Bleach: Uncut Set 15 by Viz Media

Editorial Review

The episodes in this collection comprise most of the 12th season of Bleach, the Decisive Battle of Karakura arc, which corresponds to chapters 316 through 340 of Tite Kubo's manga. Episodes 218 through 227 are pretty much nonstop action, as the Captains and Lieutenants of the Soul Society (Soifon, Hinamori, Rangiku, Shunsui, Hitsugaya, et al.) square off against various Arrancars and Fraccións, whom Aizen uses as troops in his attempt to invade the World of the Living. The challenges grow louder; the Bankai, more exotic; the Arrancars, more bizarre looking; and the explosions, more devastating in an escalating series of overlapping duels. The battle climaxes with the appearance of Ayon, a gigantic chimera with a deer's skull head, created by three powerful Arrancars. Ayon proves so formidable a foe that Chief Captain Yamamoto has to destroy him–and his creators. Before the struggle for Karakura Town is decided, director Noriyuki Abe abruptly cuts back to the Hueco Mundo, where Chad, Renji, and Rukia are fighting armies of skeletal Exequias. Ichigo makes a somewhat belated entrance as he continues his duel with the green-eyed Ulquiorra, whom he must destroy to rescue Orihime. Abe leaves this battle unfinished, too, ending the season with a series of slapstick misadventures at Karakura High and some fan service cheesecake. The over-the-top early battles will delight Bleach fans, but the comic ending will leave them scratching their heads over what the filmmakers may have up their sleeves for the 13th season. (Rated Teen: violence, violence against women, grotesque imagery, risqué humor, brief nudity, alcohol use) –Charles Solomon

(218. Kira, the Battle Within Despair, 219. Hisagi's Shikai! The Name Is… 220. Ikkaku Falls! The Shinigami's Crisis, 221. The Full Showdown! Soul Reapers vs. Espada, 222. The Most Evil Tag!? Soifon & Omaeda, 223. A Miraculous Body! Ggio Releases, 224. 3 vs. 1 Battle! Rangiku's Crisis, 225. Vice-Captains Annihilated! The Terrifying Demonic Beast, 226. Fierce Fighting Concludes? Towards a New Battle! 227. Wonderful Error, 228. Summer! Sea! Swimsuit Festival! 229. Cry of the Soul? The Rug Shinigami Is Born!)