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Within the realm of Tite Kubo’sBleach, the strongest power a Soul Reaper can hold is called a Bankai. Bankai is the second upgraded form of a Soul Reaper’s katana (Zanpakuto), which is also its main ability. It is the spirit of the katana that is manifested and brought out to the physical world by its wielder, making the Soul Reaper much more powerful than before.
While the Bankai transformation is the same for almost every character in the series, Ichigo Kurosaki, the protagonist ofBleach, is the only one to have more than one Bankai transformation. This was because Kubo decided to give Kurosaki an entirely different katana that got manifested into an entirely new Bankai that was never seen before.
However, it was not well received by the fans of the series. Fans created a big controversy against Kubo’s step of giving Ichigo a second Bankai. This even looked like plot armor to save the main character from the antagonist (Yhwach), who was majorly more powerful than the protagonist inBleach.
Ichigo’s Bankai, Tensa Zangetsu Explained
Ichigo’s Bankai was one of the most unique Bankai in the entireBleachseries considering his role as a substitute Soul Reaper. Not only that, even his method of achieving his Bankai was different from any other Soul Reaper. His Bankai form changed his sword to a much slimmer katana that had a small chain at the back.
Tite Kubo Hung an Albatross Around Senjumaru Shutara’s Neck that Kept Her from Becoming the Best Character of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War
However, his Bankai keeps changing with every arc as he unlocks more potential, making it even stronger than before. While these changes are small and hard to notice, the one inBleach: Thousand-Year Blood Warmight be the biggest change his Bankai has ever received. This is because his entire katana is changed after he loses Zangetsu in his battle against Yhwach.
As Ichigo goes through another training arc and finds out more about his family and history, he unlocks a new Zanpakuto that is much more powerful than the previous version. Not only that, the Zanpakuto is divided into two different blades, making hisBankai even stronger than before.
The Controversy Behind Ichigo’s New Bankai
Although it was understandable forTite Kuboto change Ichigo’s Bankai considering his first Zanpakuto was destroyed, fans couldn’t wrap their heads around it. This was because it felt like Kubo was trying to save Ichigo and shorten the narrative no matter what. However, things took a whole new turn when even his second Bankai couldn’t stand against Yhwach’s strength.
In their final battle inBleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, Yhwach manages to break Ichigo’s second Zanpakuto using his unprecedented power. This was the moment where fans felt like Ichigo would lose against Yhwach, but as he was accompanied by Uryu and Aizen, he still had a chance.
Tite Kubo’s Genius Storytelling Skills are Evident in His Most Controversial Character Because of Just How Dark Bleach Became
Finally, his attack on Yhwach unleashed his first-ever Zangetsu, bringing a full circle moment toIchigo’s powerful abilities.But it created a lot of controversies among the fanbase as no one could perfectly understand how Ichigo was able to use three different Zanpakuto and two Bankai inBleach.
Bleachis available to watch on Hulu.
Tarun Kohli
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2958
Tarun Kohli is the Senior Anime Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,900 published articles. He currently specializes in critiquing One Piece and other Shonen anime. A passionate fan of the genre, his love for thoughtful analysis reflects his genuine appreciation for the art of anime. His deep understanding of anime culture has earned recognition from industry figures such as Adi Shankar and the creators of Blood of Zeus.
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BleachIchigo KurosakiTite Kubo
