Dat Boruto ending.
The D
August 18, 2016 at 16:17
LOOPHOLE-NO-JUTSU!
Jennifer Boudreau
August 18, 2016 at 15:46
Ugggghhhh…….. Just….no. I’m not ready for it to be over. Damn you Kubo. Now, if they were to start doing the anime again and finish that off, I’d feel a lot better.
Matthew Holliday
August 18, 2016 at 17:24
Their children dont have “shinigami powers”
“Shinigami powers” isnt a thing, in bleach, everyone has reiatsu.
but only shinigami and quincys can use their reiatsu
Kpanteh
August 18, 2016 at 17:41
If only Shinigami and Quincies are the only ones who can use reiatsu then how can Don Kannonji, Chad, Orihime….
I thought it was everyone has reiatsu but only certain people are able to use it to fight like Shinigami and Quincy do. Besides Quincies are just humans that are born with a high spiritual awareness.
Matthew Holliday
August 19, 2016 at 09:52
They are fullbringers, just forgot to mention them. they have items that allow them to use their reiatsu, i forget how.
Quincies are a little more complicated than that, I mean, Inoue and Chad have high spiritual awareness, but you cant really train them to be Quincies now can you?
They are their own race, or faction.
Morpheus
August 18, 2016 at 17:45
But Why did they call it Bleach??
Jo Mormont
August 18, 2016 at 18:36
Cuz you’ll want to drink some after witnessing the ending. 😉
Thunder God
August 19, 2016 at 02:02
I know I do!
indonesianpervyboy
August 19, 2016 at 12:08
It should be Bitch
James S
August 19, 2016 at 19:14
Isn’t that obvious? It’s about Shinigami who remove the stains of hollows from the world.
Kyrie Mikomi
August 20, 2016 at 20:08
It’s because of Ichigo’s supposed bleached looking hair when the story originally came out.
Rein
August 21, 2016 at 14:58
they’re bleaching evils right? I think thats what the title was for
lightningbarer
August 18, 2016 at 18:54
Can’t say I’m disappointed to see this manga go.
purpleness
August 18, 2016 at 22:09
sad, i’m more of ichigo + rukia, sad,,,,
Esther
August 19, 2016 at 08:36
Yup i totally wanted to see them together
UDLLORD
August 18, 2016 at 23:37
Hmm the ending i hope could follow like naruto’s boruto then it’ll be nice
Alejandro
August 19, 2016 at 01:46
Bleach is dead to me. I’m in such loss of words. Don’t even have the strength to say anything else.
Alejandro
August 19, 2016 at 01:49
But to me Ichigo and Rukia should have ended together because of their history and bond. Orihime is a sweet girl but their relationship throughout the manga never progressed. I’m out.
Thunder God
August 19, 2016 at 02:02
I like how this ignorant person didn’t even mention Unohana or Sasikibe.
Gracie
August 19, 2016 at 03:54
This gives me PTSD flashbacks to Naruto’s ending. Is this a mandatory requirement for SJ manga now?
MajorMilkshake
August 19, 2016 at 06:55
Honestly I’m just gonna pretend this whole final arc never happened, it was really promising until they got to the soul kings palace and then it seemed like Kubo was on a deadline. There were so many things he introduced into the arc that never quite got finished out.There was so much buildup for a big fight but it could never have topped Ichigo vs Aizen, and instead it was a bunch of buildup with no reward. It was just hugely disappointing to see such a long running anime end so abruptly, but I guess after the anime finished the manga lost readership as well.
Matthew Holliday
August 22, 2016 at 10:03
The whole arc was just fan service.
For all that the ending of the original manga was properly good, everyone was butthurt, so many bankais left to see and so many loose ends, so they made a new story and threw everything in at once.
And with all the delays between releases, its not surprising that it felt like Kubo was under pressure with deadlines. Going months between releases randomly throughout the story is never a good idea.
Sensui
September 8, 2016 at 09:32
Exactly how I felt,the zero division was hyped up for nothing,we never get a chance to know anything about the royal family,why wasn’t ichigo’s relationship to the Shiba clan explored? What happens to aizen? Why didn’t rhe soul king stop juha if “knew the future”? Smh I understand kubo was rushed but damn shonen should have at least let him end it properly. We’ll probably get a snipoff about the soul society early days.
GrimmjowEspada
August 19, 2016 at 09:43
What is with Grimmjow ? What happens to him ? Yoruichi, Urahara all those Charakters, but more important, grimmjow … ?
CopperPrince
August 21, 2016 at 21:19
thats one of my bigger issues. there were all these characters who came back for like 3 panels then vanished, also did the soul king revived, what about the royal gaurd, and did ichigos son absorb the guys power. i am left with more questions then answers. my biggest question would be what is shuuhei’s bankai, i wanna see it.
Cheat
August 19, 2016 at 14:08
I hate you, Kubo
???™
August 25, 2016 at 08:30
That left me tasteless what the fuck kinda ending was that
MultiGamerClub
October 20, 2021 at 18:51
I scrolled through fast..