One of the most enjoyable aspects of a new manga volume coming out is the chance to see some brilliant new, full-color artwork, and Bleach is no different from other manga in that regard. The series has featured some impressive cover art over the years, especially as it went on and Tite Kubo’s skill as an artist only grew.
Unlike some other manga, which can vary up the cover designs quite a lot, Bleach has a very consistent style which every volume more or less adheres to. The covers depict a character, typically one important to that volume, set against a white background with the series’ logo either at the top or bottom. The volumes also generally have a title on them as well, usually drawn from a chapter title within that volume. As such, the focus is more on the individual character art than the overall composition of the cover.
10
Mayuri Looks Particularly Deranged
Volume Title: Higher Than The Moon
The cover of volume 35 features the often controversial (and author’s favorite) character of Mayuri Korotsuchi, the Soul Society’s resident mad scientist and someone who’s absolutely not to be trusted. Kubo’s preference for Mayuri shows through with how detailed the artwork is, paying attention to every last facet of Mayuri’s complex outfit. While only one eye is visible, Mayuri’s gaze seems to be going in two different directions, making him look especially unhinged.
Volume 35 is set in the midst of the Arrancar arc, and opens with Mayuri’s epic defeat of Szayelaporro Granz, the Espada’s own mad scientist character, proving once and for all who’s the best.
9
Ichigo’s Inner Hollow is Terrifying
Volume Title: No Shaking Throne
Volume 25’s cover depicts Ichigo’s inner hollow on the cover, large and prominent. The character is shown licking his lips with a malicious expression on his face, conveying the idea that he has nothing good in mind for Ichigo. Since the inner hollow looks so much like Ichigo, it gives the volume something of a twisted vibe, as if things aren’t right. While fans will now know the truth about Ichigo’s inner hollow, at this time, it was still more of a mystery, and the cover manages to convey that uncertainty well.
Set during the Visored arc, Ichigo’s inner hollow and hollow abilities in general obviously play a large role, as he learns he’s not alone in being part hollow and part Soul Reaper. Even so, the inner hollow is an interesting choice for a cover character, and perhaps foreshadows the greater role it would have later in the series.
8
The Hollow King Haunts
Volume Title: Kingdom of Hollows
Volume 43 depicts the character known as Baraggan Louisenbairn, AKA the King of the Hollows. Featured is Baraggan’s resurreccion form, rather than his Arrancar form–a reflection of his original appearance when he was the King of Hollows. Baraggan’s skeletal head is laughing maniacally in the cover image, showcasing his confidence in the face of the Soul Reapers. Baraggan sees himself as a god, and faces down the enemy with no fear of defeat.
The volume is set in the Fake Karakura Town arc, and opens with the battle between Baraggan and Hachi and Sui Feng, and gets into Baraggan’s backstory from before he was transformed by Aizen.
7
Head Captain Yamamoto Shows Off
Volume Title: The Burnout Inferno
The cover of volume 45 showcases a shirtless Head Captain Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, with his teeth clenched and looking furious. Gazing at the image, one can see how experienced Yamamoto must be in battle, as his body is covered in scars and marks from previous fights. One of Yamamoto’s eyes is in shadow, while the other is a vibrant red, giving him an even more intimidating look than he already has.
This volume takes place near the end of the Fake Karakura Town arc, and sees Head Captain Yamamoto pulling out his true power to face down Sosuke Aizen himself. Even as intimidating as the old man looks here, one can’t help but wonder if even his power will be enough to finally defeat Aizen.
6
A Memorial to a Fallen Captain
Volume Title: THE FIRE
Incidentally, volume 58’s cover also features Head Captain Yamamoto, although this time focusing in on his face rather than his powerful body. Here, Yamamoto doesn’t look nearly as dangerous, instead appearing as a tired, somewhat sad-looking old man. The image is colored exclusively in shades of red, echoing the volume’s title and bringing to mind Yamamoto’s own fire-based abilities.
Given that this volume covers the beginnings of the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, which sees Yamamoto’s demise at the hands of Yhwach, the solemn cover feels appropriate, as if Yamamoto is looking back after his death with regret.
5
Uryu’s Contemplative Stare
Volume Title: My Last Words
Volume 72 of Bleach features Uryu on the cover, his second time being on the cover as well, although the last cover was way back in volume 4. Uryu is cloaked in his white Sternritter outfit, grasping the cape with one hand as if he’s about to pull it off dramatically. However, Uryu’s facial expression doesn’t seem like he’s in any way pleased about what’s going to happen, looking contemplatively off into the distance.
This volume includes Uryu’s big confrontation with Ichigo following his apparent defection to the side of Yhwach, something he was no doubt not looking forward to, making the sad-looking cover image very appropriate.
4
Gremmy Fades Away
Volume Title: Death in Vision
Volume 64’s cover depicts Sternritter V, Gremmy Thoumeaux, along with the title very prominently opposite his artwork. Gremmy is shown looking down and away, with his mouth open as if in the middle of saying something. Interestingly, the artwork has an almost unfinished quality to it, with Gremmy’s white uniform blending into the white background, as if Gremmy is in the middle of disappearing, and possibly hinting at his true nature.
The volume is set squarely in the midst of the Quincy invasion of the Soul Society, and naturally features the fight in which Gremmy appears against Kenpachi Zaraki.
3
Komamura Looks Ferocious
Volume Title: Heart of Wolf
The cover of volume 62 shows Sajin Komamura’s wolf-like visage, taking up an overwhelming amount of the cover and leaving little white space. The effect of this is that it feels like Komamura is right up in the reader’s face, dangerously close. Komamura is shown snarling like a wolf, and shows no sign of the usually stolid man in his face. This may also be hinting at Komamura’s ultimate fate in this arc.
Volume 62 is of course also set during the Quincy Invasion, and particularly features the chapters where Komamura battles against the Sternritter E, Bambietta Basterbine. Komamura’s secrets are finally revealed, so it’s fitting to feature him so prominently on the cover.
2
Kenpachi Zaraki is Positively Vicious
Volume Title: The Undead
Going all the way back to volume 13, the cover features Kenpachi Zaraki, once again dominating the image and leaving very little white space, which helps to emphasize the man’s enormous size. Zaraki is smiling malevolently, looking as though he’s very much enjoying himself. Zaraki’s robes appear to already be in tatters, as if the image comes from mid-battle, and uses an unusual angle to emphasize his sheer bulk.
This volume features Zaraki’s first battle with Ichigo in the Soul Society arc, which Ichigo struggled with greatly, and ultimately won the Captain’s respect.
1
Ichigo’s Volume 1 Art is a Classic
Volume Title: The Death and the Strawberry
Of course, it’s hard to talk about manga covers without going back to the source of it all: volume 1. Volume 1 features a young Ichigo in his Soul Reaper attire, wielding his sword tip-down. Interestingly, he’s shown with some kind of band or bracelet on his arm, which has colors very similar to those used in the logo. As the first artwork many people saw from the series, this cover has become incredibly iconic.
Volume 1 naturally covers the very beginning of the series, where Ichigo first encounters Rukia and uses his Soul Reaper powers for the first time. Having Ichigo in his Soul Reaper outfit on the cover sells the idea of the series very quickly, and is more than enough to convince someone to pick it up off a shelf. These factors make the original cover perhaps the best Bleach manga cover of them all.
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Bleach
Bleach is a popular manga created by Tite Kubo. The manga spawned a multimedia franchise consisting of TV shows, movies (both animated and live-action), and multiple video games. The manga follows the same premise as the anime, centering on Ichigo Kurosaki as he gains the powers of the Soul Reaper.
